Airless tire
AssigneeMindmatter Wheel Works, Inc.
InventorGeoffrey Boyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A one-piece tire has an elastomer material composition that is homogeneous and consistent throughout the entire tire. An annular outer portion of the one-piece tire includes an outwardly facing surface that defines an outer circumference of the tire and a width of the tire between a first edge on a first lateral side and second edge on a second lateral side of the tire. An annular inner portion defines an inner circumference of the tire. The annular inner portion has a first edge on the first lateral side of the tire and a second edge on the second lateral side of the tire. An annular resilient spring portion extends from a first junction near the first edge of the annular inner portion to a second junction near the second edge of the annular outer portion.
Claims22
A tire comprising:
- a one-piece body having an elastomer material composition, the one-piece body including:
- an annular outer portion including an outwardly facing surface that defines an outer circumference of the tire, the annular outer portion defining a width of the tire between a first edge on a first lateral side of the tire and second edge on a second lateral side of the tire, the annular outer portion defining a cavity;
- an annular inner portion that defines an inner circumference of the tire, the annular inner portion having a first edge on the first lateral side of the tire and a second edge on the second lateral side of the tire;
- and
- an annular resilient spring portion extending between a first junction near the first edge of the annular inner portion and a second junction near the second edge of the annular outer portion;
- wherein the elastomer material composition of the annular outer portion, the annular inner portion, and the annular resilient spring portion is homogeneous and consistent throughout an entirety of the one-piece body;
- wherein the annular resilient spring portion is frustoconical;
- wherein when the tire is in an uncompressed state, at least the second edge of the annular inner portion is disposed within the cavity;
- wherein as the annular resilient spring portion extends towards the second edge of the annular outer portion, the annular resilient spring portion extends beyond an axial position of the second edge of the annular inner portion;
- and
- wherein the first edge of the annular inner portion is closer to an axial position of the first edge of the annular outer portion than to an axial position of the second edge of the annular outer portion.
A method of making a tire, the method comprising using a single manufacturing process to establish a one-piece body having an elastomer material composition that is homogeneous and consistent throughout an entirety of the one-piece body, wherein:
- the one-piece body has an annular outer portion, an annular inner portion, and an annular resilient spring portion;
- the annular outer portion includes an outwardly facing surface that defines an outer circumference of the tire;
- the annular outer portion has a first edge on a first lateral side of the tire and second edge on a second lateral side of the tire;
- the annular inner portion defines an inner circumference of the tire;
- the annular inner portion has a first edge on the first lateral side of the tire and a second edge on the second lateral side of the tire;
- and
- the annular resilient spring portion is frustoconical and extends from a first junction near the first edge of the annular inner portion to a second junction near the second edge of the annular outer portion;
- when the tire is in an uncompressed state, at least the second edge of the annular inner portion is disposed within a cavity defined by the annular outer portion;
- and
- the first edge of the annular inner portion is closer to an axial position of the first edge of the annular outer portion than to an axial position of the second edge of the annular outer portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.