All season safety tire

Abstract

A vehicle tire includes a selectively actuated stud deployment system for increased traction. The studs are contained in cells in the surface of the tire and forced to deploy by pneumatic or fluid pressure. When the pressure is released, the studs retract.

Claims

1. A vehicle tire, comprising: an annular core portion having an interior surface portion defining a main tire cavity and an exterior surface portion; a tread portion disposed adjacent to the exterior surface portion of the core portion; and a compressible pump chamber disposed between the exterior surface portion of the core portion and the tread portion and having a port which is connected to the main tire cavity; and at least one valve assembly in fluid communication with the main tire cavity and cooperable with the pump chamber and the port to selectively direct fluid from the main tire cavity to the pump chamber and from the pump chamber to the main tire cavity, wherein the at least one valve assembly is molded into the tread portion.

2. The vehicle tire of claim 1, wherein the port is in fluid communication with outside the vehicle tire.

3. The vehicle tire of claim 1, wherein the port is connected to the main tire cavity by a conduit.

4. The vehicle tire of claim 1, wherein the at least one valve assembly is configured to selectively direct fluid from the pump chamber to outside the vehicle tire.

5. The vehicle tire of claim 1, wherein the at least one valve assembly is configured to selectively direct fluid from the pump chamber to a holding chamber within the vehicle tire.

6. The vehicle tire of claim 1, wherein the pump chamber is configured to be biased to an open position and to compress to a closed position due to the weight of a vehicle.

7. The vehicle tire of claim 1, wherein the pump chamber is configured to be biased to a closed position and drawn to an open position as a result of centrifugal force as the vehicle tire rotates.

8. The vehicle tire of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pump chambers.

9. The vehicle tire of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of valve assemblies, wherein each valve assembly is connected to a respective pump chamber and configured to selectively direct fluid from the pump chamber to the main tire cavity.

10. The vehicle tire of claim 1, further comprising a selectively actuated stud deployment system, wherein the stud deployment system has an actuating member which is actuated by the fluid, and wherein the pump chamber is connected to the actuating member by a conduit and configured to selectively direct the fluid from the pump chamber to the actuating member of the stud deployment system.

11. A vehicle tire, comprising: a core portion having an interior surface portion defining a main tire cavity and an exterior surface portion; a tread portion disposed adjacent to the exterior surface portion of the core portion; a plurality of compressible pump chambers disposed between the exterior surface portion of the core portion and the tread portion, wherein each pump chamber is spaced apart relative to adjacent pump chambers, and wherein the pump chambers are evenly distributed circumferentially around the vehicle tire; and a plurality of valve assemblies, wherein each valve assembly is connected to a respective pump chamber, the main tire cavity, and outside the vehicle tire by at least one conduit, wherein the valve assemblies are configured to selectively direct a fluid to and from the pump chambers, the main tire cavity, and outside the vehicle tire.

12. The vehicle tire of claim 11, wherein the at least one conduit is a plurality of conduits, including: a first conduit connecting the valve assembly to the pump chamber; a second conduit connecting the valve assembly to the main tire cavity; and a third conduit connecting the valve assembly to outside the vehicle tire.

13. The vehicle tire of claim 12, wherein in the third conduit extends to a sidewall portion of the vehicle tire.

14. The vehicle tire of claim 11, wherein the pump chamber is disposed in a center portion of the tread portion, and wherein the center portion of the tread includes a convex-shaped feature when the pump chamber is in an uncompressed state configured to direct the force of the weight of a vehicle on the pump chamber.

15. A vehicle tire, comprising: two side wall portions; a tread portion extending between and connecting the side wall portions; a main tire cavity defined by interior surfaces of the side wall portions and the tread portion; a plurality of pump assemblies disposed in the tread portion, wherein each of the plurality of pump assemblies is configured to compress from an uncompressed state to a compressed state and to return to the uncompressed state from the compressed state; and a plurality of valve assemblies in fluid communication with the main tire cavity and cooperable with respective ones of the pump assemblies to selectively direct fluid to the main tire cavity from the pump assemblies and to selectively draw fluid from the main tire cavity to the pump assemblies, wherein the valve assemblies are molded into the tread portion.

16. A vehicle tire comprising: a tire body having a main tire chamber capable of receiving pressurized air to inflate the tire, sidewalls, an outer tire portion adjoined to the sidewalls, and tire tread formed in an outer surface of the outer tire portion; a plurality of elongated compressible pump chambers located within the outer tire portion and extending along at least part of a circumference of the outer tire portion, wherein each pump chamber is spaced apart relative to adjacent pump chambers, wherein the pump chambers are evenly distributed circumferentially around the vehicle tire, and wherein the pump chambers are biased to an open position and configured to compress at least partially to a closed position during rotation of the tire over a road surface; and a plurality of valve assemblies and conduits, wherein each valve assembly and conduit is associated with a respective pump chamber to direct fluid from the pump chamber to at least one of the main tire chamber and an exterior surface of the sidewalls and to direct fluid from the main tire chamber to at least one of the pump chamber and the exterior surface of the sidewalls.

17. The vehicle tire of claim 16, comprising a plurality of studs mounted within the outer tire portion for rotation about a pin from a retracted position to a deployed position, and at least one actuating member actuated by air pressure delivered by one of the pump chambers to cause the studs to rotate between retracted and deployed positions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic illustrations of components of a system in accordance with the invention.

(2) FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are schematic illustrations of additional components of a system in accordance with the invention.

(3) FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic illustrations of additional components of a system in accordance with the invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a partial cutaway view showing a vehicle tire with conduits and valve systems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(5) In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which is shown by way of illustration embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense.

(6) Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments of the present invention; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent.

(7) The description may use orientation and/or perspective-based descriptions such as up/down, back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict the application of embodiments of the present invention.

(8) The description may use phrases such as in an embodiment, or in embodiments. Such phrases may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms comprising, including, having, and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the present invention, are synonymous.

(9) The phrase A/B means A or B. The phrase A and/or B means (A), (B), or (A and B). The phrase at least one of A, B and C means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C) or (A, B and C). The phrase (A) B means (B) or (A B), that is, A is optional.

(10) Reference is made to FIG. 1, which provides a schematic overview of components of a system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments of the invention may include a tire with one or more chamber(s) 1 either within the tire tread, outside the tire core, as illustrated and/or within the interior main tire chamber 15, inside the tire core. Chamber(s) 1 may be constructed to be normally biased to an open condition as seen in FIG. 1A and/or drawn to an open position as a result of centrifugal force of tire rotation. The chamber(s) 1 may take on various shapes including an elongated form generally following the circumferential shape of the tire. The chamber(s) 1 may have a permanent and/or temporary sealed beginning and/or end. The chamber(s) may also contain one or more port(s) 3 capable of allowing air and/or gas and/or fluid, any and/or all of which are referenced as (air). In this document, to flow into and/or out of the chamber(s) 1 as the chamber(s) 1 are compressed as illustrated in FIG. 1B and/or return to an open position as illustrated in FIG. 1A. Although the port(s) 3 are shown to be directed into the main tire chamber 15 in FIG. 1, it is anticipated the port(s) may connect to and/or include an integral and/or attached conduit and/or conduits within and/or on the surface of the tire tread 4 and/or sidewall 5 and/ or main tire cavity 15 and/or unattached within the main tire cavity 15. It is anticipated conduit(s) may be similarly integral and/or attached as previously described and used to facilitate movement of air and/or vacuum to and/or from any combination of air chamber(s) 1 and/or stud lift chamber(s) FIG. 2 feature 6 and/or holding areas/chambers and/or main tire cavity (15) and/or valve(s) and/or ambient air, outside the tire, and/or other locations in various embodiment(s).

(11) The weight of the vehicle tends to compress the portion of the tire contacting the road surface. Chamber(s) 1 may also be compressed as illustrated in FIG. 1 B. Compression of chamber(s) 1 may create a seal enhancing compression of the air in the as yet uncompressed portion of chamber(s) 1. The seal point as described may move as the tire(s) rotate creating an increase in air pressure and/or volume of pressurized air in and/or moving from the as yet uncompressed portion of chamber(s) 1. Chamber(s) 1 may be small enough to allow compression of all or a portion of the air within the entire chamber(s) 1 generally simultaneously without tire rotation and the resulting previously described moving seal. Embodiments may include characteristics in the tread such as that illustrated in FIG. 1A and 1B, feature 2 that may help direct the force of the weight of the vehicle to enhance compression and/or sealing of the chamber(s) 1. Combining the compression of the chamber 1 due to the weight of the vehicle with the rotation of the tire may tend to cause an increase in air pressure in the portion(s) of the chamber(s) 1 not yet compressed which may be directed through a port or ports located in the portion(s) of the not yet compressed chamber(s) for use and/or storage elsewhere or exhausted. This pressurized air may be directed through a conduit or conduits into the main tire chamber 15 and/or to other chamber(s) 1 and/or stud lift chamber(s) FIG. 2 feature 6 and/or other holding area/chamber(s) and/or a valve or valves that may be included in embodiments of the invention.

(12) The valve and/or valves as well as conduit(s) may be used in embodiment(s) to selectively direct air and/or vacuum to and from; the chamber(s) 1 and/or main tire chamber 15 and/or stud lift chamber(s) FIG. 2 feature 6 and/or other holding area(s)/ chamber(s) and/or ambient (outside) air. It is anticipated air and/or vacuum may also be directed to and/or from other combinations of chambers and/or valve(s) and/or holding areas(s)/ chamber(s) and/or ambient air outside the tire. Valve(s) may be located within the main tire chamber 15 and/or wheel and/or built in to the tire tread 4 and or sidewall 5 and/or other location on the vehicle.

(13) Embodiments may include a port or ports 3 located in the portion of the chamber(s) 1 first compressed as previously described and may tend to create a vacuum as the tire rotates and the chamber(s) return to their normally biased open position. This vacuum may be directed through the conduit(s) and/or valve(s) and used to reduce pressure in the main tire chamber 15 and/or to provide and/or assist retraction of the stud lift chamber FIG. 2 feature 6 and/or to maintain the stud lift chamber FIG. 2 feature 6 in the retracted position add/or to facilitate other features related to invention function(s).

(14) Reference is made to FIG. 4, which provides a schematic overview of components of a system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments may include one or more conduit and/or valve system(s) 16 to selectively facilitate the movement of air drawn in from outside the tire through conduit section(s) 17, the valve assembly(ies) 16 and conduit section(s) 19 to the pump chamber 1. Pump chamber(s) 1 may have closed ends allowing the flow of air into and out of the pump chamber(s) 1 only through one or more conduit sections 19 connecting the pump chamber(s) to the valve assembly(ies) 16. The normally biased to an uncompressed position pump chamber(s) 1 will tend to create pressurized air when compressed and a vacuum as they return to an uncompressed state. Once the pump chamber(s) are compressed or released, the pressurized air or vacuum may be selectively directed to and/or from the pump chamber(s) 1 through the connecting conduit(s) 19 to the valve assembly(ies) 16 and then selectively through connecting conduit(s) 18 to the main tire cavity 15 and/or the stud lift chamber(s) 6 FIG. 2 through connecting conduit(s) 20 and/or exhausted to outside the tire through conduit section(s) 17. Pressurized air in the stud lift chamber(s) 6 FIG. 2 and/or main tire chamber 15 may also be selectively released by the valve system(s) 16 to outside the tire through their connecting conduit(s) 20, 18 and conduit section 17. It is further understood that outside air may be drawn through conduit(s) section 17 to the valve assembly(ies) 16 and selectively to the pump chamber(s) through conduit section(s) 19.

(15) Some embodiments may not include the pump chamber(s) 1 and the connecting conduit(s) 19, in which case the valve assembly(ies) 16 and associated conduit sections 18, 20 may selectively direct pressurized air from the main tire chamber 15 to the stud lift chamber(s) 6 FIG. 2 and selectively release pressurized air from the stud lift chamber(s) 6 FIG. 2 through the conduit section(s) 20 and valve assembly(ies) 16 to outside the tire through conduit section(s) 17. This method of using compressed air in the main tire chamber 15 to inflate the stud lift chamber(s) 6 FIG. 2 may also be used in embodiments that include the Pump chamber(s) 1.

(16) Some embodiments may not include the retractable stud feature in which case conduit section(s) 20 and the stud lift chamber(s) 6 FIG. 2 will not be included. In these embodiments outside air may be drawn in through conduit section(s) 17 to the valve assembly(ies) 16 and selectively directed through conduit section(s) 19 to the pump chamber(s) 1. Once the pump chamber(s) 1 are compressed the pressurized air may be selectively directed back through conduit section(s) 19 to the valve assembly(ies) 16, through conduit section(s) 18 and into the main tire chamber 15. The valve assembly 16 may also selectively release pressurized air from the main tire chamber 15 to outside the tire through conduit section(s) 17 to maintain the desired pressure.

(17) The schematics in (FIG. 4) are intended to generally illustrate components and function. The actual location of the valve assembly(ies) and/or conduit sections may vary as described in the previous provisional application.

(18) Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which provides an overview of components of a system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments of the invention may include one or more stud assemblies. Although this example illustrates a generally round shape and having multiple studs 8, it is anticipated the assembly may be various shapes including an elongated form and may include one or more stud(s) 8. It is further anticipated that, although in this illustration the assembly may indicate a separate assembly, some and/or all features such as stud mount/pivot(s) 9 and/or pivot guide support(s) 10 and/or stud lift chamber(s) 6 and/or stud(s) 8 and/or other features may be molded directly into the tire tread either during the tread manufacturing process or as a secondary operation. It is anticipated any or all components of the assembly not molded into the tread during manufacture of the tread may be installed as a secondary operation and may be removable and/or fixed in place by features creating mechanical retention and/or adhesive and/or secondary thermal bonding and/or by other means.

(19) Embodiments may include one or more stud assembly(ies) that may facilitate selective deployment of stud(s) 8 to contact and/or pierce ice and/or snow, etc. to improve traction. Embodiments may include stud(s) 8 pivotally mounted to rotate from a generally parallel to the tire tread face position (withdrawn) within the tire tread to a position generally perpendicular to the tire tread face (extended). When the stud(s) 8 are in the extended position a portion of the stud(s) 8 may protrude beyond the tread face FIG. 1 feature 4.

(20) Embodiments may include stud(s) 8 that are allowed to pivot/rotate freely as a result of a generally round generally smooth surface on the pivoting/rotating portion of the Stud(s) 8 within a generally round and generally smooth surface within the pivot guide 9 and/or may be normally biased to a generally withdrawn, generally parallel to the tread face FIG. 1 feature 4, position by creating features such as flat, grooved and/or protruding fins, etc. on the pivoting/rotating portion of the stud(s) 8 and surrounding and/or attaching and/or potting the rotating/pivoting portion of the stud(s) 8 in a resilient material and/or by other spring means or a combination of smooth guide(s) and/or biasing features as described . The resilient material may be that of the pivot guide support 10 and/or the tire tread material and/or other resilient material attached to or surrounding the pivoting/rotating portion of stud(s) 8 prior to and/or during manufacturing the tire tread. Biasing stud(s) to a generally withdrawn position may be accomplished by means of resilient material and/or other spring means contacting and/or being compressed as stud(s) 8 pivot/rotate from a withdrawn position to an extended position. It is also anticipated pivoting/rotation of the stud(s) 8 from an extended to a withdrawn position and/or holding stud(s) in a withdrawn position may be facilitated by attachment of stud(s) to the lift plate 7 and/or stud lift chamber 6.

(21) Embodiments may include a feature(s) where the end of and/or other non pivoting/rotating portion the stud(s) 8 away from the pivot/ rotation portion are normally biased, by means previously described, to a withdrawn position that may allow the stud(s) to contact the road surface when the tire tread has worn to the point where replacement is recommended. The resilience of the stud(s) 8 mounting may allow the stud(s) 8 to rebound or bounce from the road surface as a result of contact with the road surface without damage to the road surface. This contact between the stud(s) and road surface may provide an audible and/or visual indication to the driver and/or passengers and/or individuals around the vehicle of the end of recommended life condition of the tire(s).

(22) Embodiments may include a stud lift chamber 6 that when inflated expands/extends generally toward the tread face from a recessed location within the tread. The stud lift chamber 6 may be normally biased to a withdrawn position by use of a resilient material and/or other spring means and/or vacuum. As the stud lift chamber 6 expands/extends portions/features of the stud lift chamber 6 may contact the stud(s) 8 moving them from a withdrawn position to an extended position. As the stud lift chamber 6 is withdrawn, the stud(s) 8 may return to their normal withdrawn position as a result of a normal bias as previously described and/or attachment to the stud lift chamber 6. The stud lift chamber 6 may have the general appearance of a dome or cone or other shape or as an air bag with generally vertical sides when expanded/extended. The stud lift chamber may be formed into the tire during manufacturing process or be part of a secondary installation operation.

(23) Embodiments may include a lift plate 7. The lift plate 7 may rest of the top surface of the stud lift chamber 6 and may enhance contact with the stud(s) 8 as the stud lift chamber 6 is expanded/extended and/or withdrawn. The lift plate 7 may be attached to the stud lift chamber at a single or multiple points 11. The lift plate 7 may be attached to and/or formed into the top surface of the stud lift chamber 6. The lift plate 7 may have feature(s) to enhance physical contact with stud(s) 8. The lift plate 7 may include a wiper seal at the outer edge. The lift plate 7 may have features such as holes to allow any water or contaminants under the lift plate to evaporate and/or flow to the outside. The stud lift chamber 6 and/or lift plate 7 may include features such as studs and/or other traction enhancing characteristics attached to the outer surface of the stud lift chamber 6 and/or lift plate 7 that may contact and/or pierce ice and/or snow when the stud lift chamber 6 is expanded/extended.

(24) Reference is now made to FIG. 3 which provides an overview of components of a system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of tread 14 (the material outside the tire core) surrounding a recess 12 where some or all previously described (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) stud assembly components may be located and/or originate.

(25) A feature or features 13 may be included in the tread to guide and/or support the stud(s) 8. These features may be molded into the tire tread and/or be an extension of the pivot guide support FIG. 2 feature 10 and/or be separate components molded into and/or attached to the tread and/or unattached to the tire tread.

(26) Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for purposes of description of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Those with skill in the art will readily appreciate that embodiments in accordance with the present invention may be implemented in a very wide variety of ways. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein.

(27) The terms and expressions that have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.