Abstract The specification and drawings disclose a device and method of using the same for protecting the beads and interiors of tires in the time interval between manufacture and installation. The disclosed device includes a length of relatively heavy, foamed polymeric or expanded material having a width substantially greater than the total circumferential length of the bead. The length of foamed or expanded material is adapted to be bent into a circle which is slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of the tire bead and collapsed into a somewhat heart-shaped configuration for insertion within the tire bead. In the heartshaped configuration it can be inserted into the tire bead and the inwardly deflected portion of the heart-shaped configuration toggled outwardly into engagement with the bead. The member is then under a compressive load and tightly engages the bead and covers it. To remove the member the reverse action is required; that is, a radial inward pulling or toggling of a section of the member to return it to the heart-shaped configuration for removal.
In combination, a vehicle tire having a generally circular body with a wheel receiving opening defined by two relatively rigid beads, means protectively enclosing said beads from damage during shipment, said means protectively enclosing said beads, including a length of expanded foam polymeric material which when in a normal uncompressed state has a total length greater than the inner circumference of one of the beads and when located in the proper protectively enclosing assembled position within and engaging an inner circumference of at least one of said beads, has the foam surface of one of its ends in contact with the foam surface of the other end, said length being in both hoop compression and longitudinal compression thereby providing means inhibiting lateral relative movement of said ends.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
In combination, a vehicle tire having a generally circular body with a wheel receiving opening defined by two relatively rigid beads, means protectively enclosing said beads from damage during shipment, said means protectively enclosing said beads, including a length of expanded foam polymeric material which when in a normal uncompressed state has a total length greater than the inner circumference of one of the beads and when located in the proper protectively enclosing assembled position within and engaging an inner circumference of at least one of said beads, has the foam surface of one of its ends in contact with the foam surface of the other end, said length being in both hoop compression and longitudinal compression thereby providing means inhibiting lateral relative movement of said ends.