With Elongate Circumferential Bead Guard Patents (Class 152/381.4)
  • Patent number: 12059921
    Abstract: A rim (3) for a tire has an axis of rotation DD? and a rim seat (31) extended axially towards the outside by a rim flange (32), said rim flange (32) having a first portion (321) that is oriented substantially in a perpendicular plane and is situated radially on the outside with respect to said rim seat (31), characterized in that said rim flange (32) has a second portion (322) that is inclined towards the outside, is situated axially on the outside with respect to said first portion (321) and is situated at least partially radially on the outside with respect to said rim seat (31), said rim having a connecting portion (320) between said first portion (321) and said second portion (322).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Maxion Wheels Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Walser, Bertrand Vedy
  • Patent number: 11104188
    Abstract: A vehicle tire-wheel assembly includes: a wheel main body; a Helmholtz resonator provided on an outer peripheral surface of a well portion of the wheel main body; a tire attached to an outer peripheral surface of the wheel main body so that the tire covers the Helmholtz resonator; and a separation restraining part which, in cooperation with the tire, restrains the Helmholtz resonator from separating from the outer peripheral surface of the well portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Maki, Ryoji Inaba, Kenichi Nagatomi
  • Patent number: 10639949
    Abstract: An annular and ring extends around the interior of a wheel/rim on which a tire is mounted. The inner diameter of the annular ring is sized for a snug fit on the wheel rim. A tensioning cable extends through the tubular ring and opposed arms are attached to the ring and are movable between disengaged and engaged positions. The apparatus is selectively movable by actuation of a cable tensioner between a first, disengaged position where the arms do not engage the tire and thereby lock it to the rim, and a second, engaged position in which the arm bear against the tire beads, capturing the tire beads between the rim flanges and the wing members to lock the tire to the rim and to create and/or enhances the air-tight seal between the tire and the rim. The bead lock apparatus may be beneficially used in combination with a foam insert for enhanced tire performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: CushCore, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam Krefting
  • Patent number: 10105996
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a novel solution for preventing pinch flats and installation flats incurred by an inner tube as a result of the wheel striking an object. Embodiments are directed to an inner tube protector that fits within a tire and provides mechanical protection to the inner tube against tire strikes. Embodiments may include an inner region adapted to support an inner tube installed around a rim of a wheel. Additionally, embodiments may include an outer region adapted for insertion within and against the rim lip of the rim which provide protection to the inner tube responsive to the wheel striking an object. As such, embodiments may be positioned between the rim and inner tube in a manner that dulls an edge of the rim lip and, thereby, provides protection to the inner tube when compressed against the otherwise sharp edges of the rim lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: RJ Engineering Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: David Merritt, Jeffery Hodsdon, Robert Breeding
  • Patent number: 9662935
    Abstract: A wheel construction includes a circular wheel rim which receives a tire, the rim having axially inner and outer portions each having a flange providing a seat for a bead. The wheel construction including a mid-portion, and side parts connecting the mid and outer portions the mid-portion including a circumferential well where the radius of the wheel rim is a minimum, at least one of the side parts including plurality of curved regions the plurality of curved regions each being immediately adjacent to each other whereby the side part continuously undulates. Each curved region provides at least a further two circumferential well. For each adjacent two curved regions, there is an effective angle of between 25° and 45° between a plane normal to the axis of the wheel and a line struck tangentially at a point of inflection between the two curved regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: GKN Land Systems Limited
    Inventor: Joergen M. Jensen
  • Patent number: 9321307
    Abstract: A bicycle rim includes a first annular side wall, a second annular side wall and an annular bridge extending between the first and second annular side walls. The annular bridge has an annular tire support surface extending between the first and second annular sidewalls. The annular tire support surface has a first projection. The first projection has at least one first portion and at least one second portion. The second portion has a different size from the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuki Koshiyama
  • Patent number: 8807664
    Abstract: A rim protector for a wheel of a vehicle, the rim protector (10) being of the form of a generally circular annulus having an axis (1) defining radial and axial directions, the rim protector comprising a tail portion (32), sized to fit in use between the wheel (3) and a tire (2) fitted to the wheel, and a head portion (31), the head portion (31) being wider than the tail portion, the tail portion extending away from the head portion, in which, when the rim protector (10) is fitted to a wheel (3) such that the tail portion is held between the wheel (3) and the tire (2) and the head portion (32) abuts a rim of the wheel (4), the head portion (31) overlaps the rim (4) and extends further radially over the rim (4) than it does over the tire (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventors: Christopher Leonard Rathbone, Curt John Rathbone
  • Patent number: 8757231
    Abstract: An elastomeric tire sealing ring for installation against a rim of a wheel to provide a sealing surface with a tire bead of a tire when a tire is installed on the wheel over the sealing ring, the sealing ring comprising a thermoplastic composition wherein the thermoplastic composition has a durometer reading of between 36 and 50 on the Shore D scale as per ISO 868; and a tensile strength of 7.0 MPa to 8.9 MPa at 10% elongation as determined with ISO 527 method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Hans Koopman, Peter Gilbert
  • Patent number: 8656971
    Abstract: A tire assembly includes a tire having an annular tread between and connected to outer edges of opposed first and second sidewalls. The first and second sidewalls terminate at radially inner edges defining first and second bead sections, respectively. The tire also has a first interior wall having one edge coupled to the tread and an opposite free edge. The first interior wall is positioned between and generally parallel to and spaced from the first and second sidewalls. A first annular spacer is positionable adjacent the first bead section between the first sidewall and the first interior wall on one side of the first interior wall. A second annular spacer is positionable on the opposite side of the first interior wall. The first and second annular spacers are configured to generally maintain a spacing of the first and second sidewalls and the first interior wall relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventor: Eladio A. Vargas
  • Patent number: 8167380
    Abstract: The application discloses a wheel assembly comprising a wheel comprising a main body, a substantially cylindrical wall, a front hub face comprising a central portion connecting a hub to an outer rim, wherein the front hub face comprises a socket for receiving a removable weight, wherein the socket or the weight is configured with a stop for preventing the weight from dislodging from the socket; a back face comprising a back central portion connecting the hub to the back outer rim; and the wheel assembly comprising at least one fastener for securing the weigh in the socket on the main body of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Vanquish Products, LLC
    Inventor: James A. Eaton
  • Patent number: 7730918
    Abstract: A vehicle rim, of revolution, intended for mounting a tire and an annular bearing support capable of supporting a tread of the tire in the event of a loss of inflation pressure from the tire. This rim includes a first and a second rim seat, each intended to receive a bead of the tire. Each of the rim seats has a generatrix the axially inner end of which is on a circle of diameter DI greater than the diameter DE of the circle on which the axially outer end is located. The first rim seat is delimited axially to the inside by a protrusion, the external diameter DS of which is greater than the mean diameter DP of a supporting bearing surface of the rim. The supporting bearing surface is formed of at least one substantially cylindrical surface of revolution of mean diameter DP extending axially between the two seats and intended to be in close contact with the bearing support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Michel Malevergne
  • Publication number: 20100108216
    Abstract: A vehicle rim (22-28; 251-252; 262; 272), of revolution, adapted for mounting a tire (30), this rim comprising a first (51; 512) and a second (52; 522) rim seat and a first and a second safety hump (571, 572) which are located axially to the inside of the seats, each of the rim seats being adapted to receive a bead (33) of the tire (30), each of the rim seats having a generatrix the axially inner end of which is on a circle of diameter DI greater than the diameter DE of the circle on which the axially outer end is located, at least one of the seats opening on to a groove (71-78; 791-793) arranged axially between the seat and the safety hump axially closest to the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Guy Cagneaux
  • Patent number: 6976517
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rim for cycles, more particular for bicycles. The invention is also aimed at a tubeless mounted assembly consisting of the said rim and of a tire having in particular two flexible bead wires. According to the invention, the rim consists of two flanges, attached to two seats, intended to receive the beads of a tire, separated from each other by a mounting groove, and, according to the profile of the rim in a radial plane, the bead seats have a generatrix, the axially outer end of which is on a circle of smaller diameter than the diameter of the circle on which the axially inner end is situated, the said generatrix forming an angle with the axis of rotation of the tire of between 15 and 45 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Loïc Albert, Bernard Moreau
  • Patent number: 6892777
    Abstract: Mounting rim designed to form a rolling assembly with a tire and an inflatable and inflated tread bearing support, and comprising on each side of the equatorial plane a rim seat inclined outwards and extended axially outwards by a projection or hump, characterized in that it comprises, axially towards the inside between each rim seat for the tire beads and the equatorial plane XX?, at least one truncated conical seat inclined inwards and designed to receive a bead of a tire tread bearing support. The rolling assembly is used either with a bearing support in the form of a toric membrane inflated hard which retains its shape and pressure if the tire is punctured, or with a bearing support in the form of a membrane that can expand in the event of a tire puncture and entirely fill the internal cavity of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Olivier Muhlhoff
  • Patent number: 6883569
    Abstract: A rolling assembly includes a rim and a unit that can be slid axially onto and off the rim. The unit includes the tire and a collar on which the tire is mounted. The collar includes opposite collar hooks interconnected by a reinforced central portion of the collar. The hooks receive respective tire beads. When the tire is at reduced pressure, the unit can be inserted onto the rim. Upon inflation of the tire, a blocking portion of the tire enters a groove of the rim to axially lock the tire onto the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Deal, Luc Bestgen
  • Patent number: 6783190
    Abstract: A wheel, particularly a light metal wheel, for motor vehicles, essentially consists of a spoke wheel center (20) and a wheel rim (10). In order to reduce weight and to increase the bending strength, which is of great significance in regard to contacts with curbstones and driving through potholes, profile segments (31) in the form of half-shell units, which from a continuous hollow chamber (41) in the direction of circumference, at least in sections, are provided in the area of an external base of the rim (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: BBS Motorsport & Engineering
    Inventor: Heinrich Baumgartner
  • Patent number: 6752187
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel rim includes two retaining portions and a locating portion. The two retaining portions are formed of a groove for retaining permanently one of two retaining edges of a tubeless tire. The locating portion is formed of two furrows, and a ridge situated between the two furrows which are located in proximity of the grooves of the retaining portions. The furrows are used as temporary dwelling places for locating the two retaining edges of the tubeless tire in the course of the mounting of the tubeless tire on the bicycle wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventor: Tseng-Ping Tien
  • Patent number: 6626217
    Abstract: A rolling assembly formed of a tire P, a narrow rim J, the width of which is at most equal to 50% of the maximum axial width of the tire inflated to its operating pressure, and two connecting elements or adapters A which form the join between the mounting rim J and the beads of the tire P. The adapters A are formed of reinforced rubber mixes which are elastically deformable at least in both the radial and axial directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Luc Bestgen
  • Patent number: 6457501
    Abstract: A tire rim (1, 40, 60) having a reduced flange height (h) is disclosed. The rim (1, 40, 60) has one or both flanges (2, 42, 62) having a maximum radial height (h) of less than 12 mm, preferably in the range of 6 mm to less than 12 mm. The rim (1, 40, 60) when combined with a tire (10) has a tire and rim assembly wherein the bead core (22) of the tire (10) has a centroid (24) that is within 3 mm of the maximum radial height (h) of the rim flange (2) preferably within 1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Graham Stanley Ball
  • Publication number: 20020104600
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel, comprising a rim, a disc, a tire defining with the rim a circumferential cavity C, and at least one resonator suitable for attenuating a natural resonant frequency of said cavity, said wheel also comprising a safety support, for supporting the tread of this tire from the inside in the event of loss of inflation pressure, said support providing at least one of the walls of said resonator. The invention also provides for the safety support comprising resonators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.(Switzerland)
    Inventors: Julien Flament, Denis Jubert
  • Publication number: 20020088520
    Abstract: A rolling assembly formed of a tire P, a narrow rim J, the width of which is at most equal to 50% of the maximum axial width of the tire inflated to its operating pressure, and two connecting elements or adapters A which form the join between the mounting rim J and the beads of the tire P. The adapters A are formed of reinforced rubber mixes which are elastically deformable at least in both the radial and axial directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: Michelin Recherche et Technique,
    Inventor: Luc Bestgen
  • Patent number: 6415839
    Abstract: A rim having a bearing support located between its two rim seats, which bearing support is intended to receive a support ring, is characterized in that this bearing surface comprises at least one surface clamping part, each surface clamping part being regularly distributed in the circumferential direction over the bearing surface and having a maximum external development Ds, measured on an enveloping surface concentric to the bearing surface, which is greater than the development Dp of the bearing surface, in order to create mechanical clamping between a support ring and the surface clamping part which is appropriate to ensure holding of the ring on the bearing surface during travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Pompier, Jean-Jacques Drieux, Jean-Charles Lacour
  • Patent number: 6318428
    Abstract: A wheel includes a rim having two sidewalls and a groove is defined between the two sidewalls. A plurality of apertures and a valve receiving aperture are respectively defined through the rim. A seal member is located in the groove and has a hole defined therethrough. The hole is located in alignment with the valve receiving aperture. Two sides of the seal member are located on tops of the two sidewalls of the rim so that when a tire is engaged with the groove, the two sides of the seal member on the tops of the two sidewalls are respectively compressed by the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Tsai Jen Lo
  • Patent number: 6237662
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tubeless bicycle tire and rim. The rim is formed with opposing recesses configured to engage corresponding beads formed on the tire. With the beads engaged in the recesses, the tire and rim seal for form an air tight, sealed chamber such that no inner tube is necessary. The rim is formed with a single aperture having a valve installed therein. Preferably, the valve is formed with a ring which extends into the air tight, sealed chamber. In the event of a flat tire, the tire may be removed from the rim. The valve may also be removed by grasping the ring and pulling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Paul R. Thomasberg
  • Patent number: 6216758
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel rim includes a rim body having an annular spoke-mounting wall and spaced left and right annular tire-retaining walls, and a pair of wear-resisting rings. The spoke-mounting wall has two annular lateral peripheral edges. The left and right annular tire-retaining walls extend integrally, radially, outwardly and respectively from the lateral peripheral edges of the spoke-mounting wall. Each of the tire-retaining walls has an inner surface that faces the other one of the tire-retaining walls to confine a tire receiving space therewith, an outer brake pad contacting surface opposite to the inner surface, and an annular end face distal to the spoke-mounting wall. Each of the tire-retaining walls further has a tire retaining projection, formed at a corner of the end face and the inner surface for engaging a bicycle tire so as to retain the bicycle tire between the tire-retaining walls. The wear-resisting rings are made of a resilient material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Alex Machine Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chao-Ying Chen