Tire and method of securing an object thereto

• US 7,108,761 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2003
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Bell, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): FISCHER, JUSTIN R
• Application Number:
  US10/359,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20030155054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 152/152.1, 156/60, 156/66, 156/110.1
• US Class Current: 156/110.1
• 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: Y10T 152/10 Tires, resilient
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10495 Pneumatic tire or inner tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49492 Land wheel

Abstract

A tire and a method of securing an object thereto includes a two-piece fastening system having a first portion which is applied to an innerliner of a green tire prior to the green tire being cured and a second portion which includes an object, such as a radio frequency identification chip, attached thereto. The first portion of the two-piece fastening system is attached to the innerliner of the tire with an adhesive or by curing. The green tire is then cured and the second portion of the two-piece fastening system with the object attached thereto is then attached to the first portion of the two-piece fastening system. In an alternative embodiment, the object may be sandwiched between the first and second portions of the fastening system.

Claims

1. A method of attaching an abject to a tire, including the steps of:

(a) attaching a first portion of a two piece mechanical fastening system to a green tire;

(b) curing the green tire to form a cured tire and to secure the first portion of the two piece mechanical fastening system to the cured tire;

(c) attaching the object to a second portion of the two piece mechanical fastening system; and

(d) attaching the first portion of the two-piece mechanical fastening system to the second portion of the two-piece mechanical fastening system with the object disposed between the first and second portions of the mechanical fastening system.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein step (c) includes the step of connecting an electronic device to the second portion of the two-piece fastening system.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein step (c) includes the step of connecting a radio frequency identification chip to the second portion of the two-piece fastening system.

4. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein step (c) includes the step of connecting a pressure sensor to the second portion of the two-piece fastening system.

5. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein step (c) includes the step of connecting a temperature sensor to the second portion of the two-piece fastening system.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a hook-and-loop fastening system for the mechanical fastening system.

7. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a hook-and-hook fastening system for the mechanical fastening system.

8. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a mechanical fastening system having a plurality of small connectors for the two-piece fastening system.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 further comprising the step of providing a mechanical fastening system that tightens when subjected to vibrations for the two-piece fastening system.

10. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of attaching the first portion of the two-piece fastening system to the innerliner of the green tire.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 further comprising the step of attaching the first portion of the two-piece fastening system to the innerliner with an adhesive.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 further comprising the step of attaching the first portion of the two-piece fastening system to the innerliner with a silicone adhesive.

13. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of attaching the object to the second portion of the two-piece fastening system with an adhesive.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 further comprising the step of attaching the object to the second portion of the two-piece fastening system with a cyanoacrylate-based adhesive.

15. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a two-piece fastening system having first and second portions that are removably connected to one another.

16. A method of attaching an object to a tire, including the steps of:

(a) attaching a first portion of a mechanical two-piece fastening system to a green tire;

(b) curing the green tire;

(c) providing a second portion of the mechanical two-piece fastening system; and

(d) attaching the first portion of the mechanical two-piece fastening system to the second portion of the mechanical two-piece fastening system with the object to be secured to the tire sandwiched between the first and second portions of the mechanical two-piece fastening system.

18. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein step (d) includes the step of sandwiching a radio frequency identification chip between the first and second portions of the two-piece fastening system.

19. The method as defined in claim 16 further comprising the step of attaching the first portion of the two piece fastening system to the innerliner of the green tire.

17. A tire including:

a first portion of a two piece mechanical fastening system attached to the tire;

the first portion of the two piece mechanical fastening system having a plurality of small connectors;

a second portion of the two-piece mechanical fastening system attached to the first portion of the two-piece fastening system;

the second portion of the two piece mechanical fastening system having a plurality of small connectors; and

an object connected to the tire between the first and second portions of the two piece mechanical fastening system;

the object being one of a radio frequency chip and tag.

20. The tire of claim 17, wherein the plurality of small connectors surround the object.