Method of forming an assembly of a patch and electronic monitoring device

• US 7,510,618 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2005
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Koch, Russell W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knable; Geoffrey L
• Application Number:
  US11/196,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20050263242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 156/242, 156/245, 152/152.1, 152/367, 264/279, 264/272.11, 264/272.14, 264/279.1
• US Class Current: 156/245
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0016 Lost moulds, e.g. staying on the moulded object flexible bags without particular shape filled with expandable material B29C44/182; single use mandrels for winding and forming B29C53/822
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/14 against the mould wall
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/10 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. casting around inserts or for coating articles coating a surface by casting in general B05D1/30, B29C39/126 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/84 by moulding material on preformed parts to be joined joining plastic parts by moulding B29C65/70
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0072 Attaching fasteners to tyres, e.g. patches, in order to connect devices to tyres
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3425 Printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3456 Antennas, e.g. radomes
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10495 Pneumatic tire or inner tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10882 Patches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

A patch and method for mounting an electronic monitoring device to the innerliner of a pneumatic tire is provided wherein the monitoring device is potted directly to an attachment patch. A frame is built on an attachment patch and the electronic monitoring device is disposed inside the frame. An encapsulation material is poured into the frame and cured to encapsulate the monitoring device directly against the patch. The patch may then be connected to the innerliner of a pneumatic tire.

Claims

1. A method of forming an assembly of a patch and electronic monitoring device for monitoring an engineering condition of a pneumatic tire;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) providing a flexible attachment patch having a first surface and a second surface;

the flexible attachment patch adapted to be bonded to the inside of a pneumatic tire;

(b) positioning a plurality of components for an electronic monitoring device adjacent the first surface of the attachment patch; and

(c) encapsulating the plurality of components for the electronic monitoring device directly to the first surface of the attachment patch by surrounding the plurality of components for the electronic monitoring device with a frame having a lower opening, positioning the frame with respect to the first surface of the flexible patch with the first surface of the patch exposed through the lower opening of the frame, and placing a flowable encapsulation material in the frame to directly contact and bond to the first surface of the patch and to substantially surround the plurality of components of the electronic monitoring device.

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

attaching an antenna to the attachment patch;

connecting at least one component of the electronic monitoring device to the antenna at a connection location; and

covering the connection location with encapsulation material during step (c).

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

providing connectors that protrude out from the attachment patch;

connecting a component of the monitoring device to the connectors; and

surrounding the connectors with encapsulation material during step (c).

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of pressing the frame against the patch when placing the flowable encapsulation material in the frame.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using an adhesive to hold the frame on the patch.

6. A method of forming an assembly of a patch and electronic monitoring device for monitoring an engineering condition of a pneumatic tire;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) providing a flexible attachment patch having a first surface and a second surface;

(b) positioning a frame having a lower opening to the first surface of the attachment patch, the first surface of the attachment patch being exposed through the lower opening of the frame;

(c) positioning a portion of an electronic monitoring device within the frame; and

(d) placing a fiowable encapsulation material in the frame to directly contact the first surface of the patch and to connect the electronic monitoring device directly to the attachment patch.

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

providing the attachment patch with an antenna;

connecting at least a portion of the electronic monitoring device to the antenna at a connection location; and

covering the connection location with encapsulation material during step (d).

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

providing connectors that protrude out from the attachment patch;

connecting a component of the monitoring device to the connectors; and

surrounding the connectors with encapsulation material during step (d).

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of pressing the frame against the patch when placing the flowable encapsulation material in the frame.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of using an adhesive to hold the frame on the patch.