Mounting member having a continuous curvature

• US 9,308,785 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2009
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2008
• 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: El-Berrichi, Reda
• Primary Examiner(s): Austin, Aaron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gaitonde, Megha
• Application Number:
  US13/120,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20110212289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,395 Days
• Field of Search: 428/156, 428/157, 428/159, 428/161, 428/162, 428/165, 428/174, 428/177, 428/179, 156/60, 156/64, 156/110.1, 156/123, 340/438, 340442-449, 340500-502
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Abstract

A member (12) forming a mount for a device (26) includes:

• • a substantially flat bottom surface (16) for connection with a tire, delimited by a contour (20),
  • a top surface (24) for mounting the device (26), delimited by a contour (30),
  • a peripheral surface (34) forming a skirt for connecting of the contour (20) of the bottom surface (16) to the contour (30) of the top surface (24),
    in which the contour (30) of the top surface (24) has a variable curvature and has a continuous variation along the contour.

Claims

1. A member forming a mount for a device, comprising:

a flat bottom surface for connecting with a tyre, the flat bottom surface facing the tyre and being delimited by a bottom surface perimeter contour;

a top surface for mounting the device directly thereon, the top surface having an elongate shape, the top surface being an uppermost surface of the member, and the top surface being delimited by a top surface perimeter contour having curved end portions that are positioned on opposite short ends of the top surface; and

a peripheral surface forming a skirt for connecting the bottom surface perimeter contour to the top surface perimeter contour,

wherein

(i) a curvature of at least the end portions of the top surface perimeter contour has a continuous variation along an entirety thereof, or

(ii) a curvature of any cross-sectional profile of the skirt that intersects both the top surface perimeter contour and the bottom surface perimeter contour and is perpendicular to the bottom surface perimeter contour has a continuous variation along an entirety of the cross-sectional profile, or

(iii) both (i) and (ii).

2. The member according to the claim 1, wherein the top surface is flat.

3. The member according to claim 1, wherein the top surface perimeter contour includes at least two opposite rectilinear portions that are parallel.

4. The member according to claim 3, wherein the end portions of the top surface perimeter contour are connected to the rectilinear portions.

5. The member according to claim 1, wherein a radius of curvature of the end portions of the top surface perimeter contour varies between a minimum radius and a maximum radius, both the minimum radius and the maximum radius being finite.

6. The member according to claim 1, wherein the end portions of the top surface perimeter contour are defined by a spline.

7. The member according to claim 6, wherein the spline is of a third-degree or a fifth-degree.

8. The member according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional profile of the skirt is defined by a spline.

9. The member according to claim 8, wherein the spline is of a third-degree or a fifth-degree.

10. The member according to the claim 8, wherein the cross-sectional profile of the skirt joins the bottom surface at an angle of between 9 degrees and 15 degrees.

11. The member according to claim 8, wherein the cross-sectional profile of the skirt joins the top surface at an angle of between −

25 degrees and 25 degrees.

12. The member according to claim 1, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are parallel.

13. The member according to claim 1, wherein the member is made of rubber.

14. A tyre comprising a member forming a mount for a device, the member including:

a flat bottom surface for connecting with a tyre, the flat bottom surface facing the tyre and being delimited by a bottom surface perimeter contour;

a top surface for mounting the device directly thereon, the top surface having an elongate shape, the top surface being an uppermost surface of the member, and the top surface being delimited by a top surface perimeter contour having curved end portions that are positioned on opposite short ends of the top surface; and

a peripheral surface forming a skirt for connecting the bottom surface perimeter contour to the top surface perimeter contour,

wherein

(i) a curvature of at least the end portions of the top surface perimeter contour has a continuous variation along an entirety thereof, or

(ii) a curvature of any cross-sectional profile of the skirt that intersects both the top surface perimeter contour and the bottom surface perimeter contour and is perpendicular to the bottom surface perimeter contour has a continuous variation along an entirety of the cross-sectional profile, or

(iii) both (i) and (ii).

15. A member forming a mount for a device, comprising:

a flat bottom surface for connecting with a tyre, the flat bottom surface facing the tyre and being delimited by a bottom surface perimeter contour;

a top surface for mounting the device directly thereon, the top surface having an elongate shape, the top surface being an uppermost surface of the member, and the top surface being delimited by a top surface perimeter contour having curved end portions that are positioned on opposite short ends of the top surface; and

a peripheral surface forming a skirt for connecting the bottom surface perimeter contour to the top surface perimeter contour,

wherein

(i) a curvature of at least the end portions of the top surface perimeter contour has a continuous variation along an entirety thereof, or

(ii) any cross-sectional profile of the skirt that intersects both the top surface perimeter contour and the bottom surface perimeter contour and is perpendicular to the bottom surface perimeter contour has a continuous variation along an entirety of the cross-sectional profile, or

(iii) both (i) and (ii).