Method for preparing an innerliner of a pneumatic tire for the quick bonding of an electronic monitoring device

• US 6,477,894 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2000
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Stalnaker, Michelle R., Koch, Russell W., Wilson, Paul B.
• Primary Examiner(s): OEN, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US09/613,130
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/465, 152/64, 152/152.1, 152/330, 152/510, 156/97, 156/123, 340/58, 340/539, 340/442-447
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0072 Attaching fasteners to tyres, e.g. patches, in order to connect devices to tyres
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0077 Directly attaching monitoring devices to tyres before or after vulcanization, e.g. microchips
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 5/14 with impervious liner or coating on the inner wall of the tyre

Abstract

A method for preparing an innerliner of a pneumatic tire and adhering an electronic monitoring device to the innerliner includes the step of providing a patch having a cover and a layer of uncured rubber. The patch is placed at a selected area of the innerliner of a green tire before the green tire is cured. At least a portion of the patch is removed after the tire is cured to provide a prepared area at the selected area of the tire. The electronic monitoring device is then adhered to the prepared area.

Claims

1. A method for preparing an area on the inner surface of a pneumatic tire for the mounting of an electronic monitoring device to the inner surface of the pneumatic tire;

the method comprising the steps of;

providing a green tire having an inner surface;

selecting a location of the inner surface of the pneumatic tire to mounted the electronic monitoring device;

placing a mounting preparation element on the inner surface of the pneumatic tire at the selected location; and

curing the green tire whereby the mounting preparation element provides a prepared area on the inner surface at the selected location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of removing at least a portion of the mounting preparation element from the inner surface after the green tire has been cured.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of providing the mounting preparation element with a layer of cure material.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of providing the mounting preparation element with at least a layer of rubber.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of providing the layer of rubber with cords.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

inserting a bladder into the green tire while the green tire is being cured; and

protecting the selected area with the mounting preparation element during the curing step.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of removing at least a portion of the mounting preparation element after the green tire is cured.

8. A method for preparing an area on the inner surface of a pneumatic tire for the mounting of an electronic monitoring device to the inner surface of the pneumatic tire;

the method comprising the steps of;

providing a green tire having an inner surface;

selecting a location of the inner surface of the pneumatic tire to mounted the electronic monitoring device;

placing a preparation element on the inner surface of the pneumatic tire at the selected location;

the element having a first surface area facing the innerliner;

curing the green tire whereby the mounting preparation element provides a prepared area on the inner surface at the selected location; and

pressing the entire first surface area of the element against the innerliner during the curing step to prepare the area.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of removing at least a portion of the element after the green tire is cured.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of providing the element with at least a layer of cure material.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of providing the element with at least a layer of rubber.

12. A method for preparing an area on the inner surface of a pneumatic tire for the mounting of an electronic monitoring device to the inner surface of the pneumatic tire;

the method comprising the steps of;

providing a green tire having an inner surface;

selecting a location of the inner surface of the pneumatic tire to mounted the electronic monitoring device;

placing a mounting preparation element on the inner surface of the pneumatic tire at the selected location without covering the electronic monitoring device with the mounting preparation element;

curing the green tire whereby the mounting preparation element provides a prepared area on the inner surface at the selected location; and

protecting the selected area during the curing step with the mounting preparation element.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of fabricating at least a portion of the mounting preparation element from a cured material.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of removing at least a portion of the mounting preparation element after the curing step.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of providing the mounting preparation element with a layer of uncured rubber.