Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110156313 | CONTOURED FLAT MOLD - Particular embodiments of the present invention include a contoured tire tread, and a mold and method for forming the contoured tread. In a particular embodiment, a mold is provided for forming a contoured tread, the mold including a first mold member and a second mold member. The first and second mold members are reversibly displaceable from each other from a first, closed position in which the first and second members substantially enclose a mold cavity, to a second open position in which the first and second members are displaced from each other. The first mold member contains a mold cavity adapted to contain a polymeric material and having inner wall members and sipe-forming members. The first mold member having a contoured mold cavity bottom surface, and the second mold member having a contoured molding surface. | 06-30-2011 |
20110162772 | INTEGRATED REINFORCEMENT PATCH - Methods and a tire patch for repairing a damaged tire portion are provided. In one embodiment, such method includes the steps of: buffing an interior surface of the tire about a perimeter of the damaged tire portion to form a patch receiving surface, the interior surface being buffed to a depth sufficient to place a tire patch reinforcement of a tire patch a distance of approximately 3 millimeters or less from a damaged tire reinforcement; covering the damaged portion by applying a pre-assembled patch to the patch receiving surface along the interior surface of the tire, the tire patch sized to cover the damaged area, such patch including a reinforcement layer interposed between an air-impermeable layer and an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being at least partially uncured for facilitating attachment of the repair patch to the tire; and, curing the patch to the tire. | 07-07-2011 |
20120216933 | TIRE DESIGN FOR EASE OF INNER LINER REMOVAL AND METHOD THERE FOR - A method of repairing a tire includes providing a tire for repair having an exterior with a tread, a mounting bead, and a sidewall therebetween, an interior including an inner layer having a desired inner layer thickness, and an elastomeric underlying tire layer beneath the inner layer, the inner layer comprising a plurality of ridges extending outwardly a desired height from the inner layer surface generally defining a plurality of inner layer segments, a portion of the underlying tire layer extending outwardly along the ridges, and may extend at least to the depth of the inner layer surface. Then, preparing a patch area by removing at least a portion of a plurality of the ridges around the perimeter of at least one inner layer segment exposing the raised portion of the underlying tire layer beneath the removed ridges, the exposed underlying tire layer forming a discontinuity in the inner layer around the formed perimeter, peeling the inner layer away from the underlying tire layer within the perimeter, and installing a tire patch onto the patch area. | 08-30-2012 |
20130276945 | METHODS FOR RETREADING A TIRE - Embodiments include methods for retreading a tire, which include providing a tire carcass for retreading, the tire carcass having a pre-existing tread layer including one or more voids extending into the tread layer thickness from an outer side. A bonding layer is applied along an outer side of the pre-existing tread layer, the bonding layer substantially filling the voids arranged along the outer side of the pre-existing tread layer to provide an outer surface for receiving the pre-cured bonding layer. A pre-cured tread layer is applied along an outer side of the bonding layer such that the bonding layer is arranged between the pre-cured tread layer and the pre-existing tread layer. The pre-cured tread layer is bonded to the tire carcass to form a retreaded tire having are treaded tire tread. Grooves are then formed in the retreaded tire tread along a ground-engaging, outer side of the retreaded tire tread. | 10-24-2013 |
20140017979 | BALANCED ABRADING TOOL AND METHODS FOR ABRADING - Exemplary embodiments of the subject invention comprise methods and apparatus concerning balanced abrading of a tire surface by an abrading tool. Such an abrading tool may comprise a pair of counter-rotating, driven abrading members, each of the abrading members having a rotational axis generally extending laterally across the tool, the abrading members being spaced apart in a lateral direction of the tool by a desired distance, each of the abrading members having an abrading surface defined by at least one outer diameter, the abrading surface extending axially relative to the rotational axis of the abrading member, wherein each of the abrading has a shaft upon which each abrading member is arranged, each of the shafts being adapted to be driven by a driving source. The tool further includes a body to which each shaft and abrading member is attached. | 01-16-2014 |
20140248825 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DEFLECTING AND SUPPORTING A TIRE SIDEWALL - Particular embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatus for deforming a tire sidewall. Such methods include the step of providing a tire having at least one sidewall connected to a corresponding bead. A further step includes constraining at least one of the sidewall and bead from moving laterally toward the other. Yet another step of such methods includes engaging the sidewall with an inclined member. Another step of such methods includes moving at lest one of the sidewall and bead in a lateral direction away from the other until the sidewall is laterally deformed into a laterally deformed configuration. | 09-04-2014 |
20140251527 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CURING RETREADED TIRES - Embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatus for constraining a tread in a desired arrangement about a tire carcass during retreading operations. Such methods include the steps of providing a annular tire carcass configured for receiving a tread. Such methods also include the step of arranging a tread annularly about the precured tire carcass in a desired position to form an assembled retreaded tire. Such methods further include the step of arranging a retread curing membrane about an outer side of the tread, the curing membrane including an interior surface arranged to engage the outer side of the tread and including one or more protrusions extending from the membrane interior surface and into a void of the outer side of the tread. In other embodiments, a separate insert containing protrusions is arranged between a curing membrane and a tire tread for retread curing operations. | 09-11-2014 |
20140261938 | VARIABLE HEIGHT GROOVES IN MULTIPLE WEAR LAYER TREADS FOR RETREADED TIRES - Particular embodiments of the present invention include multi-wear layer treads having variable depth grooves for retreaded tires, retreaded tires, and methods of forming retreaded tires. In particular embodiments, such multi-wear layer tire treads include a thickness bounded depthwise by a top side configured to engage a ground surface during tire operation and a bottom side configured for attachment to a tire carcass, the thickness extending laterally between opposing side edges and longitudinally in a lengthwise direction of the tread. Such tread may further include a top groove extending a variable depth into the tread thickness from the top side, the top groove having a groove bottom that varies depthwise within the tread thickness to form multiple wear layers. In other embodiments, top grooves may or may not be variable depth grooves, while the tread further include a bottom groove extending a variable depth into the tread thickness from the bottom side. | 09-18-2014 |
20140318678 | TRANSVERSE GROOVES PROVIDING VENTING IN TREADS FOR RETREADED TIRES - The present invention includes an improved tire tread having recessed lateral grooves, and a tire having the same. Particular embodiments of the tread include a tread thickness bounded depthwise by a top side configured to engage a ground surface during tire operation and a bottom side configured to attach to a tire carcass, the thickness extending laterally between a first side edge and a second side edge and longitudinally in a lengthwise direction of the tread. The tread further includes a longitudinal groove in fluid communication with the top side or the bottom side of the tread thickness and a lateral groove in fluid communication with the bottom side of the tread thickness extending from the first side edge intersecting the longitudinal groove forming a vent passageway extending from the longitudinal groove and to the first side edge. The invention includes methods of forming such treads and molds there for. | 10-30-2014 |
20140318688 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR HOT RECAPPING OF A RETREADED TIRE - Particular embodiments of the present invention comprise methods for retreading a tire and a retreaded tire formed by such methods. Such methods include assembling a retreaded tire by: applying a bonding layer along an outer side of a pre-existing tread layer of a tire carcass and within the one or more voids arranged within the pre-existing tread layer and applying a new, uncured tread layer along an outer side of the bonding layer. Such methods further include arranging an annular mold about the outer side of the tread of the assembled retreaded tire such that one or more void molding elements are arranged to terminate overtop and adjacent one of the one or more voids arranged within the pre-existing tread layer outer side. Such methods further include molding the new tread layer to the tire carcass according to hot retreading operations. | 10-30-2014 |
20150083306 | TIRE TREADS WITH REDUCED UNDERTREAD THICKNESS - The invention comprises a tire tread, and tire, and a method of forming a tire having the tire tread. Particular embodiments of the tire tread have a tread thickness bounded by a top side and a bottom side, and a groove extending into the tread thickness from the top side and terminating within the tread thickness at a groove bottom. A thickness of the tread extends from the groove bottom to a protruding portion of the bottom side of the tread below the groove bottom such that portions of the bottom side adjacent the protruding portion are recessed within the tread thickness. Such tire tread further includes a plurality of strengthening members forming protrusions extending into the groove from the groove bottom and from at least one side of the pair of opposing groove sides, the plurality of strengthening members being arranged along a length of the groove. | 03-26-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100258229 | TIRE REPAIR PATCH - Methods and apparatus for applying a repair patch to a damaged portion of a tire, the steps of the method including removably positioning the patch in a repair position overlapping the damaged portion, pulling a tab to remove a protective sheet to uncover at least a portion of the bonding surface while the patch is in contact with the tire, and pressing the uncovered bonding surface into contact with the tire. | 10-14-2010 |
20100258237 | REPAIR PATCH FOR RADIAL TIRES - A repair patch for repairing radial tires that reduces the size of a bulge as typically appears in the sidewall of a repaired radial tire. The patch includes a ply package having a first reinforcement ply and a second reinforcement ply superimposed on the first reinforcement ply. The first reinforcement ply package comprises a tissue of first reinforcement cords that are arranged in a radial direction while the second reinforcement play comprises a tissue of second reinforcement cords that are arranged essentially in a 0 degrees direction. The patch of particular embodiments may further include a top cushion gum layer and a bottom cushion gum layer, wherein the ply package is interposed between the top and bottom cushion gum layers. Also included are methods for using the repair patch to repair radial tires. | 10-14-2010 |
20130213556 | FLEXIBLE GUIDE FOR TIRE REPAIR - A method for preparing a portion of a tire for repair includes the steps of providing a template having a pair of guide edges, securing the template to an interior surface of the tire, providing a tool for forming a discontinuity in the interior surface of the tire, forming a discontinuity in the interior surface of the tire, with the tool, along the guide edges of the template, and removing the template from the tire. | 08-22-2013 |
20130213557 | DEPTH MARKING TOOL FOR TIRE REPAIR - The invention includes methods and apparatus for preparing a tire surface for receiving a tire patch. Such methods include selecting a desired depth marking template for use in forming one or more depth marking apertures within a tire surface and within a desired tire patch application area, each of the one or more depth marking apertures having a desired depth corresponding to a desired depth of the patch receiving area, the template having one or more openings extending through a thickness of the template corresponding to the one or more marking apertures to be formed. The methods further include forming one or more depth marking apertures within the tread by inserting a material removal member of a power tool into each of the one or more openings in the template, the power tool removing tire material to the desired depth for each aperture. | 08-22-2013 |
20130240120 | PROFILED PLANE ABRADING TOOL FOR TIRE REPAIRS - The present invention includes methods and apparatus for controlling the abrasion of a tire surface. Particular embodiments provide an abrading tool for abrading a surface of a tire, the tool comprising means for rotating an abrading wheel, an abrading wheel rotatably attached to the means for rotating, and a depth guide secured to the means for rotating, wherein the depth guide includes a pair of freely rotatable, spaced apart guide wheels. Further embodiments include a depth guide configured for use with an abrading tool which includes a abrading wheel and a means for rotating the abrading wheel, the depth guide comprising a mounting member securable to the means for rotating and a pair of freely rotatable, spaced apart guide wheels rotatably attached to the mounting member. Particular embodiments further include a method for preparing a portion of a tire for repair. | 09-19-2013 |
20130299065 | REPAIR PATCH FOR RADIAL TIRES - A repair patch for repairing radial tires that reduces the size of a bulge as typically appears in the sidewall of a repaired radial tire. The patch includes a ply package having a first reinforcement ply and a second reinforcement ply superimposed on the first reinforcement ply. The first reinforcement ply package comprises a tissue of first reinforcement cords that are arranged in a radial direction while the second reinforcement play comprises a tissue of second reinforcement cords that are arranged essentially in a 0 degrees direction. The patch of particular embodiments may further include a top cushion gum layer and a bottom cushion gum layer, wherein the ply package is interposed between the top and bottom cushion gum layers. | 11-14-2013 |
20130309949 | TIRE SPREADER FOR TIRE REPAIR - The present invention concerns methods and apparatus for spreading beads in a tire. Particular embodiments of such methods include positioning a tire adjacent an automated material abrading tool, the tire having: a central opening bounded radially by an inner bead diameter; an interior tire cavity extending radially outward from the inner bead diameter; and an interior tire cavity opening extending between opposing an annular beads of the tire, the cavity being positioned between the central cavity and the interior tire cavity. Such methods may also include securing at least a portion of the first bead of the tire and positioning a tire spreader within the central opening of the tire, the tire spreader having a bead engaging portion for engaging a portion of the second bead generally opposite the secured portion of the first bead. | 11-21-2013 |