A shock absorbing caster system includes an inner-bearing, a flexible-hub, and outer-rim, and a cylindrical disc. The inner-bearing is configured as a roller-bearing and fixed to the flexible-hub. The inner-bearing is further surrounded by the outer-rim. The inner-bearing is fixed to the flexible-hub and to the outer-rim by a bonding process. The cylindrical disc is configured as a tire and further circumferentially affixed to the other-rim. The shock absorbing caster is useful for providing a caster wheel having a flexible hub with shock absorbing properties for use with luggage and other suitable applications.

A wheel for a single or double caster for furniture or hospital beds or medical equipment, the wheel comprising: a rim; a tire; and a wheel bearing centrally arranged in the rim, wherein a running surface of the tire envelops the rim, and wherein the running surface of the tire includes a plurality of bonded spokes which are at least in contact the wheel bearing. The wheel is producible in a simple manner with short cycle times while having good thermal conductivity.

In a non-pneumatic tire, at least one of a first connecting portions extends in such fashion as to be directed from one side in a tire width direction of an inner annular portion to the other side in a tire width direction of an outer annular portion, at least one of a second connecting portions extends in such fashion as to be directed from the other side in the tire width direction of the inner annular portion to the one side in the tire width direction of the outer annular portion, such that, the at least one second connecting portion appears to intersect the at least one first connecting portion, and that a maximum dimension in a tire radial direction of at least one of the closed spaces is greater than or equal to a maximum dimension in the tire width direction of the at least one closed space.

In a non-pneumatic tire, at least one of a first connecting portions extends in such fashion as to be directed from one side in a tire width direction of an inner annular portion to the other side in a tire width direction of an outer annular portion, at least one of a second connecting portions extends in such fashion as to be directed from the other side in the tire width direction of the inner annular portion to the one side in the tire width direction of the outer annular portion, such that, the at least one second connecting portion appears to intersect the at least one first connecting portion, and that a maximum dimension in a tire radial direction of at least one of the closed spaces is greater than or equal to a maximum dimension in the tire width direction of the at least one closed space.

A structurally supported tire includes a ground contacting annular tread portion; a shear band, and a connected spoke disk connected to the shear band. The connected spoke disk has two or more circumferential spokes joined together by a connecting web, wherein the spring rate of the connected spoke disk is greater than the spring rate of the shear band.

A structurally supported tire includes a ground contacting annular tread portion; a shear band, and a connected spoke disk connected to the shear band. The connected spoke disk has two or more circumferential spokes joined together by a connecting web, wherein the spring rate of the connected spoke disk is greater than the spring rate of the shear band.

A structurally supported tire includes a ground contacting annular tread portion; a shear band, and a connected spoke disk connected to the shear band. The connected spoke disk has two or more circumferential spokes joined together by a connecting web, wherein the spring rate of the connected spoke disk is greater than the spring rate of the shear band.

A wheel assembly for traversing a path along a ground surface having a layer of soil, the wheel assembly comprising a central support and an airless flexible covering mounted on the central support and having a plurality of rigid sections and a plurality of flexible sections. The outwardly protruding spokes urge the rigid sections into the layer of soil when the rigid sections contact the ground surface. The flexible sections flex inwardly when the flexible sections contact the ground surface so that the rigid sections and the flexible sections cooperatively form a corrugated pattern in the ground surface without urging the soil to side margins of the airless flexible covering, the corrugated pattern having a plurality of valleys formed by the rigid sections and a plurality of peaks formed by the flexible sections.

A wheel assembly for traversing a path along a ground surface having a layer of soil, the wheel assembly comprising a central support and an airless flexible covering mounted on the central support and having a plurality of rigid sections and a plurality of flexible sections. The outwardly protruding spokes urge the rigid sections into the layer of soil when the rigid sections contact the ground surface. The flexible sections flex inwardly when the flexible sections contact the ground surface so that the rigid sections and the flexible sections cooperatively form a corrugated pattern in the ground surface without urging the soil to side margins of the airless flexible covering, the corrugated pattern having a plurality of valleys formed by the rigid sections and a plurality of peaks formed by the flexible sections.

A burst-resistant tire embedded with open tubular members include an outer ring, an inner ring and the open tubular members. The outer ring is composed of a first outer ring and a second outer ring, which are symmetrical with respect to a central radial plane of the burst-resistant tire. The open tubular members include multiple first open tubular members and multiple second open tubular members. The first open tubular members are provided between the first outer ring and the inner ring, and the second open tubular members are provided between the second outer ring and the inner ring. The second open tubular members and the first open tubular members are connected at the central radial plane of the burst-resistant tire.