Tire electronics securing structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10336144-B2
Application number	US-201515540583-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2015
Priority date	Dec 30, 2014
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

An inflatable electronics band for use in a tire features an annular, flexible, inflatable, tubular body configured to contact an inner portion of a tire opposite the tread surface, such as an innerliner. The inflatable electronics band further features an inflation valve, disposed on the tubular body. The tubular body is configured to inflate to a pressure at least 10% greater than the recommended tire inflation pressure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronics package securing structure comprising:
an annular hoop configured to abut an inner surface of a tire, wherein the annular hoop consists essentially of open-cell reticulated foam having a modulus between about 20-50 kPa, wherein the annular hoop includes an inflation chamber, wherein the annular hoop is flexible and extensible, wherein the annular hoop has a cross sectional area between about 0.4 and 47.0 cm 2 , wherein the annular hoop has a top surface defined by an outer diameter and a bottom surface defined by an inner diameter, wherein the top surface of the annular hoop includes a divot configured to receive an electronics package, and wherein the top surface of the annular hoop is configured to abut the inner surface of the tire across 30-90% of a tread width.

2. The electronics package securing structure of claim 1 , wherein the annular hoop exerts a force between 60-90 psi on an electronics package and the inner surface.

3. The electronics package securing structure of claim 1 , wherein the annular hoop extends across at least 40% of the tread width.

4. The electronics package securing structure of claim 1 , wherein the annular hoop has cross section selected from the group consisting of cusped arches, ellipses, elongated ellipses, substantially rectangular, substantially square, substantially triangular, or substantially chevron shaped.

5. The electronics package securing structure of claim 1 , wherein the annular hoop further comprises an inflation valve connected to the inflation chamber.

6. The electronics package securing structure of claim 1 , wherein the inflation chamber is configured to inflate to a pressure at least 10% greater than a recommended tire inflation pressure.

7. The electronics package securing structure of claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the annular hoop further includes a second divot to receive a second electronics package.

8. The electronics package securing structure of claim 1 , further comprising fins configured to abut the inner surface of the tire.

9. The electronics package securing structure of claim 1 , wherein the annular hoop has cross section that is substantially triangular.

10. An electronics package securing structure comprising:
an annular hoop configured to abut an inner surface of a tire, wherein the annular hoop includes an inflation chamber, wherein the annular hoop is flexible and extensible, wherein the annular hoop has a triangular cross section with a cross sectional area between about 0.4 and 47.0 cm 2 , wherein the annular hoop has a top surface defined by an outer diameter and a bottom surface defined by an inner diameter, wherein the top surface of the annular hoop includes a divot configured to receive an electronics package, and wherein the top surface of the annular hoop is configured to abut the inner surface of the tire across 30-90% of a tread width.

11. The electronics package securing structure of claim 10 , wherein the annular hoop further comprises an inflation valve connected to the inflation chamber.

12. The electronics package securing structure of claim 10 , wherein the top surface of the annular hoop further includes a second divot to receive a second electronics package.

13. The electronics package securing structure of claim 10 , further comprising fins configured to abut the inner surface of the tire.

14. An electronics package securing structure comprising:
an annular hoop configured to abut an inner surface of a tire, wherein the annular hoop includes an inflation chamber, wherein the annular hoop is flexible and extensible, wherein the annular hoop has a cross sectional area between about 0.4 and 47.0 cm2, wherein the annular hoop has a top surface defined by an outer diameter and a bottom surface defined by an inner diameter, wherein the top surface of the annular hoop includes a divot configured to receive an electronics package, and wherein the top surface of the annular hoop is configured to abut the inner surface of the tire across 30-90% of a tread width; and
at least one fin extending circumferentially about the annular hoop, the at least one fin being configured to abut the inner surface of the tire.

15. The electronics package securing structure of claim 14 , wherein the annular hoop further comprises an inflation valve connected to the inflation chamber.

16. The electronics package securing structure of claim 14 , wherein the top surface of the annular hoop further includes a second divot to receive a second electronics package.

Assignees

• Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Llc

Inventors

• Wei Terence E
• Wilson Paul B

Classifications

• B29D2030/0077

  Directly attaching monitoring devices to tyres before or after vulcanization, e.g. microchips · CPC title

• B60C5/04

  Shape or construction of inflatable inserts (B60C5/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29D2030/0072

  Attaching fasteners to tyres, e.g. patches, in order to connect devices to tyres · CPC title

• B29D2030/0083

  Attaching monitoring devices to tyres before or after vulcanization by inserting them inside tyre cavities · CPC title

• B60C5/02

  having separate inflatable inserts, e.g. with inner tubes; Means for lubricating, venting, preventing relative movement between tyre and inner tube (B60C5/20 takes precedence) · CPC title