REMOVABLE TIRE TREAD

BANDE DE ROULEMENT DE PNEU AMOVIBLE

English Abstract

A removable tire tread has a tread body having a tread surface, a tire engaging surface, and an attachment for attaching the tread body around an outer circumference of a tire having spaced tread members on an outer surface. The tire engaging surface has saddles that retain the outer surface of the tire. Each saddle has a bottom support, opposed upstanding members adjacent to the outer surface of the tire that engage the sidewalls of the tire, a gusset between each opposed upstanding member and the bottom support, each gusset engaging the outer surface of the tire, and a tread engagement member carried by the bottom support that engages the tire between the spaced tread members.

French Abstract

Une bande de roulement de pneu amovible possède un corps de bande qui comporte une surface de bande, une surface de contact avec le pneu et une fixation pour fixer le corps de bande autour dune circonférence extérieure dun pneu qui possède des éléments de bande espacés sur une surface extérieure. La surface de contact avec le pneu possède des selles qui retiennent la surface extérieure du pneu. Chaque selle possède un support inférieur, des éléments verticaux opposés adjacents à la surface extérieure du pneu qui mettent en prise les parois latérales du pneu, un soufflet entre chaque élément vertical opposé et le support inférieur, chaque soufflet mettant en prise la surface extérieure du pneu, et un élément de mise en prise de bande transporté par le support inférieur qui met le pneu en prise entre les éléments de bande espacés.

Claims

6
What is Claimed is:
1. A removable tire tread, comprising:
a tread body having a tread surface, a tire engaging surface, and an
attachment for
attaching the tread body around an outer circumference of a tire having spaced
tread members
on an outer surface;
the tire engaging surface coinprising saddles that retains the outer surface
of the tire,
each saddle comprising:
a bottom support;
opposed upstanding members adjacent to the outer surface of the tire that
engage the sidewalls of the tire;
a gusset between each opposed upstanding member and the bottom support,
each gusset engaging the outer surface of the tire; and
a tread engagement member carried by the bottom support that engages the
tire between the spaced tread members.
2. The removable tire tread of claim 1, wherein the tread surface comprises
removable treads.
3. The removable tire tread of claim 1, wherein the saddles are attached using
a pin
connection through the removable treads and the tread body.
4. The removable tire tread of claim 1, further comprising support bars
mounted to the tire
engaging surface between the saddles,
5. The removable tire tread of claim 4, wherein the support bars comprise
tread spacer
engagement members that engages the tire between the spaced tread members.
6. The removable tire tread of claim 1, wherein the tread body is wider than
the tire.
7. The removable tire tread of claim 1, wherein the tread body is
substantially the same width

7
as the tire.
8. The removable tire tread of claim 1, wherein the attachment is a piano
hinge.
9. The removable tire tread of claim 1, further comprising an attachment line
connected to the
tread body that traverses the tire.

Description

CA 02709562 2010-07-22
TITLE
[0001] Removable tire tread
FIELD
[0002] This relates to a removable tire tread that may be used with, for
example tires with
a coarse tread.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Tires with a coarse tread pattern are often used in agriculture, such
as on tractors
or irrigators. The tires have generally rounded outer surface with treads that
are thick and
spaced apart. An example of such a tire is shown in FIG.1 and 2. This provides
the tire with
grip, but can also damage sensitive ground as it passes over it.
SUMMARY
[0004] According to an aspect, there is provided a removable tire tread,
comprising a
tread body having a tread surface, a tire engaging surface, and an attachment
for attaching the
tread body around an outer circumference of a tire having spaced tread
members. The tire
engaging surface comprises saddles that engage the tire. Each saddle comprises
a bottom
support, opposed upstanding members adjacent to the outer surface of the tire
that engage the
sidewalls of the tire, a gusset between each opposed upstanding member and the
bottom
support that engages the outer surface of the tire, and a tread engagement
member carried by
the bottom support that engages the tire between the spaced tread members.
[0005] According to another aspect, the tread surface may comprise removable
treads.
The saddles may be are attached to the tread body using a pin connection
through the
removable treads and the tread body. The attachment may be a piano hinge.
There may be an
attachment line that secures the tread body to the tire.
[0006] According to another aspect, there may be support bars mounted to the
tire
engaging surface between the saddles. The support bars may comprise tread
spacer
engagement members that engages the tire between the spaced tread members.
[0007] According to another aspect, the tread body is wider than the tire, or
substantially

CA 02709562 2010-07-22
2
the same width.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] These and other features will become more apparent from the following
description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings
are for the
purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting,
wherein;
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a prior art tire with a coarse tread
pattern.
FIG. 2 is a end elevation view of the tire with a coarse tread pattern.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a saddle for a removable tire tread.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the saddle.
FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a support bar for a removable tire tread.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the clamp bar.
FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an open removable tire tread.
FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of an open removable tire tread.
FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the removable tire tread installed on a
tire.
FIG. 10 is an end elevation view in partial section of the removable tire
installed
on a tire.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] A removable tire tread generally identified by reference numeral 10,
will now be
described with reference to FIG. 1 through 10.
Structure and Relationship of Parts:
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1 and 2, there is shown a tire 100 that may be used,
for
example, on a tractor, irrigator, or other equipment used in off-road areas.
Tire 100 has a
coarse tread pattern with thick treads 102 having spaces 104 between treads
102. Treads 102
are generally in a herringbone pattern around an outer circumference 106 of
tire 100.
[0011] Referring to FIG. 9, removable tire tread 10 has a tread body 12 with a
tread
surface 14, a tire engaging surface 16, and an attachment 18 for attaching
tread body 12
around outer circumference 106 of tire 100, such as a piano hinge as shown in
FIG. 7 and 8.

CA 02709562 2010-07-22
3
As can be seen in FIG. 10, tread body 12 may be wider than tire 100.
Alternatively, it may be
the same width as tire 100.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 8, tire engaging surface 16 has saddles 20 that
engage tire 100
as shown in FIG. 10. Referring to FIG. 3, saddles 20 are generally U-shaped
and are defined
by a bottom support 21 connected to opposed upstanding members 22, and gussets
25
connected between upstanding members 22 and bottom support 21. Gussets 25 are
angled to
engage tire 100 and upstanding members 22 are positioned on either side of
tire 100 as shown
in FIG. 10. While tires 100 with rounded outer surfaces are shown, it will be
understood that
removable tire tread 10 could also be used on tires with a flat outer surface.
Removable tire
tread 10 is particularly useful for tires 100 with a coarse tread pattern, as
it allows a suitable
engagement to provide sufficient support to tread body 12, and to properly
engage tire 100 to
avoid slippage and undue wear.
[0013] Preferably, upstanding members 22 do not directly engage the sidewalls
of tire
100 to avoid wear. During operation, tire 100 is maintained in a central
position by gussets
25, which directly engage the tread surface of tire 100, and act to keep tire
100 centralized
within saddles 20 and therefore removable tread 10. As gussets 25 engage the
treaded portion
of tire 100, wear is not of particular concern, as that portion of tire 100 is
designed and
intended for such contact. Upstanding members are used to prevent tire 100
from working its
way out of saddles 20 if, for example, tire 100 is traversing a slope. on a
Saddles 20 also
include a tread engagement member 24 that engages tire 100 between spaced
tread members
102. Tread engagement member 24 provides a larger engagement surface area to
provide
more even support across the width of tire 100, and also helps prevent
slippage between tire
100 and removable tire tread 100 as tire is driven 100. In addition, referring
to FIG. 9,
attachment lines 30, such as chains, may be provided that cross tire 100 to
help secure tread
body 10 to tire 100 and prevent slippage during use.
[0014] It will be understood that saddles 20 may be formed differently, as
long as it is
designed to securely grip tire 100 along its outer surface. It will also be
understood that tread
engagement members 24 may be designed differently than the block that is
depicted. For

CA 02709562 2010-07-22
4
example, tread engagement members 24 may be a moulded piece that corresponds
to the
shape and contour of one or more space 104 on tire 100. Tread engagement
members may be
removable or integrally formed with saddles 20.
[0015] Referring to FIG. 3, bottom supports 21 of saddles 20 also act as tread
supports.
Saddles 20 also may include upstanding member supports 23. Tread supports 21
helps
prevent tread body 12 from bending around tire 100 when weight is applied to
maintain a
generally flat tread surface. Upstanding member supports 23 help maintain
upstanding
members 22 in contact with tire 100, and are particularly useful when used
with wider treads.
[0016] Preferably, tread engagement member 24 is designed to be the same size
and
shape as space 104 that it will engage. Referring to FIG. 7, tread surface 14
has removable
treads 26. Treads 26 are preferably attached such that there is always at
least one touching the
ground at a time. Referring to FIG. 9, saddles may be attached using a pin
connection
through removable treads 26 and tread body 12. As such, treads 26 are
preferably positioned
immediately opposite saddles 20. Referring to FIG. 8, in some circumstances,
it may be
beneficial to provide support bars 28 mounted to tire engaging surface 16
between saddles 20.
Referring to FIG. 5 and 6, support bars 28 may also have tread engagement
members 24 that
engage the tire between the spaced tread members.
Operation:
[0017] Referring to FIG. 7 and 8, removable tread 10 is first assembled based
on the tire
that is to be used, which requires the appropriate spacing of saddles 20 and
support bars 28.
The number of saddles 20 and support bars 28 and their configuration on body
12 will depend
on the preferences of the user and the intended use. Generally speaking,
treads 26 are
attached along with saddles 20 and support bars 28, and are preferably made
from a tough
polymer. This provides a suitable anchor for both treads 26 on one side of
body 12, and
saddles 20 or support bars 28 on the other.
[0018] To install removable tread 10 on a tire, the tire is first deflated
slightly to reduce

CA 02709562 2010-07-22
the diameter and allow for some play. Body 12 is then wrapped around tire 100
as shown in
FIG. 9 and 10 such that tread engagement members 24 are positioned in spaces
104 between
treads 102, and such that upstanding members 22 of saddles 20 are on either
side of tire 100.
Connection 18 is then made, and the tire is inflated to the desired operating
pressure. The
5 length of body 12 is designed such that, when inflated, tire 100 applies
pressure to tire
engaging surface 14 to ensure a tight fit.
[0019] During use, removable tread 10 increases the contact area of tire 100
on ground,
which is particularly useful for environmentally sensitive areas, or
particularly soft ground.
The width of body 12 can be varied, depending on the preferences of the user.
Saddles 20
ensure that body 12 does not move axially, and tread supports 21 along with
support bars 28
help keep tread surface flat under pressure. Tread engagement members 24 are
used to
increase the contact surface between tire 100 and tire engaging surface 14 to
provide
additional support to body 12, and also to prevent slippage as tire 100 is
driven during use.
[0020] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-
limiting sense to
mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically
mentioned are not
excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not
exclude the
possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context
clearly requires that
there be one and only one of the elements.
[0021] The following claims are to be understood to include what is
specifically
illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, and what can
be obviously
substituted. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations
and modifications
of the described embodiments can be configured without departing from the
scope of the
claims. The illustrated embodiments have been set forth only as examples and
should not be
taken as limiting the invention. It is to be understood that, within the scope
of the following
claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically illustrated
and described.

Representative Drawing