US3888291A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Molded or cast tires and methods of manufacture
Assignee: Armstrong Rubber Co
•
Filing: 1973-12-12
•
Granted: 1975-06-10
•
Expires: 1993-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A pneumatic tire having a tire casing consisting entirely of a molded copolyester elastomer with a rubber tread bonded integrally to the casing, and a method of manufacturing the same.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold J Herzlich
- 👤 Paul F Fitzgerald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:18
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D30/00; B29D30/06; B29D30/08; B60; B60C; B60C5/00; B60C5/01; B29D2030/086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of manufacturing pneumatic tires for vehicles comprising the steps of casting a tire casing from a segmented thermoplastic copolyester elastomer comprising recurring polymeric long-chain ester units derived from dicarboxylic acids and low molecular weight diols, said thermoplastic elastomer having a medium to high durometer range of hardness, a tensile strength of about 6000 psi at room temperature and a melting point in the vicinity of 400*F, applying a bonding agent containing non-volatile isocyanate to the tread area of said casing, cementing an uncured rubber tread stock of conventional tread-stock material to said tread area and then curing the tread stock in a mold while in place on said tire casing at a temperature and for a period of time such that distortion of said tire casing is avoided while simultaneously vulcanizing said tread stock and integrally bonding it to said thermoplastic tire casing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of manufacturing pneumatic tires for vehicles comprising the steps of casting a tire casing from a segmented thermoplastic copolyester elastomer comprising recurring polymeric long-chain ester units derived from dicarboxylic acids and low molecular weight diols, said thermoplastic elastomer having a medium to high durometer range of hardness, a tensile strength of about 6000 psi at room temperature and a melting point in the vicinity of 400*F, applying a bonding agent containing non-volatile isocyanate to the tread area of said casing, cementing an uncured rubber tread stock of conventional tread-stock material to said tread area and then curing the tread stock in a mold while in place on said tire casing at a temperature and for a period of time such that distortion of said tire casing is avoided while simultaneously vulcanizing said tread stock and integrally bonding it to said thermoplastic tire casing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of manufacturing pneumatic tires as defined in claim 1, wherein pressure is applied internally of said tire casing and tread stock when the tread is molded to that said tread stock takes the shape of the mold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of manufacturing pneumatic tires as defined in claim 1, wherein said tire casing is formed by compression molding it in two parts and welding said parts together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method defined in claim 3, wherein each of said tire-casing parts is identical and forms a half-casing, the mating edge of which defines a plane through the centerline of the tire casing perpendicular to the axis thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method defined in claim 4, wherein said half-casings are welded by heating a narrow strip of the same material from which said casings are cast while simultaneously heating adjacent mating edge-portions of said half-casings progressively along their mating edges, and continuously applying the strip to such heated area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein said tire casing is molded in one piece by rotational molding.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A PNEUMATIC TIRE FOR VEHICLES COMPRISING A TIRE CASING FORMED ESSENTIALLY OF A CAST SEGMENTED THERMOPLASTIC COPOLYESTER ELASTOMER INCLUDING RECURRING POLYMERIC LONG-CHAIN ESTER UNITS DERIVED FROM THE DICARBOXYLIC ACIDS AND LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT DIOLS, SAID THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER HAVING A MEDIUM TO HIGH DUROMETER RANGE OF HARDNESS, A TENSILE STRENGTH OF ABOUT 6000 PSI AT ROOM TEMPERATURE AND A MELTING POINT IN THE VICINITY OF 400*F, AND A TREAD OF CONVENTIONAL TREAD-RUBBER
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
A PNEUMATIC TIRE FOR VEHICLES COMPRISING A TIRE CASING FORMED ESSENTIALLY OF A CAST SEGMENTED THERMOPLASTIC COPOLYESTER ELASTOMER INCLUDING RECURRING POLYMERIC LONG-CHAIN ESTER UNITS DERIVED FROM THE DICARBOXYLIC ACIDS AND LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT DIOLS, SAID THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER HAVING A MEDIUM TO HIGH DUROMETER RANGE OF HARDNESS, A TENSILE STRENGTH OF ABOUT 6000 PSI AT ROOM TEMPERATURE AND A MELTING POINT IN THE VICINITY OF 400*F, AND A TREAD OF CONVENTIONAL TREAD-RUBBER
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A pneumatic tire as defined in claim 7, wherein said tire casing comprises two parts integrally joined to each other along a joint disposed in a plane through the center-line of said tire casing perpendicular to the axis thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A pneumatic tire as defined in claim 8, wherein said parts of said tire casing are heat-welded together.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
A pneumatic tire as defined in claim 9, wherein the mating edges of said parts form a V-groove between them which is filled with the same material from which said parts are cast and integrally united with said mating edges as heat is applied to weld them together.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A pneumatic tire as defined in claim 7, wherein said tire casing in a one-piece rotationally molded casting.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-09 | 1978-12-09 | 1979-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-09 | 1982-12-09 | 1983-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-09 | 1986-12-09 | 1987-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |