Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
Apparatus for holding and positioning an uncured tire, prior to being placed in a vulcanizing press, with the components of the tire including the upper and lower beads maintained substantially undistorted comprising, engaging means selectively expandable into the tire to contact the inner portion thereof from substantially the upper bead to the lower bead, first plate means for holding one end of said engaging means, second plate means for holding the other end of said engaging means and for receiving a bead of the tire, stationary support means at least partially within said engaging means and carrying said first and second plate means, said first and second plate means being axially spaced so that said engaging means, when in its unexpanded condition, is in a substantially cylindrical form and is of an axial height substantially corresponding to the bead to bead height of the uncured tire, and means to expand said engaging means into the tire to contact the inner portion thereof while maintaining said first and second plate means spaced a distance substantially corresponding to the bead to bead height of the uncured tire.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
Apparatus for holding and positioning an uncured tire, prior to being placed in a vulcanizing press, with the components of the tire including the upper and lower beads maintained substantially undistorted comprising, engaging means selectively expandable into the tire to contact the inner portion thereof from substantially the upper bead to the lower bead, first plate means for holding one end of said engaging means, second plate means for holding the other end of said engaging means and for receiving a bead of the tire, stationary support means at least partially within said engaging means and carrying said first and second plate means, said first and second plate means being axially spaced so that said engaging means, when in its unexpanded condition, is in a substantially cylindrical form and is of an axial height substantially corresponding to the bead to bead height of the uncured tire, and means to expand said engaging means into the tire to contact the inner portion thereof while maintaining said first and second plate means spaced a distance substantially corresponding to the bead to bead height of the uncured tire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means carried by said support means controlling expansion of said engaging means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said engaging means is an inflatable member and said means controlling expansion of said engaging means is a valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said engaging means is of a diameter when in an unexpanded condition less than the bead diameter of the uncured tire to present a space therebetween for the positioning of a tire loading device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support means is in the form of a hollow post.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 including normally closed valve means in said hollow post.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including positioning means located at a tire curing press for holding said support means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said positioning means is hingedly attached to the press for selective positioning relative thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 including means to lock said support means in said positioning means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said support means is a hollow post having normally closed valve means near the bottom thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 including means to open said valve means to introduce pressurized fluid into said post, said post having an aperture therein to permit said pressurized fluid to communicate with the inside of said engaging means to expand the same.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, said means to open said valve means having a passage therein, and including a supply line for the pressurized fluid, said supply line communicating with one end of said passage and the other end of said passage communicating with said valve means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for holding and positioning an uncured tire, prior to being placed in a vulcanizing press, with the upper and lower beads of the tire being maintained substantially undistorted and selectively positioned outside the press comprising, engaging means selectively expandable into the tire to contact the inner portion thereof from substantially the upper bead to the lower bead, stationary support means extending into and removably carrying said engaging means, plate means extending around said support means for carrying said tire, positioning means outside the press removably carrying said support means, and a spacer means, selected from a plurality of spacer means of varying heights, and positioned between said positioning means and said plate means to position said plate means at a preselected axial position along said support means to accommodate varying types of uncured tires.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for holding and positioning an uncured tire, prior to being placed in a vulcanizing press, with the upper and lower beads of the tire being maintained substantially undistorted and selectively positioned outside the press comprising, engaging means selectively expandable into the tire to contact the inner portion thereof from substantially the upper bead to the lower bead, stationary support means extending into and removably carrying said engaging means, plate means extending around said support means for carrying said tire, positioning means outside the press removably carrying said support means, and a spacer means, selected from a plurality of spacer means of varying heights, and positioned between said positioning means and said plate means to position said plate means at a preselected axial position along said support means to accommodate varying types of uncured tires.