Replaceable resilient tire

Claim 1

A resilient tire capable of being removably mounted on a rim defined by a circular web of substantial width that has a pair of laterally spaced flanges projecting outwardly from the edges thereof, said web and flanges cooperating to define a circumferentially extending space therebetween, said tire including: a. an elongate flexible body having first and second ends, said body having a transverse cross section that includes an inner section of such shape as to fit snuggle within said space and an outer section of a generally semi-circular shape, said inner and outer sections defining a pair of laterally spaced shoulders at their junction, said body having a longitudinal passage therein of tear shape transverse cross section that has the portion of narrowest width thereof in said inner section, and said body of such length that when said first and second ends are in abutting contact the innermost surface of said first section is substantially the same diameter as the part of the external surface of said web with which it will be aligned when said body extends circumferentially about said rim to define said tire thereon; b. a rod of resilient polymerized resin that is disposed in said passage, said rod having first and second ends in which first and second transverse circumferential grooves are formed, said rod when said first and second ends thereof are adjacently positioned holding said first and seconds of said elongate body in abutting contact, and said rod having a longitudinal centerline that is disposed inwardly from the other extremities of said flanges when said body is disposed on said rim with said first and second ends in abutting contact to define said tire; and c. fastening means disposable within said passage to hold said first and second ends of said rod adjacently disposed, with said body, rod, and fastening means when disposed on said rim to define said tire not being laterally displaceable therefrom due to said centerline of said rod being inwardly disposed from the outer extremities of said flanges and said fastening means is a tubular sleeve disposed in said passage and extending over adjacent sections of said length in which said grooves are formed, said sleeve being defined by a permanently deformable material, and said sleeve including first and second transverse circumferential portions that by pressure are deformed inwardly to engage said grooves to maintain said first and second ends of said length adjacently disposed.