Wheel and tire assembly

Claim 2

1 . A wheel assembly comprising: a rigid wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced mounting elements extending radially outwardly from the wheel; and an airless flexible tire mounted on the wheel and engaging the mounting elements such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements are separated radially from the wheel by a space, the portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements being configured to flex inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure.

Claim 3

2 . The wheel assembly of claim 1 , the tire including a plurality of traction lugs extending radially outwardly from an outer side of the tire, the traction lugs spaced circumferentially around the tire.

Claim 4

3 . The wheel assembly of claim 2 , wherein one of the plurality of traction lugs is larger than adjacent traction lugs.

Claim 5

4 . The wheel assembly of claim 2 , the traction lugs being located between the mounting elements such that the traction lugs move inwardly with the portions of the tire configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure

Claim 6

5 . The wheel assembly of claim 1 , the mounting elements presenting an elongated shape and being positioned transversely on the wheel.

Claim 7

6 . The wheel assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of spacers, each spacer positioned between consecutive mounting elements and configured to limit the amount of inward flex of the tire.

Claim 8

7 . The wheel as set forth in claim 1 , an outer side of the tire presenting a truncated cone shape.

Claim 9

8 . The wheel assembly of claim 1 , the tire being cylindrical in shape and presenting a transversely flat outer side.

Claim 10

9 . The wheel assembly of claim 1 , the tire being cylindrical in shape and presenting a transversely concave outer side.

Claim 11

10 . The wheel assembly of claim 1 , the tire being a single, solid piece of material of unitary construction.

Claim 12

11 . A wheel assembly comprising: a rigid wheel including a radially outer cylindrical rim wall, the wheel including a plurality of mounting elements extending radially outwardly from the rim wall; and an airless cylindrical flexible tire mounted on the rim wall and engaging the mounting elements such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements are separated from the rim wall by a space, the portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements being configured to flex inwardly toward the rim wall when subject to ground engaging pressure.

Claim 13

11 . A wheel assembly comprising: a rigid wheel including a radially outer cylindrical rim wall, the wheel including a plurality of mounting elements extending radially outwardly from the rim wall; and an airless cylindrical flexible tire mounted on the rim wall and engaging the mounting elements such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements are separated from the rim wall by a space, the portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements being configured to flex inwardly toward the rim wall when subject to ground engaging pressure.

Claim 14

12 . The wheel assembly of claim 11 , the tire include a plurality of traction lugs extending radially outwardly from an outer side of the tire, the traction lugs spaced circumferentially around the tire and located between the mounting elements such that the traction lugs move inwardly with the portions of the tire configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure.

Claim 15

13 . The wheel assembly of claim 12 , wherein one of the plurality of traction lugs is larger than adjacent traction lugs, the larger traction lug presenting a greater radial reach than the adjacent traction lugs.

Claim 16

14 . The wheel assembly of claim 11 , the tire including a plurality of radially inwardly extending spacers, each spacer positioned between two consecutive mounting elements and configured to limit the amount of inward flex of the tire.

Claim 17

15 . The wheel as set forth in claim 14 , the tire presenting an outer truncated cone shape.

Claim 18

16 . The wheel assembly of claim 11 , the tire presenting a transversely flat outer side.

Claim 19

17 . The wheel assembly of claim 11 , the tire being a single, solid piece of material of unitary construction.

Claim 20

18 . A mobile irrigation system tower comprising: a structure for supporting an irrigation system conduit; and a plurality of wheel assemblies supporting the structure, each wheel assembly including—a rigid wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially outermost mounting elements; and a flexible airless tire mounted on the wheel and engaging the mounting elements such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements are separated from the wheel by a space, the portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements being configured to flex inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure.

Claim 21

18 . A mobile irrigation system tower comprising: a structure for supporting an irrigation system conduit; and a plurality of wheel assemblies supporting the structure, each wheel assembly including—a rigid wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially outermost mounting elements; and a flexible airless tire mounted on the wheel and engaging the mounting elements such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements are separated from the wheel by a space, the portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements being configured to flex inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure.

Claim 22

19 . The mobile irrigation system tower of claim 18 , the flexible tire including a plurality of traction lugs extending radially outwardly from an outer surface of the tire, the traction lugs spaced circumferentially around the tire and located between the mounting elements such that the traction lugs move inwardly with the portions of the tire configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure.

Claim 23

20 . The wheel assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of spacers, each spacer positioned between two consecutive mounting elements and configured to limit the amount of inward flex of the tire.

Claim 24

21 . A wheel assembly comprising: a rigid wheel including a radially outer cylindrical rim wall, the wheel including a plurality of mounting elements extending radially outwardly from the rim wall, the mounting elements presenting an elongated shape and positioned transversely on the rim wall; an airless cylindrical flexible tire mounted on the rim wall and engaging the mounting elements such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements are separated from the rim wall by a space, the portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements being configured to flex inwardly toward the rim wall when subject to ground engaging pressure, the tire being a single solid piece of material of unitary construction presenting a transversely flat outer side; a plurality of traction lugs extending radially outwardly from an outer side of the tire, the traction lugs spaced circumferentially around the tire and located between the mounting elements such that the traction lugs move inwardly with the portions of the tire configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure; and a plurality of spacers interposed between the wheel and the tire and configured to limit the amount of inward flex of the tire.

Claim 25

21 . A wheel assembly comprising: a rigid wheel including a radially outer cylindrical rim wall, the wheel including a plurality of mounting elements extending radially outwardly from the rim wall, the mounting elements presenting an elongated shape and positioned transversely on the rim wall; an airless cylindrical flexible tire mounted on the rim wall and engaging the mounting elements such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements are separated from the rim wall by a space, the portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements being configured to flex inwardly toward the rim wall when subject to ground engaging pressure, the tire being a single solid piece of material of unitary construction presenting a transversely flat outer side; a plurality of traction lugs extending radially outwardly from an outer side of the tire, the traction lugs spaced circumferentially around the tire and located between the mounting elements such that the traction lugs move inwardly with the portions of the tire configured to flex inwardly when subject to ground engaging pressure; and a plurality of spacers interposed between the wheel and the tire and configured to limit the amount of inward flex of the tire.

Claim 26

22 . A wheel assembly comprising: a) an inner support having at least 5 circumferentially spaced-apart mounting elements; and b) an airless component positioned over the inner support such that the mounting elements directly support portions of the component that engage the mounting elements but do not directly support portions of the component between the mounting elements, wherein the portions of the component between the mounting elements flex inwardly when subjected to ground-engaging forces.

Claim 27

22 . A wheel assembly comprising: a) an inner support having at least 5 circumferentially spaced-apart mounting elements; and b) an airless component positioned over the inner support such that the mounting elements directly support portions of the component that engage the mounting elements but do not directly support portions of the component between the mounting elements, wherein the portions of the component between the mounting elements flex inwardly when subjected to ground-engaging forces.

Claim 28

23 . The wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner support comprises a rigid wheel and the circumferentially-spaced mounting elements extend radially outwardly from a center of the wheel.

Claim 29

24 . The wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the airless component is an airless tire formed of flexible materials.