Rubber structures containing glass

Claim 2

A tire tread reinforcing band construction comprising a plurality of layers in substantially coextensive face-to-face abutting relationship, said layers each comprising a matrix component comprising a vulcanizable elastomeric stock composition having located interiorly therein a plurality of mutually parallel strands of substantially inextensible character, said strands in each layer being therefore in parallel relationship with strands in the adjacent layer, said strands in a given layer being definitive of a common plane offset with respect to the central plane of said layer.

Claim 3

A construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein said strands in adjacent layers are similarly offset on the same side of their respective cenTral plane and said strands are formed of glass filaments.

Claim 4

A tire construction which includes the multiple-ply construction claimed in claim 1.

Claim 5

In a tire construction including spaced circular bead portions, a connecting carcass portion proceeding in toroided configuration from bead to bead and a ground-contacting tread portion encircling said carcass portion, all of said components including an elastomeric composition holding them together as an integral whole, the improvement which comprises a peripheral breaker strip or ply assembly situated between said tread and the outer periphery of said carcass, said breaker strip or ply assembly including the construction claimed in claim 2.

Claim 6

An elongate multiple-ply construction comprising: a central generally cylindrical core comprising an elongate tubelike member formed of vulcanizable elastomeric stock, a first layer abuttingly surrounding said core along the length of said core, said layer having abutting edges defining a meeting line along said length, said layer including a vulcanizable matrix of elastomeric stock material, said layer in section defining an annulus having an outer surface and an inner surface, the latter in abutting relationship with the outer cylindrical surface of said core, said layer including a plurality of strands of substantially inextensible material in annular array substantially equidistantly spaced from the central axis of said core, said strands each including a multiplicity of continuous glass fibers or filaments held together by a common impregnant substance in substantially noncontacting relationship, said annular array of strands being closer to one of the outer and inner surfaces of said layer than the other, and a second layer abuttingly surrounding said first layer, said second layer having the same structure as the first layer but having the abutting-edge-defined line offset to the line defined by the abutting edges of said first layer.

Claim 7

An elongate multiple-ply construction comprising: a central generally cylindrical core comprising an elongate tubelike member formed of vulcanizable elastomeric stock, a first layer abuttingly surrounding said core along the length of said core, said layer having abutting edges defining a meeting line along said length, said layer including a vulcanizable matrix of elastomeric stock material, said layer in section defining an annulus having an outer surface and an inner surface, the latter in abutting relationship with the outer cylindrical surface of said core, said layer including a plurality of strands of substantially inextensible material in annular array substantially equidistantly spaced from the central axis of said core, said strands each including a multiplicity of continuous glass fibers or filaments held together by a common impregnant substance in substantially noncontacting relationship, said annular array of strands being closer to one of the outer and inner surfaces of said layer than the other, and a second layer abuttingly surrounding said first layer, said second layer having the same structure as the first layer but having the abutting-edge-defined line offset to the line defined by the abutting edges of said first layer.

Claim 8

An elongate spiral construction comprising an elongate band of elastomeric material, said band having spaced edges, one constituting the center of said spiral and the other edge lying in the outer periphery of said spiral, said band including an array of strands of glass filaments in parallel relationship between said edges and spaced closer to one surface of the band than the other.

Claim 9

An elongate spiral construction comprising an elongate band of elastomeric material, said band having spaced edges, one constituting the center of said spiral and the other edge lying in the outer periphery of said spiral, said band including an array of strands of glass filaments in parallel relationship between said edges and spaced closer to one surface of the band than the other.

Claim 10

An elongate tubelike member of convoluted cross sectional configuration and formed of elastomeric material, said convolution being of generally uniform thickness, said member including therein a plurality of mutually parallel, closely spaced strands of glass filaments, said strands in sectional aggregate defining a spiral which is offset with respect to the spiral which is equidistant from the lines constituting the interface of said convoluted structure.

Claim 11

An elongate tubelike member of convoluted cross sectional configuration and formed of elastomeric material, said convolution being of generally uniform thickness, said member including therein a plurality of mutually parallel, closely spaced strands of glass filaments, said strands in sectional aggregate defining a spiral which is offset with respect to the spiral which is equidistant from the lines constituting the interface of said convoluted structure.

Claim 12

An elongate band of vulcanizable elastomeric material, said band being folded upon one lateral edge into convoluted spiral configuration as viewed in section, said band having spaced surfaces and, embedded therebetween but closer to one surface than the other, an array of strands of substantially inextensible material, said strands being in mutually parallel relationship, each strand including a multiplicity of individual continuous glass filaments separated by a common continuous impregnant, said strands being in equispaced relationship from the surface in closest proximity.

Claim 13

An elongate band of vulcanizable elastomeric material, said band being folded upon one lateral edge into convoluted spiral configuration as viewed in section, said band having spaced surfaces and, embedded therebetween but closer to one surface than the other, an array of strands of substantially inextensible material, said strands being in mutually parallel relationship, each strand including a multiplicity of individual continuous glass filaments separated by a common continuous impregnant, said strands being in equispaced relationship from the surface in closest proximity.

Claim 14

An annular body formed of vulcanizable elastomeric material, said body including a plurality of concentric layers, each layer having a facing surface in substantially coextensive abutting relationship with the facing surface of the adjacent layer, said layers each including a plurality of spaced cords defining, in aggregate array, an imaginary cylinder, the surface of which is closer to one of the surfaces of the layer containing same than the other, said cords each consisting essentially of a gathered plurality of continuous glass fibers embedded in an elastomeric matrix.

Claim 15

An annular body formed of vulcanizable elastomeric material, said body including a plurality of concentric layers, each layer having a facing surface in substantially coextensive abutting relationship with the facing surface of the adjacent layer, said layers each including a plurality of spaced cords defining, in aggregate array, an imaginary cylinder, the surface of which is closer to one of the surfaces of the layer containing same than the other, said cords each consisting essentially of a gathered plurality of continuous glass fibers embedded in an elastomeric matrix.

Claim 16

The body as claimed In claim 9, wherein the cylinder defined by the cords in each layer is closer to the outer surface of the layer containing same.

Claim 17

The vulcanized body of claim 9.

Claim 18

A tire construction having an annular vulcanized body in accordance with the construction of claim 9.

Claim 19

An annular body formed of vulcanizable elastomeric material, said body being defined by a sheet of said material wound in spiral configuration upon itself but as to leave a central void, said sheet having lateral edges and facing surfaces, said sheet material including embedded therein a plurality of cords in mutually closely spaced parallel relationship with each other and the said lateral edges, and spaced closer to one facing surface of said spirally wound sheet than the other, said cords each consisting essentially of a gathered plurality of continuous glass fibers substantially physically insulated one from the other.

Claim 20

An annular body formed of vulcanizable elastomeric material, said body being defined by a sheet of said material wound in spiral configuration upon itself but as to leave a central void, said sheet having lateral edges and facing surfaces, said sheet material including embedded therein a plurality of cords in mutually closely spaced parallel relationship with each other and the said lateral edges, and spaced closer to one facing surface of said spirally wound sheet than the other, said cords each consisting essentially of a gathered plurality of continuous glass fibers substantially physically insulated one from the other.

Claim 21

The body as claimed in claim 13, wherein said cords are spaced closer to the radially outer facing surface of said sheet.

Claim 22

The vulcanized body as claimed in claim 13.

Claim 23

A tire construction including a vulcanized annular body construction as claimed in claim 14.

Claim 24

An elongate, vulcanizable, elastomeric member, said member including, as viewed in section, a central generally cylindrical core, and a first enveloping layer along the length of said core, said layer having an inner surface abutting said core and an outer surface, said layer being of uniform thickness and having embedded interiorly therein a plurality of essentially inextensible cords, said cords defining, in aggregate, an annulus concentric with the axis of said core and located closer to the said outer surface, said cords each consisting essentially of a gathered plurality of glass fibers substantially physically insulated from each other by an elastomeric impregnant.

Claim 25

An elongate, vulcanizable, elastomeric member, said member including, as viewed in section, a central generally cylindrical core, and a first enveloping layer along the length of said core, said layer having an inner surface abutting said core and an outer surface, said layer being of uniform thickness and having embedded interiorly therein a plurality of essentially inextensible cords, said cords defining, in aggregate, an annulus concentric with the axis of said core and located closer to the said outer surface, said cords each consisting essentially of a gathered plurality of glass fibers substantially physically insulated from each other by an elastomeric impregnant.

Claim 26

A tire construction which includes the construction as defined in claim 2.

Claim 27

A tire construction as claimed in claim 18, wherein said construction is located just beneath the tread in the form of a pair of peripheral belts.

Claim 28

A tire construction as claimed in claim 19, wherein the strands define an angle of 20* to 28* with the peripheral centerline of the tire.

Claim 29

An elongate, vulcanizable, elastomeric member, said member including, as viewed in section: a central generally cylindrical core, a first enveloping layer along the length of said core, said layer having an inner surface abutting said core and an outer surface, said layer being of uniform thickness and having embedded interiorly therein a plurality of essentially inextensible cords, said cords defining, in aggregate, an annulus concentric with the axis of said core and located closer to the said outer surface, said cords each consisting essentially of a gathered plurality of glass fibers substantially physically insulated from each other by an elastomeric impregnant, and a second layer along the length of said first layer and having an inner surface abutting said first layer and otherwise having the structure of said first layer, and said first and second layers having meeting edges in offset relationship.

Claim 30

An elongate, vulcanizable, elastomeric member, said member including, as viewed in section: a central generally cylindrical core, a first enveloping layer along the length of said core, said layer having an inner surface abutting said core and an outer surface, said layer being of uniform thickness and having embedded interiorly therein a plurality of essentially inextensible cords, said cords defining, in aggregate, an annulus concentric with the axis of said core and located closer to the said outer surface, said cords each consisting essentially of a gathered plurality of glass fibers substantially physically insulated from each other by an elastomeric impregnant, and a second layer along the length of said first layer and having an inner surface abutting said first layer and otherwise having the structure of said first layer, and said first and second layers having meeting edges in offset relationship.