Monitored vehicle tire and monitor retainer assembly
First Claim
1. A vehicle tire monitor apparatus for monitoring tire information regarding a vehicle tire comprising:
- a rubber ply having a first side affixed to an interior surface of the tire at a predetermined location within a cavity of the tire;
a module carried by a second side of said rubber ply for containing electronic components which monitor the tire information;
a retainer assembly for securing said module to said rubber ply; and
an isolation mount of said retainer assembly for mounting said module in an offset position with respect to said rubber ply to increase durability of said module and the tire.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a tire monitor retainer assembly and monitored vehicle tire. A module which monitors tire information is supported by a rubber ply affixed to the inside surface of the tire. The module has electrical components for monitoring tire information by collecting, storing and/or reading information about the tire. A fastener assembly is used to secure the module to the rubber ply such that the module is support within the tire'"'"'s cavity. The module is mounted to be isolated from tire loads such that the durability of the monitoring system is improved. The fastener assembly has first parts carried by the rubber ply and second fastener parts built into the module. The first and second fastener parts cooperate to support said module from said rubber ply. The module is made with a retainer opening having edges to receive a fastener device having standoff or indexing elements. The fastener device can also be in the form of a strap with free ends that wrap around the module having hook and loop first fastener parts for holding the module adjacent the rubber ply. In another embodiment, the fastener assembly can be semi-rigid straps with slotted fasteners to contact second fastener parts of the module. The tire monitor retainer assembly may allow the module to be removed for inspection, repairs or updating.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A vehicle tire monitor apparatus for monitoring tire information regarding a vehicle tire comprising:
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a rubber ply having a first side affixed to an interior surface of the tire at a predetermined location within a cavity of the tire;
a module carried by a second side of said rubber ply for containing electronic components which monitor the tire information;
a retainer assembly for securing said module to said rubber ply; and
an isolation mount of said retainer assembly for mounting said module in an offset position with respect to said rubber ply to increase durability of said module and the tire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
a pair of spaced apart shafts carried by said rubber ply;
index elements carried by remote ends of said shafts; and
retainer openings having edge elements formed in said module, wherein a select pair of said index elements engage respective edge elements to provide said offset position of said module with respect to said rubber ply.
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19. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first fastener part includes at least one strap carried by said rubber ply for encircling said module and holding said module at said offset position.
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20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein said rubber ply is a folded rubber ply forming a plurality of layers with a pocket for receiving said at least one strap, and said at least one strap includes complementary attachments at opposing, free ends for securing said module with said at least one strap.
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21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein said second fastener part includes a pair of retainer openings formed in said module in which said strap is placed with said free ends of said strap attached to one another to fasten said module adjacent said rubber ply.
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22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein said retainer openings of said module are cutouts at opposed ends of the said module.
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23. The assembly of claim 20 wherein said at least one strap includes a pair of semi-rigid straps such that each strap has a first end with locking elements to be placed into said pocket of said rubber ply and a free end having slotted fasteners being external to said rubber ply to provide said first fastener parts to fasten said module adjacent said rubber ply.
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24. A method for isolating a module interior to a vehicle tire comprising:
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providing a rubber ply having first and second opposed sides;
forming a conditioned surface area on an interior surface of the tire;
affixing said first side of said rubber ply to said conditioned surface area at one of before curing, during curing, and after curing of the tire; and
securing a module containing electrical components at a predetermined offset distance from said second side of said rubber ply for increasing durability of the module and the tire, wherein tire information is monitored during the life of the tire. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
providing a first fastener part carried on said rubber ply and a complementary, second fastener part carried by said module; and
connecting said first and second fastener parts together, wherein releasing said first fastener part from said second fastener part allows said module to be removed and replaced.
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26. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of forming a conditioned surface area includes the step of removing contaminates from said surface area to generally increase the adherence of the rubber ply to said interior surface of the tire.
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27. A method for mounting and isolating a monitor within a vehicle tire with a steel reinforced belt and bead core comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a resilient, rubber-like mounting shaft on an interior surface of said tire, said mounting shaft projecting from said interior surface, and said shaft being spaced apart from the belt and the bead core;
b) providing indexing elements at the outer end of said shaft;
c) providing a module for monitoring tire information with a retainer opening therein, said retainer opening being adapted to cooperate with said indexing elements to securely hold said module within the tire;
d) mounting said module on said shaft to be retained by said indexing elements; and
e) providing an isolation mount to keep the mounted module at an offset position from said interior surface whereby said module maintains a minimum predetermined distance from said interior surface of said tire and is isolated therefrom.
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Specification