Airless tire
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tire comprising an elastomeric structure having an inner elastomeric band and an outer elastomeric band, and a plurality of radially oriented ribs extending between the inner elastomeric band and the outer elastomeric band;
- the ribs being curved to have a concave side and a convex side, and arranged so that adjacent ribs are paired such that the concave sides of adjacent ribs face each other and the convex sides of adjacent ribs face each other;
whereby, when the tire is under load adjacent curved ribs will contact and buttress each other on their convex sides, and when the tire is not under load the ribs will be spaced apart.
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Abstract
This invention pertains to a tire which supports load by means of compressing the tire'"'"'s elastomeric structure and requires no internal inflation pressure. The preferred embodiments utilize circumferential ribs or radially oriented ribs of elastomer to support the load.
57 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A tire comprising an elastomeric structure having an inner elastomeric band and an outer elastomeric band, and a plurality of radially oriented ribs extending between the inner elastomeric band and the outer elastomeric band;
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the ribs being curved to have a concave side and a convex side, and arranged so that adjacent ribs are paired such that the concave sides of adjacent ribs face each other and the convex sides of adjacent ribs face each other; whereby, when the tire is under load adjacent curved ribs will contact and buttress each other on their convex sides, and when the tire is not under load the ribs will be spaced apart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A tire having a structural support system comprising:
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an inner elastomeric circumferential band; an outer elastomeric circumferential band; at least three elastomeric radially extending circumferential ribs attached to the inner and outer bands and being axially spaced apart such that at least two hollow annular chambers are formed; wherein each of the inner elastomeric circumferential band, the outer elastomeric circumferential band, and the elastomeric radially extending circumferential ribs each has a different hardness. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A tire structure comprising:
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an inner elastomeric circumferential band comprising a first material; an outer elastomeric circumferential band comprising a second material; a central circumferential elastic portion disposed between the inner and outer elastomeric bands and comprising a third material; a pair of toroidal components disposed in the inner elastomeric band and the central circumferential elastomeric band and spaced apart to form two annular chambers. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification