Run flat tire and method of making same
OwnerTerry Lee, Eric Radford +1inventors
InventorsTerry Lee, Eric Radford, Dwight Pollard
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Abstract
A run-flat tire insert, according to particular embodiments, that is configured to be received inside a cavity of a tire. The run-flat tire insert comprising a monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert that includes (a) a first and a second sidewall, (ii) an outer surface that couples the first sidewall to the second sidewall, and (iii) an inner surface that couples the first sidewall to the second sidewall. Additionally, the monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert has an outer diameter that is substantially equal to an outer diameter of a tire in which the monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert will be installed into when the tire is not inflated with air.
Claims20
A run-flat tire comprising:
- a. a monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert comprising:
- i. a first sidewall,
- ii. a second sidewall,
- iii. an outer surface that couples the first sidewall to the second sidewall;
- and
- iv. an inner surface that couples the first side wall to the second sidewall;
- and
- b. a tire comprising:
- i. a first tire sidewall having a first edge defining a first bead and a second edge;
- ii. a second tire sidewall having a first edge defining a second bead and a second edge;
- and
- iii. a tread coupling the first tire sidewall second edge to the second tire sidewall second edge;
- and
- c. a rim, wherein
- the monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert has an outer diameter that is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tire when the tire is not inflated with air, and
- the monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert has an inner diameter that is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the rim so that when the rim is inserted into an opening defined by the inner surface, the monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert has a friction fit with the rim.
A run-flat tire insert that is configured to be received inside a cavity of a tire, comprising a monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert comprising:
- a. a first sidewall,
- b. a second sidewall,
- c. an outer surface that couples the first sidewall to the second sidewall;
- and
- d. an inner surface that couples the first side wall to the second sidewall;
- wherein
- the monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert has an outer diameter that is substantially equal to an outer diameter of a tire in which the monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert will be installed into when the tire is not inflated with air.
A method of installing a run-flat tire insert into a tire comprising:
- a. compressing a first portion of a monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert;
- b. pushing the first portion into a cavity defined by a tire inner surface, a first tire sidewall, and a second tire sidewall;
- c. continually compressing a second portion of the monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert;
- d. pushing the second portion into the cavity of the tire;
- e. compressing a last portion of the monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert;
- and
- f. pushing the last portion into the cavity of the tire;
- wherein the monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert expands when placed into the cavity of the tire so that at least a portion of an outer surface of the monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert is positioned against at least a portion of the tire inner surface, and at least a portion of a sidewall of the monolithic, generally toroid shaped insert is positioned against a portion of at least one of the first tire sidewall and the second tire sidewall when the tire is not inflated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.