Ronald W Thompson

US Patent:

D469398, Jan 28, 2003

Filed:

Jan 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

29/153564

Inventors:

Ronald H. Thompson - Greenville SC
Stephen J. Lash - Simpsonville SC
Scott M. Waters - Hollis NH
Shih-Tao Chang - Nashua NH

Assignee:

Michelin Recherche et Technique, S.A. - Grange-Paccot

International Classification:

1215

US Classification:

D12569

US Patent:

D473184, Apr 15, 2003

Filed:

Jan 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

29/153585

Inventors:

Ronald H. Thompson - Greenville SC
Stephen J. Lash - Simpsonville SC
Scott M. Waters - Hollis NH
Shih-Tao Chang - Nashua NH

Assignee:

Michelin Recherche et Technique, S.A. - Grange-Paccot

International Classification:

1215

US Classification:

D12570

US Patent:

D486781, Feb 17, 2004

Filed:

May 15, 2003

Appl. No.:

29/181795

Inventors:

Ronald Hobart Thompson - Greenville SC

Assignee:

Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.

International Classification:

1215

US Classification:

D12571, D12577

US Patent:

6916073, Jul 12, 2005

Filed:

Mar 8, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/796665

Inventors:

Roger C. Cottrell - Simpsonville SC, US
Ronald H. Thompson - Greenville SC, US

Assignee:

Michelin Recherche et Technique - Granges-Paccot

International Classification:

B60B021/00

US Classification:

301 95109, 1523793, 157 117

Abstract:

A tire and wheel assembly that permits hand-mounting of the tire on the wheel is provided. The following parameters are identified in a specific relationship so as to provide a tire that permits such hand mounting: Cis the circumference of the wheel well, from the mounting side flange, H is the radial height of the rim flange, and Y is the axial width of the rim flange, and M represents an amount of additional length, preferably about 80 millimeters.

US Patent:

6983776, Jan 10, 2006

Filed:

Dec 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/319772

Inventors:

Ronald Hobart Thompson - Greenville SC, US
Timothy B. Rhyne - Greenville SC, US
Kenneth W. Demino - Anderson SC, US
Steven M. Cron - Simpsonville SC, US

Assignee:

Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.

International Classification:

B60C 7/00
B60C 9/06
B60C 9/18
B60C 13/00

US Classification:

152197, 152246, 152327

Abstract:

A resilient tire that supports a load without internal air pressure includes a ground contacting tread portion and sidewall portions extending radially inward from said tread portion and anchored in bead portions. A bias ply carcass extends between the beads to support the sidewalls. A reinforced annular band is disposed radially inward of the tread portion. The band comprises an elastomeric shear layer at a radially outer side of the bias ply carcass and a membrane adhered to a radially outward side of the elastomeric shear layer. Each of the bias ply and membrane has a longitudinal tensile modulus sufficiently greater than the shear modulus of the shear layer so that when under load the ground contacting portion of the tire deforms to a flat contact region through shear strain in the shear layer while maintaining constant the length of the membranes.

US Patent:

7201194, Apr 10, 2007

Filed:

Feb 20, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/782999

Inventors:

Timothy B. Rhyne - Greenville SC, US
Ronald H. Thompson - Greenville SC, US
Steven M. Cron - Simpsonville SC, US
Kenneth W. DeMino - Anderson SC, US

Assignee:

Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A. - Granges-Paccot

International Classification:

B60B 9/26

US Classification:

152 5, 152 11, 152246, 152270

Abstract:

A structurally supported tire includes a ground contacting tread portion, a reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of the tread portion, and a plurality of web spokes extending transversely across and radially inward from the reinforced annular band and anchored in a wheel or hub. The reinforced annular band comprises an elastomeric shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of the elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of the elastomeric shear layer. Each of the membranes has a longitudinal tensile modulus sufficiently greater than the shear modulus of the shear layer so that when under load the ground contacting portion of the tire deforms to a flat contact region through shear strain in the shear layer while maintaining constant the length of the membranes, the web spokes transmitting load forces between the annular band and the hub through tension in the web spokes not connected to the ground contacting portion of the tire.

US Patent:

7418988, Sep 2, 2008

Filed:

Oct 27, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/260640

Inventors:

Steven M. Cron - Simpsonville SC, US
Jean-Pierre Pompier - Enval, FR
Timothy B. Rhyne - Greenville SC, US
Ronald Hobart Thompson - Greenville SC, US
Kenneth W. Demino - Anderson SC, US

Assignee:

Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.

International Classification:

B60B 9/26

US Classification:

152 5, 152 11, 152246, 152270

Abstract:

A structurally supported tire includes an outer annular band, and a plurality of web spokes extending transversely across and radially inward from the annular band and anchored in a wheel or hub. The annular band may further comprise a shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of the shear layer, and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of the shear layer. A preferred web spoke has a cutaway section transverse to the annular band. The cutaway section has a profile formed by straight line segments joined by a blending radius. The profile of the cutaway comprises a height and a maximum depth greater than five percent of the height and less than thirty percent of the maximum width. The profile has an angle alpha formed by a line tangent to the profile relative to the horizontal at least equal to ten degrees at the radially outermost and radially innermost extent of said profile. The minimum radius of curvature of the profile is at least equal to twenty percent of the height of the cutaway section.

US Patent:

7650919, Jan 26, 2010

Filed:

Apr 9, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/697938

Inventors:

Timothy B. Rhyne - Greenville SC, US
Ronald H. Thompson - Greenville SC, US
Steven M. Cron - Simpsonville SC, US
Kenneth W. Demino - Anderson SC, US

Assignee:

Michelin Recherche of Technique S.A. - Granges-Paccot

International Classification:

B60B 9/26

US Classification:

152246, 152 5, 152 11, 152270

Abstract:

A structurally supported tire includes a ground contacting tread portion, a reinforced annular band disposed radially inward of the tread portion, and a plurality of web spokes extending transversely across and radially inward from the reinforced annular band and anchored in a wheel or hub. The reinforced annular band comprises an elastomeric shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of the elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of the elastomeric shear layer. Each of the membranes has a longitudinal tensile modulus sufficiently greater than the shear modulus of the shear layer, and a longitudinal compression modulus of a second membrane is at least equal to the longitudinal tensile modulus of a first membrane so that when under load the ground contacting portion of the tire deforms to a flat contact region through shear strain in the shear layer while maintaining constant the length of the membranes. The web spokes transmit load forces between the annular band and the hub through tension in the web spokes not connected to the ground contacting portion of the tire.