US 11,807,053 B2
Spring tire wheel assembly with bump stop
Brian Yennie, Akron, OH (US); Earl Cole, Akron, OH (US); and Jim Benzing, North Canton, OH (US)
Assigned to THE SMART TIRE COMPANY, INC., Akron, OH (US)
Filed by The SMART Tire Company Inc., Akron, OH (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/103,685.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/305,109, filed on Jan. 31, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0241919 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
Int. Cl. B60C 7/24 (2006.01); B60C 7/14 (2006.01); B60C 7/06 (2006.01)
CPC B60C 7/24 (2013.01) [B60C 7/06 (2013.01); B60C 7/14 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wheel assembly comprising:
an outer rim assembly that includes a first outer rim portion, a second outer rim portion, and a plurality of outer cross members extending between the first outer rim portion and the second outer rim portion, wherein the plurality of outer cross members define a stop surface,
a tire assembly that includes an outer main body portion, wherein the outer main body portion includes a plurality of outer shape memory elements having first and second opposite ends, wherein the first end of each outer shape memory element is connected to the first outer rim portion and the second end of each outer shape memory element is connected to the second outer rim portion, wherein the outer main body portion includes a first outer side wall portion, a second outer side wall portion, and an outer contact portion extending transversely between the first and second outer side wall portions, and
at least a first bump stop assembly that includes a first inner rim portion, a second inner rim portion and an inner main body portion, wherein the inner main body portion includes a plurality of inner shape memory elements having first and second opposite ends, wherein the first end of each inner shape memory element is connected to the first inner rim portion and the second end of each inner shape memory element is connected to the second inner rim portion, wherein the inner main body portion includes a first inner side wall portion, a second inner side wall portion and an inner contact portion extending transversely between the first and second inner side wall portions, wherein the inner contact portion is coupled to the outer contact portion, wherein the first and second inner rim portions define an inner contact surface, wherein a deflection distance is defined between the inner contact surface and the stop surface, and wherein when the outer main body portion is deflected a predetermined distance the inner contact surface contacts the stop surface.