RFID tire plug and method of installing the same in a manufactured tire
AssigneeFineline Technologies
InventorJos Uijlenbroek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
RFID plugs and methods of installing the same within a rubber article. When included in the rubber article, the RFID plugs maintain operability pre-vulcanization, during vulcanization, and post-vulcanization to identify, track, and/or sense conditions of the rubber article. The RFID plugs are adapted to be affixed to the rubber article and include, for example, an elongate stem; a head disposed at a first end of the stem, the head containing an RFID device; and a retention feature disposed at a second end of the stem opposite the first end, the retention feature configured to resist pulling forces on the head and the stem.
Claims18
An RFID plug adapted to be affixed to a tire pre-vulcanization that maintains operability for scanning, identifying, and/or sensing conditions of the tire before, during, and post-vulcanization of the tire, the RFID plug comprising:
- an elongate stem;
- a head disposed at a first end of the stem, the head containing an RFID device that is configured for scanning, identifying, and/or sensing conditions of the tire and to further communicate the same to an RFID reader;
- and
- a retention feature disposed at a second end of the stem opposite the first end, the retention feature configured to resist pulling forces on the head and the stem, wherein:
- the head is enlarged relative to the elongate stem and retention feature and includes an upper planar surface and a lower planar surface with the RFID device sandwiched there between such that the RFID device is completely encased within the head;
- the elongate stem, head, and retention features are an interconnected assembly of individual parts that are configured to fuse together to form an unitary housing upon being subjected to vulcanization conditions;
- and
- the elongate stem, head, and retention feature each comprising at least one of polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyethylene, thermoplastic polyolefinelastomers, thermoplastic vulcanize, thermoplastic copolyester, thermoplastic polyamides or any combination thereof.
A method for permanently affixing an RFD plug to a tire comprising:
- (1) providing a green and/or unvulcanized tire and an RFID plug to be affixed to the green and/or unvulcanized tire, the RFD plug being configured to track, identify, and/or sense conditions of the tire pre-vulcanization, during vulcanization, and/or post-vulcanization;
- (2) before or concurrently with step (3), either manually or automatically inserting portions of the RFID plug into the green and/or unvulcanized tire;
- (3) placing the green and/or unvulcanized tire into the mold a mold for vulcanization;
- and
- (4) vulcanizing the tire of step (3) to form a vulcanized tire with the RFID plug positioned therein, wherein the RFID plug maintains operability throughout steps (1)-(4) thereby allowing for tracking, identifying, and/or sensing conditions of the tire pre-vulcanization, during vulcanization, and post vulcanization, wherein the RFID plug comprises:
- an elongate stem;
- a head disposed at a first end of the stem, the head containing an RFID device that is configured for scanning, identifying, and/or sensing conditions of the tire and to further communicate the same to an RFID reader;
- and
- a retention feature disposed at a second end of the stem opposite the first end, the retention feature configured to resist pulling forces on the head and the stem, wherein:
- the head is enlarged relative to the elongate stem and retention feature and includes an upper planar surface and a lower planar surface with the RFID device sandwiched there between such that the RFID device is completely encased within the head;
- the elongate stem, head, and retention features are an interconnected assembly of individual parts that are configured to fuse together to form an unitary housing upon being subjected to vulcanization conditions;
- and
- the elongate stem, head, and retention feature each comprising at least one of polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyethylene, thermoplastic polyolefinelastomers, thermoplastic vulcanizates, thermoplastic copolyester, thermoplastic polyamides, or any combination thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.