Patent Application
20090266465
Pneumatic tires are utilized on all types of automobiles, trucks, motorcycles and bicycles. They come in all sizes and are adaptable to the many vehicles available for transportation of both people and commercial products throughout industry today. They generally are filled with pressurized air or nitrogen in order to provide a smooth ride, accommodate variations in road surfaces and are even used for business or pleasure and off road pursuits by the general public all over the world. These tires now in use are considered as tubeless tires and are designed and manufactured with a heavy tread that contacts the road bed surface and a majority of them are built with an inner steel belt over laid with plies of nylon or equivalent liners that cross over the full width of the tire and down its sides and fold into a bead that seals against the vehicles external wheel rim. The plies are molded into the tires tread and bead to secure the many layers in place and provide a solid member to apply pressure on the rim flange that captures the tire and provides a means for sealing it against the rim and prevent escape of the pressurized air that inflated the tire.
All of these vehicles require pneumatic tires and replacement tires due to wear, life and damaging use encountered in their operational existence. One of the problems they all encounter is inadvertent puncture by road debris, glass, nails and like means for receiving punctures. Once a tire is punctured by such an object the pressurized air escapes and the tire goes flat and cannot be operated as such or receives irreparable damage to the tire and possibility the wheel rim. This condition is called a run flat condition and often tires in this condition cause dangerous accidents and addressed by inventors for some time and all the inventions in this category seek a method, a means or a modification to the vehicles tire, the vehicles rim or an embodiment that utilizes either or both to achieve a run flat condition for the vehicle. There have been a number of patents that address this run flat problem as noted in the following patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,993 DRIEUX for “rim and assembly of a tire and ring shaped tread support on same.” This invention applies to modification of both the tire carcass, the wheel rim and adds a tread support ring full around the inside of the tire. This patent pertains to modification of both the tire carcass, the rim and installs a full around support ring and does not apply to the present submitted invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,653 GARDETTO for “run flat support for pneumatic tire wheel.” This invention addresses the run flat condition by attachment of a radially extending and retracting support device mounted to the wheel rim rectangular in shape that bears against the tire beads and the rim to provide a box section to support the punctured tire when it goes flat. This patent does not apply to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,190 WILLARD et al for “run flat tire with an improved bead to rim interface.” This invention applies a belt package with a plurality of radially reinforced layers of belt plies molded into the interior surfaces of the tire and its tread to support the vehicle on a tire that has been punctured and runs flat. The additional carcass layers stiffen the tire during loss of pressure. This patent modifies the tire carcass and does not apply to the present submitted invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,279 LACOUR, for “safety support made of a flexible electrometric material for tires”. This invention installs a circular tire within the carcass of the tire on the wheel rim to provide a means that can support the vehicle when the tire is punctured, loses pressure and runs flat. As the wheel rim is modified to support and capture the internal tire assemblage, this patent does not apply to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,308 YOSHIDA, for “run flat tire system”. This invention applies to a run flat tire system having a molded annular core body installed in the tire assembly on a wheel of a motorcycle. The core molded to the shape of the tire's internal envelope applies pressure on the tires casing, tread and beads as a solid backup internally to accept running loads against the tires sidewalls and treads experienced by a motorcycle. The core is molded to the inner shape of the tire; hence, this patent does not apply to the present submitted invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,808 B1 SPRAGG et al for “an expandable band for run flat tire and method of making a tire,” address this condition by making major changes to the tire. This invention applies to the manufacture of a tire by inserting in the tire molding process a series of reinforcing fabric bands and metal bands inserted into the fabric bands for the purpose of applying pressure to the tires carcass to protect the tires sidewalls, treads and beads and prevent the tire from collapsing and going flat with loss of pressure. This patent does not apply to the present submitted invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,845 B2 NGYEN et al addresses “a support device within a tire cavity to provide run flat capability.” This invention provides a modification to the wheel rim as an annular structure having a box section attached to the rim that contains an attachment to its perimeter of three annular tubes welded to each other and to the welded rim for the purpose of preventing the tire carcass from collapsing and loss of pressure providing a means for the tire to bear against the tubes to support it in the run flat condition. This patent does not apply to the present submitted invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,502 B2 OHURA addresses “pneumatic tires having sidewall, reinforcing rubber and bead reinforcing layer” provides the manufacturing process for installing beads, cores, fillers, cords and rubber in the development of the molding process. These items reinforce the tire and its sidewalls as the tire carcass is formed to improve the beading that bears against the wheel rim. This patent does not apply to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,331,639 B2 OKAJIMA addresses “bicycle rim” and provides for the manufacture of the wheels rim and spokes of the bicycle. The invention explains how the plurality rim reinforcements and tire can be mounted to the wheel rim. The patent also provides for the application of adhesive to the rim and the tire as it is installed on the bicycle rim. This patent does not apply to the submitted invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,884 B2 KOCH et al provides “a combination tire and monitoring device.” The sensor that monitors the tire condition and pressure is bonded directly to the inner liner of the tire in several locations such as the tire bead, tire tread to inform the driver that the tire is about to go flat. The solution presented by this patent does not apply to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,114 B2 BOUVIER et al for “tire to rim rotation limiter for a run flat assembly.” This patent provides a means to inhibit a tire from rotating on the wheel rim. This condition occurs under high speed running during turns and skidding when the vehicle is operated during periods of low and normal tire pressure. This patent prevents this rotation movement by engaging beads, slots and indentations in the wheel to stop rotation of the tire relative to the rim, hence, does not apply to the present submitted invention.
The present invention improves upon previous run flat tire configurations in that it can be applied to standard tires and rims, while the previous known run flat configurations require modifications to basic tires and rims, in addition to a number of disadvantages, as follows:
Considering the objectives and disadvantages discussed above in the various previous patents, the following objects and advantages of the present invention are:
This invention provides a means for utilization of an universal run flat tire system and device that can be applied and installed on all vehicles that use pneumatic tires
The herein submitted invention for run flat tire device improves upon previous run flat tire configurations in that it can be applied to standard tires and rims while the previous known run flat configurations require modifications to basic tires and rims and suffer from a number of disadvantages, as follows:
We have noted above the objects and disadvantages of the various previous patents.
Here are the objects and advantages of the present submitted patent:
As stated above, this invention provides a means for utilization of an universal run flat tire system and device that can be applied and installed on all vehicles that use pneumatic tires, independent of weight, size, cross section shape, tread, usages, brand names, etc.
This invention provides a means for inserting into the tire at any time, when it is new or after some use, an universal system and device that permits the tire, even when it is punctured, to continue to support the vehicle in a run flat condition. It allows the tire to remain functional and not go entirely flat with loss of pressure, and permits it to run and operate even in snow and ice conditions and in a multiplicity of road incursions that vehicles, motorcycles, and trucks of various sizes encounter in every day occurrences and accidents.
The system and device of this invention encompasses a series of spherical balls of various spherical diameters, size, that are rubber, neoprene or equivalent that can be inserted into the tire either before installation on a wheel rim or after the tire is installed on the rim. The spherical balls fill the tire carcass and transfer the vehicle load to the wheel rim when the tire is punctured or when the tire pressure is low or partially lost. The spherical balls can fit in any tire of any size or shape and can mesh with any vehicle wheel rim that is standard or special. The spherical balls can support the vehicle weight and provide a means to keep the tire carcass from getting overly deflated or damaged with loss of pressure in a run flat operating condition. This device is adaptable to large or small tires, the size of the spherical diameter balls is not limited and can be manufactured in various diameters and shore hardness to accommodate all pneumatic tires on all types of vehicles from automobiles, to trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, trailers, other adaptations and even pneumatic tires on private or commercial airplanes.
In all configurations the invention's system and device function and operate as a viable means for providing a run flat solution to pneumatic tires of all sizes and configurations. It can accommodate even off road vehicles, snow and ice tires, small or low cross section tires and motorcycles that when installed can transfer vehicle support loads to both the tread and the sidewalls of the tire due to cornering and turning. This invention provides an economical solution and a practical means for achieving and solving a run flat condition.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations. A typical embodiment of this invention is illustrated in
When the said tire is filled with the said balls, they do not prevent the said tire from being filled with the said air or nitrogen and do not prevent the said tire from being operated in a normal running condition. As the said balls fill the said tire and bear against each other and bear against the inside of the said tire and contact and bear against the said tire, they reinforce both the said tread and the said sidewalls at point of contact (18). Should the said tire receive a puncture, said points of contact restrain the said tire from collapsing and provide the said tire a means to run in a run flat condition.
In addition, on tire puncture, when the said balls of this invention system and device experience the load of the vehicle, their pressure against each other, against the tire casing (41) and against the said vehicle tire rim, distribute and applies pressure against the said casing and the tire bead (14) and, in turn, force the said bead against the said rim and the rim flange (15). The invention's feature of this embodiment using a multiplicity of said spherical balls of diameters and shore hardness as needed for standard or special tires permits the run flat condition to distribute and share the load through the multiplicity of balls and accommodate and works with any said tire and said vehicle wheel rim. Said feature also provides control of a collapsing said tire casing conforming to any shape of said rim or tire. In addition, the tire rim cavity (19) can be filled with said balls without limitation of size or quantity. In all conditions the said balls provide ample multiple support to the said punctured tire and prevent it from escaping from the said rim and inhibits damage to the said tire casing. The invention provides the means for applying said point of contact to the said tire casing at a multiplicity of points. The said balls pressing against each other and pressing against the said tire casing tread, as well as the said sidewalls and said beads, ensures that the said tire maintains the same attitude, position and capability to continue to support the said tire in all operating conditions of low pressure or no air in the said tire or in the said run flat condition. The said spherical balls, pressing against the said tire bead, ensure that the said tire bead will seal against the vehicle's said rim upstanding flange or leg and the said balls will prevent the said punctured tire casing (41) from escaping from the said wheel rim and cause damage to the said tire or the said rim. Generally this damage is caused when the said tire on puncture begins to collapse and the vehicles weight shifts downward and crushes the unsupported said casing against the said metal rim and its said upstanding leg or flange.
One of the major causes of accidents is having a tire receive a blow-out at high or moderate speed on one of the vehicle's or truck's steering wheels. In this blow-out condition the tire casing is instantly crushed by the vehicles tire loss of pressure resulting in shifting of vehicle weight and center of gravity. As a result, the driver loses control of the vehicle and the accident occurs. This invention on blow-out keeps the said tire casing in an upright operating attitude, keeps pressure on the said tires bead against the said vehicle's upstanding rim flange and inhibits the said tire casing from crushing and being driven off the said wheel rim, and in this critical instance of the accident supports the vehicle weight and provides the driver with a means for maintaining control of the said vehicle while reducing speed. This invention is adaptable to any tire configuration, shape or size and is not restricted by either rim shape or tire shape. A distinct advantage of this system and device is that said balls can be provided with harder or softer shore hardness and size to meet any operational needs of very special tires and meet their intended use.
The invention provides the said vehicle's tire with a run flat capability without modification to the said standard tire or the said rim base (27) that supports the punctured collapsed run flat condition or any special tire such as snow tires, low profile tires and or any rim size configuration.
In fact, because of this versatility to adapt without change to any inflatable tire, the invention can function and provide the same advantages to motorcycles and bicycle tires.
The invention system and device is also adaptable to any sized tire or tire shape or any rim configuration, including bicycles that can also encounter punctured tires, and the danger of operating in a run flat condition is then minimized.
