Bead Contour For Engagement With Mounting Rims (e.g., Lips, Ribs, Or Grooves, Etc.) Patents (Class 152/544)
  • Publication number: 20040155519
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rim for cycles, more particular for bicycles. The invention is also aimed at a tubeless mounted assembly consisting of the said rim and of a tire having in particular two flexible bead wires. According to the invention, the rim consists of two flanges, attached to two seats, intended to receive the beads of a tire, separated from each other by a mounting groove, and, according to the profile of the rim in a radial plane, the bead seats have a generatrix, the axially outer end of which is on a circle of smaller diameter than the diameter of the circle on which the axially inner end is situated, the said generatrix forming an angle with the axis of rotation of the tire of between 15 and 45 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: Loic Albert, Bernard Moreau
  • Publication number: 20040154720
    Abstract: Tire, comprising at least one carcass-type reinforcement structure extending circumferentially from the bead to the sidewall and a crown reinforcement, each of the beads further comprising a main anchoring zone for supporting the reinforcement structure, the tire comprising a rim protector provided by a rubber projection extending axially outwardly relative to the sidewall and comprising at least one secondary anchoring zone comprising a plurality of circumferential cord windings, the windings cooperating with an adjacent portion of a secondary reinforcement structure via a rubber anchoring mix. Since anchoring is distributed between the bead and the rim protector, new architectural or design possibilities are opened up, for example permitting the use of the restricted space of the bead in an optimum manner. Thus, for example, the presence of the secondary anchoring zone at the rim protector helps greatly to improve the behaviour of the tires, in particular resistance to drift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Pascal Auxerre
  • Publication number: 20040134583
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire with a rubber lump applied to the bead portion part, and more particularly, to a pneumatic tire wherein the bead portion part is reinforced by applying a rubber lump on the side surface of the lower portion of the bead with a carcass ply[[,]]. optionally together with A flipper, which provides reinforcement, can also be used. The carcass play is spirally wound through the upper, side and lower portion of said rubber lump to [[the]] an arbitrary point of the upper portion of said bead so that by minimizing the movement of the bead by means way of [[said]] the carcass ply or the flipper, the bead portion of the tire is not easily broken away from the rim when air is evacuated from [[a]] the tire which is installed on a special rim that does not have a flange, or while driving with a tire with [[of]] low air pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Doh-Zong Chung, Bok-Soo Park, Myung-Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 6758252
    Abstract: A tire (1) comprising, viewed in meridian section, two beads (12) with generatrices which are inclined towards the outside, the upturn (130) of said reinforcement (13) being formed by the lateral (30) and radially inner (32) sides of a wedge-shaped profiled element (3) of high Shore A hardness and having an end located firstly axially to the outside of a straight line P2 perpendicular to the axis of rotation and passing through the center of gravity of the annular anchoring element (14) and secondly axially to the inside and radially to the outside of the straight line P1 passing through said center of gravity and forming with the axis of rotation an angle of between 30° and 60°, and the ratio e1/e2 of the thickness e1 between the carcass reinforcement upturn (130) and the annular anchoring element (14) to the thickness e2 between the carcass reinforcement upturn (130) and the outer wall of the bead, measured on the straight line P1, satisfying the relationship: 0.05≦e1/e2<1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique, S.A.
    Inventors: Francis Bordoz, Forrest Patterson
  • Publication number: 20040099361
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire (10) has a tread portion (11), a pair of sidewall portions (13) and a pair of bead portions (14). Each bead portion (14) has a bead core (15), and each bead core (15) has a radially inner surface defining a bead core base (31). Radially inward of, and wider than, each bead core base (31) is a bead seat profile (20). The bead seat profile (20) provides an interference fit between the tire (30) and the ledge (42) of the wheel rim (40) to which the tire (10) is to be mounted. The bead seat profile (20) has at least two portions which are inclined at specific angles with respect to the radially inner surface of the bead core base The radially inner base (31) of the bead core (15) is substantially parallel to the bead seat profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventor: Daniel Scheuren
  • Publication number: 20040074580
    Abstract: A self-supporting tyre (1) has reinforcing structures at the beads (4) defining rest surfaces (4a) for a corresponding rim (1a) which have a profile converging towards the tyre rotation axis away from the equatorial plane (X-X) of the tyre itself. The carcass plies (3a, 3b) are each made by sequential deposition of strip-like sections circumferentially distributed on a toroidal support (11). Elastic-support inserts (16, 21) are interposed between the side portions (13a, 14a) of axially internal sections (13), axial intermediate sections (15). In this manner around at least one of said support inserts opening degree of which can be modulated depending on requirements, by modifying the land/empty space ratio determined by the distance existing between the side portions (13a, 14a, 15a) of the strip-like sections (13, 14, 15) covering each of the axially opposite sides of the support insert itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: Renato Caretta
  • Publication number: 20040035512
    Abstract: An auxiliary member, made of metal or synthetic resin, is disposed between each rim seat of the rim of a wheel and at least a bead base portion of each of the beads of a pneumatic tire fitted to the rim seats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventor: Shinichi Mori
  • Patent number: 6691756
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire to be mounted on a 15-degree-taper rim comprises a pair of bead portions each with a bead core, wherein in a meridian section of the tire under a state that the tire is not mounted on the rim but the bead portions are held such that the bead width is equal to the rim width of the 15-degree-taper rim, the bead base surface of each bead portion, which is defined as extending between a bead heel and a bead toe, is substantially straight and inclined at an angle of from 22 to 26 degrees with respect to the tire axial direction, and a ratio La/Lb of the axial width La of the bead base surface to the maximum width Lb of the bead core is in a range of from 1.3 to 1.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Koya, Yoshiyuki Takada
  • Patent number: 6688354
    Abstract: A tire having a radial carcass reinforcement winding within each bead around at least one heel reinforcement element and whose meridian profile, when the tire is mounted and inflated, has a constant direction of curvature in a first bead and a sidewall extending it radially, and has a tangent TT′ to the point of tangency T of the carcass reinforcement profile with the annular element of the first bead which forms with the axis of rotation an angle &phgr; which is open towards the outside and is greater than 45°, wherein, viewed in meridian section, at least the aforesaid sidewall comprises a reinforcing profiled element having, viewed in section, substantially the form of a crescent, one of the axially inner or outer faces of the crescent-shaped profiled element follows the profile of the carcass reinforcement, and the trace of the face of the crescent-shaped profiled element opposite the face of such profiled element closest to the carcass reinforcement has a single direction of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Drieux, Jean-Claude Faure, Jean-Pierre Pompier
  • Publication number: 20040007303
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire for heavy duty use applications, having at least one sidewall of formed an increased thickness, for providing better tire sidewall wear and increased re-use of the tire's internal carcass, the tire's enhanced thickness sidewall having a relief area formed by at least one radius relief portion adjacent that sidewall's bead to prevent the associated rim flange edge from cutting into the enhanced thickened sidewall, and a sharp angled return sidewall portion adjacent the portion tread sidewall. The increased thickened sidewall, ranging between approximately 2.0 and 3.5 inches, provides maximum thickness in the area of maximum sidewall flexing during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventor: Jordan Fishman
  • Patent number: 6659149
    Abstract: A tire for a vehicle wheel, comprising two sidewalls, a crown zone provided on its radially outer portion with a circumferential tread, and a bead arranged in the radially inner portion of each of the sidewalls. Each bead comprises a seat and an outer flange which are intended to come into contact with the rim, the seat having a generatrix, the axially inner end of which lies on a circle of diameter greater than the diameter of the circle on which the axially outer end is located. A carcass-type reinforcement structure extends substantially radially from each of the beads, along the sidewalls, towards the crown zone. Each bead includes a zone for anchoring the carcass-type reinforcement structure in the bead, a bearing zone for the bead against a suitable rim seat, and an intermediate zone, which is provided substantially between said anchoring zone and the bearing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique
    Inventors: Pedro Costa Pereira, Bernard Guerinon
  • Patent number: 6651715
    Abstract: In a pneumatic radial tire for trucks and buses mounted on an approved 15° drop center rim, an outer surface portion of a composite side-rubber and/or an envelope surface of the bead core among members constituting the bead portion of the tire has a curved shape concavedly directed toward the outside of the tire at a region opposite to an inner curved surface of a slantly rising portion in a flange of the approved rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Kenshiro Kato
  • Publication number: 20030209302
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire which comprises a tread portion, a pair of bead portions adapted to a wheel rim, a pair of sidewall portions therebetween, at least one of the sidewall portions provided with an axially protruding rim protector, the rim protector extending continuously in the tire circumferential direction so as to form an annular axially outer surface extending continuously in the tire circumferential direction and a radially inner surface extending radially inwardly from said annular axially outer surface towards the adjacent bead portion, wherein the radially inner surface is provided along the tire circumferential direction with at least one recess having a depth of from 0.5 to 7.0 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventor: Masahiro Hanya
  • Patent number: 6626220
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel tire having beads of a specified structure. In particular, the tire, when viewed in meridian section, has a radial carcass reinforcement and a bead of specified structure. The bead features a reinforcement ring that is able to move axially. The tire also features structures that are responsive to axial movement of the reinforcement ring, which modify clamping of the bead on its rim causing the clamping to increase with increasing tension of the carcass reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin - Michelin & Cie
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Drieux, Olivier Muhlhoff
  • Publication number: 20030155061
    Abstract: A tire comprising a crown, two sidewalls and two beads, a carcass reinforcement anchored in each of the beads and a crown reinforcement. The carcass reinforcement comprises at least two circumferential alignments of first reinforcing threads of high elasticity modulus, each circumferential alignment of the first reinforcing threads being, within each bead, bordered axially inwardly and axially outwardly by second reinforcing threads, oriented substantially circumferentially, of a modulus greater than or equal to that of the first reinforcing threads. The first reinforcing threads and second reinforcing threads are separated by a layer of mix of very high elasticity modulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Yves Herbelleau, Bernard Guerinon, Pierre Roux
  • Publication number: 20030150538
    Abstract: A tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, a belt structure, a tread band, and at least one pair of sidewalls. The carcass structure includes at least one circumferential centering ridge jutting out from a crown portion of the carcass structure. Each bead of the tyre includes a rest surface defining, in a direction away from an equatorial plane of the tyre, a profile converging toward the rotation axis of the tyre. A rim for a tyre includes a base body and two seats. Each seat defines an abutment surface facing radially away from a rotation axis of the rim and includes a frustoconical configuration converging away from a median diametrical plane of the rim. The base body further includes at least two opposite radial shoulders disposed to abut against the at least one centering ridge. A vehicle wheel, including the tyre and the rim, is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventor: Renato Ceretta
  • Publication number: 20030150542
    Abstract: A tire comprising a crown, two sidewalls and two beads, a carcass reinforcement anchored in each of the beads and a crown reinforcement. The carcass reinforcement comprises at least two circumferential alignments of first reinforcing threads of high elasticity modulus, each circumferential alignment of first reinforcing threads being, within each bead, bordered axially inwardly and axially outwardly by second reinforcing threads oriented substantially circumferentially of a modulus greater than or equal to that of the first reinforcing threads. The first reinforcing threads and the second reinforcing threads are separated by a layer of mix of very high elasticity modulus. The outer surface of each bead comprises a seat, a frustoconical wall of substantially radial orientation radially inwardly adjacent to a wall section in the shape of an arc of a circle EF of center C which center C is arranged axially outwardly relative to the bead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Applicant: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Yves Herbelleau, Bernard Guerinon, Pierre Roux
  • Publication number: 20030150541
    Abstract: A tire comprising a crown, two sidewalls and two beads, a carcass reinforcement anchored in each of the beads and a crown reinforcement. The carcass reinforcement comprises at least two circumferential alignments of first reinforcing threads of high elasticity modulus, each circumferential alignment of the first reinforcing threads being, within each bead, bordered axially by second reinforcing threads oriented substantially circumferentially. The first reinforcing threads and the second reinforcing threads are separated by a layer of mix of very high elasticity modulus. The second reinforcements are arranged in a spiral and formed of monofilaments or unit threads of steel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Applicant: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Yves Herbelleau, Bernard Guerinon, Pierre Roux
  • Patent number: 6598644
    Abstract: A tire having at least one bead seat inclined towards the outside and a radial carcass reinforcement (1) wound within said bead around a bead wire (2) from the heel to the toe of the bead B to form an upturn (10), the edge of which, viewed in meridian section, is located on the radially outer face (31) of a profiled element (3) of rubber mix. The profiled element is located axially and externally adjacent to the bead wire (2), and has, viewed in meridian section, the shape of a drop of water with an apex A located beneath the section of the bead wire (2), and a Shore A hardness greater than the Shore A hardness(es) of the rubber mixes (6, 7) located axially and radially above the bead wire/profiled element assembly. The carcass reinforcement upturn (10) is extended by a reinforcement armature (11) which surrounds the profiled element (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Claude Eynard
  • Publication number: 20030136492
    Abstract: A tire (1) having a radial carcass reinforcement (13) comprising, viewed in meridian section, two beads (12) with generatrices which are inclined towards the outside, the upturn (130) of said reinforcement (13) being formed by the lateral (30) and radially inner (32) sides of a wedge-shaped profiled element (3) of high Shore A hardness and having an end located firstly axially to the outside of a straight line P2 perpendicular to the axis of rotation and passing through the center of gravity of the annular anchoring element (14) and secondly axially to the inside and radially to the outside of the straight line P1 passing through said center of gravity and forming with the axis of rotation an angle of between 30° and 60°, at least one of the profiled elements (6, 7) of rubber mixes, between the carcass reinforcement (13) and its upturn (130) and radially above the annular element (14) and the wedge-shaped profiled element (3) having a Shore A hardness at least equal to the hardness of the rubber mix f
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Francis Bordoz, Forrest Patterson
  • Publication number: 20030106625
    Abstract: A tire having at least a first bead, the seat of which has a generatrix whose axially inner end lies on a circle of diameter greater than the diameter of the circle on which the axially outer end is located, and a radial carcass reinforcement winding within each bead around at least one heel reinforcement element, passing from the inside to the outside to form an upturn, the meridian profile of the carcass reinforcement, when the tire is mounted on its operating rim and inflated to the recommended pressure, having a constant direction of curvature in the first bead and a sidewall extending it radially, and having a tangent TT′ to the point of tangency T of the carcass reinforcement profile with the annular element of the first bead which forms with the axis of rotation an angle &phgr; which is open towards the outside and is greater than 45°, wherein, viewed in meridian section, at least the sidewall extending the first bead comprises a reinforcing profiled element having, viewed in section, substan
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Drieux, Jean-Claude Faure, Jean-Pierre Pompier
  • Patent number: 6571846
    Abstract: A tire has a radial carcass reinforcement having a bead, the seat of which is inclined towards the outside, the bead heel axially to the inside and reinforced by at least one reinforcement element, the bead toe axially to the outside and having a profiled element of rubber mix in the form of a wedge defined by two sides, the mix having a Shore A hardness greater than the Shore A hardness of the rubber mixes radially above, wherein the reinforcement winds around the annular element to form an upturn, the end of which is located axially to the outside of a straight line P2 perpendicular to the axis of rotation and passing through the center of gravity of the meridian section of the element, and axially to the inside and radially to the outside of the straight line P1 supporting the radially outer side of the profiled element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Chandezon, Claude Eynard, Olivier Muhlhoff, Jean-Jacques Drieux
  • Publication number: 20030098109
    Abstract: A tire apparatus for driving a vehicle is provided. The tire apparatus allows the vehicle to be driven during periods of both low tire pressure and normal tire pressure. The tire apparatus has a tire that has a tread section. The tire has a pair of side walls that are located adjacent to the tread section. A first bead is located at an end of one of the side walls, and a second bead is located at an end of the other side wall. A wheel is also present that has a rim with a first bead seat and a second bead seat. The wheel is configured for attachment to the vehicle. The wheel has a support member for engaging the tire during periods of low tire pressure. At least one of the first and second bead seats has a plurality of friction members to prevent relative rotational movement between the tire and the rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Bouvier, Jean-Claude Faure, Claude Eynard
  • Publication number: 20030098111
    Abstract: A tire with radial carcass reinforcement having beads with a heel portion on an axially inner side and a toe portion on an axially outer side includes two carcass reinforcement plies for tension in higher sidewall tires. The bead includes at least one bead wire coated with a rubber mix, a wedge formed of a rubber mix disposed axially outward of the at least one bead wire, and at least one rubber filler located axially and radially outward of the bead wire and wedge. The wedge is defined by two sides extending at an acute angle axially from an apex A located beneath the section of the at least one bead wire, the rubber mix forming the wedge having a Shore A hardness of at least 65 and greater than the Shore A hardness of the at least one rubber filler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Robert Vanstory Teeple, James Endicott, Jean-Luc Bouvier, Pierre Fraisse, Jean-Claude Faure
  • Patent number: 6554038
    Abstract: A tire having a radial carcass reinforcement of low H/S ratio, at least one bead provided with an axially outer protuberance, the maximum axial width of which is greater than the space taken up by the rim, characterized in that the protuberance is provided with incisions of a width other than zero, of a depth of at most 5 mm and arranged circumferentially parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin - Michelin & Cie
    Inventors: Pierre Chandezon, Jean-Jacques Drieux, Olivier Muhlhoff
  • Publication number: 20030034109
    Abstract: A tire having at least one bead seat inclined towards the outside and a radial carcass reinforcement (1) wound within said bead around a bead wire (2) from the heel to the toe of the bead B to form an upturn (10), the edge of which, viewed in meridian section, is located on the radially outer face (31) of a profiled element (3) of rubber mix. The profiled element is located axially and externally adjacent to the bead wire (2), and has, viewed in meridian section, the shape of a drop of water with an apex A located beneath the section of the bead wire (2), and a Shore A hardness greater than the Shore A hardness(es) of the rubber mixes (6, 7) located axially and radially above the bead wire/profiled element assembly. The carcass reinforcement upturn (10) is extended by a reinforcement armature (11) which surrounds the profiled element (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventor: Claude Eynard
  • Publication number: 20020189739
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire to be mounted on a 15-degree-taper rim, comprises a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions, a pair of bead portions each with a bead core therein, and a carcass comprising a ply of steel cords, wherein in a meridian section of the tire under a state that the tire is not mounted on a rim but the bead portions are held such that the bead width is equal to the rim width of said 15-degree-taper rim, the bead base surface of each said bead portion, which is defined as extending between a bead heel and a bead toe, is substantially straight and inclined at an angle of from 22 to 26 degrees with respect to the tire axial direction, and a ratio La/Lb of the axial width La of the bead base surface to the maximum width Lb of the bead core is in a range of from 1.3 to 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Koya, Yoshiyuki Takada
  • Patent number: 6491077
    Abstract: A tire with a form ratio H/S between 0.3 and 0.8 has a carcass reinforcement (1) which is covered radially by a quasi-cylindrical crown reinforcement (3) and which is tangential at T to a holding circle C. The common tangent at T to the circle C and to the meridian profile of the carcass (1) makes an angle &agr; of between +20° and −80° with respect to a line parallel to the rotation axis and passing through the tangency point T. In its portion located between the tangency point T and the point E of greatest axial width, the carcass reinforcement (1) is provided with a reinforcement armature (6) of circumferentially non-extensible elements. Viewed in meridian cross-section and when the tire is fitted and inflated to the recommended pressure, the carcass (1) has a meridian profile consisting of four circular arcs configured to improve the endurance of the tire while improving its rolling resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale Des Establissements Michelin-Michelin & Cie
    Inventors: José Merino Lopez, Pascal Auxerre
  • Publication number: 20020179216
    Abstract: A tire for a vehicle wheel, comprising two sidewalls, a crown zone provided on its radially outer portion with a circumferential tread, and a bead arranged in the radially inner portion of each of the sidewalls. Each bead comprises a seat and an outer flange which are intended to come into contact with the rim, the seat having a generatrix, the axially inner end of which lies on a circle of diameter greater than the diameter of the circle on which the axially outer end is located. A carcass-type reinforcement structure extends substantially radially from each of the beads, along the sidewalls, towards the crown zone. Each bead includes a zone for anchoring the carcass-type reinforcement structure in the bead, a bearing zone for the bead against a suitable rim seat, and an intermediate zone, which is provided substantially between said anchoring zone and the bearing zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Pedro Costa Pereira, Bernard Guerinon
  • Patent number: 6487900
    Abstract: The method of designing a bead flange profile (24) for a pneumatic tire (30) to be mounted on a design rim (40) as specified for the tire size has the steps of (a) selecting a design rim and a cured tire construction and bead profile (33); (b) predicting or measuring the tire deformation upon mounting and inflation; (c) analyzing the deformation to show the compressed beat seat profile (23) and the bead flange profile (24) contacting the rim flange; (d) identifying any gaps between the tire (30) and the rim (40); (e) modifying the tire's bead flange profile (24) to eliminate any gaps by moving selected points on the bead flange profile (24) in proportion to the local gap sizes; (f) shifting all modified points axially inward by a distance so that the molded base width remains the same as the original profile (24); and then (g) smoothing the connections between the modified portion and the rest of the bead profile (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventor: Ching-Chih Lee
  • Publication number: 20020162616
    Abstract: A monoply pneumatic tire has a reinforced sidewall wherein the reinforcement comprises an extra long turn-up which extends into the belt area of the tire. The tire also has a robust chapex in the bead area of the sidewall which has a shape that results from wrapping the turn-up of the carcass ply around the bead of the tire without an apex. The chapex conforms to the shape of the bead. The material in the chapex corresponds in volume substantially to the combined volume of the apex and the chafer of a similarly sized tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Philippe Pascal Gilles Bernard, Erick Sigfried Espinosa, Klaus-Dieter Schultz
  • Publication number: 20020139464
    Abstract: A bead core for locking a tire to a seat of a wheel rim includes a plurality of annular reinforcement elements having an inner transverse dimension smaller than a maximum diameter of the wheel rim, and being sufficiently deformable at ambient temperature to facilitate mounting the tire onto the wheel rim. The plurality of annular reinforcement elements includes at least one tightening element made of a shape-memory alloy responsive to temperature increases by increasing a tightening force on the wheel rim at a predetermined temperature. A tire including the bead core and a method for securing a tire to a rim using the bead core are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Guido Riva, Gurdev Orjela, Syed Khawja Mowdood, Alessandro Volpi, Claudio Villani
  • Publication number: 20020124929
    Abstract: A resilient tire that supports a load Without internal air pressure includes a ground contacting tread portion and sidewall portions extending radially inward from said tread portion and anchored in bead portions adapted to remain secure to a wheel during rolling of the tire. A reinforced annular band is disposed radially inward of the tread portion. The band comprises an elastomeric shear layer, at least a first membrane adhered to the radially inward extent of the elastomeric shear layer and at least a second membrane adhered to the radially outward extent of the elastomeric shear layer. Each of said membranes has a longitudinal tensile modulus sufficiently greater than the shear modulus of said shear layer so that when under load the ground contacting portion of the tire deforms to a flat contact region through shear strain in the shear layer while maintaining constant the length of the membranes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Timothy B. Rhyne, Kenneth W. DeMino, Steven M. Cron
  • Patent number: 6443201
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire with an increased load carrying capacity (extended load index) but compatible with conventional, commercially available wheel rims, has a modified carcass plyline. The tire has a tread area, a carcass structure including two bead areas each comprising a bead, at least one cord-reinforced elastomeric ply extending between the two bead areas, and two sidewalls, one sidewall extending between the tread area and each bead area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Laurent Colantonio, Frank Philpott, Gia Van Nguyen, Alain Emile Francois Roesgen
  • Patent number: 6427742
    Abstract: A radial ply pneumatic tire (10) features a bead core (20) which comprises an arrangement of filaments (26) positioned relative to one another. The bead core (20) has a cross-section and a radially inward base side (44). In the cross section, the base side (44) of the bead core (20) has a width which is substantially linear and is between 50% to 75% of the rim seat width. The bead core base side (44) is inclined at least 15° relative to the bead's axis of rotation, while the bead heel surface has an as molded inclination at the central portion (61) radially inward of the bead base (44) at an angle of at least 10° with respect to the bead's axis. The tire (10) further has a unique toeguard chafer (66) compound that is cut resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Thomas Reed Oare, Earl Donald Hughes
  • Patent number: 6418992
    Abstract: A tire (1), a mounting rim (2) therefor and a circumferentially unstretchable ring (3) for supporting the tread (10) of the tire when running at low or zero pressure. The tire (1) has a radial ply casing (13) on which the points that are furthest apart axially are radially apart close to seats (12B) of outwardly sloping beads (12). The seats (12B) engage sloping seats (23′, 23″) on the rim (2), which may have at least one mounting well (22), at least one cylindrical portion (21) for receiving the supporting ring (3) and rim flange (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Drieux, Jean-Charles Lacour, Olivier Muhlhoff, Jean-Pierre Pompier
  • Patent number: 6418993
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided in at least one of sidewall portions with a wheelrim protector which overhangs a flange of a wheelrim and protrudes axially outwardly from the axially outer end of the flange, the wheelrim protector is provided with at least one circumferential slit around the axis of the tire. In case of a slit extending continuously in the tire circumferential direction, the slit can be formed in a wedge-shaped cross sectional shape. In case of discontinuous slits, the slits are arranged around the tire axis and inclined with respect to the adjacent carcass cords at 45 to 80 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Sakamoto, Susumu Tanaka, Hiroshi Matsui
  • Publication number: 20020074072
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire comprising a carcass, a belt layer, and a bead apex rubber. The carcass includes an inner carcass ply and an outer carcass ply that passes outside of the inner carcass. The bead portions are provided with a U-shaped first bead reinforcing layer and a second bead reinforcing layer. And the tire is suitable for use as a high performance tire being capable of improving initial response characteristics at the time of steering and of achieving cuts in running times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Kazuya Suzuki, Kyoko Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6401773
    Abstract: A tire has a buttress system which maintains flexible cushioning to support a load on the tire, even after a puncture in the tire. The tire has a tire body with an inner rim attached to a wheel rim with a clamping piece. The buttress system is provided within the tire body and has an upper rib adjacent to the inner side of the tread portion of the tire body and a lower rib attached to the wheel rim. The upper rib is positioned across from the lower rib and is supported by the lower rib when there is a puncture in the tire. A clamping system clamps a doubly acute bead on the inner rim of the tire body to a cupped part of the wheel rim using the clamping piece. A saddle is provided to raise up the anchoring portion of the lower rib of the buttress system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Woon Je Cho
  • Patent number: 6401777
    Abstract: A chipper (40, 43, 54) for use in a pneumatic radial ply runflat tire (49) comprises cord reinforcements (42, 42′) making an angle, &agr;′ of between 30° and 50° relative to the circumferential direction. The radially outermost edge (46, 50) of the chipper is located between 10 and 15 millimeters above the wheel rim flange (56) of the wheel-mounted tire and between 5% and 20% of the section height SH of the tire. The chipper is disposed axially inward of the ply turnup end (58). The chipper (40) may comprise a single layer of cords (42), or the chipper (43) may comprise two layers (47, 47′) with the -cords (42, 42′) in the two layers being crossed to form mirror images across a radial reflection axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Agnes Nathalie Iwana Verbeke-Ensch, Charles Pierre Jean-Marie Nosbusch, Roland Close, Edouard Schenten
  • Publication number: 20020062896
    Abstract: A heavy-duty pneumatic radial tire and rim assembly ha s a support ring within the tire to support the tire in a deflated condition, wherein the inner diameter Di of the inside bead portion which is inside with respect to the vehicle is substantially 80 to 200 mm larger than the inner diameter Do of the outside bead portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventor: Ikuji Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20020062897
    Abstract: The invention improves tire flat spotting by providing a bead assembly that has bead filler elements disposed outside the body cords so that the turn up portion of the ply of body cords is disposed immediately back against the main portion of the ply of body cords above the bead core. This carcass structure increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall and decreases the flat spotting experience by the tire. In one embodiment of the invention, a reinforcing ply is wrapped around the bead filler elements to further increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall. In another embodiment, a bead filler element is disposed inside the body cords so that an air pocket is not formed in the carcass during the manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Neel K. Mani, John L. Turner, Thomas R. Branca, Hidetoshi Yokota, Brian E. Moore, Stanley J. Olesky
  • Patent number: 6357502
    Abstract: A tire wheel for vehicles comprises a mounting rim which can be associated with a hub of a vehicle and is provided with two bead seats forming a cone, for engagement with corresponding beads of a tire, with its apex on said axis of rotation in a position axially outside said rim, a tire comprising a toroidal carcass provided with a crown portion connected to a pair of axially facing sidewalls terminating in beads for engagement with the corresponding bead seats formed on the rim, said tire having its maximum width in the region of said beads, and an inner tube inserted into the toroidal cavity defined between tire and rim, elastically expandable by means of the introduction of fluid under pressure into its internal volume, and provided with an inflating and deflating device inserted in the wall of said inner tube, without any element for connection to the environment outside the wheel, in particular passing through the wall of the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventor: Renato Caretta
  • Patent number: 6352092
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel with a one-piece rim and tubeless pneumatic tire comprises an emergency rolling surface on a radially exterior shell of the rim, an elastic bead, and a one-piece toroidal chamber at each axial front end of the rim. Each chamber includes a closed radially interior chamber wall, a closed radially exterior chamber wall, a closed axially interior chamber wall, and an axially exterior chamber wall axially closed in a radially exterior area defining a radially inwardly directed flange and open in a radially interior area. A filler ring is radially secured in each chamber on the radially interior chamber wall. Each side wall of the tire extends inwardly from the axially exterior wall through the opening, and the head is embedded in the chamber such that the bead lies across the axial extent of the filler ring, the head and the filler ring completely filling the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Horst Sergel, Frank Walloch, Heinrich Huinink
  • Patent number: 6343635
    Abstract: A vehicle tire, which includes an outer tire fastened to a rim, a plurality of hooks, which secure the outer tire to the rim, an inner tube mounted within the outer tire and the rim, the inner tube having a plurality of pegs raised from a sidewall thereof at an inner side and defining a plurality of air channels, and a protective cushion mounted within the outer tire around the inner tube to protect the inner tube against external objects, the protective cushion having a plurality of pegs raised from the periphery thereof and defining a plurality of air channels, the hooks each having a plurality of longitudinally extended flow guide grooves for guiding outside air to circulate through the air channels in the protective cushion and the inner tube to carry heat away from the inside of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Inventor: Shut-Chen Hsu
  • Patent number: 6321806
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire, which is adapted for a standard wheel rim, comprises a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions, a pair of bead portions, a carcass extending between the bead portions, and a rim flange holder disposed on each side of the tire and protruding axially outwardly so as to overhang a flange of the standard wheel rim. The rim flange holder has a hooking part extending radially inwardly on the axially outside of the flange so as to hook the flange. The radial measurement between the radially outermost point of the flange and the radially innermost point of the hooking part is at least 2 mm, and the rim flange holder is provided with a slit extending axially inwardly from the axial outer surface of the rim flange holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6276417
    Abstract: A heavy duty pneumatic radial tire comprises a pair of bead portions each containing a bead core, a radial carcass, a belt comprised of at least one belt layer, and a tread, in which (1) a tapering angle &thgr;C of an inner side of the bead core in the radial direction is within ±2° of a tapering angle &thgr;R of a bead seat part in an approved rim, and (2) a compression ratio Ca at a widthwise inner end of the inner side of the bead core is within a range of 102-115% of a compression ratio Cb at a widthwise outer end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Honbo, Shuji Ando
  • Patent number: 6257292
    Abstract: A tire including beads 2 without bead points. Each bead's inner edge 22 is, for instance, of rounded shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Sedepro
    Inventor: Yves Herbelleau
  • Patent number: 6237662
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tubeless bicycle tire and rim. The rim is formed with opposing recesses configured to engage corresponding beads formed on the tire. With the beads engaged in the recesses, the tire and rim seal for form an air tight, sealed chamber such that no inner tube is necessary. The rim is formed with a single aperture having a valve installed therein. Preferably, the valve is formed with a ring which extends into the air tight, sealed chamber. In the event of a flat tire, the tire may be removed from the rim. The valve may also be removed by grasping the ring and pulling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Paul R. Thomasberg
  • Patent number: 6179028
    Abstract: A tire with a radial carcass reinforcement, when viewed in meridian section, includes a first bead, the seat of which is inclined towards the outside, the heel of the bead being axially on the inside and being reinforced by at least a reinforcement ring, the toe of the bead being axially on the outside and having a rubber wedge section made of rubber mix, the wedge being defined by two sides, the said rubber mix having a Shore A hardness greater than the Shore A hardness(es) of the rubber mixes located axially and radially above the bead ring and above the rubber wedge section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin - Michelin & Cie
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Drieux, Olivier Muhlhoff