Patent Application
20190217670
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention relates to the field of wheels and pneumatic tires using an inflatable inner tube, and more particularly, inner tube puncture protection with a tire liner.
Puncture protection technology for pneumatic tires has significantly increased in both materials and processes; however, those costs have increased as well. Tubeless pneumatic automotive tire buyers expect durability and puncture protection and higher prices are expected as well.
To keep lower costs recreational and utility tire manufacturers have not kept pace with automotive. Pneumatic tires with inner tubes are typically used by motorcycles, cruisers, trikes, motor dirt bikes, mopeds, scooters, all terrain vehicles, utility ATV (All Terrain Vehicle), electric carts, recreational, bicycles, road bikes, sport, utility, riding mowers, hand truck, construction job site trailers even wagons and wheelbarrows. Common puncture hazards include city street debris, debris concentration along road edges, botanical thorns, cacti and goatheads (Thorny Weed), plus man made debris off road and on trails.
All pneumatic tires have thick tread 33% of surface area and thin sidewalls 67% of surface area. Current puncture protection focus on the tread area only and include Kevlar layers in tire manufacturing, solid inner tubes, heavy rubber inflatable tubes, tire sealants, permanent molding vulcanized rubber in owner's tire, extruded foam permanent molded, cellular trapped air, tight woven fabric backed with plastic with vulcanized rubber, aluminum wrapped in polyurethane tape, and polyurethane tire liners.
The two most common used products for inner tube puncture protection are liquid sealants installed inside inner tube; polyurethane tire liners installed between tire and inner tube covering approximately 33% of exposed tire surface. Sealants protect 100% inner tube surface and effectively seals the puncture area of ⅛ inch or less. Sealants must be regularly purged and replaced. Polyurethane tire liner flat strips protect only the tread area approximately 33% of exposed tire. A sharp object will penetrate polyurethane. Attempts to mitigate puncture depth by long sharp objects, polyurethane tire liners are made thicker and more costly. A pair of thicker polyurethane tire liners greater than 4″ in width exceed a cost of $100.
Current market availability, tire inner tube sealants and tire liner puncture protection for 33% of tire surface tread only. Inner tube replacement or repair is standard procedure and an accepted inconvenience.
The present invention shape is circular and semi spherical conforming to the interior tire surface area inclusive of sidewalls and tread with a consistent level of inner tube puncture protection across 100% of tire surface less a required setback from tire bead to not encumber tire installation and removal.
The present invention is comprised of a cut and formed solid non fiberglass fiber reinforced thermoplastic polymer layered with polyethylene on woven fabric with rubber adhesives. The present invention grips the interior tire surface and inner tube surface with no increased wear on the tire or inner tube and is recyclable.
The present invention increases protection surface area from current 33% to 100%, with solid inner tube puncture protection, not limited by tire widths, designed for automated process manufacturing, for a cost below current market limited offerings.
Introduction
The present invention is comprised of cut and thermally formed non fiberglass fiber reinforced thermoplastic polymer each layer is covered with polyethylene film laminated on woven fabric with rubber adhesives covering angular relief cuts, and polypropylene and polyethylene resins laminated on strong woven scrim with rubber adhesives covering center of layers and overlapping angular relief cuts. Double layers are offset 180 degrees then bound together with a polymer based elastic adhesive
Rated 51 Shore D Min for Material 0.090 Inch Thick:
The present invention grips the interior tire surface and inner tube surface with no increased wear on the tire or inner tube and is recyclable. The present invention covers 100% of interior tire surface less nominal set back from tire edge and bead for unencumbered tire installation and removal; conforms and completely protects inner tube from puncture hazards entering exterior tire surface sidewalls and tread areas.
The invention's annular curve, formed semi-spherical curve with edge angular reliefs use rigidity and flexibility to mitigate penetration force of sharp objects. Threats stopped by the invention include but limited to the following: sharp botanical cacti needles including jumping cholla, goatheads, thorns, man made needles, razors, knives, glass, metal or glass shards, screws, barbed wire and nails.
The invention flexes with the tire and inner tube and withstands full compression of the tire and inner tube to the wheel rim when hitting a hard surface directly such as a trail rock or street curb.
Manufacturing
