# US 12,179,525 B2 · Tire assembly with circumferential shape memory alloy configuration > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,525 B2 - Document ID: US12179525B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/390,316 - Filed: 2023-12-20 - Published: 2024-04-11 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-16 - Assignees: The Smart Tire Company, Inc. - Applicants: The SMART Tire Company, Inc. - Inventors: Brian Yennie; Earl Cole; Jim Benzing - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179525B2 ## CPC - B60C 7/14: using springs - B60C 7/06: made of metal - B60C 7/22: having inlays other than for increasing resiliency, e.g. for armouring - B60C 2200/04: for road vehicles, e.g. passenger cars - B60C 2200/12: for bicycles - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES ## Abstract A tire assembly that includes a tread portion, a rim, and at least a first band assembly positioned between the tread portion and the rim. The first band assembly includes a first SMA element having an outer surface and a first bead member having an outer surface. The first SMA element extends circumferentially about the tire assembly and the first bead member extends circumferentially about the tire assembly. The first band assembly also includes a plurality of fiber reinforcement members. Each of the plurality of fiber reinforcement members extend around the outer surface of the first SMA element and the outer surface of the first bead member to form the first band assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tire assembly comprising: a tread portion, a rim, and at least a first band assembly positioned between the tread portion and the rim, wherein the first band assembly includes a first SMA element having an outer surface, wherein the first SMA element extends circumferentially about the tire assembly, a first bead member having an outer surface, wherein the first bead member extends circumferentially about the tire assembly, and a plurality of fiber reinforcement members, wherein each of the plurality of fiber reinforcement members extend around the outer surface of the first SMA element and the outer surface of the first bead member to form the first band assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tire assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of fiber reinforcement members extend circumferentially about the tire assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tire assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of fiber reinforcement members are disposed in a first polymer member to form a fiber reinforced polymer assembly, wherein the fiber reinforced polymer assembly extends around the outer surface of the first SMA element and the outer surface of the first bead member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tire assembly of claim 3 wherein the fiber reinforced polymer assembly comprises a tubular configuration that extends circumferentially about the tire assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The tire assembly of claim 3 wherein the fiber reinforced polymer assembly comprises a wrapped spiral configuration that extends circumferentially about the tire assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The tire assembly of claim 3 wherein the fiber reinforced polymer assembly includes first and second polymer members, wherein the first polymer member includes a first set of fiber reinforcement members disposed therein, wherein the second polymer member includes a second set of fiber reinforcement members disposed therein, wherein the first set of fiber reinforcement members extend in a first direction, wherein the second set of fiber reinforcement members extend in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is non-parallel to the second direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The tire assembly of claim 3 wherein the band assembly includes a second SMA element having an outer surface, wherein the second SMA element extends circumferentially about the tire assembly, wherein the fiber reinforced polymer assembly extends around the outer surface of the first SMA element, the outer surface of the second SMA element and the outer surface of the first bead member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tire assembly of claim 7 wherein the first SMA element is positioned laterally adjacent to the second SMA element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tire assembly of claim 8 wherein the fiber reinforced polymer assembly includes an extension portion that extends inwardly and between the first and second SMA elements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tire assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least a second band assembly positioned between the tread portion and the rim and positioned laterally adjacent to the first band assembly, wherein the second band assembly includes a first SMA element having an outer surface, wherein the first SMA element extends circumferentially about the tire assembly, a first bead member having an outer surface, wherein the first bead member extends circumferentially about the tire assembly, and a plurality of fiber reinforcement members, wherein each of the plurality of fiber reinforcement members extend around the outer surface of the first SMA element and the outer surface of the first bead member to form the first band assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tire assembly of claim 1 wherein an inner portion of the first band assembly is seated in a groove associated with the rim. ### Claim 12 A tire assembly comprising: a tread portion, a rim, and at least a first band assembly positioned between the tread portion and the rim, wherein the first band assembly includes a first SMA element having an outer surface, wherein the first SMA element extends circumferentially about the tire assembly, a second SMA element having an outer surface, wherein the second SMA element extends circumferentially about the tire assembly and is positioned laterally adjacent to the first SMA element, a first bead member having an outer surface, wherein the first bead member extends circumferentially about the tire assembly, and a first fiber reinforced polymer assembly that includes a plurality of fiber reinforcement members disposed in a polymer member, wherein the first fiber reinforced polymer assembly extends around the outer surface of the first SMA element, the outer surface of the second SMA element and the outer surface of the first bead member, wherein the first fiber reinforced polymer assembly extends circumferentially about the tire assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tire assembly of claim 12 further comprising at least a second band assembly positioned between the tread member and the rim and positioned laterally adjacent to the first band assembly, wherein the second band assembly includes a first SMA element having an outer surface, wherein the first SMA element extends circumferentially about the tire assembly, a first bead member having an outer surface, wherein the first bead member extends circumferentially about the tire assembly, and a first fiber reinforced polymer assembly that includes a plurality of fiber reinforcement members disposed in a polymer member, wherein the first fiber reinforced polymer assembly extends around the outer surface of the first SMA element, the outer surface of the second SMA element and the outer surface of the first bead member, wherein the first fiber reinforced polymer assembly extends circumferentially about the tire assembly.