Plastic impact driven fasteners

• US 7,581,911 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Utility Composites International Limited
• Original Assignee: Utility Composites International Limited
• Inventors: Tucker, Pamela S., Showers, Nancy
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether; Flemming
• Application Number:
  US10/246,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20040050478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,540 Days
• Field of Search: 411/903, 411/908, 411/920, 411/487, 411/377
• US Class Current: 411/487
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/56 Retreading with prevulcanised tread B29D30/542 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/02 Replaceable treads
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 15/0015 Staples
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 15/08 formed in integral series but easily separable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/908 Resinous material

Abstract

Plastic impact driven fasteners having relatively high flexural strength and relatively low heat deformation temperature are provided. Additional embodiments relate to methods of using the fasteners. For example, the fasteners may be used in a tire retreading process. In such a case, one or more fasteners may be used to secure new tread to a tire core before and/or during a curing process. The curing process may also cause deformation of the fastener, thereby eliminating the need to remove the fasteners after the curing process.

Claims

1. An impact driven fastener for tire retreading, comprising:

at least one penetrating portion formed of plastic, wherein plastic of the penetrating portion provides the penetrating portion with a flexural strength greater than about 9500 psi;

at least one head portion having a heat deformation temperature less than about 250°

F; and

wherein the fastener is configured to, when heated to less than about 250°

F. during a tire retreading process, at least partially soften.

2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the fastener is black in color.

3. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a staple.

4. The fastener of claim 1, wherein at least one penetrating portion has a flexural strength greater than about 10,000 psi.

5. The fastener of claim 1, wherein at least one penetrating portion has a flexural strength greater than about 12,000 psi.

6. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the plastic of at least one penetrating portion comprises a copolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene.

7. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the plastic of at least one penetrating portion comprises a copolymer of acrylonitrile and styrene.

8. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the plastic of at least one penetrating portion comprises polystyrene.

9. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the plastic of at least one penetrating portion comprises poly(styrene acrylonitrile).

10. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the plastic of at least one penetrating portion comprises poly(methyl methacrylate).

11. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the plastic of at least one penetrating portion comprises polyvinyl chloride.

12. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the plastic of at least one penetrating portion comprises polyethylene.

13. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the plastic of at least one penetrating portion comprises poly(acrylonitrile).

14. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the plastic of at least one penetrating portion comprises poly (methyl acrylate).

15. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the plastic of at least one penetrating portion comprises a copolymer of acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate.

16. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the plastic of at least one penetrating portion comprises at least one reinforcing material.

17. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the fastener is configured to be loaded into an impact fastener driving device.

18. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a thermoset polymer.

19. The fastener of claim 1, wherein a majority of at least one penetrating portion is plastic.

20. The fastener of claim 1, wherein at least one head portion comprises reinforcement material.

21. The fastener of claim 1, wherein at least a majority of the fastener is plastic.

22. The fastener of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the fastener is configured to at least partially melt during heating of the retreading process.

23. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the fastener is configured such that heat and pressure of the tire retreading process soften and flatten one or more exposed portions of at least one head portion of the fastener.

24. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the fastener is configured such that heat and pressure of the tire retreading process allow at least one head portion to separate from at least one penetrating portion.

25. The fastener of claim 1, wherein at least one penetrating portion of the fastener is configured to soften when heated.

26. A fastener for a tire retread process, comprising:

a least one penetrating portion, the penetrating portion consisting essentially of plastic, the plastic having a flexural strength greater than about 9500 psi;

at least one head portion having a heat deformation temperature less than about 250°

F.;

wherein the penetrating portion extends from a tip to the head portion; and

wherein the fastener is configured to at least partially soften during a tire retread process.

27. The fastener of claim 26, wherein at least one head portion consists essentially of plastic.

28. The fastener of claim 26, wherein at least one penetrating portion comprises reinforcement material.

29. The fastener of claim 26, wherein at least a majority of the fastener is plastic.

30. The fastener of claim 26, wherein at least a portion of the fastener is configured to at least partially melt during heating of the retreading process.

31. The fastener of claim 26, wherein the fastener is configured such that heat and pressure of the tire retreading process soften and flatten one or more exposed portions of at least one head portion of the fastener.

32. The fastener of claim 26, wherein the fastener is configured such that heat and pressure of the tire retreading process allow at least one head portion to separate from at least one penetrating portion.

33. The fastener of claim 26, wherein at least one penetrating portion of the fastener is configured to soften when heated.

34. A fastener for a tire retread process, comprising:

at least one penetrating portion, wherein at least one penetrating portion has a flexural strength greater than about 9500 psi;

a head portion coupled to at least one penetrating portion, the head portion having a heat deformation temperature less than about 250°

F., and the head portion consisting essentially of plastic; and

wherein the fastener is configured to at least partially soften during a tire retread process.

35. The fastener of claim 34, wherein at least one penetrating portion consists essentially of plastic.

36. The fastener of claim 34, wherein the head portion comprises reinforcement material.

37. The fastener of claim 34, wherein at least a majority of the fastener is plastic.

38. The fastener of claim 34, wherein at least a portion of the fastener is configured to at least partially melt during heating of the retreading process.

39. The fastener of claim 34, wherein the fastener is configured such that heat and pressure of the tire retreading process soften and flatten one or more exposed portions of at least one head portion of the fastener.

40. The fastener of claim 34, wherein the fastener is configured such that heat and pressure of the tire retreading process allow at least one head portion to separate from at least one penetrating portion.

41. The fastener of claim 34, wherein at least one penetrating portion of the fastener is configured to soften when heated.

42. A staple for a tire retread process, comprising:

a first penetrating portion formed of plastic, wherein plastic of the first penetrating portion provides the first penetrating portion with a flexural strength greater than about 9500 psi;

a second penetrating portion;

a plastic head coupled to the first penetrating portion and the second penetrating portion, the plastic head having a heat deformation temperature less than about 250°

F.;

wherein the first plastic penetrating portion extends from a tip to the plastic head, and wherein the second plastic penetrating portion extends from a tip to the plastic head; and

wherein the fastener is configured to at least partially soften during a tire retread process.

43. The staple of claim 42, wherein the first penetrating portion comprises reinforcement material.

44. The fastener of claim 42, wherein at least a majority of the fastener is plastic.

45. The fastener of claim 42, wherein at least a portion of the fastener is configured to at least partially melt during heating of the retreading process.

46. The fastener of claim 42, wherein the fastener is configured such that heat and pressure of the tire retreading process soften and flatten one or more exposed portions of at least one head portion of the fastener.

47. The fastener of claim 42, wherein the fastener is configured such that heat and pressure of the tire retreading process allow at least one head portion to separate from at least one penetrating portion.

48. The fastener of claim 42, wherein at least one penetrating portion of the fastener is configured to soften when heated.