US 11,718,126 B2
Non-pneumatic tires with strain limiting features
Janice Lisa Tardiff, Plymouth, MI (US); Adam Wirth, Belleville, MI (US); Wesley Grant Morris, Dearborn, MI (US); and Cindy Sofia Barrera-Martinez, Dearborn, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 2, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/838,181.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/832,924, filed on Apr. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0324573 A1, Oct. 15, 2020
Int. Cl. B60B 9/04 (2006.01); B60C 7/14 (2006.01); B60B 9/26 (2006.01); B60C 7/18 (2006.01)
CPC B60B 9/04 (2013.01) [B60B 9/26 (2013.01); B60C 7/14 (2013.01); B60C 7/146 (2021.08); B60C 7/18 (2013.01); B60B 2900/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A non-pneumatic tire comprising:
a wheel portion;
a tread ring portion;
a plurality of flexible spokes, each of the plurality of flexible spokes including an outer leg attached to and extending from the tread ring portion, an inner leg attached to and extending from the wheel portion, and an elbow positioned between the inner leg and the outer leg, the elbow having a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the outer leg and greater than a thickness of the inner leg; and
at least one inner bump stop positioned between the wheel portion and the tread ring portion and extending radially outward from the wheel portion, wherein the at least one inner bump stop is configured to limit deformation and strain of the plurality of flexible spokes upon engagement with at least one of the inner leg and the elbow of at least one of the plurality of flexible spokes.