Abstract: A method for encapsulating a monitoring device for a pneumatic tire, wherein the monitoring device includes a threaded rod and a pressure sensor, includes the steps of positioning the monitoring device in an encapsulation chamber of an encapsulation device with a portion of the threaded rod extending from the encapsulation chamber; engaging the threaded rod against the encapsulation device to suspend the electronic monitoring device within the encapsulation chamber; and filling the encapsulation chamber with encapsulation material to encapsulate the monitoring device to form an encapsulated monitoring device. The encapsulated monitoring device may be mounted to a pneumatic tire with an attachment patch.

Abstract: A method for encapsulating a monitoring device for a pneumatic tire, wherein the monitoring device includes a threaded rod and a pressure sensor, includes the steps of positioning the monitoring device in an encapsulation chamber of an encapsulation device with a portion of the threaded rod extending from the encapsulation chamber; engaging the threaded rod against the encapsulation device to suspend the electronic monitoring device within the encapsulation chamber; and filling the encapsulation chamber with encapsulation material to encapsulate the monitoring device to form an encapsulated monitoring device. The encapsulated monitoring device may be mounted to a pneumatic tire with an attachment patch.

Abstract: A device for encapsulating a monitoring device for a pneumatic tire with an encapsulation material includes an encapsulation body having an encapsulation chamber. The monitoring device has at least a pressure sensor and an antenna. A damming element is carried by the encapsulation body in an adjustable manner such that the damming element prevents the pressure sensor from being clogged with the encapsulating material when the monitoring device is encapsulated.

Abstract: A device for encapsulating a monitoring device for a pneumatic tire with an encapsulation material includes an encapsulation body having an encapsulation chamber. The monitoring device has at least a pressure sensor and an antenna. A damming element is carried by the encapsulation body in an adjustable manner such that the damming element contacts the pressure sensor of the monitoring device when the monitoring device is disposed within the encapsulation chamber. The damming element prevents the pressure sensor from being clogged with the encapsulating material when the monitoring device is encapsulated. The antenna of the monitoring device is held in a channel formed in the body when the monitoring device is disposed within the encapsulation chamber. The connection between the antenna and the body holds the monitoring device in a floating disposition in the encapsulation chamber. The damming element is in the form of a tube that also helps carry the monitoring device in the floating disposition.

Abstract: A device for encapsulating a monitoring device for a pneumatic tire with an encapsulation material includes an encapsulation body having an encapsulation chamber. The monitoring device has at least a pressure sensor and an antenna. A damming element is carried by the encapsulation body in an adjustable manner such that the damming element prevents the pressure sensor from being clogged with the encapsulating material when the monitoring device is encapsulated.

Abstract: A device for encapsulating a monitoring device for a pneumatic tire with an encapsulation material includes an encapsulation body having an encapsulation chamber. The monitoring device has at least a pressure sensor and an antenna. A damming element is carried by the encapsulation body in an adjustable manner such that the damming element contacts the pressure sensor of the monitoring device when the monitoring device is disposed within the encapsulation chamber. The damming element prevents the pressure sensor from being clogged with the encapsulating material when the monitoring device is encapsulated. The antenna of the monitoring device is held in a channel formed in the body when the monitoring device is disposed within the encapsulation chamber. The connection between the antenna and the body holds the monitoring device in a floating disposition in the encapsulation chamber. The damming element is in the form of a tube that also helps carry the monitoring device in the floating disposition.

Abstract: A method of forming a bead assembly for use in a pneumatic tire includes extruding a strip of green elastomeric material onto a split or pair of steel supporting guide ring where the ends of the extruded strip are cut at a bias angle and then spliced together to form an annular elastomeric member. The extruded strip and formed annular member has a pair of tapered longitudinal end members joined by a central recess. An annular tire bead is placed in radial alignment about the central recess of the annular member. Next, a segmented mandrel carrying inflatable turnup bladders is expanded outwardly, afterwhich the split guide ring is axially withdrawn. The mandrel and bladders then provide the support for the elastomeric member previously provided by the split annular ring, and traps the bead within the central recess. The two longitudinal end members of the extruded strip are then turned up about the bead by inflating the bladders to form the bead assembly, afterwhich the assembly is placed in a shaping mold.

Abstract: A mechanical fastening system for securing a flexible sheet within a channel member via an insert member wherein the latter is made of flexible resilient material having a central longitudinal flex notch that serves to define two adjacent wing portions and permits a temporary elastic deformation of the insert member into an inverted V-shape for insertion of the insert member, together with the flexible sheet, into the channel member. A method for securing the flexible sheet within the channel member, via the resilient insert member, is also presented.

Abstract: A non-penetrating mechanical fastener for securing a flexible sheet of an elastomeric material to the upper surface of a roof via the use of a plurality of such fasteners, each of which includes upper and lower members, wherein the latter are anchored to the roofing surface. The upper member includes a snap-ring which clamps the sheet within an annular boss formed on the lower member and a locking cap which is engaged by an interference fit with the snap-ring to lock the ring in position within the boss. A method for securing the flexible sheet to the roofing substrate also is presented.

Abstract: An attachment device for securing a flexible sheet within a channel member via an insert member of generally inverted V-shape wherein the latter is made of a ductile but rigid material having a central longitudinal portion of reduced rigidity that serves to define two adjacent wing portions and permits the subsequent plastic deformation of the insert member into its installed shape after its insertion, together with the flexible sheet, into the channel member. A method for securing the flexible sheet within the channel member, via the ductile but rigid member, is also presented.

Abstract: In an attachment device, comprising a channel member and an insert member, for securing an elastic membrane within the channel member via the insert member, one of the insert and channel members being capable of deformation to permit the insertion of the insert member, together with adjacent portions of the elastic membrane, into the channel member, the improvement, taking the form of a locking device, insertable into the channel member to prohibit the subsequent removal of the elastic membrane by elastic deformation of one of the channel and insert members.

Abstract: A channel end cap for use, in a mechanical fastening system for mechanically securing a flexible sheet, with a channel member of generally rectangular form, in transverse cross section, wherein the end cap is comprised of a flexible resilient material of a shape generally corresponding to that of the channel member and having first bottom, side and top wall portions separated by an intermediate abutment means from second bottom, side and top wall portions, extending from their corresponding first wall portions, axially outwardly of the channel member axial outer end surface, with the abutment means acting as stop means and abutting the channel member axial outer end surface.

Abstract: A channel connector for channel members, used in mechanical fastening systems for mechanically securing a flexible sheet relative thereto, each channel member being of generally rectangular form, in transverse cross section, and each channel connector being comprised of a flexible resilient material of a shape generally corresponding to that of the channel members and having bottom, side and top wall portions; transverse spacer means, having opposed sides, on the bottom wall, at about the midpoint of the channel connector axial extent; a channel connector bottom wall having a first aperture of a first predetermined size and shape centered a first predetermined axial distance from one of the spacer means sides and a second aperture of a second predetermined size and shape centered a second predetermined axial distance from the other of the spacer means sides.

Abstract: An improved channel connector for channel members, used in mechanical fastening systems for mechanically securing a flexible sheet relative thereto, each channel member being of generally rectangular form, transverse cross section, and each channel connector being comprised of a flexible resilient material of a shape generally corresponding to that of the channel members and having bottom, side and top walls enveloping the corresponding adjacent walls of the channel members; transverse abutment means, having opposed sides, emanating from the top walls at about the midpoint of the channel connector axial extent; and a channel connector bottom wall having one or more apertures of a predetermined size whose axially outermost extents, relative to the abutment means, are equally axially spaced from the opposed sides of the abutment means and of a dimension so as to cooperate with protrusions in the bottom wall of the channel members so as to physically bias their end surfaces against the opposed sides of the abutm