Non-pneumatic tire having molded sidewall cover
View Patent ↗A non-pneumatic tire includes a lower ring having a first diameter and an upper ring having a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The upper ring is substantially coaxial with the lower ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending between the lower ring and the upper ring and a tread layer formed of a rubber material. The non-pneumatic tire also has a sidewall formed of the rubber material and extending seamlessly from the tread layer on a first side of the non-pneumatic tire.
1. A non-pneumatic tire comprising:
a lower ring having a first diameter;
an upper ring having a second diameter greater than the first diameter, the upper ring being substantially coaxial with the lower ring; and
a support structure extending between the lower ring and the upper ring;
a tread layer formed of a rubber material,
wherein the tread layer extends circumferentially about the entire upper ring, and
wherein the tread layer extends laterally from a first side of the non-pneumatic tire to a second side of the non-pneumatic tire; and
a sidewall formed of the rubber material extending seamlessly from the tread layer to the lower ring on the first side of the non-pneumatic tire,
wherein the sidewall includes a plurality of radially extending slits, each slit having a width less than 5 mm and a length greater than 10 mm.
2. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall covers between 90-95% of the first side of the non-pneumatic tire.
3. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 2 , wherein the support structure includes a plurality of spokes, and wherein each of the plurality of openings in the sidewall are disposed between adjacent pairs of the plurality of spokes.
4. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , further comprising a second sidewall formed of the rubber material extending seamlessly from the tread layer to the lower ring on the second side of the non-pneumatic tire.
5. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 1 , wherein the support structure includes a plurality of spokes.
6. A method of covering a side of a non-pneumatic tire, the method comprising:
providing a lower ring having a first diameter, an upper ring substantially coaxial with the lower ring, and a support structure extending between the lower ring and the upper ring;
placing the lower ring, the upper ring, and the support structure in a mold; and
providing rubber in the mold, such that the rubber forms a tread layer extending circumferentially about the upper ring and a sidewall layer extending from the tread layer to the lower ring on a first side of the non-pneumatic tire; and
forming a plurality of radially extending slits in the sidewall layer, each slit having a width less than 5 mm and a length greater than 10 mm.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising placing a reinforcement layer in the mold prior to the providing of the rubber in the mold.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the reinforcement layer is placed in the mold such that the reinforcement layer extends between the upper ring and the lower ring.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the reinforcement layer is placed in the mold such that the reinforcement layer extends circumferentially about the upper ring.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the support structure includes a plurality of spokes.
11. A non-pneumatic tire having a sidewall, the non-pneumatic tire comprising:
a lower ring having a first diameter;
an upper ring having a second diameter greater than the first diameter, the upper ring being substantially coaxial with the lower ring;
a support structure extending between the lower ring and the upper ring;
a tread layer formed of a rubber material; and
a sidewall formed of the rubber material and extending seamlessly from the tread layer on a first side of the non-pneumatic tire;
wherein the sidewall includes a plurality of radially extending slits, each slit having a width less than 5 mm and a length greater than 10 mm.
12. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 11 , wherein a second side of the non-pneumatic tire does not have a sidewall.
13. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 11 , wherein the tread layer has a plurality of circumferential grooves disposed therein.
14. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 11 , wherein the tread layer and the sidewall are formed together through a molding process.
15. The method of claim 6 , wherein the sidewall layer covers between 90-95% of the first side of the non-pneumatic tire.
16. The method of claim 6 , wherein a second side of the non-pneumatic tire does not have a sidewall.
17. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 11 , wherein the sidewall layer covers between 90-95% of the first side of the non-pneumatic tire.
18. The non-pneumatic tire of claim 11 , wherein the support structure includes a plurality of spokes.