Patent ID: 6431235
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: B60B,B60C,Y10T

Abstract:
A tire and wheel assembly that includes a non-pneumatic tire and rim comprising a non-pneumatic tire formed from a foam elastomeric or urethane material to have a dense outer tread and be increasingly porous to its inner circumference, that has identical continuous mounting grooves formed in tire side walls, adjacent to said inner circumference, and said non-pneumatic tire further includes support grooves formed in opposite sides of said tire inner circumference that are shallow and are radiused, and a continuous rim that is formed from a metal or resinous material and has a U-shape with a flat continuous well or open area formed between upright sides, and which said rim sides each terminate in identical inwardly directed hook bead ends that are formed to fit in said tire side wall mounting grooves, providing an interference fit, and said rim further includes identical inwardly extending ridges or piers formed at opposite sides of said well or open area junctions with said rim sides, which said ridges or piers are shaped to receive said tire support grooves such that said tire support grooves fit snugly on said rim ridges or piers, supporting said non-pneumatic tire, with a space between said rim well or open area and tire inner circumference that is the distance between said rim rides or piers.