Method for making a wheel with an integral tire
AssigneeBrown Group Recreational Products, Inc.
InventorsJoel C. Cunard, William H. Ziegler, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method for making a wheel composed of a rigid plastic inner section forming the wheel hub and rim and a resilient plastic tire section encircling the rim. A key formed integrally with the rim extends radially outward therefrom and interlockingly projects into the tire so as to mechanically connect the tire to the rim all around the wheel. The key can be formed with axially extending portions spaced radially outboard of the rim and terminating flush with the outer surface of the tire section so as to provide colored side wall decorations at one or both sides of the wheel. A method of molding the tire directly onto the discoid section is also disclosed.
Claims7
The method of making a wheel comprising the steps of
- A. forming a rigid plastic wheel rim with an integral flange member spaced radially outward from the rim,
- B. placing the rim in a generally toroidal mold cavity with the rim forming a radially inner wall of the cavity,
- C. dimensioning the rim and cavity so that
- (1) the opposite edges of the rim engage the cavity wall forming seals therewith, and
- (2) engaging at least one side edge portion of the flange member with the cavity wall between radially inner and outer extents thereof, and
- D. filling the cavity with hardenable plastic material and hardening said material to form a tire which encircles and is mechanically connected to the rim by way of its flange member with said on side edge portion of the flange member forming a side wall decoration on said tire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.