Abstract: A deformable structure for a vehicle, designed to roll on an axis of rotation, including an annular internal element centered on the axis, an annular external element, flexible and appreciably inextensible, forming a tread radially arranged externally relative to the internal element, a plurality of spokes arranged substantially radially between the internal element and the external annular element, each spoke being capable of opposing a radial compressive stress, beyond a given threshold, an appreciably constant force, the external element having a circumferential length such that the spokes are preloaded in radial compression, and in which provision is made for stabilizing the relative positions of the internal element and external element, characterized in that the spokes are formed and arranged between the internal and external elements, in such a way that their flexibility in a meridian plane is well below their flexibility in a circumferential plane, and in that the of stabilization limits the amplitude

Abstract: A platform or cart with a multitude of generally spherical rollers arrayed across most of the bottom of the cart so as to provide low resistance passage over soft or sandy surfaces. The rollers revolve about axles that are carried in flanges on the underside of the platform.

Abstract: A pair of roller skis 300 each constituted by attaching elastic wheels 302 to a boot-placing plate 301 in the front thereof and at the back thereof. The elastic wheels 302 each comprises a wheel supporting means having a circular rim part on the outer periphery and a tire part mounted on the circular rim part of the wheel supporting means and being elastically deformable in the direction perpendicular to the running direction of the wheel. Each elastic wheel 302 enables the running direction thereof to be simply changed with the wheel shaft kept in the same direction, and utilization of the features permits a skier to operate the roller skis with a feeling similar to that afforded by conventional snow skis.

Abstract: Pural non-pneumatic (NPTs) are unitarily fitted, side-by-side, on a wheel rim, forming a multiple NPT (MNPT) to carry a load by sharing the load between the side-by-side NPTs. By "unitarily" is meant that the NPTs are fitted to the rim as a whole, without cutting or sectioning. With this construction, a MNPT is provided with characteristics which are surprisingly better than those attributable to a single NPT having the same or a different outer hoop diameter but the same mass of resin as the plural NPTs. The NPTs may be formed as rings, then by heat-distending them, unitarily post-fitted to the surface of an adhesively prepped wheel rim, for operation at relatively low torque; alternatively, and more preferably the NPTs are cast or otherwise thermoformed, as for example by injection molding, onto the wheel rim and self-adhesively autogenously secured, so as to provide the plural NPTs integrally bonded to the wheel rim.

Abstract: A pair of roller skis 300 each constituted by attaching elastic wheels 302 to a boot-placing plate 301 in the front thereof and at the back thereof. The elastic wheels 302 each comprises a wheel supporting means having a circular rim part on the outer periphery and a tire part mounted on the circular rim part of the wheel supporting means and being elastically deformable in the direction perpendicular to the running direction of the wheel. Each elastic wheel 302 enables the running direction thereof to be simply changed with the wheel shaft kept in the same direction, and utilization of the features permits a skier to operate the roller skis with a feeling similar to that afforded by conventional snow skis.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic supporting wheel includes a central part and a wheel-rim which is supported by the central part. The wheel-rim has an outer wheel-rim part which is intended to roll against an underlying surface, and an inner wheel-rim part which is located radially inwards of the outer wheel-rim part. At least the inner of the two wheel-rim parts is constructed from a plurality of curved, elongated elements which consist of a resilient material and which are spaced in the circumferential direction of the wheel. When seen in a section taken diametrically through the wheel, each of these elements presents parts which are curved in opposite directions. For the purpose of taking-up forces which act substantially radially between the wheel center and the region of the wheel in contact with the underlying surface when the wheel is subjected to load, the elements are elastically yielding in the radial direction of the wheel during increased bending of the elements.

Abstract: An improved nonpneumatic tire for a motor vehicle is described. The tire has a rim and one or more elastomeric materials bonded to the rim or to one another. The tire has an equatorial plane, an annular tread rotatable about an axis, and an annular elastomeric body. The elastomeric body has at least 48 openings, a first set of at least 24 openings extend from the first side and a second set of at least 24 openings extend from a second side, both sets extending toward the equatorial plane. The openings form equally spaced columns. The columns formed by the first set of openings are inclined to the radial direction. The columns formed by the second set of openings are inclined opposite to the columns of the first set. The improved tire is characterized by columns having cross sections equidistant from the equatorial plane. The cross section of each of the columns increases in thickness from a minimum to maximums at the radially inner and radially outer extremes of the column.

Abstract: The improved wheel assembly includes a hub member having a cylindrical casing with an axial bore adapted to receive the end of a wheel axle, and a plurality of threaded bolts which threadably engage conventional lug nuts; a tubeless, airless tire member having three continuous supporting belts, a plurality of reverse inclined Z-shaped supporting rods connected to each other and to each supporting belt, and a transverse central opening adapted to receive the hub; and an annular cap member adapted to engage the outer periphery of the central opening of the tire member and to receive the bolts of the hub member.

Abstract: A wheel and brake system adapted for use with a vehicle for transportation comprising: a tread having a plurality of elements circumferentially spaced around the wheel to define a substantially circular outer edge of the tread, the elements capable of flexing inwardly upon contact with a protruding surface to expose a load bearing surface to support a load of the vehicle; a brake; and a handle connected to the brake and adapted for moving of the vehicle in a pulling direction and engaging brake when a pulling force is applied in the pulling direction, the brake when engaged, adapted to permit rotation of the wheel in the pulling direction and to impede rotation of the wheel in an opposite direction. In one embodiment, the brake system comprises two braking elements and a brake actuating element to controllably engage one braking element to impede rotation thereof, the one braking element engaging another braking element to impede rotation of the wheel.

Abstract: A ground engaging means providing a running surface for wheels, endless tracks and the like, which is not pneumatic in nature, thereby not susceptible to puncture, and which is resiliently flexible to offer some resistance to shock. The ground engaging means comprises a base and a number of removable, hollow, tubular ground engaging elements which extend transversely of the direction of travel of the running surface. Said ground engaging elements include an inner face for engagement to the base and an outer face for contact with the ground surface, and angular shaped side faces between the inner and outer faces allowing for resilient flexibility under normal load conditions. It is preferable that the ground engaging elements are open at their ends to allow for dissipation of heat and are arranged in circumferential rows, defining a chevron pattern, to prevent resultant side thrust imposed upon the running surface.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire wheel having an annular hub with a carcass connected thereto, which carcass has C-shaped sidewalls with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots that extend into the crown of the carcass. The crown of the tire wheel receives a tread ring to enhance rolling. The hub receives a circumferentially extending shock absorbing element that is curvilinear in cross section with slots extending radially from the hub.

Abstract: A deformable nonpneumatic tire includes a radially inner, substantially annular, base which may be connected to a rigid element such as a wheel, a radially outer, substantially annular, cap to which a tread having a pattern may be mounted, and a substantially annular deformable structure connected between the base and the cap. The deformable structure includes a plurality of intrinsically dissymmetrical patterns formed by elongate slender elements of an elastically deformable material when seen in section perpendicular to the axial direction of the tire. The slender elements are arranged to define recesses extending crosswise over the entire axial width of the tire.

Abstract: A track wheel consisting of a longitudinal curved track mounted in an oval eometry on two support rollers. The track wheel is in effect an oval wheel with two axles. The axles of the two support rollers are mounted either directly or indirectly to the vehicle. The rollers support and guide both ends of the track in the small curvatures and transfers vehicle load to a surface at the lower curved part of the track. The track will withstand a high bending load in one direction, where it engages a surface, but it will also bend easily in the other direction, as it is guided over the two support rollers.

Abstract: A deformable wheel useful for example as a vehicle wheel or as a gear comprises a tread which is incompressible around its periphery but flexible under radial forces and a tension transmission system connecting different points of the tread to substantially diametrically opposed points and designed in such a way that, under a normal load, the strength of the radial forces which act on part of the connecting system is sufficient to prevent the wheel from collapsing completely. The tread may be constructed of hinged plates or may be similar to a tire tread or may be provided with teeth, depending on the application of the wheel, and the wheel may also include a central rigid part or hub to which the connecting system is attached. The wheel may be used for vehicles, gearings, pulleys and so on.

Abstract: The elastic tire (1) is composed of a plurality of elastic elements (3) ped between the nondeformable anchoring zone (2) and the tread (4). Each elastic element (3) comprises two connecting elements (34) and (35) the ends of which form a quadrilateral and an arm (31) guided by the connecting elements and joined to the tread (4).

Abstract: A non-pneumatic convoluted cone wheel having a hub section and a resilient section that has a ground-engaging rim at its peripheral outer edge portion to which a tire tread can be provided for the ground engaging rim including an internal element to vary the rate of the wheel with deformation under load which is turnable for changing stiffness with deformation of the resilient section.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic convoluted cone wheel having a hub section and a resilient section that has a ground-engaging rim at its peripheral outer edge portion to which a tire tread can be provided for the ground engaging rim including an internal element to vary the rate of the wheel with deformation under load which is turnable for changing stiffness with deformation of the resilient section.

Abstract: An integral tire wheel structure (10) comprising an annular generally C-shaped support member (12) having disposed at its radially outer end a ground-engaging tread portion (14), an annular generally C-shaped decoupling member (16) disposed at the radially inner end of the annular support member, and an annular mounting member (18) disposed at the radially inner end of the stress decoupling member. The integral tire wheel being made of material wherein the modulus of elasticity divided by the ultimate strength to the three halfs power is no greater than about 2.6.

Abstract: This invention relates to a light weight and strong molded resilient fiber reinforced plastic automotive wheel structure having the mechanical functions and riding performance characteristics of conventional pneumatic tire and wheel assemblies at loads below the design load of the wheel structure, and whose mechanical functions and safety characteristics are superior to those of conventional pneumatic tire and wheel assemblies at loads above the design load of the wheel structure.

Abstract: A tire structure which augments a conventional tire structure by including therein a load transferring configuration in each sidewall from the bead to the tread. The beads of each sidewall are contacted tangentially by a plurality of elongated connecting members and the sidewall area between the bead and the connecting members is reinforced.

Abstract: A wheel has a plurality of variable length spokes extending radially from the hub to the rim and supporting the rim coaxially around the hub. Spoke length varying devices vary the lengths of the spokes.

Abstract: A punctureproof non-pneumatic vehicle tire comprising two halves applied on a felly which is subdivided into two parts by a metal or plastic ring. The two symmetrical halves of the tire are built up of segments each of which consists of the tread, the foot, supported by a wire core, and a connecting part. This connecting part is curved and asymmetrically arranged so that the parts in adjacent segments are alternately directed towards the middle of the felly and the edge of the felly. The connecting parts substantially reduce the total mass of the tire and constitute the actual cushioning element.