US 6,345,655 B1 · Storable tire assembly for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention is a collapsible tire assembly for a vehicle designed for traveling over terrain. In detail, the tire assembly includes a rim rotatably mountable to the vehicle. An outer tube expandable from a stored condition to an expanded condition is attached to the rim. The outer tube includes side portions and a center tread portion for making contact with the terrain when in the expanded condition. A mechanism is included for mounting the side portions of the outer tube to the rim such that the outer tube forms a chamber. An inner tube is mounted within the chamber expandable from a stored condition within the chamber to an expanded condition expanding the outer tube to the expanded condition such that the center tread portion is supported by the inflated inner tube and the tire assembly is suitable for moving the vehicle over the terrain.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A collapsible tire assembly for use on a vehicle for traveling over terrain, the tire assembly comprising:

a rim rotatably mountable to the vehicle;
an outer tube expandable from a stored condition to an expanded condition, said outer tube having side portions and a center tread portion for making contact with the terrain when in said expanded condition, said side portions being folded over said center tread portion when said outer tube is in said stored condition;
means to mount said side portions of said outer tube to said rim such that said outer tube forms a chamber;
an inner tube mounted within said chamber expandable from a stored condition within said chamber to an expanded condition expanding said outer tube to said expanded condition such that said center tread portion is supported by said inflated inner tube and said tire is suitable for moving the vehicle over the terrain;
and
means coupled to said inner tube for receiving a pressurized gas for inflating said inner tube to said expanded condition.

3 more elements

A vehicle for traveling over terrain, said vehicle comprising:

a frame;
and
a plurality of tire assemblies, each tire assembly comprising:
a rim rotatably mounted to said frame;
an outer tube expandable from a stored condition to an expanded condition, said outer tube having side portions and a center tread portion for making contact with the terrain when in said expanded condition;
means to mount said side portions of said outer tube to said rim such that said outer tube forms a chamber;
an inner tube mounted within said chamber expandable from a stored condition within said chamber to an expanded condition expanding said outer tube to said expanded condition such that said center tread portion is supported by said inflated inner tube and said tire is suitable for moving the vehicle over the terrain;
means coupled to said inner tube for receiving a pressurized gas for inflating said inner tube to said expanded condition;
and
a protective cover comprising:
first and second flexible cover portions having first ends secured to said rim and second ends disposed in interconnected relation when said outer tube is in said stored condition;
and
means to releasably secure said second ends of said first and second cover portions together.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Storable tire assembly for a vehicle

Life of this patent

Storable tire assembly for a vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10