Wheel and tire assembly and method of assembly

Claim 2

1 . A wheel assembly comprising: a rigid wheel including a cylindrical rim portion that is parallel with an axis of rotation of the wheel and includes a transversely flat outer surface corresponding to at least eighty percent of the total width of the rim portion, the rim portion including a plurality of receptacles; an airless tire mounted on the rim portion of the wheel, the tire including— a cylindrical tire body presenting a transversely flat inner surface that engages the outer surface of the wheel and a transversely flat outer surface, a plurality of drive lugs spaced circumferentially around the tire and extending radially inwardly from the tire body and engaging the receptacles, and a plurality of traction lugs spaced circumferentially around the tire and extending radially outwardly from the tire body.

Claim 3

2 . The wheel assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a tension member secured to the tire and extending circumferentially around the tire, the tension member being more resilient than the tire body.

Claim 4

3 . The wheel assembly of claim 2 , the tension member being embedded in the tire.

Claim 5

4 . The wheel assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first tension member embedded in a first axial side of the tire and a second tension member embedded in a second axial side of the tire, each of the first and second tension members extending circumferentially around the tire and being more resilient than the tire body.

Claim 6

5 . The wheel assembly of claim 1 , the tire body presenting a width to thickness ratio between 5 and 20.

Claim 7

6 . The wheel assembly of claim 1 , the tire being between eight inches and sixteen inches wide.

Claim 8

7 . The wheel assembly of claim 1 , the tire being between one-half inch and three inches thick.

Claim 9

8 . The wheel assembly of claim 1 , the rim portion of the wheel being between one-fourth and one-half of an inch thick.

Claim 10

9 . The wheel assembly of claim 1 , the wheel comprising a first half corresponding to a first axial side of the wheel and a second half corresponding to a second axial half of the wheel, the first half and the second half being joined removably joined.

Claim 11

10 . A wheel assembly comprising: a rigid wheel comprising a first axial side and a second axial side, each of the sides including— a flange for securing to the other side of the wheel, and a cylindrical rim portion presenting an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge connected to a radially outer edge of the flange, the cylindrical rim portion presenting a transversely flat outer surface between the inner edge and the outer edge, the outer surface being parallel with an axis of rotation of the wheel, the rim portion and the flange defining a plurality of receptacles; an airless flexible tire mounted on the wheel, the tire including— a cylindrical tire body with a width to thickness ratio between 8 and 20, the body presenting a transversely flat inner surface engaging the outer surface of the wheel, a plurality of drive lugs spaced circumferentially around the tire and extending radially inwardly from the tire body and engaging the receptacles, and a plurality of traction lugs spaced circumferentially around the tire and extending radially outwardly from the tire body; a first tension member embedded in a first axial side of the tire and extending longitudinally around the tire, the first tension member being more resilient than the tire body; and a second tension member embedded in a second axial side of the tire and extending longitudinally around the tire, the second tension member being more resilient than the tire body.

Claim 12

10 . A wheel assembly comprising: a rigid wheel comprising a first axial side and a second axial side, each of the sides including— a flange for securing to the other side of the wheel, and a cylindrical rim portion presenting an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge connected to a radially outer edge of the flange, the cylindrical rim portion presenting a transversely flat outer surface between the inner edge and the outer edge, the outer surface being parallel with an axis of rotation of the wheel, the rim portion and the flange defining a plurality of receptacles; an airless flexible tire mounted on the wheel, the tire including— a cylindrical tire body with a width to thickness ratio between 8 and 20, the body presenting a transversely flat inner surface engaging the outer surface of the wheel, a plurality of drive lugs spaced circumferentially around the tire and extending radially inwardly from the tire body and engaging the receptacles, and a plurality of traction lugs spaced circumferentially around the tire and extending radially outwardly from the tire body; a first tension member embedded in a first axial side of the tire and extending longitudinally around the tire, the first tension member being more resilient than the tire body; and a second tension member embedded in a second axial side of the tire and extending longitudinally around the tire, the second tension member being more resilient than the tire body.

Claim 13

11 . The wheel assembly of claim 10 , the traction lug presenting an elongated shape, extending transversely across at least a portion of the outer surface of the tire, and being at least as thick as the tire body.

Claim 14

12 . The wheel assembly of claim 10 , each of the first tension member and the second tension member being a metal cable.

Claim 15

13 . The wheel assembly of claim 10 , the tire body being between one-half inch and three inches thick and between eight inches and sixteen inches wide.

Claim 16

14 . The wheel assembly of claim 10 , the wheel being between thirty-six inches and forty-eight inches in diameter.

Claim 17

15 . A method of assembling a wheel assembly, the method comprising: placing a first portion of a wheel in engagement with an airless tire such that a first plurality of drive lugs of the tire engage a plurality of receptacles of the first portion of the wheel; placing a second portion of a wheel in engagement with the airless tire such that a second plurality of drive lugs of the tire engage a plurality of receptacles of the second portion of the wheel; and removably fastening the first portion of the wheel to the second portion of the wheel.

Claim 18

15 . A method of assembling a wheel assembly, the method comprising: placing a first portion of a wheel in engagement with an airless tire such that a first plurality of drive lugs of the tire engage a plurality of receptacles of the first portion of the wheel; placing a second portion of a wheel in engagement with the airless tire such that a second plurality of drive lugs of the tire engage a plurality of receptacles of the second portion of the wheel; and removably fastening the first portion of the wheel to the second portion of the wheel.

Claim 19

16 . The method of claim 15 , the first portion of the wheel corresponding to a first axial side of wheel and the second portion of the wheel corresponding to a second axial side of the wheel.

Claim 20

17 . The method of claim 16 , the first portion of the wheel and the second portion of the wheel each including an outer rim portion such that when the wheel is assembled the outer rim portions engage an inner surface of the airless tire and are axially separated by a space.

Claim 21

18 . The method of claim 17 , the tire being configured such that, when the wheel assembly is assembled, axial sides of the tire engage the outer rim portions of the wheel and a central portion of the tire flexes inwardly between the rim portions in response to ground engaging pressure.

Claim 22

19 . The method of claim 15 , the airless tire presenting a cylindrically-shaped body with a width to thickness ration between five and twenty.

Claim 23

20 . The method of claim 19 , the airless tire being between one-half inch and three inches thick and between eight inches and sixteen inches wide.