US4387071A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Non-pneumatic tire and method of making the same
Assignee: ENGINEERING PRODUCTS OF AMERICA COMPOSED OF WILLIAM J KIRKHUFF
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Filing: 1981-10-26
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Granted: 1983-06-07
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Expires: 2001-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A non-pneumatic tire for a wheel comprising a hollow inner tube, an outer casing completely encasing the inner tube, and an elongated flexible element tightly tied within the inner tube. The tire can be made by forming an opening in the wall of the inner tube, inserting an elongated flexible element through the passage of the inner tube, deforming the inner tube and tying the end portions of the elongated flexible element together through the opening with the tube in its deformed configuration. The opening is then sealed and the outer casing is molded around the inner tube.
Inventors
- 👤 William J. Kirkhuff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:05
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D30/00; B29D30/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of making a non-pneumatic tire comprising: providing a tube in a generally hoop-like configuration and having a circumferentially extending passage, an opening in the wall of the tube leading to the passage, and an elongated flexible element extending through said passage and having end portions; attaching the end portions of the elongated flexible element together, utilizing said opening in the tube wall with said flexible element tightly circumferentially gripping the tube; and molding a casing over the tube.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of making a non-pneumatic tire comprising: providing a tube in a generally hoop-like configuration and having a circumferentially extending passage, an opening in the wall of the tube leading to the passage, and an elongated flexible element extending through said passage and having end portions; attaching the end portions of the elongated flexible element together, utilizing said opening in the tube wall with said flexible element tightly circumferentially gripping the tube; and molding a casing over the tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said step of attaching includes bringing the end portions of the elongated flexible element through the opening and tying the end portions together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as defined in claim 1 or 2 including deforming the hoop-like configuration and carrying out said step of attaching with the tube deformed whereby the elongated flexible element is caused to tightly circumferentially grip the tube when the tube is returned from the deformed hoop-like configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 1 including sealing said opening in the tube prior to said step of molding.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said step of molding includes providing a mold cavity of ring-like configuration having an inner periphery which is longer circumferentially than the inner periphery of the tube, forcing the tube into said mold cavity, spacing regions of the inner periphery of the tube from the inner periphery of the mold cavity, injecting a flowable material into the mold cavity to form the casing, and removing the tube and casing as a unit from the mold cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as defined in claim 5 including sealing said opening in the tube prior to said step of molding, said step of attaching includes deforming the hoop-like configuration of the tube and tying the end portions of the flexible element together in a knot with the tube in the deformed hoop-like configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said step of providing includes providing said tube with said passage extending axially through the tube and with said tube having end portions and joining said end portions to form the tube into said hoop-like configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said step of providing includes inserting the elongated flexible element through the opening in the wall of the tube and into the passage of the tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
126 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said step of molding includes providing a mold comprising first and second mold sections with each of the mold sections having a recess which cooperates to define a mold cavity, said mold cavity being of ring-like configuration and having an inner periphery which is longer circumferentially than the inner periphery of the tube, positioning the tube on said first mold section with the tube being partially in the recess of the first mold cavity, and forcing said mold sections together to form the mold cavity and to force the tube into the mold cavity, injecting flowable material into the mold cavity to form the casing, and removing the tube and casing as a unit from the mold cavity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as defined in claim 9 wherein one of said mold sections includes a plurality of projections arranged in a ring-like pattern adjacent the inner periphery of the recess of said first mold section and said step of positioning includes placing the tube over the projections.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of making a tire comprising: providing a tube in a generally hoop-like configuration and having an inner periphery; providing a mold cavity of ring-like configuration having an inner periphery which is longer circumferentially than the inner periphery of the tube; forcing the tube into said mold cavity; spacing regions of the inner periphery of the tube from the inner periphery of the mold cavity; injecting a flowable material into the mold cavity to form a casing around the tube; and removing the tube and casing as a unit from the mold cavity.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of making a tire comprising: providing a tube in a generally hoop-like configuration and having an inner periphery; providing a mold cavity of ring-like configuration having an inner periphery which is longer circumferentially than the inner periphery of the tube; forcing the tube into said mold cavity; spacing regions of the inner periphery of the tube from the inner periphery of the mold cavity; injecting a flowable material into the mold cavity to form a casing around the tube; and removing the tube and casing as a unit from the mold cavity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as defined in claim 11 wherein the mold cavity has a plurality of projections on its inner periphery and said step of forcing forces the tube over said projections whereby regions of the inner periphery of the tube are spaced from the inner periphery of the mold cavity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method as defined in claim 11 wherein said step of providing a mold cavity includes providing a mold comprising first and second mold sections with each of the mold sections having a recess which cooperates to define the mold cavity, said step of forcing includes positioning the tube on said first mold section and forcing the mold sections together to form the mold cavity and to force the tube into the mold cavity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method as defined in claim 13 wherein at least said first mold section has a plurality of projections which project from the inner periphery of the mold cavity and said step of forcing the mold sections together forces the tube over said projections whereby regions of the inner periphery of the tube are spaced from the inner periphery of the mold cavity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as defined in claim 13 wherein each of said mold sections includes a plurality of projections projecting from the inner periphery of the mold cavity and said step of forcing forces the tube over the projections whereby regions of the inner periphery of the tube are spaced from the inner periphery of the mold cavity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
A mold as defined in claim 1 wherein said mold sections have confronting faces and including projecting means on the confronting face of said first mold section for supporting a tube adjacent the ring-like recess thereof, said projecting means lying radially inwardly of said last-mentioned ring-like recess.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-06 | 1986-12-06 | 1987-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-06 | 1990-12-06 | 1991-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-06 | 1994-12-06 | 1995-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |