WO2004082964A1

WO2004082964A1 - Bicycle pneumatic tire and method for making it

Info

Publication number: WO2004082964A1
Application number: PCT/IT2003/000437
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adrien Jules Hubert Rudie Campagne
Original assignee: Vittoria S.P.A.
Priority date: 2003-03-17
Filing date: 2003-07-14
Publication date: 2004-09-30
Also published as: AU2003247162A1; ITMI20030503A1

Abstract

A pneumatic tire, specifically designed for bicycles, comprises a tire carcass, on a side of which a tire tread is provided, and being characterized in that said tire comprises a further tread, on the opposite side of the carcass, which carcass can be reversed to use alternatively either one or the other tire treads.

Description

DESCRIPTION

BICYCLE PNEUMATIC TIRE AND METHOD FOR MAKING IT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to pneumatic tire, specifically designed for bicycles, and a method for making said tire.

As is known, conventional bicycle pneumatic tires usually comprise a tread on the outer side or face of the pneumatic tire carcass, as is shown in figures 1 and 2.

Said figures show a conventional pneumatic tire, generally indicated by the reference number 100, comprising a carcass 101 having two sidewalls 102, each of which ends with a bead 103, comprising a bead wire 104, usually constituted by a metal or aramide wire.

On a central portion of the pneumatic tire carcass 101 and, more specifically, on its outer surface is applied a tire tread 105.

As is further known, the above mentioned pneumatic tire treads are made with patterns, thicknesses and different rubber compounds or mixtures, depending on the use of the pneumatic tire. For example, for use on dry asphalted roads, the tread is usually smoother, thinner and formed by a hardener compounds then a tread to be used on wet or uneven roads .

As the bicycle tread is worn, the tire must be replaced, and this replacement operations must be performed even if the pneumatic tire carcass would have a high constructional strength and could have a long duration.

Another problem affecting conventional bicycle pneumatic tires is that the cyclist must have available two different type of tires, for using the bicycle either on dry asphalted roads or on wet and uneven rods .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide such a bicycle pneumatic tires specifically designed for overcoming the above mentioned drawbacks affecting conventional bicycle pneumatic tires . Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a bicycle pneumatic tire having a long duration with constantly good performance characteristics .

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a flexible use pneumatic tire which can be used under very different environmental conditions, while providing good performance and safety characteristics.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a bicycle pneumatic tire which is very advantageous from a mere economic standpoint.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a bicycle pneumatic tire, comprising a pneumatic tire carcass, on a side of which a pneumatic tire tread is provided, characterized in that said bicycle pneumatic tire further comprises a further pneumatic tire tread on then opposite side of said carcass, said carcass being adapted to be turned over so as to allow to alternatively use either one or the other of said treads.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative^ but not limitative, example, in the accompanying drawings , where:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional bicycle pneumatic tire;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional pneumatic tire shown in figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bicycle pneumatic tire according to the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the pneumatic tire shown in figure 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the number references of figures 3-4, the bicycle pneumatic tire, which has been generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises a pneumatic tire carcass 11, having two sidewalls 2, each of which ends with a bead 3, comprising a bead wire 4, conventionally constituted by a metal or aramide wire element.

On a surface of a central portion of the pneumatic tire carcass 11, a first tread 5 is applied.

According to the invention, on the opposite surface of said carcass is furthermore applied, at a central portion thereof, a second tread 6. In this connection, it should be pointed out that the method for making the subject pneumatic tire comprises a step of making the carcass, by a substantially conventional making process, for example of a manual type, as well as the step of simultaneously making two treads, instead of a single tread, as it would occur for a conventional tire.

The two treads can be identical, or it can be made of different rubber compounds , with different patterns or colors . Then, each pneumatic tire tread is applied to the opposite sides of the carcass, by an applying procedure which would be per se known.

The thus made pneumatic tire can be assembled on a rim, so as to outward direct or orient either one or the other tread, depending on requirements.

In particular, if the treads are identical, then the use of the tire according to the present invention will consist of using the first tread up to its full wearing out, and then turning over the tire for using the second tread, thereby providing a double life time duration for the tire.

However, according to a further aspect of the present invention, the treads can also be made with different compounds, colors, patterns and thicknesses, for meeting different use requirements.

In such a case, i.e. if the two treads are of different types, then, in addition to a longer duration of the tire, further advantages would be obtained.

In fact, the same tire can be used for different surfaces: thus, for example, if one of the treads has been designed for smooth surfaces and the other for corrugated surfaces, or for dry and wet surfaces, or for asphalted or non asphalted surfaces and so on.

Moreover, the treads can be made with different colors, even for aesthetic reason exclusively, thereby fitting the pneumatic tire color to the bicycle color or to the cyclist cloth.

From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the pneumatic tire according to the present invention provides a lot of further functional and economic advantages .

From a mere function standpoint, the cyclist is not compelled to have spare tires available.

Moreover, the pneumatic according to the present invention is much more resistant against perforations, since its tread has a double thickness.

Yet another advantage for the user is of an economic type, since the user or cyclist can buy a single pneumatic tire instead of two.

From a making standpoint, the pneumatic tire according to the present invention can be made with a less power and raw material consume.

Even if from an environmental standpoint, the tire according to the invention is very advantageous, owing to the reduction of the used resources, the longer duration thereof, and the reduction of the materials to be disposed of at the end of the life of the tire.

It has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

In fact, the invention provides a pneumatic tire which is very advantageous both from the technical performance standpoint and from the economical standpoint.

In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes of the subject pneumatic tire could be any, depending on the requirements and status of the art.

Claims

1. A pneumatic tire, specifically designed for bicycles, comprising a pneumatic tire carcass, on a side of which a pneumatic tire tread is provided, characterized in that said bicycle pneumatic tire further comprises a further pneumatic tire tread on then opposite side of said carcass, said carcass being adapted to be turned over so as to allow to alternatively use either one or the other of said treads .

2. A pneumatic tire according to Claim 1 , characterized in that each said thread is made with different technical characteristics.

3. A pneumatic tire according to Claim 1 or

2, characterized in that said treads are made of different compounds.

4. A pneumatic tire according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said treads have different tread patterns.

5. A pneumatic tire according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said treads have different colors.

6. A method for making a pneumatic tire, in particular for bicycles, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps of:

- providing a pneumatic tire carcass; simultaneously making two pneumatic tire treads; - applying each said tread to said carcass on opposite sides of said carcass.

7. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that said method comprises one or more of the disclosed and/or illustrated characteristics .

8. A pneumatic tire according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pneumatic tires comprises one or more of the disclosed and/or illustrated characteristics.