TIRE FLOAT AND METHOD FOR FORMING SAME

• US 3,728,749 A
• Filed: 02/08/1971
• Issued: 04/24/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toppers Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Eugene F. Andersen, Jack A. Eby
• Inventors: Eby, Jack A., Andersen, Eugene F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buchler, Milton
• Assistant Examiner(s): O'Connor, Gregory W.
• Application Number:
  US05/113,494
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 9/8,9 114/.5BD,.5F,68,69
• US Class Current: 441/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/00 Buoys floating decoys, e.g. for waterfowl A01M31/06; means for indicating the location of underwater objects B63C7/26; life-buoys, e.g. rings B63C9/08; mountings of acoustic transducer in underwater equipment, e.g. sonobuoys G10K11/006; electric cables supported on or from floats H02G9/12
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2231/44 Rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2231/50 Foamed synthetic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/58 Rafts, i.e. free floating waterborne vessels, of shallow draft, with little or no freeboard, and having a platform or floor for supporting a user lifeboats, life-rafts or the like B63C9/02
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 5/24 made predominantly of plastics surf boards B63B32/57

Abstract

A method for converting used tire bodies into marine floats for use as moorings, buoys and the like. The tire body is provided with side panels of plywood, plastic or other material to fit over the sidewall openings on either side of the tire and thereby form an enclosed shell. Thereafter, urethane, polystyrene or other expandable plastic foam material is injected through an opening in one of the panels and expands to fill the entirety of the core cavity formed by the shell which functions as a mold. The foam material expands, forms a fused mass and secures itself to the interior of the tire and sidewall panels forming an integral shell and core, the curing of the foam being effected or accelerated by the application of heat if necessary. The injection hole may then be covered over, if desired, by fiberglass cloth to which an epoxy resin catalyst is applied to form a seal. Finally, the exterior of the shell is coated with epoxy paint or other sealant to provide a waterproof covering. Bolts or other fasteners are provided through the sides of the tire float for securing it to structures which are to be buoyantly supported thereby.

Claims

2. The marine float of claim 1 wherein said expanded cured polymeric foam secures itself to the interior of said tire body and said side wall panels, thereby forming an integral body with said shell.

3. A method for converting a used tire into a marine float comprising the steps of:

a. fitting a pair of panels over the respective side wall openings of said tire to form a toroidal shell enclosing a hollow core cavity;

b. adding to said core cavity through an opening in said shell an expandable, foamable polymeric material; and

c. curing said expandable, foamable material to form a rigid, fused polymeric mass which substantially completely fills said cavity, said shell functioning as a mold while said foam material cures therein.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said fused polymeric mass tightly secures itself to the interior of said tire body and said side wall panels, thereby forming an integral body with said shell.