Multifilament reinforcement yarns and articles containing same

Claim 2

The cord structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein said core material is a polyamide.

Claim 3

The cord structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein said core material is polypropylene.

Claim 4

The cord structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein said core material is a polyurethane.

Claim 5

The cord structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein said core material is an acrylic material.

Claim 6

A vulcanized rubber body comprising a principal elastomeric matrix and disposed interiorly thereof an elongate cord reinforcement member, said cord member including a central core formed essentially of a plurality of organic filaments and a surrounding sheath formed of a spiral wound length of a yarn composed of mineral filaments, said core of organic filaments being shorter in the vulcanized state than when it is in the unvulcanized state by reason of the heat of vulcanization, whereby said elastomeric matrix in the region immediately surrounding said central core is in a state of compression.

Claim 7

The body as claimed in claim 7, wherein the amplitude of the spiral defined by said sheath is larger when the said matrix is in the vulcanized state than when said matrix is in the unvulcanized state.

Claim 8

The body as claimed in claim 8, wherein said mineral filaments are continuous glass filaments.

Claim 9

In a vulcanized elastomeric tire construction including a toroidal carcass inclusive of a principal elastomeric matrix, means connected thereto for securement to a wheel and a ground-engaging tread carried at the crown region of said carcass; the improvement wherein said matrix has distributed therethrough, in preselected regions, a plurality of discrete, relatively short lengths of a composite cord structure comprising an elongate flexible core formed of a material which has contracted axially during vulcanization and a surrounding sheath arranged in spiral, contacting disposition with respect to said core, said surrounding sheath being formed of mineral filaments, said contraction causing the elastomeric matrix immediately surrounding said core to be in a state of compression.

Claim 10

The tire construction as claimed in claim 10, wherein said lengths are located principally in the tread region whereby said tread exhibits stability and resistance to abrasion and cut through.

Claim 11

In an elastomeric tire construction including a toroidal carcass inclusive of a principal elastomeric matrix, means connected thereto for securement to a wheel and a ground-engaging tread carried at the crown region of said carcass; the improvement which comprises cord reinforcement disposed interiorly thereof, said cord including a central core formed of organic material, and a surrounding sheath formed of a spiral wound length of a yarn composed of mineral filaments, said core being shorter when the elastomeric matrix is in the vulcanized state than when it is in the unvulcanized state, whereby the region of said elastomeric matrix immediately surrounding the central core is in a state of compression.

Claim 12

A vulcanized rubber body comprising a principal elastomeric matrix and distributed interiorly therethrough a plurality of discrete relatively short lengths of a composite cord structure comprising an elongate flexible core formed of a material which has contracted axially during vulcanization and a surrounding sheath arranged in spiral, contacting disposition with respect to said core, said surrounding sheath being formed of mineral filaments, said contraction causing the elastomeric matrix immediately surrounding said core to be in a state of compression.

Claim 13

A reinforcement member adapted for incorporation into a vulcanizable elastomeric stock material which is desirably formed into a vulcanized rubber product of improved properties, said member constituting a multielement cord varying from 1/8 inch to several inches in length, said cord member comprising: a flexible core formed of a plurality of organic filaments which are subject to axial contraction upon exposure to a given stimulus, such as the heat of vulcanization, a surrounding sheath arranged in spiral contacting disposition with respect to said core, said surrounding sheath being formed of a plurality of continuous glass filaments, and a vulcanizable elastomeric impregnant carried in and by said structure, said organic core being shorter after vulcanization than before vulcanization whereby the rubber surrounding said core is in a state of compression, thereby increasing the strength of said rubber product.

Claim 14

A reinforcement member as claimed in claim 14, wherein said glass filaments exhibit spatial reorientation during vulcanization, thereby improving anchoring of the length in the vulcanized product.