Tire and wheel assemblies

Claim 2

A pneumatic tire having a tread area and a pair of sidewalls defining an interior surface, each sidewall having an annular bead and having attached to but separate from its interior surface a closed enclosing means extending around the circumference of the tire in a position opposite said beads and containing a lubricant for the interior surfaces of the tire, means for releasing said lubricant from said enclosing means onto the interior surfaces of the tire which contact each other upon substantial under-inflation or deflation of the tire to facilitate relative movement between the contacting interior surfaces of the tire.

Claim 3

A pneumatic tire according to claim 1 in which the enclosing means is positioned on the interior surface of the tire radially inwardly of the tread edge.

Claim 4

A pneumatic tire according to claim 1 in which the enclosing means is an encapsulating material in the form of small particles which enclose a small portion of the lubricant.

Claim 5

A pneumatic tire according to claim 3 in which the encapsulating material is a resin.

Claim 6

A pneumatic tire according to claim 3 in which the encapsulating material is a plastic.

Claim 7

A pneumatic tire and wheel assembly capable of being run in a deflated condition comprising: a. a tire and a wheel upon which the tire is mounted to define therewith an inflation chamber, said wheel having a rim with a pair of opposed annular flanges and means for preventing the tire from becoming dislodged from the wheel when being run deflated and b. a closed enclosing means extending around the circumference of the inflation chamber in a position opposite said flanges and attached to but separate from the interior surface of the tire, containing lubricating material for the interior surfaces of the tire, which enclosing means releases the lubricating material onto the interior surfaces of the tire which contact each other when the assembly is used with the tire in a deflated condition to facilitate relative movement between the contacting interior surfaces of the tire.

Claim 8

A pneumatic tire and wheel assembly capable of being run in a deflated condition comprising: a. a tire and a wheel upon which the tire is mounted to define therewith an inflation chamber, said wheel having a rim with a pair of opposed annular flanges and means for preventing the tire from becoming dislodged from the wheel when being run deflated and b. a closed enclosing means extending around the circumference of the inflation chamber in a position opposite said flanges and attached to but separate from the interior surface of the tire, containing lubricating material for the interior surfaces of the tire, which enclosing means releases the lubricating material onto the interior surfaces of the tire which contact each other when the assembly is used with the tire in a deflated condition to facilitate relative movement between the contacting interior surfaces of the tire.

Claim 9

A tire and wheel assembly according to claim 6 including means to release the lubricating material from the enclosing means when the pressure in the inflation chamber falls below a predetermined value.

Claim 10

A tire and wheel assembly according to claim 6 including means to release the lubricating material from the enclosing means when the temperature in the inflation chamber exceeds a predetermined value.

Claim 11

A tire and wheel assembly according to claim 6 in which the enclosing means comprises a sachet.

Claim 12

A tire and wheel assembly according to claim 6 in which the enclosing means comprising a plurality of lubricant containers mounted on an annular band disposed in the inflation chamber.

Claim 13

A tire and wheel assembly according to claim 6 in which the tire has a tread width which is greater than the width of the rim between the flanges thereon.

Claim 14

A tire and wheel assembly according to claim 6 in which the tire has an aspect ratio of between 30 and 75%.

Claim 15

A tire and wheel assembly according to claim 12 in which the tire has an aspect ratio of between 55 and 70%.

Claim 16

A tire and wheel assembly according to claim 9 in which the wheel rim is a rim without a well.

Claim 17

A tire and wheel assembly according to claim 9 in which the means for preventing the tire from becoming dislodged from the wheel when being run deflated comprises a retaining member for maintaining at least the laterally outer bead of the tire in position against the flange of the wheel.

Claim 18

A pneumatic tire and wheel assembly capable of being run in a deflated condition comprising: a. a tire and wheel upon which the tire is mounted to define therewith an inflation chamber, said wheel having a rim with a pair of opposed annular flanges and means for preventing the tire from becoming dislodged from the wheel when being run deflated, b. the entire interior surface of the tire and the inflation chamber being free of intermediate supporting structure so that when the assembly is run deflated, opposed internal surfaces of the tire come into contact, and c. a closed enclosing means extending around the circumference of the inflation chamber in a position opposite said flanges and attached to but separate from the interior surface of the tire, containing lubricating material for the interior surfaces of the tire, which enclosing means releases the lubricating material onto the contacting interior surfaces of the tire in response to impact or abrasion when the assembly is used with the tire in a deflated condition to facilitate relative movement between the contacting interior surfaces of the tire.

Claim 19

A pneumatic tire and wheel assembly capable of being run in a deflated condition comprising: a. a tire and wheel upon which the tire is mounted to define therewith an inflation chamber, said wheel having a rim with a pair of opposed annular flanges and means for preventing the tire from becoming dislodged from the wheel when being run deflated, b. the entire interior surface of the tire and the inflation chamber being free of intermediate supporting structure so that when the assembly is run deflated, opposed internal surfaces of the tire come into contact, and c. a closed enclosing means extending around the circumference of the inflation chamber in a position opposite said flanges and attached to but separate from the interior surface of the tire, containing lubricating material for the interior surfaces of the tire, which enclosing means releases the lubricating material onto the contacting interior surfaces of the tire in response to impact or abrasion when the assembly is used with the tire in a deflated condition to facilitate relative movement between the contacting interior surfaces of the tire.