Non-pneumatic tire having sidewall covers
AssigneeBridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
InventorRichard S. Parr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A non-pneumatic tire includes a lower ring having a first diameter and an upper ring having a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The upper ring is substantially coaxial with the lower ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending between the lower ring and the upper ring. The non-pneumatic tire also includes an upper sidewall having an annulus shape that covers a portion of a first side of the support structure. The upper sidewall has an inner diameter that is greater than the first diameter.
Claims20
A non-pneumatic tire, wheel rim, and sidewall assembly, the assembly comprising:
- a non-pneumatic tire including:
- a lower ring having a first diameter,
- an upper ring having a second diameter greater than the first diameter, the upper ring being substantially coaxial with the lower ring, and
- a support structure extending between the lower ring and the upper ring;
- a wheel rim connected to the lower ring of the non-pneumatic tire;
- a lower sidewall cover connected to the wheel rim, the lower sidewall cover including an annulus portion that covers a first side of the lower ring and a portion of a first side of the support structure,
- wherein the annulus portion of the lower sidewall cover has an inner diameter that is less than the first diameter, and
- wherein the annulus portion of the lower sidewall cover has an outer diameter that is less than the second diameter;
- an upper sidewall cover having an annulus shape that covers a portion of the first side of the support structure,
- wherein the upper sidewall cover has an inner diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the annulus portion of the lower sidewall cover.
A method of covering a side of a non-pneumatic tire, the method comprising:
- providing a non-pneumatic tire including:
- a lower ring having a first diameter,
- an upper ring having a second diameter greater than the first diameter, the upper ring being substantially coaxial with the lower ring, and
- a support structure extending between the lower ring and the upper ring;
- providing a rim;
- mounting the non-pneumatic tire on the rim;
- providing a lower sidewall having an annulus portion;
- and
- connecting the lower sidewall to the rim such that the annulus portion of the lower sidewall covers a first side of the lower ring and a lower portion of a first side of the support structure, and such that the lower sidewall does not cover an upper portion of the first side of the support structure;
- wherein an upper portion of the lower sidewall cover is bent outwards away from the non-pneumatic tire.
A non-pneumatic tire having a sidewall, the non-pneumatic tire comprising:
- a lower ring having a first diameter;
- an upper ring having a second diameter greater than the first diameter, the upper ring being substantially coaxial with the lower ring;
- a support structure extending between the lower ring and the upper ring;
- an upper sidewall having an annulus shape that covers a portion of a first side of the support structure, wherein the upper sidewall has an inner diameter that is greater than the first diameter,
- wherein a lower portion of the of the upper sidewall is bent inwards towards the non-pneumatic tire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.