Non-pneumatic tire

Claim 1

A method of making an endless, integrally molded wheelchair tire, or the like, comprising the steps of: forming a length of vulcanizable elastomeric material having a continuous longitudinal notch in one side thereof; positioning the length of material circumferentially about an endless fixture with the notch to the outside, with the ends of the length in substantial abutting relationship; placing a tensile member in the notch while the length of material is positioned about the fixture, with the tensile member extending continuously about such notch, to define a tire preform; inserting the tire preform, apart from the fixture, into a mold cavity and mold curing the preform to form an endless, integrally molded tire having a tensile member embedded therein.

Claim 2

A method of making an endless, integrally molded wheelchair tire, or the like, comprising the steps of: forming a length of vulcanizable elastomeric material having a continuous longitudinal notch in one side thereof; positioning the length of material circumferentially about an endless fixture with the notch to the outside, with the ends of the length in substantial abutting relationship; placing a tensile member in the notch while the length of material is positioned about the fixture, with the tensile member extending continuously about such notch, to define a tire preform; inserting the tire preform, apart from the fixture, into a mold cavity and mold curing the preform to form an endless, integrally molded tire having a tensile member embedded therein.

Claim 6

A method for the production of reinforced endless and non-jointed solid core tires adapted to be snapped on to an associated channel-shaped rim, comprising: forming an elastomeric core having a notch extending longitudinally along an outer surface portion of the core; wrapping a length of the core circumferentially about an endless support with the notched surface portion disposed radially outwardly, bringing opposite ends of the core into substantial abuttment; winding a strain-resisting filamentary reinforcement member in the notch circumferentially about the core for at least one full turn, to form a preform; removing the preform from its support; and thereafter mold forming the preform under heat and pressure whereby the reinforcement becomes integrally embedded with the interior of the endless tire core.

Claim 7

A method for the production of reinforced endless and non-jointed solid core tires adapted to be snapped on to an associated channel-shaped rim, comprising: forming an elastomeric core having a notch extending longitudinally along an outer surface portion of the core; wrapping a length of the core circumferentially about an endless support with the notched surface portion disposed radially outwardly, bringing opposite ends of the core into substantial abuttment; winding a strain-resisting filamentary reinforcement member in the notch circumferentially about the core for at least one full turn, to form a preform; removing the preform from its support; and thereafter mold forming the preform under heat and pressure whereby the reinforcement becomes integrally embedded with the interior of the endless tire core.

Claim 12

A method for the production of reinforced endless and non-jointed solid core tires adapted to be snapped on to an associated channel-shaped rim, the finished tire having a base portion adapted to fit against the rim, and an outer tread portion, comprising: extruding an elastomeric core having a notch extending longitudinally along an outer surface portion of the core corresponding to the tread portion of the finished tire; wrapping a length of the core circumferentially about an endless support with the notched surface portion disposed radially outwardly, bringing opposite ends of the core into substantial abuttment; winding a heat shrinkable strain-resisting filamentary reinforcement member in the notch circumferentially about the core for a plurality of full turns, to form a preform; and mold forming the preform under heat and pressure whereby the reinforcement contracts radially inwardly and becomes integrally embedded adjacent the center of the cross section of the endless tire core and spaced substantially from sidewalls of the tire core.

Claim 13

A method for the production of reinforced endless and non-jointed solid core tires adapted to be snapped on to an associated channel-shaped rim, the finished tire having a base portion adapted to fit against the rim, and an outer tread portion, comprising: extruding an elastomeric core having a notch extending longitudinally along an outer surface portion of the core corresponding to the tread portion of the finished tire; wrapping a length of the core circumferentially about an endless support with the notched surface portion disposed radially outwardly, bringing opposite ends of the core into substantial abuttment; winding a heat shrinkable strain-resisting filamentary reinforcement member in the notch circumferentially about the core for a plurality of full turns, to form a preform; and mold forming the preform under heat and pressure whereby the reinforcement contracts radially inwardly and becomes integrally embedded adjacent the center of the cross section of the endless tire core and spaced substantially from sidewalls of the tire core.