US3895985A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of repairing tires and shells used for this method
Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag LLC
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Filing: 1973-04-10
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Granted: 1975-07-22
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Expires: 1993-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A method of repairing tires in which an assembly is formed comprising a tread strip applied to the worn surface of a tire carcass with a layer of binder material sandwiched between the tread and the surface of the carcass. A pair of annular shells are applied to the tire sidewalls and seals are formed at the inner and outer edges of the shells in engagement with the tread strip and the beads of the tire. Air is then evacuated from beneath the thus-formed enclosure and the assembly with the enclosure is subjected to heat and pressure to permanently bond the tread to the tire. The enclosure may also include an annular foil surrounding the tread and shrunk thereagainst to press the tread against the worn carcass surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilhelm Schelkmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 00:53
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C35/00; B29C35/02; B29C35/0227; B29D; B29D30/00; B29D30/06; B29D30/52; B29D30/54; B29D30/542; B29D30/58; B29D2030/582
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A METHOD OF REPARING TIRES, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF FORMING AN ASSEMBLY FROM A TIRE HAVING A U-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION AND A TREAD STRIP ON THE PERIPHERL SURFACE OF THE TIRE WITH A LAYER OF BINDER MATERIAL SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE TIRE SURFACE AND THE TREAD STRIP, FORMING A PAIR OF SHAPE-RETAINING ANNULAR SHELLS AND APPLYING SAID SHELLS AGAINST THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TIR RES, FORMING A FLUID-TIGHT SEAL AT THE INNER EDGE OF EACH ANNULAR SHELL, FORMING A FLUID-TIGHT SEAL AT THE OUTER ANNULAR EDGE OF EACH SHELL IN ENGAGEMENT WITH AT LEAST A LATERAL PORTION OF THE TREAD STRIP SO AS TO FORM AN ENCLOSURE AT LEAST PARTLY ENCLOSING SAID ASSEMBLY, EVACUATING AIR FROM BENEATH SAID ENCLOSURES SO AS TO CAUSE THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES TO APPROACH THE CORRESPONDING SHELLS, AND TREATING THE PARTLY ENCLOSED ASSAMBLY WITH HEAT TO PERMANENTLY BOND THE TREAD STRIP TO SAID TIRE, WHEREBY SAID SHAPE-RETAINING SHELLS PREVENT THE TIRE FROM DEFORMING DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF HEAT.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
163 words
A METHOD OF REPARING TIRES, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF FORMING AN ASSEMBLY FROM A TIRE HAVING A U-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION AND A TREAD STRIP ON THE PERIPHERL SURFACE OF THE TIRE WITH A LAYER OF BINDER MATERIAL SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE TIRE SURFACE AND THE TREAD STRIP, FORMING A PAIR OF SHAPE-RETAINING ANNULAR SHELLS AND APPLYING SAID SHELLS AGAINST THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TIR RES, FORMING A FLUID-TIGHT SEAL AT THE INNER EDGE OF EACH ANNULAR SHELL, FORMING A FLUID-TIGHT SEAL AT THE OUTER ANNULAR EDGE OF EACH SHELL IN ENGAGEMENT WITH AT LEAST A LATERAL PORTION OF THE TREAD STRIP SO AS TO FORM AN ENCLOSURE AT LEAST PARTLY ENCLOSING SAID ASSEMBLY, EVACUATING AIR FROM BENEATH SAID ENCLOSURES SO AS TO CAUSE THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES TO APPROACH THE CORRESPONDING SHELLS, AND TREATING THE PARTLY ENCLOSED ASSAMBLY WITH HEAT TO PERMANENTLY BOND THE TREAD STRIP TO SAID TIRE, WHEREBY SAID SHAPE-RETAINING SHELLS PREVENT THE TIRE FROM DEFORMING DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF HEAT.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said shells are formed from substantially rigid material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said shells are formed from substantially resilient plastic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of forming a fluid-tight seal at the outer and inner edges of each shell comprises the step of enclosing said shells with an outer flexible cover sheet extending over said tread strip and from one to the other bead of the tire and fluid-tightly sealing said cover sheet and each of the shells at the tire beads.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of forming a fluid-tight seal at the outer edge of each shell comprises the step of placing a flexible cover sheet over the tread strip and overlapping with opposite edge portions the outer edge of each shell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein each shell is formed so that the inner edge thereof extends inwardly over the bead of the tire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said step of forming a fluid-tight seal at the inner edge of each shell comprises the step of inserting at least one elastic cord between the tire bead and the shell in the region of the inner edge portion thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the step of forming a fluid-tight seal at the inner edge of each shell comprises the step of providing a flexible sealing lip between the tire bead and the edge portion of the shell extending inwardly of the bead.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the step of forming a fluid-tight seal at the inner edge of each shell comprises applying at least one elastic cord to the outer surface of the inner edge portion of the shell and pressing the cord against the edge portion and therewith the latter against the tire bead.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the step of forming a fluid-tight seal at the inner edge of the shell comprises forming the inner edge of each shell to extend partly about and in engagement with the inner surface of the tire bead.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein each shell extends with an outer edge thereof at least up to a lateral portion of said tread and wherein the step of providing a fluid-tight seal at the outer edge of each shell comprises sandwiching a profiled annular member of resilient material between the outer edge of each shell and the facing lateral edge portion of said tread.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein each shell extends with an outer edge portion thereof inwardly and partly over a corresponding lateral portion of said tread, and wherein the step of providing a fluid-tight seal at the outer edge of each shell comprises sandwiching a profiled annular member of flexible material between said inwardly extending outer edge portion of each shell and the facing portion of the tread.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as defined in claim 12, and including the step of placing a stabilizing ring over the outer surface of said tread, said profiled annular member being sandwiched between the outer surface of said ring and the inner surface of said inwardly extending outer edge portion of each shell.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as defined in claim 1, and including the step of placing a heat-resistant foil over said tread which protrudes with portions thereof into the tread grooves and which extends with edge portions thereof over the outer edge of each shell, and forming a fluid-tight seal at the outer edge by shrinking said foil thereon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
97 words
A method as defined in claim 1, and including the step of placing a heat-resistant expandable and contractable annular member extending with edge portions thereof about the outer edge of each annular shell about the outer peripheral surface of said tread and shrinking the annular member and the edge portions thereof, respectively, against the outer surface of the tread and the outer annular edge of each shell so as to press the tread against the peripheral surface of the tire carcass and the outer edge portions of said annular member against the outer edge of each shell.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method as defined in claim 15, wherein when the tread is not provided at the outer surface thereof with a profile, and including the step of sandwiching a strip provided at its inner surface thereof with a negative profile between said annular member and the outer surface of the tread so as to impress a corresponding profile onto the outer tread surface during shrinking of the annular member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
139 words
An annular shell to be applied to a side wall of a tire to form part of an enclosure for fluid-tightly enclosing at least a portion of the tire to be repaired during vulcanization of a rubber portion to said tire, said shell being formed of substantially resilient form-holding plastic material and being formed at its inner surface with a radius of curvature which is smaller than the radius of curvature of the side wall of the tire against which the shell is to be applied, said shell having inner and outer edge portions so that at least one of said edge portions provides, when applied to the tire, a fluid-tight seal between said edge portions and the tire, whereby said shell engages the side wall of the tire in the region of said inner and outer edge portions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
139 words
An annular shell to be applied to a side wall of a tire to form part of an enclosure for fluid-tightly enclosing at least a portion of the tire to be repaired during vulcanization of a rubber portion to said tire, said shell being formed of substantially resilient form-holding plastic material and being formed at its inner surface with a radius of curvature which is smaller than the radius of curvature of the side wall of the tire against which the shell is to be applied, said shell having inner and outer edge portions so that at least one of said edge portions provides, when applied to the tire, a fluid-tight seal between said edge portions and the tire, whereby said shell engages the side wall of the tire in the region of said inner and outer edge portions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-21 | 1979-01-20 | 1979-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-21 | 1983-01-20 | 1983-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-21 | 1987-01-20 | 1987-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |