US 11,884,104 B2
Static discharge element for non-pneumatic tire
Brian Douglas Wilson, Greer, SC (US); Ryan Michael Gaylo, Canton, GA (US); Clayton Bohn, Jr., Mauldin, SC (US); and Paul Winston, Greer, SC (US)
Assigned to Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
Filed by Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
Filed on Mar. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/152,107.
Application 17/152,107 is a continuation of application No. 15/777,710, granted, now 10,926,581, previously published as PCT/US2016/062861, filed on Nov. 18, 2016.
Application 15/777,710 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2015/061901, filed on Nov. 20, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0268834 A1, Sep. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. B60C 19/08 (2006.01); B60B 9/16 (2006.01); B60C 7/18 (2006.01); B60B 9/04 (2006.01); B60C 7/14 (2006.01)
CPC B60B 9/16 (2013.01) [B60B 9/04 (2013.01); B60C 7/18 (2013.01); B60C 19/08 (2013.01); B60C 7/146 (2021.08)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A non-pneumatic tire, comprising:
a hub that has a central axis;
a supporting structure located outward from the hub in a radial direction, wherein the supporting structure has a spoke that is one of a plurality of spokes of the supporting structure, wherein a forward spoke of the plurality of spokes is located immediately successively forward of the spoke in a circumferential direction, and wherein a rearward spoke of the plurality of spokes is located immediately successively rearward of the spoke in the circumferential direction;
a shear band located outward from the supporting structure in the radial direction;
tread located outward from the shear band in the radial direction; and
a static discharge element that is electrically conductive and is carried by the spoke of the supporting structure, wherein the static discharge element is free from engagement with successive ones of the plurality of spokes, wherein a portion of the spoke that extends from a first radial end of the supporting structure to a second radial end of the supporting structure has less electrical conductivity than the static discharge element, and wherein the first radial end is located closer to the central axis than the second radial end in the radial direction;
wherein the static discharge element is a filament that is made of a polymeric strand and conductive carbon, wherein the conductive carbon coats an entire length of the polymeric strand such that the conductive carbon completely covers the entire length of the polymeric strand from a terminal top end of the polymeric strand to a terminal bottom end of the polymeric strand;
wherein the filament has a first end and a body that extends from the first end to a second end, wherein the first end and the second end extend in the circumferential direction, wherein the second end extends a longer distance in the circumferential direction than does the body extend in the circumferential direction, wherein the first end has the terminal bottom end and the second end has the terminal top end, and wherein the terminal bottom end the terminal top end and the entire body are between entire circumferential positions of the forward spoke and the rearward spoke and are not at any of the same circumferential positions of the forward spoke and the rearward spoke.