Wheel and tire assembly, method of manufacture and use thereof

Inventor: Michael Andrews (Cheshire, GB)

Assignee: Kenda Manufacturing GB Limited

B60C7/146 B60B9/26 B60C7/105 B60C7/24 B60B2360/32

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12661931
App. No.: 18/025,702
Granted: Jun 23, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A wheel assembly incorporating a non-pneumatic tyre, said assembly including first inner web or rib members and one or more second outer web or rib members. The web or rib members comprise flexible or resilient material where the first inner web members are less flexible or substantially more rigid than the second outer web members.

Claims (19)

1 . A wheel assembly incorporating a non-pneumatic tire, said assembly including;

inner web or rib members and one or more outer web or rib members;

said assembly including a core means forming at least part of a wheel hub;

an annular ring that separates the inner and outer web or rib members where the inner web or rib members are non-linear and extend from the core means to the annular ring,

said inner and outer web or rib members comprising polymer material characterized in that the inner and outer web or rib members form a series of resilient or flexible fingers including at least one bend or curve in the region where the inner or outer web or rib members meets or attaches to the annular ring;

the outer web or rib members are encased in a polymeric material thereby preventing them from going beyond their elastic limit and providing protection to the inner web or rib members from frequent small impacts during the course of use; and

wherein the outer web or rib members extend from the annular ring and are thinner and more flexible than the inner web or rib members to provide a degree of protection of the inner web or rib members from frequent small impacts during the course of use.

2 . A wheel assembly according to claim 1 wherein the inner and outer web or rib members comprise a thermoplastic polymer.

3 . A wheel assembly according to claim 1 wherein the inner web or rib members are C-shaped or S-shaped.

4 . A wheel assembly according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is tire or tire tread material.

5 . A wheel assembly according to claim 1 wherein the outer web or rib members are encased with foamed polyurethane polymeric material.

6 . A wheel assembly according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is applied in one or more layers of different properties.

7 . A wheel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the annular ring and the outer web or rib members are completely encased by the polymeric material.

8 . A wheel assembly according to claim 1 wherein the wheel assembly includes an inner ring.

9 . A wheel assembly according to claim 8 wherein the inner ring and annular ring are arranged in a concentric arrangement with the inner web or rib members extending between the inner ring and annular ring.

10 . A wheel assembly according to claim 9 wherein the outer web or rib members are smaller in length or diameter than the inner web or rib members.

11 . A wheel assembly according to claim 9 wherein the outer web or rib members are substantially the same shape and extend radially from the annular ring.

12 . A wheel assembly according to claim 9 wherein the inner web or rib members are substantially the same shape and extend radially from the hub or inner ring.

13 . A wheel assembly according to claim 12 wherein the inner web or rib members are encased or encapsulated in polymeric material.