ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,296,630, issued on May 13, was assigned to American Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd. (Reynoldsburg, Ohio).
"Nonpneumatic tire" was invented by Claire Shand (Massillon, Ohio), Joseph Skibo Jr. (Cartersville, Ga.), Frank Johnson (Appling, Ga.) and Daniel Davis (Kennesaw, Ga.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A nonpneumatic tire (NPT) having an inner ring for receiving a hub by which the nonpneumatic tire is affixed to a vehicle or other apparatus, an outer ring encircled by a tread band, and a plurality of revolved and mirrored spokes that extend between the inner ring and the outer ring to form an interconnected web of collapsible open cells...