Terrain Resilient Wheel Maintaining a Uniform Elevation

Abstract

A wheel includes a central hub and a flexible rim. A drive band configuration including a plurality of flexible bands extends as spokes from the central hub to the rim. The hub and band configuration cause the rim to flex toward and away from the hub as the wheel moves.

1 . A wheel, comprising:
 a central hub;   a flexible rim;   a drive band configuration comprising a plurality of flexible bands extending as spokes from the central hub to the rim; and   the hub and band configuration configured to cause the rim to flex toward and away from the hub as the wheel moves.   
     
     
         2 . The wheel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the central hub comprising a plurality of hub components symmetrically arranged around a central axle; and   the band configuration fitted to move between the hub components and the central axle.   
     
     
         3 . The wheel of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 the central hub comprising exactly four hub components.   
     
     
         4 . The wheel of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 the central hub comprising exactly six hub components.   
     
     
         5 . The wheel of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 the central hub comprising exactly three hub components and three spacers, the spacers having a smaller radius than the hub components and configured to maintain a consistent minimum distance from the rim to the central axle.   
     
     
         6 . The wheel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the drive band configuration comprising bands joined at their ends into a closed four-sided periphery.   
     
     
         7 . The wheel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the drive band configuration comprising bands joined at their ends into a closed six-sided periphery.   
     
     
         8 . The wheel of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 each hub component comprising raised ends configured to rotate against the flexible rim in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of a central portion of a corresponding hub component against the band configuration.   
     
     
         9 . The wheel of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 each band comprising teeth to mate with a gear adjoining to the central axle.   
     
     
         10 . A wheel hub, comprising:
 a drive band configuration comprising a plurality of flexible bands extending as spokes; and   a plurality of hub components configured to cause the drive band configuration to flex toward and away from the hub as the hub rotates.   
     
     
         11 . The hub of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 the plurality of hub components symmetrically arranged around a central axle; and   the band configuration fitted to slide between the hub components and the central axle.   
     
     
         12 . The hub of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 exactly four identical hub components, and exactly four bands forming the drive band configuration.   
     
     
         13 . The hub of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 exactly six hub components, and exactly three bands forming the drive band configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The hub of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 exactly six hub components, and exactly six bands forming the drive band configuration.   
     
     
         15 . The hub of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 exactly three smooth bands and exactly three gear-tracked bands forming the drive band configuration.   
     
     
         16 . The hub of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 exactly three hub components engaging the drive band configuration, and exactly three spacers, the . spacers configured to maintain a consistent minimum distance from the rim to the central axle.   
     
     
         17 . The hub of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 the drive band configuration comprising bands joined at their ends into a closed n-sided periphery.   
     
     
         18 . The hub of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 the drive band configuration comprising bands joined at their ends into a closed six-sided periphery.   
     
     
         19 . The hub of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 the drive band configuration comprising bands joined at their ends into a closed four-sided periphery.   
     
     
         20 . The hub of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 each hub component comprising ends configured to rotate against the flexible rim in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of a central portion of the each hub component against the band configuration.   
     
     
         21 . A wheel comprising a hub and spokes, the wheel configured such that the hub oscillates between the ends of the spokes, with ach spoke exhibiting a cycle of advancing forward of the hub, receding inward toward the hub, and advancing rearward from the hub as the wheel turns.