Tread-locking wheel

This application claims the benefit of No. 60/146,910 filed Aug. 3, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wheel and tire mounting system, and in particular, a wheel and tire mounting system which securely mounts a tire to a wheel.

2. Description of the Related Art

Wheels that traditionally have been used on garden equipment and children's toys consist of a tire mounted on a rim of a hub. Typically, the tire is produced of an elastic material such as rubber. The hub is normally produced of a rigid material such as plastic or metal. The hub may be a solid disk or may be composed of spokes radiating from a central hub to the rim. The tire is then mounted onto the rim.

One disadvantage in the art of garden and toy wheel construction is that the tire is normally only form-fit to the rim. As a result, the tire may experience radial movement or axial movement relative to the rim. In addition, the tire may experience rotational movement about the rim. Traditional wheels normally fail to provide means for limiting radial, axial or rotational movement of a tire relative to the rim.

Alternatively, a wheel may consist of a tireless wheel. In a tireless wheel system, the rim incorporates a tread material into it. In such an assembly, there is no additional tire mounted to the rim, as the rim itself replaces the necessity to have a separate tire with tread. Typically in a tireless wheel system, the tread material is produced of the same material as the hub and rim. The material normally is a plastic such as polyethylene or PVC.

A disadvantage of the tireless wheel system is the inability to replace the tread material (i.e. the surface contacting the ground) as the tread material is incorporated into the wheel/hub itself.

A second disadvantage of the tireless wheel is a less shock-absorbing wheel system when compared with a rubberized or elastic tire mounted to a wheel. The rubberized tire tends to absorb shock better than a solid tread surface composed of rigid plastic.

A third type of wheel used typically on toys such as in-line skates and skateboards, is a wheel having a hub composed of a first, rigid plastic and a tire formed of a second, more elastic material. The elastic material is permanently molded to the wheel. This system is manufactured by the process of melting the second plastic material and, pouring the melted plastic into a mold which comprises the hub. When the second material cures, a unified wheel and tire assembly is formed. A disadvantage of this system is that the tire cannot be replaced when the tread surface is worn. Since the tire is permanently incorporated into the wheel, one is not able to replace the tire without replacing both the wheel and tire.

One disadvantage of most wheels in the art is the lack of shock-absorbing features. Traditional wheels fail to include means for absorbing force applied to the wheel. Therefore, shocks and other forces applied to the wheel assembly are transferred through the wheel to the apparatus on which the wheel is mounted.

What is needed in the art is a wheel system which limits radial, axial and rotational movement of a tire relative to the rim upon which the tire is mounted. In addition, what is needed is the ability to replace the tire as the tire becomes worn.

What is also needed in the art is a wheel system which incorporates shock-absorbing means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a wheel system for securely mounting a tire to the rim of a hub. The wheel system limits radial deflection and axial movement of the tire relative to the rim. In addition, the present invention limits rotational movement of the tire about the rim. The wheel system includes a rim with radially extending slots which mate with complementary radially extending protuberances of a tire whereby securely mounting the tire to the rim.

The invention, in one form thereof, is a wheel for mounting a tire. The tire has a first and second inner sidewall surface, a tread surface, and a rim surface. A plurality of “T”-shaped protuberances extend radially from the rim surface. A sidewall width is defined between the first and second inner sidewall surfaces. The wheel includes a rim which has a mounting surface. A plurality of a pair of alternately “L”-shaped and inverse “L”-shaped members extend in a radial direction from the mounting surface and extend in an axial direction a distance no greater than the sidewall width. A slot is defined by the pair of alternately “L”-shaped and inversely “L”-shaped members. The slot is adaptedly dimensioned for slidingly receiving the “T”-shaped protuberances. The slot has a first and second slot end. In one further embodiment, a plurality of spokes radially extend between the rim and a hub. The spokes are formed of a material having elastic properties which absorb shocks. In an alternate embodiment, the first and second slot ends abut the first and second inner sidewall surfaces, respectively.

The invention, in another form thereof, is a wheel for mounting a tire having a first and second inner sidewall surface, a tread surface and a rim surface. From the rim surface, a plurality of “T”-shaped protuberances extend radially. A sidewall width is defined between the first and second inner sidewall surfaces. The wheel includes an inner rim and an outer rim. The outer rim is rotationally disposed about the inner rim. The outer rim has a mounting surface. A plurality of outer spokes extend radially from and attach the inner rim to the outer rim. The plurality of a pair of alternately “L”-shaped and inversely “L”-shaped members extend in a radial direction from the mounting surface and extend in an axial direction a distance no greater than the sidewall width. A slot is defined by the pair of alternately “L”-shaped members and inverse “L”-shaped members. The slot is adaptedly dimensioned for slidingly receiving the “T”-shaped protuberances. The slot has a first and second slot end. In one further embodiment, the plurality of outer spokes are formed of a material having elastic properties which absorb shock.

The invention, in yet another form thereof, is a tire mounting system. The system includes a tire having a first and second inner sidewall surface, a tread surface and a rim surface. A sidewall width is defined by a distance between the first and second inner sidewall surfaces. A plurality of “T”-shaped protuberances extend radially from the rim surface of the tire. The tire mounting system further includes a rim which has a mounting surface. A plurality of a pair of alternately “L”-shaped and inverse “L”-shaped members extend in a radial direction from the mounting surface of the rim and extend in an axial direction a distance no greater than the sidewall width. A slot is defined by the pair of alternately “L”-shaped members and inverse “L”-shaped members. The slot is adaptedly dimensioned for slidingly receiving the “T”-shaped protuberances. The slot has a first and second end. The tire is mounted to the rim such that the “T”-shaped protuberances mate in said slots. In one further embodiment, a plurality of spokes extend radially from and attach a hub to the rim. In a further, specific embodiment, the spokes are formed of material having elastic properties which absorb shock.

The present invention, in yet another embodiment thereof, is a tire mounting system. The tire mounting system includes a tire having a first and second inner sidewall surface, a tread surface and a rim surface. A sidewall width is defined between the first and second inner sidewall surfaces. A plurality of “T”-shaped protuberances extend radially from the rim surface of the tire. The tire mounting system also includes an inner rim and an outer rim. The outer rim is rotationally disposed about the inner rim. The outer rim has a mounting surface. The plurality of outer spokes radially extend from and attach the inner rim to the outer rim. A plurality of a pair of alternately “L”-shaped and inverse “L”-shaped members extend in a radial direction from the mounting surface and extend in an axial direction a distance no greater than the sidewall width. A slot is defined by the pair of alternately “L”-shaped members and inverse “L”-shaped members. The slot is adaptedly dimensioned for receiving the “T”-shaped protuberances and has a first and second slot end. The tire is mounted to the outer rim such that the “T”-shaped protuberance mates in the slots. In a further embodiment, the plurality of outer spokes are formed of a material having elastic properties which absorb shock.

The invention, in an another form thereof, is a wheel for mounting a tire. The wheel has a first and second inner sidewall surface, a tread surface and a rim surface from which a plurality of protuberances radially extend. A sidewall width is defined between the first and second inner sidewall surfaces. The wheel includes a rim having a mounting surface. A plurality of members extend in a radial direction from the mounting surface. Each member has an annular width. The members have a first and second end. The members form an attachment means complementarily dimensioned to the protuberances. The attachment means have an attachment means annular width. The member annular width is no greater than the attachment means annular width. In one further embodiment, the attachment means is a slot.

The invention, in another form thereof, is a tire mounting system. This system includes a tire with a first and second inner sidewall surface, a tread surface, and a rim surface. A sidewall width is defined between the first and second inner sidewall surfaces. A plurality of protuberances extend radially from the rim surface of the tire. A rim with a mounting surface includes a plurality of members extending in a radial direction from that mounting surface. Each member has an annular width. The members have a first and second end. The members form an attachment means complementarily dimensioned to the protuberances. The attachment means have an attachment means width. The member annular width is no greater than the attachment means annular width. The tire is mounted to the rim such that the protuberances mate with the attachment means. In one further embodiment, the attachment means is a slot.

One advantage of the present invention is a wheel system in which a tire is mounted to the rim of a wheel which limits radial, axial and rotational movement of the tire relative to the wheel. The tire includes radially inward (i.e. towards the rim) extending protuberances which are complementary to and mate with the slots that radially extend from the mounting surface of the rim. When the tire is mounted to the rim, the engagement of the protuberances in the slots limits the tire's radial deflection from the rim and rotational movement of the tire about the rim. Axial movement of the tire relative to the rim is achieved through the tire's inner sidewall surfaces abutting the ends of the radially extending slots such that axial movement of the tire relative to the rim is retarded.

A second advantage of one embodiment of the present invention is a wheel system which incorporates shock absorbing means. In one particular embodiment, the wheel includes shock absorbing means consisting of radially extending spokes composed of a material such as polyethylene which is capable of absorbing shocks applied to the wheel. In an alternate embodiment, a plurality of outer spokes composed of elastic material span between an inner rim and an outer rim whereby effectuating shock-absorbing capabilities.

An additional advantage of the present invention is the ability to securely mount a tire to a wheel which may be subject to radial deflection. In one form of the present invention, a plurality of spokes are made of elastic plastic material which absorbs shocks. In absorbing shocks, the rim is subjected to radial deflection. In order to limit a tire's radial deflection from the rim during shock-absorbing deflection, the present invention securely mounts the tire to the rim through the use of radially inward (relative to the rim) extending protuberances from the tire's rim surface which complement radially outwardly (relative to the rim) extending slots from the rim. As a result of the mating of the protuberances with the slots, the tire remains securely mounted to the rim whereby the tire resists radial deflection from the rim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1

is a front perspective view of a wheel with hub and rim according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2

is a front elevational view of another embodiment of a wheel according to the present invention, incorporating a hub with an inner and an outer rim;

FIG.

3

(

a

) is a front elevational view of a wheel assembly with a hub, inner and outer rims and a hub cap;

FIG.

3

(

b

) is the hub cap of FIG.

3

(

a

);

FIG. 4

is a tire for mounting on the wheel assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 5

is a front elevational view of a wheel system with tire mounted to a wheel according to the present invention;

FIG. 6

is an axial cross sectional view through a rim and tire;

FIG. 7

is an axial cross sectional view through a rim and tire; and

FIG. 8

is an axial cross sectional view through a rim and tire.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to

FIG. 1

, there is shown wheel

10

which comprises hub

12

, rim

14

and a plurality of spokes

16

. Spokes

16

extend radially from hub

12

and attach to rim

14

, whereby forming a wheel assembly for mounting a tire. The wheel assembly may be composed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In the preferred embodiment, hub

12

, rim

14

and spokes

16

are composed of polyethylene. However, wheel

10

may be composed of other suitable material which functions to provide a suitable wheel system for mounting a tire.

In one embodiment of the invention, spokes

16

are produced of polyethylene or suitable material having elastic properties. The elastic properties permit wheel

10

to absorb shocks. For example, if wheel

10

is mounted on a lawn mower, wheel

10

is subject to shock from the surface upon which wheel

10

rolls. Shock may be applied to wheel

10

as wheel

10

rolls along the surface. The elastic properties of spokes

16

help to absorb shocks applied to the wheel rather than transferring the shock to the apparatus (i.e. the lawn mower) to which wheel

10

is attached. The effect of the incorporated shock absorbing properties results in both wheel

10

and the apparatus to which wheel

10

is mounted to have a smoother ride.

A plurality of a pair of members

18

,

20

extend radially from mounting surface

22

of rim

14

. In one embodiment, members

18

,

20

are “L”-shaped and inverse “L”-shaped respectively. In a preferred embodiment, radially extending “L”-shaped and inverse “L”-shaped members

18

,

20

extend substantially normal from mounting surface

22

. Member

18

,

20

form attachment means for securing a tire to rim

14

. In the embodiment depicted in

FIG. 1

, the pair of “L”-shaped and inverse “L”-shaped members

18

,

20

form an attachment means in the form of slot

24

.

Slots

24

are disposed about mounting surface

22

. Preferably, slots

24

are evenly spaced apart from one another. Slots

24

extend in an axial direction a distance

29

. Distance

29

is no greater than the inner width (as measured between the two inner sidewall surfaces) of a tire mounted to wheel

10

. Slots

24

are used for securing a tire to wheel

10

.

Slots

24

have a first slot end

26

and a second slot end

28

. In a preferred embodiment, when a tire is mounted to wheel

10

, first and second slot ends

26

,

28

abut the respective inner surfaces of a tire's sidewalls.

Referring now to

FIG. 2

, wheel

100

depicts an alternate embodiment of a wheel system for mounting a tire. Wheel

100

comprises hub

112

, inner rim

113

and outer rim

114

. A plurality of radially extending spokes are affixed to hub

112

and extend radially to inner rim

113

. The plurality of inner spokes

116

rigidly attach inner rim

113

to hub

112

. A plurality of outer spokes

117

rigidly attach outer rim

114

to inner rim

113

.

Wheel

100

may be composed of any suitable plastic material, which includes PVC and polyethylene. In a preferred embodiment, outer radial spokes

117

are composed of polyethylene or similar plastic having elastic properties. The elastic properties permit wheel

100

to absorb shock when a shock is applied to wheel

100

.

Attachment means in the form of slots

124

are composed of alternate “L”-shaped and inverse “L”-shaped members

118

and

120

, respectively extending in a radial direction from mounting surface

122

. In a preferred embodiment, “L”-shaped members extend substantially normal to mounting surface

122

. Slots

124

are used to secure a tire to wheel

100

. Slots

124

have a first and second slot end

126

,

128

and extend in an axial direction a distance

129

no greater than the inner width (as measured between two inner sidewall surfaces) of a tire mounted to wheel

100

. In a preferred embodiment, when a tire is mounted to wheel

100

, first and second slot ends

126

,

128

abut the respective inner surface at a tire's sidewalls.

Referring now to FIGS.

3

(

a

) and

3

(

b

). A hub cap

226

having inner surface

131

clips onto wheel

100

and rotationally spans the distance between inner rim

113

and outer rim

114

. Hub cap

226

includes a plurality of axially extending clips

228

which extend axially (relative to wheel

100

) from the inner surface

131

. When hub cap

226

is mounted onto wheel

100

, clips

228

engage and mate with the plurality of outer spokes

117

(see FIG.

2

), thereby securing hub cap

226

to wheel

100

. The attachment means is a form-fit and frictional connection between clips

228

and outer spokes

117

, and between hub cap

226

and inner and outer rims

113

,

114

.

FIGS. 4 and 5

are illustrative examples of the mounting of a tire to the wheel system. While

FIGS. 4 and 5

use the embodiment depicted in FIGS.

2

and

3

(

a

), the mounting of the tire is the same for the embodiment depicted in FIG.

1

.

Referring now to

FIGS. 4 and 5

, tire

130

mounts on wheel

100

. Tire

130

has tread surface

132

and rim surface

134

. Tire

130

has side walls

135

,

137

having a first and second inner sidewall surfaces

136

,

138

respectively. A plurality of protuberances

140

extend radially from rim surface

134

. Protuberances

140

are adaptively dimensioned and complementarily shaped to mate with the attachment means. Since the present embodiment has attachment means in the form of slots

124

(FIG.

2

), protuberances

140

are “T”-shaped in order to properly mate with slot

124

of wheel

100

.

A sidewall width

142

is defined by the space between first and second inner sidewall surfaces

136

,

138

. Sidewall width

142

is preferably equal to an axial distance

129

which “L”-shaped and inverse “L”-shaped members

118

,

120

extend (FIG.

3

).

Referring now to

FIG. 6

, there is shown an axial cross-sectional view through the rim

114

and tire

130

of FIG.

5

. “T”-shaped protuberance

140

mates with and is secured in slot

124

formed by “L”-shaped members

118

and inverse “L”-shaped member

120

.

FIG. 6

shows one embodiment of an attachment means for mating with a tire's extending protuberances

140

. The attachment means in

FIG. 6

is depicted as a slot

124

. Slot

124

is formed from two radially extending members, “L”-shaped and inverse “L”-shaped members

118

,

120

. Attachment means, slot

124

, has an attachment means annular width

150

. Annular width

150

is measured as the distance between members

118

and

120

. Each radially extending member, “L”-shaped and inverse “L”-shaped member

118

,

120

has a member annular width

152

. IN a preferred embodiment, member annular width

152

is no greater than attachment means annular width

150

.

FIG. 7

depicts an alternate embodiment of an attachment means. The attachment means

153

of

FIG. 7

is depicted as a single, radially extending member

154

having a member annular width

156

. Member

154

includes a hook portion

158

. A radially extending protuberance

160

complementary to member

154

extends from tire

130

. Attachment means

153

mates with and secures tire

130

to rim

114

via the indicated interfit mating of member

154

with protuberance

160

. Attachment means

153

has an attachment means annular width

162

. Attachment means annular width

162

is, in this embodiment, equal to the member annular width

156

. A single member

154

forms the attachment means

153

, such that a single member

154

mates with protuberance

160

.

Referring now to

FIG. 8

, attachment means

170

comprises members

172

,

174

. Each member has a member annular width

176

. Attachment means

170

has an attachment means annular width

178

. In a preferred embodiment, member annular width

176

is no greater than attachment means annular width

178

. Attachment means

170

is dimensioned to mate with protuberance

180

, which extends radially from tire

130

.

FIGS. 6-8

depict various attachment means for attaching a tire to a rim. However, other attachment means may be utilized which mate with and secure a tire to the rim. While the cross-section of the attachment means and protuberances have corners with only right angles, the corners could have different angles. For example, the cross-section could be “star” shaped.

During the mounting of tire

130

to wheel

100

, “T”-shaped protuberances

140

slide into slots

124

(FIG.

2

). In a preferred embodiment, width

142

permits first and second inner surfaces

136

,

138

to abut and cover first and second slot ends

126

,

128

. Axial movement of tire

130

along mounting surface

122

of rim

114

is restricted since member pairs

118

,

120

are entrapped between inner sidewall surfaces

136

,

138

. In a most preferred embodiment, width

142

is substantially equal to axial distance

129

(i.e. the axial length of slot

124

).

Slots

124

are preferably evenly spaced along mounting surface

122

. The “T”-shaped protuberances

140

are complementarily spaced. As a result, mounting of tire

130

to rim

114

is simplified as all slots

124

and all protuberances

140

will align simultaneously.

Radial deflection of tire

130

from wheel

100

is limited by the interlocking connection of radially extending “T”-shaped protuberances

140

of tire

130

into slots

124

. Once the “T”-shaped protuberances

140

are slid into slots

124

, radial deflection of tire

130

from mounting surface

122

is limited.

Preventing radial deflection is especially advantageous in one embodiment in which the wheel system includes shock absorbing characteristics in the form of radially extending members composed of elastic material. The use of such elastic material in the radially extending members may result in wheel deflection in a radial direction when shock is applied to the wheel. A possible result of wheel deflection is radial movement of the tire from the rim. Consequently, it is advantageous to have a means by which a tire is securely fastened to the rim to prevent or limit radial deflection of the tire from the rim. The use of radially extending slots which mate with radially extending protuberances from the inner surface of a tire limits radial deflection of the tire from the rim.

In addition, rotational movement of tire

130

about outer rim

114

is limited due to the interfitting of “T”-shaped protuberances

140

with slots

124

. Axial movement of tire

130

relative to rim

114

is limited by the inner tire sidewall surfaces abutting and entrapping the axially extending protuberances.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.