Abstract
A tire and wheel system having a core and an over-injected tire in the core, and a method of manufacturing a wheel and tire assembly. The tire and core assembly is coupled to the wheel by the engagement of an indentation of the core in a recess of the wheel. When used in a wheelchair, a plastic or metal thrust ring is coupled on the wheel by pins and screws in order to make it possible to transfer movement to the wheel.
Claims
1. A vehicle wheel system, comprising: a circular shaped member which is internally disposed in a tire material, said member being harder than the tire material and having outer indentations engaging a wheel.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the circular shaped member inside the tire is made of a rigid thermoplastic resin material and the indentations lie outside the pneumatic member.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the indentations are fitted into recesses of the wheel.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the inner circular shaped member has ellipsoid shaped through holes in the perimeter of its body that are filled by the over-injected material of the tire.
5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the holes are allocated between its upper surface and the lower surface.
6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the indentation has a hole wherein a reinforcing screw can be placed.
7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the indentations have a shape that fits snugly in recesses of the wheels.
8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the indentation has a through hole for the screw coupling.
9. The system according to claim 1, comprising a thrust ring with pins for coupling to the wheel.
10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the pins are conical in shape and the number of pins ranges between 6 and 9.
11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the pin of the thrust ring is fixed to the wheel by a fastening member.
12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the pin of the thrust ring has a cone shape with circular ends.
13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the wheel comprises a hub, spokes and recesses in the gutter to accommodate the indentations.
14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the recess has a through hole for fastening the core and tire assembly to the wheel by a screw.
15. A method of manufacturing a wheel and tire assembly comprising the steps of: producing in a first injection mold a wheel structure and reserving; producing a member in a plastic resin injection mold, said member to be internally disposed in a tire material; placing the mold member in a third mold and over-injecting a soft plastic material thereon, said soft plastic acting as a tire.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of over-injecting the tire in the third mold fills the T shaped part of the member and leaves its indentations out of the mold.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of over-injecting the tire in the third mold fills the through holes of the T shaped part of the member.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] Following, the invention will be described in more detail with the aid of examples shown in the form of Figures.
[0039] FIG. 1shows a perspective view of a core for use in the wheel and tire assembly of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 2shows a front plan view of the tire core that is used in the wheel and tire assembly of the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 3shows a plan view in detail of a first embodiment of the tire core, which is used in the wheel and tire assembly of the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 4shows a plan view in detail of an alternative embodiment of the tire core, which is used in the wheel and tire assembly of the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 5shows a perspective view of a thrust ring, which is used in the wheel and tire assembly of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 6shows a front plan view of the detail of a thrust ring, which is used in the wheel and tire assembly of the present invention;
[0045] FIG. 7shows a perspective view of the detail of the thrust ring, which is used in the wheel and tire assembly of the present invention;
[0046] FIG. 8shows a front plan view of the wheel structure used in the wheel and tire assembly of the present invention;
[0047] FIG. 9shows a front plan view of a detail of the wheel structure, which is used in the wheel and tire assembly of the present invention;
[0048] FIG. 10shows a perspective view of a detail of the wheel structure, which is used in the wheel and tire assembly of the present invention;
[0049] FIG. 11is a plan sectional view of the wheel and tire assembly with thrust ring mounted in the present invention; and
[0050] FIG. 12is a perspective view of the wheel and tire assembly mounted with the thrust ring of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0051] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a circular shaped part, referred to as core 1, having indentations 2 engaging a wheel 12 (see FIG. 8). Said core 1 is made of a rigid thermoplastic resin material, so as to allow the indentations 2 to be reliably and safely engaged to the wheels 12. The amount of indentations 2 ranges due to the greater or lesser need for attachment to the wheel 12. Generally, between 4 to 10 indentations 2 are used for attachment to a wheel 12, but they can vary depending on the need.
[0052] The detail of a first embodiment of the core 1 is illustrated in FIG. 3 and it shows the core 1 containing generally ellipsoid shaped through holes 4 (any other shape may be used) in its body. Such holes 4 are allocated between its upper surface 6 and the lower surface 3A and are arranged along the perimeter of the core 1. The number of holes depends on the size of the wheel to be manufactured and the fixing desired, since they serve to help in the mixing (fixing) of the materials of these two members, said mixing (fixing) occurring by over-injection of the tire material into the core material. Also in FIG. 3, it is shown the indentation 2 that has a hole 5 wherein the reinforcing screw (not shown) is placed to ensure that it will not escape from the gutter of the wheel 12. When the tire material is over-injected, it fits between the ellipsoidal holes 4 and the surfaces of the core 1, so as to provide optimum attachment between the materials and to ensure that they do not separate.
[0053] The core 1 provides the assembly with a physical strength which allows for a more efficient running and a proper fastening when its T-shaped indentations 2 are engaged in the recesses 15 (see FIG. 8) of the wheels 12.
[0054] It is noticed that the ellipsoidal holes 4 in addition to assisting in the better attachment of the pneumatic member 18 (see FIG. 11) also help to make the wheel have great softness during its running, since the material of the tire 18 is softer and is disposed between the surfaces 3A and 6.
[0055] In FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of the core 1 can be visualized, wherein the ellipsoidal holes 4 are also disposed on the sides, and smaller ellipsoidal holes 7 are disposed just below the surface 3A. From the surface 3A, indentations 2A are projected to engage in the spaces/recesses 15 (see FIG. 8) of the wheel 12.
[0056] The indentation 2A, which is outside the pneumatic member, has through holes 5 so as to allow a screw, to be used in said hole 5, to be inserted therein to give better attachment to the tire 18. The indentation 2 or 2A may have any shape that allows a good fit with a negative (recess 15FIG. 8) on the wheel, since it is more important the fastening function that such recess 15 exerts so that the tire 18 does not release.
[0057] A thrust ring 8 is shown in FIG. 5 and it comprises pins 8 of a preferably conical shape. The number of pins 9 generally ranges between 6 and 9, depending on the fastening quality desired.
[0058] In FIG. 6 the pin 9 of the thrust ring 8 can be better visualized. Said pin 9 is fixed to the wheel by means of a screw, said screw being able to be inserted in the hole 5 of the core 1 or at any other point of the wheel, it being sufficient providing support for the use of the thrust ring 8.
[0059] FIG. 7 shows that pin 9 of the thrust ring 8 preferably has a cone shape with circular ends 10 and 11.
[0060] The wheel 12 is shown in FIG. 8 and it comprises a hub 13, spokes 14 and recesses 15 in the gutter to accommodate the indentations 2. The spokes 14 may have various configurations, and the present is only to illustrate a possibility. That is, the shape of the spokes 14 is irrelevant to the invention, it being sufficient that they have the function of providing physical resistance to the wheel 12.
[0061] In FIG. 9, it is shown an enlarged detail of a part of the wheel 12 with spokes 14 of the present invention. The recess 15 is illustrated, and there can be seen a through hole 17 serving to secure the core and tire assembly on the wheel 12 by means of a screw. It is noticed, however, that the recess alone will be able to keep the tire attached to the wheel, and that the screw to be inserted in the holes 17 will serve only as a safety item, so as to ensure that the tire will not leave the gutter even in extreme situations. The recess 15 will have the negative shape of the indentation 2 to be used in the core 1.
[0062] A further detail of the wheel 12 is illustrated in FIG. 10, where the contact surface 16, which serves for the accommodation of the tire and core assembly, can be seen. This assembly being secured by the recess 15. Preferably, the contact surface 16 is misaligned with the end surface 20 of the wheel, so as to assist in a better fit of the tire and core assembly. Said misalignment provides a wall 21 that serves as a stop for better attachment of the assembly.
[0063] FIG. 11 shows the wheel 12, the tire 18 already over-injected in the core 1 and mounted on the thrust ring 8 by means of the pin 9.
[0064] A full view of the tire and wheel assembly can be seen in FIG. 12, where a part 19 of the core 1 is apparent. The indentation 2 is duly fitted in the wheel 12 and screws are inserted into the holes 17. The wheel and tire assembly further comprises a thrust ring 8 mounted thereon.
[0065] Having been described examples of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the scope of the present invention encompasses other possible variations, it being limited only by the content of the appended claims, which includes possible equivalents.
