US8104524B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 0.4 years remaining
Tension-based non-pneumatic tire
Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC
•
Filing: 2007-03-27
•
Granted: 2012-01-31
•
Expires: 2027-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A non-pneumatic tire for supporting a load by working in tension comprising a generally annular inner surface, a generally annular outer ring, and an interconnected web having a plurality of web elements and comprising a plurality of generally polygonal openings. Web elements are sized, oriented and comprised of a material that facilitates buckling when subjected to a compressive load. By buckling, those elements in a deformed portion of the tire between a hub and a footprint region where the tire contacts a surface may assume a significantly reduced portion of the load, if any. This causes web elements in other portions of the interconnected web to operate in tension to support the load. Since the tire is non-pneumatic, it may be easier to maintain and may have a longer life than standard pneumatic tires since it eliminates the possibility of blowouts, flat tires, or tires operating with low air pressure. By virtue of the portion of the tire in the footprint region not bearing a significant portion of the load, non-pneumatic tire may also exhibit a more comfortable ride subject to less noise and vibration and improved handling capabilities.
Inventors
- 👤 Ali Manesh
- 👤 Michael Tercha
- 👤 Olukemi Ayodeji
- 👤 Brian Anderson
- 👤 Brian J. Meliska
- 👤 Fedelis Ceranski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:46
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B9/00; B60B9/02; B60B9/04; B60C; B60C7/00; B60C7/22; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T152/00; Y10T152/10; Y10T152/10279; Y10T152/10288; Y10T152/10297; Y10T152/10378; Y10T152/10387
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A non-pneumatic tire for supporting an applied load comprising: a generally annular inner surface that engages a hub having an axis of rotation, a generally annular outer ring, an interconnected web between said generally annular inner surface and said generally annular outer ring comprising at least two radially adjacent layers of elements at every radial cross-section of said tire defining a plurality of generally polygonal openings, the interconnected web including a plurality of tangential web elements that are generally aligned with a tangent to a circle centered about the axis of rotation; said generally annular outer ring and said interconnected web being deformable when said tire is subjected to said applied load; wherein a plurality of said web elements are angled relative to a plane containing said axis of rotation to facilitate buckling of said web elements, wherein, when the applied load is applied, web elements in a region above the axis of rotation are subjected to a tensile force while web elements in a region between the applied load and a footprint region are subjected to a smaller portion of the applied load as compared to the remaining portions of the web elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A non-pneumatic tire for supporting an applied load comprising: a generally annular inner surface that engages a hub having an axis of rotation, a generally annular outer ring, an interconnected web between said generally annular inner surface and said generally annular outer ring comprising at least two radially adjacent layers of elements at every radial cross-section of said tire defining a plurality of generally polygonal openings, the interconnected web including a plurality of tangential web elements that are generally aligned with a tangent to a circle centered about the axis of rotation; said generally annular outer ring and said interconnected web being deformable when said tire is subjected to said applied load; wherein a plurality of said web elements are angled relative to a plane containing said axis of rotation to facilitate buckling of said web elements, wherein, when the applied load is applied, web elements in a region above the axis of rotation are subjected to a tensile force while web elements in a region between the applied load and a footprint region are subjected to a smaller portion of the applied load as compared to the remaining portions of the web elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of generally polygonal openings comprises a first plurality of generally polygonal openings having a first shape and a second plurality of generally polygonal openings having a second shape different from said first shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of said first plurality of generally polygonal openings and at least one of said second plurality of generally polygonal openings are traversed when moving in any radially outward direction from said axis of rotation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein each of said first plurality of generally polygonal openings has a first inner boundary spaced at a first radial distance and each of said second plurality of generally polygonal openings has a second inner boundary spaced at a second, greater radial distance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 4 wherein at least one generally polygonal opening of said first plurality of generally polygonal openings is larger than at least one generally polygonal opening of said second plurality of generally polygonal openings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein one web element engages said inner surface at a given location.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein one web element engages said outer ring at a given location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said interconnected web comprises intersections between said web elements, said intersections joining at least three web elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said generally annular inner surface has a first thickness, said generally annular outer ring has a second thickness, and said web elements have a third thickness, said third thickness being smaller than said first thickness or said second thickness.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein each one of said plurality of generally polygonal openings is radially oriented.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein each one of said plurality of generally polygonal openings has at least three sides.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of generally-polygonal openings are generally hexagonally shaped.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of joined segments each having a width narrower than a width of said tire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 13 , wherein a first joined segment is circumferentially offset from an adjoining segment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 13 , wherein a first joined segment has an interconnected web that is substantially similar to an interconnected web of a second joined segment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a relatively radially inner layer of said plurality of generally polygonal openings comprises alternating generally wedge-shaped openings.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein each one of said plurality of generally polygonal openings is generally symmetrical about a radial symmetry plane.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said interconnected web comprises a generally continuous, radial web element that is spaced at a generally constant radial distance from the axis of rotation, the web element being intermediate to said generally annular inner surface and said generally annular outer ring.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said generally annular inner surface is adhesively engaged with said hub.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said generally annular inner surface is chemically bonded to said hub.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said interconnected web is made of a polymer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , further comprising a tread-carrying layer affixed to a radially external surface of said generally annular outer ring.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 22 , wherein said tread-carrying layer comprises reinforcing belts.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
186 words
A non-pneumatic tire comprising: a generally annular inner surface that attaches to a hub, a generally annular outer ring, an interconnected web between said generally annular inner surface and said generally annular outer ring, and an axis of rotation; said interconnected web defining a plurality of openings circumferentially spaced around said tire and radially spaced at varying distances from said axis or rotation, so as to support an applied load by working in tension, said interconnected web including a plurality of web elements and a plurality tangential web elements that are generally aligned with a tangent to a circle centered about the axis of rotation, said plurality of tangential web elements defining, at least in part, at least some of the plurality of openings circumferentially spaced around said tire, wherein, when the applied load is applied, web elements in a region above the axis of rotation are subjected to a tensile force while web elements in a region between the applied load and a footprint region are subjected to a smaller portion of the applied load as compared to the remaining portions of the web elements.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
186 words
A non-pneumatic tire comprising: a generally annular inner surface that attaches to a hub, a generally annular outer ring, an interconnected web between said generally annular inner surface and said generally annular outer ring, and an axis of rotation; said interconnected web defining a plurality of openings circumferentially spaced around said tire and radially spaced at varying distances from said axis or rotation, so as to support an applied load by working in tension, said interconnected web including a plurality of web elements and a plurality tangential web elements that are generally aligned with a tangent to a circle centered about the axis of rotation, said plurality of tangential web elements defining, at least in part, at least some of the plurality of openings circumferentially spaced around said tire, wherein, when the applied load is applied, web elements in a region above the axis of rotation are subjected to a tensile force while web elements in a region between the applied load and a footprint region are subjected to a smaller portion of the applied load as compared to the remaining portions of the web elements.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
218 words
A non-pneumatic tire comprising: a generally annular inner surface that attaches to a hub, a generally annular outer ring, a radially external surface engaging a tread-carrying layer, an interconnected web between said generally annular inner surface and said generally annular outer ring, and an axis of rotation said interconnected web comprising web elements and tangential web elements that are generally aligned with a tangent to a circle centered about the axis of rotation, the interconnected web defining a plurality of generally hexagonally shaped openings circumferentially spaced around said tire and radially spaced at varying distances from said axis of rotation, a first plurality of generally quadrilaterally-shaped openings adjacent said generally annular inner surface and a second plurality of generally quadrilaterally-shaped openings adjacent said generally annular outer ring, each of said first plurality of generally quadrilaterally-shaped openings and each of said second plurality of generally quadrilaterally-shaped openings circumferentially separated from each other of said first plurality of generally quadrilaterally-shaped openings and each other of said second plurality of generally quadrilaterally-shaped openings, respectively, by at least one of said plurality of hexagonally shaped openings, so as to support a load by working in tension, wherein web elements positioned above the axis of rotation and directly aligned with the direction of the applied load bear the greatest portion of the load.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
218 words
A non-pneumatic tire comprising: a generally annular inner surface that attaches to a hub, a generally annular outer ring, a radially external surface engaging a tread-carrying layer, an interconnected web between said generally annular inner surface and said generally annular outer ring, and an axis of rotation said interconnected web comprising web elements and tangential web elements that are generally aligned with a tangent to a circle centered about the axis of rotation, the interconnected web defining a plurality of generally hexagonally shaped openings circumferentially spaced around said tire and radially spaced at varying distances from said axis of rotation, a first plurality of generally quadrilaterally-shaped openings adjacent said generally annular inner surface and a second plurality of generally quadrilaterally-shaped openings adjacent said generally annular outer ring, each of said first plurality of generally quadrilaterally-shaped openings and each of said second plurality of generally quadrilaterally-shaped openings circumferentially separated from each other of said first plurality of generally quadrilaterally-shaped openings and each other of said second plurality of generally quadrilaterally-shaped openings, respectively, by at least one of said plurality of hexagonally shaped openings, so as to support a load by working in tension, wherein web elements positioned above the axis of rotation and directly aligned with the direction of the applied load bear the greatest portion of the load.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 25 , said tread-carrying layer comprising a reinforcing-belted tread.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2015-01-30 | 2015-08-01 | 2016-01-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2019-01-30 | 2019-08-01 | 2020-01-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2023-01-30 | 2023-08-01 | 2024-01-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |