Wheel with selective suspension system

Abstract

Wheel with an in-wheel suspension system, and suspension member thereof. Wheel includes: stationary member including an axis, rotary member rotatable about the axis, and selective suspension system. The selective suspension system has at least one suspension member positioned between the stationary member and the rotary member, thereby providing a fixed distance therebetween, and retains the fixed distance when stressed up to a threshold value, and recoverably alters the fixed distance when stressed over the threshold value. The suspension member includes: cylindrical housing, piston slidably movable in the cylindrical housing, and compression spring whose first end is connected to the piston and second end is connected to the housing. The compression spring, when fully relaxed or compressed under the threshold value, maintains the housing and piston at a normally fixed distance. Applicable to wheelchairs and bicycles, among other self-propelled and powered vehicles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wheel with an in-wheel suspension system, the wheel being connectable to a vehicle, the wheel comprising:
 a stationary member comprising an axis:   a rotary member rotatable about said axis, and   a selective suspension system comprising:
 at least one suspension member positioned between said stationary member and said rotary member, thereby providing a normally fixed distance between said stationary member and said rotary member; 
 wherein said suspension member is adapted to retain said fixed distance when stressed up to a threshold value and to recoverably alter said fixed distance when stressed over said threshold value; and 
 wherein said suspension member comprises:
 a cylindrical housing; 
 a piston slidably movable in said cylindrical housing; and 
 a compression spring having a first end connected to said piston and a second end connected to said housing; 
 wherein, said compression spring, when fully relaxed or compressed under said threshold value, maintains said housing and said piston at a normally fixed distance. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein said suspension member further comprises an inward connection portion connected to said rotary member, and an outward connection portion connected to said stationary member. 
     
     
         3 . The wheel of  claim 2 , wherein said piston includes said inward connection portion, and said housing includes said outward connection portion. 
     
     
         4 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein said compression spring is a coil spring or a gas spring. 
     
     
         5 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein said compression spring is provided preloaded to compress only over said threshold value. 
     
     
         6 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein said piston and said housing are configured such that when subjected to compression or extension stresses over said threshold value, said housing and said piston move relative to each other so as to compress said compression spring. 
     
     
         7 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein said threshold value relates to a minimal shock magnitude absorbed by the wheel, or to a minimal vibration amplitude absorbed by the wheel. 
     
     
         8 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein said threshold value reciprocally relates to a maximal vibration amplitude absorbed by the wheel, or to a maximal vibration frequency absorbed by the wheel. 
     
     
         9 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a self-propelled vehicle, or a powered vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a wheelchair, or a bicycle. 
     
     
         11 . A suspension member for an in-wheel suspension system of a wheel connectable to a vehicle, the suspension member comprising:
 a cylindrical housing:   a piston slidably movable in said cylindrical housing; and   a compression spring having a first end connected to said piston and a second end connected to said housing;   wherein, said compression spring, when fully relaxed or compressed under a threshold value, maintains said housing and said piston at a normally fixed distance;   wherein the suspension member is positioned between the rim and the hub of the wheel, thereby providing a normally fixed distance between the wheel rim and the wheel hub; and   wherein the suspension member is adapted to retain said fixed distance when stressed up to a threshold value and to recoverably alter said fixed distance when stressed over said threshold value.   
     
     
         12 . The suspension member of  claim 11 , configured for being connectable between the rim and the hub of the wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The suspension member of  claim 12 , further comprising an inward connection portion that is connectable to the wheel hub, and an outward connection portion that is connectable to the wheel rim. 
     
     
         14 . The suspension member of  claim 13 , wherein said piston includes said inward connection portion, and said housing includes said outward connection portion. 
     
     
         15 . The suspension member of  claim 11 , wherein said compression spring is a coil spring or a gas spring. 
     
     
         16 . The suspension member of  claim 11 , wherein said compression spring is provided preloaded to compress only over said threshold value. 
     
     
         17 . The suspension member of  claim 11 , wherein said piston and said housing are configured such that when subjected to compression or extension stresses over said threshold value, said housing and said piston move relative to each other so as to compress said compression spring. 
     
     
         18 . The suspension member of  claim 11 , wherein said threshold value relates to a minimal shock magnitude absorbed by the wheel, or to a minimal vibration amplitude absorbed by the wheel. 
     
     
         19 . The suspension member of  claim 11 , wherein said threshold value reciprocally relates to a maximal vibration amplitude absorbed by the wheel, or to a maximal vibration frequency absorbed by the wheel. 
     
     
         20 . The suspension member of  claim 11 , wherein said cylindrical housing includes a housing slot along and in parallel to the housing longitudinal axis, and further includes a housing pin that is slidably movable in said housing slot, and wherein said piston includes a piston slot along and in parallel to the piston longitudinal axis, and further includes a piston pin that is slidably movable in said piston slot. 
     
     
         21 . The suspension member of  claim 19 , wherein said compression spring is connected in-between said housing pin and said piston pin, whereby, said compression spring, when fully relaxed or compressed under said threshold value, maintains said housing pin and said piston pin at a normally fixed distance. 
     
     
         22 . The suspension member of  claim 21 , wherein said piston and said housing are configured such that when subjected to compression or extension stresses over said threshold value, said housing pin and said piston pin move towards each other so as to compress said compression spring. 
     
     
         23 . The suspension member of  claim 11 , wherein the vehicle is a self-propelled vehicle, or a powered vehicle. 
     
     
         24 . The suspension member of  claim 11 , wherein the vehicle is a wheelchair, or a bicycle.