	US 12,103,335 B2
	Tire having a modular tread
Kevin E. Scheifele, Atwater, OH (US)
Assigned to Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC, Nashville, TN (US)
Appl. No. 17/612,643
Filed by Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC, Nashville, TN (US)
PCT Filed May 26, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/034524 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 19, 2021, PCT Pub. No. WO2020/256895, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 24, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/864,166, filed on Jun. 20, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0234391 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. B60C 7/00 (2006.01); B60C 7/10 (2006.01); B60C 7/14 (2006.01); B60C 11/02 (2006.01); B60C 11/03 (2006.01); B60C 11/12 (2006.01)

CPC B60C 11/02 (2013.01) [B60C 7/107 (2021.08); B60C 7/146 (2021.08); B60C 11/0306 (2013.01); B60C 11/1204 (2013.01); B60C 11/1236 (2013.01); B60C 2011/0346 (2013.01); B60C 2011/1213 (2013.01)]

14 Claims

1. A non-pneumatic tire and rim assembly comprising:

a non-pneumatic tire having a plurality of annular tire modules, including a first annular tire module coaxial with a second annular tire module,

wherein the first annular tire module includes a first inner ring, a first outer ring, first support structure extending between the first inner ring and the first outer ring, and a first circumferential tread extending about the first outer ring,

wherein an inner surface of the first inner ring has a first plurality of axial grooves that define a first plurality of axial ridges,

wherein the second annular tire module includes a second inner ring, a second outer ring, second support structure extending between the second inner ring and the second outer ring, and a second circumferential tread extending about the second outer ring,

wherein an inner surface of the second inner ring has a second plurality of axial grooves that define a second plurality of axial ridges, and

wherein the first circumferential tread has a first tread pattern and the second circumferential tread has a second tread pattern that is different from the first tread pattern; and

a rim having an outer annular surface that engages the first inner ring and the second inner ring,

wherein the outer annular surface of the rim has a third plurality of axial grooves that define a third plurality of axial ridges,

wherein the third plurality of axial grooves have a cross-sectional geometry corresponding to a cross-sectional geometry of the first plurality of axial ridges and to a cross-sectional geometry of the second plurality of axial ridges, and

wherein the third plurality of axial ridges have a cross-sectional geometry corresponding to a cross-sectional geometry of the first plurality of axial grooves and to a cross-sectional geometry of the second plurality of axial grooves.