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US 11,465,443 B2Granted
Wheel with bead locks
AssigneeBridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
InventorsSharon E. Reinhardt, Dennis W. Snyder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheel includes a hub and a rim portion surrounding the hub. An outer surface of the rim portion defines a circumference of the wheel. The outer surface of the rim portion has a plurality of bead locks that are spaced from one another.
Claims13
A two-piece wheel for mounting a tire, comprising:
- a first wheel piece having a first threaded hole;
- a second wheel piece having a second threaded hole;
- a threaded rod extending through the first threaded hole and the second threaded hole,
- wherein the threaded rod is configured to change the axial distance between the first wheel piece and the second wheel piece when it is turned;
- a plurality of bead locks including a first plurality of bead locks equally spaced along a first rim of the first wheel piece and a second plurality of bead locks equally spaced along a second rim of the second wheel piece,
- wherein the first plurality of bead locks includes no more than eight bead locks,
- wherein each of the first plurality of bead locks is oriented substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the wheel, and has an axial length that is greater than a circumferential width,
- wherein a circumferential distance between adjacent bead locks in the first plurality of bead locks is greater than the circumferential width of each of the first plurality of bead locks,
- wherein the second plurality of bead locks includes no more than eight bead locks,
- wherein each of the second plurality of bead locks is oriented substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel, and has an axial length that is greater than a circumferential width,
- wherein the second plurality of bead locks are axially misaligned with the first plurality of bead locks,
- wherein a circumferential distance between adjacent bead locks in the second plurality of bead locks is greater than the circumferential width of each of the second plurality of bead locks, and
- wherein the first and second rims are configured to receive the tire.
10 more elements
A wheel, comprising:
- a hub;
- a rim portion surrounding the hub, the rim portion having an outer surface,
- wherein the outer surface of the rim portion defines a circumference of the wheel;
- and
- a plurality of bead locks equally spaced along the outer surface of the rim portion, wherein the plurality of bead locks includes no more than eight bead locks on each side of the wheel, wherein each of the plurality of bead locks is oriented substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel and has an axial length that is greater than a circumferential width, wherein half of the bead locks are located on a first side of the wheel and half of the bead locks are located on a second side of the wheel, wherein the bead locks located on the first side of the wheel are axially misaligned with the bead locks located on the second side of the wheel, and wherein a circumferential distance between adjacent bead locks is greater than the circumferential width of each bead lock.
2 more elements
A tire and wheel assembly, comprising:
- a tire,
- wherein the tire has a bead portion, a sidewall, and a tread,
- wherein the bead portion is connected to the tread by the sidewall;
- a wheel,
- wherein the wheel has a hub portion and a rim portion;
- a plurality of bead locks equally spaced along the rim portion of the wheel, wherein the plurality of bead locks includes no more than eight bead locks on each side of the wheel, wherein each of the plurality of bead locks is oriented substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel and has an axial length that is greater than a circumferential width, wherein half of the bead locks are located on a first side of the wheel, and half of the plurality of bead locks are located on a second side of the wheel, and wherein a circumferential distance between adjacent bead locks is greater than the circumferential width of each bead lock;
- and
- a plurality of notches located on the bead portion of the tire, corresponding to the plurality of bead locks located on the rim portion of the wheel, wherein the notches and bead locks on the first side of the tire and wheel are axially misaligned with the notches and bead locks on the second side of the tire and wheel.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.