Tyre and flexible member assembly

• US 8,672,003 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2008
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin
• Original Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Battocchio, Claudio, Cubizolle, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischer, Justin
• Assistant Examiner(s): DYE, ROBERT C
• Application Number:
  US12/738,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20100276043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,972 Days
• Field of Search: 152/152.1, 152/450
• US Class Current: 152/152.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10 Tires, resilient
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10495 Pneumatic tire or inner tube

Abstract

An assembly of a tyre and a member fitted to the tyre respectively include complementary connecting portions. The connecting portion of the member is more flexible than that of the connecting portion of the tyre.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

a tyre that includes a tyre connecting portion; and

a member formed of a mass of rubber, the member including a member connecting portion and a member supporting portion, the rubber of the member connecting portion being integral with and same as the rubber of the member supporting portion, the member connecting portion being formed together with the member supporting portion as a one-piece structure, and the member connecting portion being positioned facing the tyre connecting portion,

wherein the member supporting portion is arranged to support an electronic device directly thereon;

wherein the member is attached to the tyre via the member connecting portion and the tyre connecting portion,

wherein a modulus of lengthening at 10% of the member connecting portion is at most equal to a modulus of lengthening at 10% of the tyre connecting portion,

wherein the mass of rubber of the member is delimited by two opposite surfaces that are substantially parallel, the two opposite surfaces respectively forming a supporting surface for supporting the electronic device and a connecting surface for connecting with the tyre,

wherein the mass of rubber of the member includes an opening arranged in the connecting surface delimiting a recess having a closed outer perimeter arranged in the mass of rubber, and

wherein an orthogonal projection of the supporting surface on to the connecting surface coincides substantially with the opening.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein a ratio between the modulus of lengthening at 10% of the member connecting portion and the modulus of lengthening at 10% of the tyre connecting portion is at most equal to 1 in a range of operating temperatures of the tyre.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the range of operating temperature is from 0 to 80 degrees Celsius.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tyre connecting portion is formed by an inner rubber of the tyre.

5. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the member connecting portion is made of synthetic rubber or natural rubber.

6. An assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a layer of connecting material located between the member connecting portion and the tyre connecting portion, a periphery of the layer being set back from or flush with a peripheral edge of the member connecting portion.

7. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the layer of connecting material includes natural rubber.

8. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein a peripheral edge of the member is delimited by joining lines of opposite surfaces converging at an angle of between 9 and 15 degrees.

9. An assembly according to claim 8, wherein the angle is between 10 and 12 degrees.

10. An assembly comprising:

a tyre that includes a tyre connecting portion; and

a member formed of a mass of rubber, the member including a member connecting portion and a member supporting portion, the rubber of the member connecting portion being integral with and same as the rubber of the member supporting portion, the member connecting portion being formed together with the member supporting portion as a one-piece structure, and the member connecting portion being positioned facing the tyre connecting portion,

wherein the member supporting portion is arranged to support an electronic device directly thereon,

wherein the member is attached to the tyre via the member connecting portion and the tyre connecting portion, and

wherein a modulus of lengthening at 10% of the member connecting portion is at most equal to a modulus of lengthening at 10% of the tyre connecting portion;

wherein the mass of rubber of the member is delimited by two opposite surfaces that are substantially parallel, the two opposite surfaces respectively forming a supporting surface for supporting a device and a connecting surface for connecting with the tyre,

wherein the mass of rubber of the member includes an opening arranged in the connecting surface delimiting a recess having a closed outer perimeter arranged in the mass of rubber,

wherein the supporting surface extends at least partially in line with a surface of the opening, and

wherein a peripheral edge of the member is delimited by joining lines of opposite surfaces converging at an angle of between 10 and 12 degrees.

11. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein a ratio between the modulus of lengthening at 10% of the member connecting portion and the modulus of lengthening at 10% of the tyre connecting portion is at most equal to 1 in a range of operating temperatures of the tyre.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein the range of operating temperatures is from 0 to 80 degrees Celsius.

13. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein the tyre connecting portion is formed by an inner rubber of the tyre.

14. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein the member connecting portion is made of synthetic rubber or natural rubber.

15. An assembly according to claim 10, further comprising a layer of connecting material located between the member connecting portion and the tyre connecting portion, a periphery of the layer being set back from or flush with a peripheral edge of the member connecting portion.

16. An assembly according to claim 15, wherein the layer of connecting material includes natural rubber.