US8109308B2 — Tension-based non-pneumatic tire

Claim 1

Independent Claim 201 words

A non-pneumatic tire for supporting an applied load comprising: a generally annular inner ring having an axis of rotation; a deformable generally annular outer ring; and a flexible interconnected web extending between said inner and said outer ring, the interconnected web comprising at least two radially adjacent layers of web elements at every radial cross-section of said tire, the web elements defining a plurality of generally polygonal openings that extend along the axis of rotation, the web elements comprising at least one radial web element that is angled relative to a plane that extends radially through the axis of rotation and at least one tangential web element that is generally traverse to the radial plane, and a substantial amount of said applied load is supported by the plurality of said web elements working in tension, wherein, when the applied load is applied, a plurality of the radial web elements in a region above the axis of rotation are subjected to a tensile force while at least some of the radial web elements in a region between the applied load and a footprint region buckle and a plurality of the tangential web elements distribute the applied load through the flexible interconnected web.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 201 words

A non-pneumatic tire for supporting an applied load comprising: a generally annular inner ring having an axis of rotation; a deformable generally annular outer ring; and a flexible interconnected web extending between said inner and said outer ring, the interconnected web comprising at least two radially adjacent layers of web elements at every radial cross-section of said tire, the web elements defining a plurality of generally polygonal openings that extend along the axis of rotation, the web elements comprising at least one radial web element that is angled relative to a plane that extends radially through the axis of rotation and at least one tangential web element that is generally traverse to the radial plane, and a substantial amount of said applied load is supported by the plurality of said web elements working in tension, wherein, when the applied load is applied, a plurality of the radial web elements in a region above the axis of rotation are subjected to a tensile force while at least some of the radial web elements in a region between the applied load and a footprint region buckle and a plurality of the tangential web elements distribute the applied load through the flexible interconnected web.

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 ring 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 44 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said inner ring has a first thickness, said 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 26 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , further comprising web elements that extend in a substantially radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation.

Claim 12

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 13

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 3 sides.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of generally polygonal openings are generally hexagonally shaped.

Claim 15

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 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 14 wherein a first joined segment is circumferentially offset from an adjoining segment.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 30 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 14 , wherein a first joined segment has an interconnected web that is substantially similar to an interconnected web of a second joined segment.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 27 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 19

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 20

Dependent Claim 29 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said interconnected web comprises a generally continuous, generally radially constant web element intermediate said inner ring and said outer ring.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 18 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said inner ring is adhesively engaged with said wheel.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said inner ring is chemically bonded to said wheel.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 18 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said inner ring is mechanically connected to said wheel.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 17 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said interconnected web is made of a polymer.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 16 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein said web elements comprise additional strengthening components.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 21 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , further comprising a sidewall along at least a portion of the interconnected web.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 21 words

A non-pneumatic tire of claim 25 , wherein said sidewall is attached to at least a portion of said interconnected web.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 22 words

A non-pneumatic tire of claim 25 , wherein said sidewall is integrally formed with at least a portion of said interconnected web.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 21 words

A non-pneumatic tire of claim 25 , wherein said sidewall has a domed shape that extends away from the interconnected web.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 24 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , further comprising a tread carrying layer affixed to a radially external surface of said outer ring.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 16 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 29 , wherein said tread carrying layer comprises reinforcing belts.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 30 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 29 , wherein a cross-section of said tread carrying layer taken along a plane extending radially from the tire's center has a rounded shape.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 30 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 29 , wherein a cross-section of said tread carrying layer taken along a plane extending radially from the tire's center has a crowned shape.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 235 words

A non-pneumatic tire comprising: a generally annular inner ring that attaches to a wheel, a generally annular outer ring, a radially external surface engaging a tread carrying layer, an interconnected web between said generally annular inner ring and said generally annular outer ring, and an axis of rotation; said interconnected web comprising web elements 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 ring 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 an applied load by working in tension; wherein the first plurality of generally quadrilaterally-shaped openings and the second plurality of generally quadrilaterally-shaped openings face a direction parallel to the axis of rotation, wherein, when the applied load is applied, the applied load is distributed throughout the web elements with the web elements positioned above the axis of rotation and directly aligned with the direction of the applied load being in tension.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 235 words

A non-pneumatic tire comprising: a generally annular inner ring that attaches to a wheel, a generally annular outer ring, a radially external surface engaging a tread carrying layer, an interconnected web between said generally annular inner ring and said generally annular outer ring, and an axis of rotation; said interconnected web comprising web elements 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 ring 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 an applied load by working in tension; wherein the first plurality of generally quadrilaterally-shaped openings and the second plurality of generally quadrilaterally-shaped openings face a direction parallel to the axis of rotation, wherein, when the applied load is applied, the applied load is distributed throughout the web elements with the web elements positioned above the axis of rotation and directly aligned with the direction of the applied load being in tension.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 16 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 33 , said tread carrying layer comprising a reinforcing-belted tread.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 26 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein at least 75% of said load is supported in tension by the plurality of said web elements.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 26 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein at least 85% of said load is supported in tension by the plurality of said web elements.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 26 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein at least 95% of said load is supported in tension by the plurality of said web elements.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 21 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , further comprising a side wall coupled to the plurality of said web elements.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 23 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 33 , wherein at least 75% of said load is supported in tension by the interconnected web.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 23 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 33 , wherein at least 85% of said load is supported in tension by the interconnected web.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 23 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 33 , wherein at least 95% of said load is supported in tension by the interconnected web.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 18 words

A non-pneumatic tire according to claim 33 , further comprising a side wall coupled to the interconnected web.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2015-02-06	2015-08-08	2016-02-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2019-02-06	2019-08-08	2020-02-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2023-02-06	2023-08-08	2024-02-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Tension-based non-pneumatic tire

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