摘要 |
A wheel assembly for a surface vehicle is presented. The wheel assembly comprises a tire comprising an envelope structure which by its inner surface encloses a cavity. The envelope structure comprises an outer, surface-engaging side having a circumferential surface, and opposite side walls which are integral with and extend from the surface-engaging side. The sides walls by their free ends define an inner, rim- engagement side of the tire by which the tire is connectable to a wheel hub. Each of the opposite side walls comprises a surface pattern defining a suspension assembly within the side wall to thereby prevent stretching of the tire envelope towards its maximal volume when the envelope is compressed with gas, while allowing deformation of the tire envelope when loaded or depressurized such that the surface engaging side of the tire maintains a substantially constant contact with the surface. |