Hollow core pneumatic wheel having contour conforming polyurethane wall

Abstract

A urethane wheel including a hard urethane hub formed with a rim facing radially outward, and including stand-off ribs spaced equidistant thereabout. The stand-off ribs having centering notches opening radially outward. A thin wall polyurethane annular bladder with an interior annular stand-off skirt facing radially inward, contacting the centering notches of the stand-off ribs, and cooperating to position the bladder both radially and axially about the rim. The tire body is formed of soft polyurethane which surrounds the rim, encapsulates the bladder creating and integral cavity, and forms a contoured surface. A method of manufacturing the wheel which includes selecting a pressurized annular bladder, locating the bladder both axially and radially about the rim, forming a concentric bridge space having axial communication channels between the rim and bladder, and then pouring liquid urethane in a mold to form the tire.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.