US 12,246,503 B2
Expandable rim for tire tread buffing apparatus and method
Eric M. Henriksen, Muscatine, IA (US); Todd R. Frisbie, Muscatine, IA (US); and Christopher J. A. Ferrell, Bettendorf, IA (US)
Assigned to Bridgestone Bandag, LLC, Nashville, TN (US)
Filed by BRIDGESTONE BANDAG, LLC, Nashville, TN (US)
Filed on Mar. 12, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/603,148.
Application 17/339,478 is a division of application No. 16/384,760, filed on Apr. 15, 2019, granted, now 11,059,248, issued on Jul. 13, 2021.
Application 16/384,760 is a division of application No. 15/553,056, granted, now 10,343,359, issued on Jul. 9, 2019, previously published as PCT/US2016/017926, filed on Feb. 15, 2016.
Application 18/603,148 is a continuation of application No. 17/339,478, filed on Jun. 4, 2021, granted, now 11,951,701.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/126,457, filed on Feb. 28, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0217196 A1, Jul. 4, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29D 30/24 (2006.01); B29D 30/26 (2006.01); B29D 30/54 (2006.01)
CPC B29D 30/24 (2013.01) [B29D 30/26 (2013.01); B29D 30/54 (2013.01); B29D 2030/549 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A machine for retreading tires, comprising:
a hub being rotatable with respect to the machine, the hub including a plurality of ribs;
an expandable rim disposed around the hub, the expandable rim including a plurality of shoes arranged around the hub, each of the plurality of shoes including a base portion and a rim portion, the base portion forming a channel that includes a ramp, the ramp slidably engaging a respective rib of the hub such that axial displacement of the hub causes the plurality of shoes to move in a radial direction with respect to the hub; and
a belt disposed along the rim portion of the plurality of shoes,
wherein the base portion of the plurality of shoes is formed by connecting a first segment and a second segment, the first segment of the base portion being connected to the rim portion, and the second segment being connectable to the first segment so as to form the channel and the ramp.