Adjusting expandable rim width using a band

An expandable rim for mounting a tire thereon, comprising;

• a base portion including a cylindrical structure proximate the axis of rotation of the expandable rim;
• a rim portion including a rim segment, a first flange segment positioned on one side of the rim segment and a second flange segment positioned on an opposite side of the rim segment, the rim segment defining a circular curvature, the rim segment having an original rim width measured along a rotation axis of the expandable rim between inward facing surfaces of the first flange segment and the second flange segment;
• and
• a band positioned around a circumference of the rim segment, the band positioned contiguous with an inward facing surface of the first flange segment;
• wherein said expandable rim is configured so that it may be expanded in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rim, and
• wherein the rim portion has an adjusted rim width measured along the rotation axis between a band inward facing surface and the inward facing surface of the second flange segment, the adjusted rim width different from the original rim width;
• wherein the band includes a plurality of band segments, each of the plurality of band segments defining a circular curvature corresponding to the circular curvature of the rim segment, each of the plurality of band segments positioned on a segment of the circumference of the rim segment, each of the plurality of band segments securely retained on the rim segment via a retaining member positioned around each of the plurality of band segments.

A method comprising:

• assembling a plurality of shoes to form a cylindrical rim structure of an expandable rim, each of the plurality of shoes including a rim portion and a base portion, the rim portion including a rim segment, a first flange segment on one side of the rim segment and a second flange segment on an opposite side of the rim segment, the rim segment having an original rim width measured along the rotation axis between inward facing surfaces of the first flange segment and the second flange segment;
• and
• positioning a band around a circumference of the cylindrical rim structure on the rim segment of each of the plurality of shoes, the band positioned contiguous with the first flange segment,
• wherein said expandable rim is configured so that it may be expanded in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rim, and wherein the expandable rim has an adjusted rim width measured along the rotation axis between a band inward facing surface and an inward facing surface of the second flange segment, the adjusted rim width different than the original rim width;
• wherein the band includes a plurality of band segments, each of the plurality of band segments defining a circular curvature corresponding to a circular curvature of the rim segment, each of the plurality of band segments positioned on a segment of the circumference of the rim segment, each of the plurality of band segments securely retained on the rim segment via a retaining member positioned around each of the plurality of band segments.