Abstract:
A wheel is disclosed for use on land vehicles such as small manually drawn trailers and similar carriers, the wheel having a tire supporting rim (12) and a low pressure tire (48) engaging the rim, the tire comprising a thin walled torus (50) of elastomeric material, the torus having an inner diameter surface (52) engaging the rim, an inflation valve (54) and an outer diameter surface (56) for contacting a soft or irregular support surface; so that, the tire deforms or flattens substantially when it contacts such surfaces with an axle load applied to the wheel, thereby facilitating movement of a vehicle over such surfaces. A method of moving such vehicles is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A non-vulcanized tire body in the form of an endless band has opposite edges, an inner surface, and an outer surface having a tread. Either a completely enclosed toroidal shaped inner tube formed of non-vulcanized material or a layer of non-vulcanized material having a high impermeability to air is positioned on the inner surface of the tire body. The tire body is then wrapped around the inner tube, and the opposite edges of the tire body are joined to form a completely enclosed tire. The edges may be abutted or overlapped. Thereafter, the tire is vulcanized to form a completely and irremovably enclosed tubular tire.
Abstract:
An improved tire tread belt which is designed to be utilized around the circular periphery of a pneumatic tire carcass employs an integral cylindrical elastomer belt having at least one internal cylindrical reinforcing ply composed of cylindrical loops of reinforcing wherein the physical distribution of the cylindrical loops has the greatest concentration in the center portion, thereby providing a tread belt with enhanced service life and lower cost.