Device for fixing a module to the surface of a tire

• US 7,380,450 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Durif, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENKINS, JERMAINE L
• Application Number:
  US11/418,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20060201241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 73146-1468, 340442-444
• 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: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre

Abstract

An assembly for fixing a module to a surface of a tire. The assembly includes a base having a sole plate with a mounting face, for permanent connection to the surface of the tire and a bearing face. The base also has holding means for holding the module in place on the bearing face. The holding means includes a resilient strap located opposite the bearing face of the sole plate and connected to the sole plate by two opposite ends of the resilient strap. A case encloses the module, and the casing is, under normal operating conditions of the tire, held in place between the strap and the bearing face of the sole plate by resilient restoring forces developed by the resilient strap.

Claims

1. An assembly for fixing a module to a surface of a tire, the assembly comprising:

a base comprising;

a sole plate having a mounting face for permanent connection to the surface of the tire and a bearing face; and

holding means for holding the module in place on the bearing face, the holding means including a resilient strap located opposite the bearing face of the sole plate and connected to the sole plate by two opposite ends of the resilient strap; and

a casing enclosing the module,

wherein the casing is, under normal operating conditions of the tire, held in place between the strap and the bearing face of the sole plate by resilient restoring forces developed by the resilient strap.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the resilient restoring forces developed by the resilient strap are such that the casing is in constant contact with the resilient strap and the bearing face of the sole plate when the tire is used in normal operating conditions.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the base and the casing are adapted to allow the module to be put in position by insertion between the resilient strap and the bearing face of the sole plate.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the casing includes a back adapted to be in contact with the resilient strap and having shoulders disposed facing one another, between which the resilient strap is positioned, the shoulders having a spacing substantially corresponding to a width of the resilient strap in a zone of contact between the resilient strap and the back of the casing.

5. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the resilient strap is divided into two sub-parts which are disposed facing one another, each of the sub-parts being connected to the sole plate by an end of the sub-part and anchored to the casing by an opposite end of the sub-part, so that the restoring forces of the resilient strap are transmitted to the casing.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the sub-parts of the resilient strap are connected to the casing by holding rods disposed at the end of each sub-part, with the holding rods being introduced into grooves in the casing.

7. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the resilient strap has an opening configured to fit a contour of the casing.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein a groove is provided on the contour of the casing, the groove being configured to receive an edge of the opening in the resilient strap.

9. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the casing comprises bearing feet, on an underside of the casing, adapted to contact the bearing face of the sole plate, and the bearing face comprises one or more elevated portions adapted to cooperate with the bearing feet.

10. An assembly according to claim 9, wherein the bearing feet comprise a convex surface with a progressive curvature.

11. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein a width of the resilient strap is smaller, in at least one portion, than a width of the sole plate.

12. An assembly according to claim 1, further comprising means for attaching the resilient strap to the back of the casing.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein the means for attaching comprises a screw.

14. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sole plate and the resilient straps are formed from a piece of elastomer material less than 5 mm thick.

15. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sole plate and the resilient straps are formed from a piece of elastomer material less than 2 mm thick.

16. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the resilient strap is formed of an elastomer material comprising a rubber mix including at least one synthetic elastomer selected from the group comprising EPDMs, SBRs, polybutadienes, and butyls.

17. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein an external contour of the sole plate is of an undulating shape.

18. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein an external contour of the sole plate is of a zigzag shape.

19. An assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a tire.

20. A fixing base for fixing a module to a surface of a tire, the fixing base comprising:

a sole plate having a mounting face for permanent connection to the surface of the tire and a bearing face; and

holding means for holding the module in place on the bearing face, the holding means including a resilient strap located opposite the bearing face of the sole plate and connected to the sole plate by two opposite ends of the resilient strap,

wherein the holding means is configured to secure a casing of the module, under normal operating conditions of the tire, between the strap and the bearing face of the sole plate by resilient restoring forces developed by the resilient strap.