I am a new inventor and as my back ground is in engineering (not marketing), I'm trying to get feedback from user groups.

I developed a full size wheel to fit in an airline carry on bag (22" x 14" x 9"), specifically an airline carry on bag. Anyone in internet land fond of such an idea. I'm Looking for feedback, good, bad or indifferent.

A comment of yeah or neah would be appreciated

My first model is 24". And compacts to 17 x 11 x 6 ID. both (2) wheels.
Please take a look.

https://sites.google.com/site/themodularwheel/

Thanks,
-MBi

High wheel/ Ordinaries Aka Penny Farthings did that over a century ago.
big wheel broke down into quadrants .. tire was never pneumatic.

But I guess the patent has lapsed to do it all over again.

As expected it was to deploy soldiers in war.

weapons makers, alway are able to do cost over- runs.
once the ink is on the contract.

I have also seen a foldable/collapsable wheel not too long ago. So the idea is old, but the particular method could be new.

Anyway you face a variety of problems with this:

1. Mechanical advantage of large wheels compared to 406mm wheels is very small on typical roads. The only arena where wheel size is a significant enough advantage is in mountain biking and the like. Admittedly, there is a lot of hype and myth going around about little wheels so that works in your favour. Few roadies consider bikes with small wheels anything but curiosities and toys.
2. Disassembly, even partly of a folding bike, gets old very quickly. Add the wheels disassembly and after the first trip one begins to think about other less labour-intensive options.
3. Weight: cyclists are obsessive about weight these days. Face with a heavy collapsible wheel, they may ignore the option.
4. Braking surface: How is that handled? From the images looks like it is absent.
5. Strength: The bicycle wheel is enormously strong and stiff for the amount of materials used. It would be extremely hard to match those properties which are highly valued, with a collapsible wheel. Again an assumption.
6. Cyclists are a hard bunch to impress with new inventions. Sometimes something comes along that really captivates enthusiasm but very often new inventions sink without a trace.
7. I am unsure if there is actually a problem that needed solving with this invention. Wheelchairs fold up but can't fit into a carry-on bag even without the wheels. Neither can folding bikes. So the ability to put a wheel in a carry-on bag does not solve the overall problem of getting the bike on board. Besides, wheelchairs have allowance for that sort of thing (unless you have an entire paralympic team with their chairs on a flight).

So this invention isn't ringing any enthusiasm bells with me.

I don't see any major advantage to larger wheels than the current 16" - 20" ones common on folding bikes. My folder with 20" wheels has the same gearing range and speed as my other bikes with regular 700c wheels. It's a bit less capable of dealing with bad potholes, but the difference is minor. OTOH, the time and effort to pack my folder into an airline suitable package is a significant factor to me and it appears that this folding wheel would add to that - especially since it would require removal of both tires and reinstallation and inflation of them. I'd also be concerned about the vagaries of the TSA rules. They currently prohibit carryon of any 'tools' longer than 7". Bike frame components haven't been considered 'tools' so far AFAIK, but that could change at any time and might already run afoul of some individual TSA inspector. Wouldn't want to be running late for a flight and then be faced with the choice of missing it or forfeiting an expensive set of folding wheels and bike frame.

https://www.folding-wheels.com/ Duncan Fitzsimons developed a folding wheel - originally to make a folding full sized bike. But this did not go ahead, he found a bigger potential market with wheelchairs. He has been backed by James Dyson, RCA & Imperial College, and Innovation RCA: https://www.duncfitz.co.uk/main.html /

It works well, but the issue is less engineering, more communication .. ie selling a 'collapsible wheel' to skeptical audience .... kinda like selling the idea of a collapsible bike

5.5lbs wheel is not going to perform well on a bicycle. Bottom line, what works for a wheelchair will not work on a bicycle.

Uh, like this?
https://folding-wheels.com/index.html

thank you, each response is being addressed, and I look forward to all comments.

1.) The hub is being sourced.
2.) The unit will utilize a disc brake.
3.) Several plastic resins (and grades) are being evaluated for the strength requirements.
4.) Per the material, the geometry is being updated to decrease the weight, while maintaining strength.
5.) The wheel does not fold, merely separate into 5 segments plus the tire.
6.) Safety and ease of use are the number one concern.

https://sites.google.com/site/themodularwheel/

Thanks,
MBi

24" Model shown, storage case shown 17 x 11 x 3" deep.
Each joint can be separated...Quick release pin.
https://sites.google.com/site/themodularwheel/

-MBi

I voted "no." Folding bikes have some disadvantages, but their small wheel size is not among them. Most bikes, I think, should have smaller wheels.