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US 12,138,971 B2Granted
Tire with spoke loops
AssigneeBridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
InventorsDouglas B. Costlow, Andrew V. Haidet, Adam K. Nesbitt, Sharon E. Reinhardt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A nonpneumatic tire assembly includes an outer hoop, a plurality of loops extending inward from the outer hoop, and a hub having a plurality of members. Each of the plurality of members is connected to one of the plurality of loops.
Claims20
A method of making a nonpneumatic tire, the method comprising:
- providing a forming jig having a plurality of members extending therefrom,
- wherein the plurality of members include a first set of members defining a first circle having a first diameter, and
- wherein the plurality of members include a second set of members defining a second circle having a second diameter larger than the first diameter,
- providing a ply of flexible material, the ply of flexible material having a width equal to a final width of the nonpneumatic tire;
- wrapping the ply of flexible material about the plurality of members to form an annular shape,
- wherein the wrapping includes wrapping the ply of flexible material from a first one of the first set of members to a first one of the second set of members, and
- wherein the wrapping further includes wrapping the ply of flexible material from a second one of the second set of members to a second one of the first set of members;
- wrapping the ply of flexible material over itself multiple times in a circular direction to form an outer hoop configured to receive a circumferential tread;
- curing the ply of flexible material;
- and
- removing the ply of flexible material from the jig.
8 more elements
A method of making a nonpneumatic tire, the method comprising:
- providing a forming jig having a plurality of members extending therefrom,
- wherein the plurality of members include a first set of members defining a first circle having a first diameter, and
- wherein the plurality of members include a second set of members defining a second circle having a second diameter larger than the first diameter,
- providing a first ply of flexible material, the first ply of flexible material having a width equal to a final width of the nonpneumatic tire;
- wrapping the first ply of flexible material about the plurality of members to form a support structure,
- wherein the wrapping includes wrapping the first ply of flexible material from a first one of the first set of members to a first one of the second set of members, and
- wherein the wrapping further includes wrapping the first ply of flexible material from a second one of the second set of members to a second one of the first set of members;
- providing a second ply of flexible material different from the first ply of flexible material, the second ply of flexible material having a width equal to a final width of the nonpneumatic tire;
- wrapping the second ply of flexible material over the support structure and over itself in a circular direction to form an outer hoop configured to receive a circumferential tread;
- curing the support structure and the outer hoop;
- and
- removing the support structure and the outer hoop from the jig.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.