Circumferential Patents (Class 152/344.1)
  • Publication number: 20100154954
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes: a plurality of rubber sheet layers being layered in a tire radial direction, the rubber sheet layers including an first layer and a second layer, wherein each of the first layer and the second layer includes a plurality of divided sheets being spliced at spliced positions dividing a circumferential length in a tire circumferential direction by lengths having integer values, a total of the lengths being substantially corresponding to a nominal diameter of the pneumatic tire, and wherein the spliced positions of the first layer and the spliced positions of the second layer are set to be shifted in the tire circumferential direction to be unoverlapped with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keisuke SAOTOME
  • Patent number: 7316252
    Abstract: A device for serving as a wheel for motor vehicles, where the wheel has its tire tread replaceable when it is worn out via unique rims and molded tire features. An alternate internal structure prevents the tire from “going flat” or “blowing out” when it is punctured or cut. In one variation the tire can be used with existing rims and can be retro-fitted into existing tire by mating the tires with this invention's “Non-Flat Tire” internal element and special rim. A variation of the “Non-Flat Tire” system uses spring-like materials for its tire core that is shaped similar to a tire's inner tube, and functions like an “air-filled” tire, but the absence of the use of air in this unique configuration gives it the “Flat Tire Prevention” effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Inventor: Nathaniel Heard
  • Patent number: 6615888
    Abstract: A wheel-and-tire apparatus has a pneumatic tire with two or more circumferential tread sections, the relative diameters of which may be adjusted to select the tread sections in contact with the road. The tire may have one or more air chambers. The apparatus facilitates selective use of tire tread designs and compositions having different performance characteristics to suit particular road conditions and vehicle operating parameters. Adjustment of tread section diameters is accomplished using tread diameter adjustment means having a source of compressed air. Sensors monitor selected operational parameters of the vehicle and transmit corresponding signals to a computer, which selects an optimal configuration of tread section diameters to suit the data from the sensors. The computer sends a corresponding signal instructing the tread diameter adjustment means to adjust the diameter of one or more tread sections as required to achieve the selected configuration of tread section diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Douglas B. Elkow