Flap ventlid installing assembly, flap ventlid installing structure and installing method, and mold for molding a tire

• US 6,805,540 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2003
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NGK Insulators Limited
• Original Assignee: NGK Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ishihara, Yasuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey, James P.
• Application Number:
  US10/454,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20040000625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 425/28.1, 425/812, 249/141
• US Class Current: 425/28.1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/10 with incorporated venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0617 Venting devices, e.g. vent plugs or inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/0606 Vulcanising moulds not integral with vulcanising presses for solid tyres B29D30/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 425/812 Venting

Abstract

A flap ventlid installation assembly provided for installing a flap ventlid at an opening of an air removing hole on a design surface of a tire mold includes a flap ventlid and an anchor member. The anchor member includes a top portion connected to the flap ventlid, and a longer portion extending from the top portion to an opposed second end that has a first shape that cannot be inserted into the air removing hole without elastically deforming the first shape into a second shape that can be press-fit into the air removing hole. When the flap ventlid is installed in the tire mold, at least a part of the flap ventlid contacts the design surface of the mold when the anchor member is press fit into the opening such that the second shape engages a portion of the air removing hole proximate the other surface of the mold.

Claims

1. A flap ventlid installation assembly for installing a flap ventlid at an opening of an air removing hole that is formed on a design surface of a tire mold and extends in a longitudinal direction toward an opposed surface of the tire mold opposing the design surface said flap ventlid installation assembly comprising:

a flap ventlid which functions as an opening and closing lid that passes or interrupts air flow at the opening of the air removing hole; and

an anchor member, having a top portion which is connected to said flap ventlid and a longer portion that extends from said top portion to an opposed second end in the longitudinal direction of the air removing hole, said longer portion of said anchor member having a first shape proximate said second end thereof that cannot be inserted as it is into the air removing hole through the opening on the design surface of the tire mold without applying an external force to said first shape to cause elastic deformation of said first shape to form a second shape that can be press-fit into the air removing hole through the opening on the design surface of the tire mold;

wherein said flap ventlid is adapted to be installed in said tire mold such that at least a part of said flap ventlid contacts the design surface of the tire mold when said anchor member is press-fit into the opening of the air removing hole on the design surface of the tire mold such that said second shape engages a portion of the air removing hole proximate the surface of the tire mold opposing the design surface.

3. A flap ventlid installation structure comprising the flap ventlid installation assembly of claim 1 installed in the air removal hole of the tire mold, wherein said anchor member is press-fit into the air removing hole on the design surface of the tire mold such that at least a part of said flap ventlid contacts the design surface of the tire mold press-fit.

5. The flap ventlid installation structure according to claim 3, wherein said anchor member further comprises a projection member for raking out foreign matters present in the air removal hole when said flap ventlid installation assembly is removed from the air removing hole of the tire mold.

6. The flap ventlid installation structure according to claim 3, wherein said anchor member comprises a material to which tire molding debris present in the air removing hole readily adheres or said material is coated on a surface of said anchor member such that the tire molding debris present in the air removing hole is removed when said flap ventlid installation assembly is removed from the air removing hole of the tire mold.

7. The flap ventlid installation structure according to claim 6, wherein said material comprises copper or a copper alloy.

8. A tire mold provided with the flap ventlid installation structure according to claim 3.

2. A flap ventlid installation assembly for installing a flap ventlid at an opening of an air removing hole formed on a design surface of a tire mold and having a depth that extends in a longitudinal direction toward another opening formed on an opposed surface of the tire mold opposing the design surface, said flap ventlid installation assembly comprising:

a flap ventlid which functions as an opening and closing lid that passes or interrupts air flow at the opening of the air removing hole; and

an anchor member having a top portion which is connected to said flap ventlid and a length dimension that extends from said top portion to an opposed second end portion in the longitudinal direction of the air removing hole which is longer than the depth of the air removing hole of the tire mold, said anchor member comprising or being coated with a copper or copper alloy material;

wherein said flap ventlid is adapted to be installed in the tire mold such that at least a part of said flap ventlid contacts the design surface of the tire mold when said anchor member is inserted into the air removing hole and when said second end portion of said anchor member that projects from the other opening of the air removing hole on the side of the tire mold opposing the design surface is bent proximate the other opening of the air removing hole on the side of the tire mold opposing the design surface.

4. A flap ventlid installation structure comprising the flap ventlid installation assembly of claim 2 installed in the air removal hole of the tire mold such that at least a part of said flap ventlid contacts the design surface of the tire mold when said anchor member is inserted into the air removing hole and said second end portion of said anchor member that projects from the other opening of the air removing hole on the side of the tire mold opposing the design surface is bent at the other opening of the air removing hole on the side of the tire mold opposing the design surface.