# US 11,993,105 B2 · Pneumatic tire and method for manufacturing the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,105 B2 - Document ID: US11993105B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/754,112 - Filed: 2018-09-27 - Published: 2020-09-10 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-06 - Assignees: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. - Applicants: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD. - Inventors: Takashi Hoshiba; Masahiro Naruse - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993105B2 ## CPC - B60C 19/12: Puncture preventing arrangements - B29C 33/02: with incorporated heating or cooling means - B29D 30/0654: {Flexible cores therefor, e.g. bladders, bags, membranes, diaphragms (elastic cores or mandrels for shaping of plastics B29C33/505; bags for isostatic pressing in compression moulding B29C43/12, B29C43/3642)} - B29D 30/0685: {Incorporating auto-repairing or self-sealing arrangements or agents on or into tyres (auto-repairing or self-sealing arrangements or agents B29C73/16; puncture preventing arrangements B60C19/12)} - B60C 19/002: {Noise damping elements provided in the tyre structure or attached thereto, e.g. in the tyre interior} - B29D 2030/0655: {Constructional or chemical features of the flexible cores} - B29D 2030/0695: {the sealant being in the form of one wide strip, e.g. a patch} - B60C 19/122: {disposed inside of the inner liner} - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) ## Abstract Provided is a pneumatic tire including an indicator made of a protrusion portion or a recess portion extending in a tire circumferential direction is formed on a tire inner surface. A sound absorbing member or a sealant layer is applied to the tire inner surface along the indicator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pneumatic tire comprising: an indicator made of a protrusion portion or a recess portion that extends in a tire circumferential direction on a tire inner surface, the indicator being formed from an inner liner of the pneumatic tire; and a sound absorbing member or a sealant layer applied to the tire inner surface with a tire width direction edge of the sound absorbing member or the sealant layer disposed along the indicator; wherein the indicator is a single and only indicator formed on the tire inner surface along which the sound absorbing member or the sealant layer is applied. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein an angle of the indicator with respect to the tire circumferential direction is from 2° to 10°. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pneumatic tire according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion portion or the recess portion constituting the indicator has a height or depth of from 0.3 mm to 2.0 mm and a width of from 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The pneumatic tire according to claim 3, wherein at least one section of the indicator in the tire circumferential direction includes a missing portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pneumatic tire according to claim 4, wherein the indicator is expressed as a marking for identification made of a letter, a number, a symbol or a graphic. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion portion or the recess portion constituting the indicator has a height or depth of from 0.3 mm to 2.0 mm and a width of from 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein at least one section of the indicator in the tire circumferential direction includes a missing portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the indicator is expressed as a marking for identification made of a letter, a number, a symbol or a graphic. ### Claim 9 A method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire, comprising the steps of: vulcanizing a green tire using a bladder having a bladder outer surface formed with a recess portion or a protrusion portion extending in a bladder circumferential direction to obtain a vulcanized pneumatic tire; forming an indicator made of a protrusion portion or a recess portion extending in a tire circumferential direction on an inner surface of the vulcanized pneumatic tire, the indicator being formed from an inner liner of the pneumatic tire; and applying a sound absorbing member or a sealant layer to the inner surface of the vulcanized pneumatic tire with a tire width direction edge of the sound absorbing member or the sealant layer disposed along the indicator; wherein the indicator is a single and only indicator formed on the tire inner surface along which the sound absorbing member or the sealant layer is applied. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire according to claim 9, wherein an angle of the indicator with respect to the tire circumferential direction is from 0° to 10°. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire according to claim 10, wherein the protrusion portion or recess portion constituting the indicator has a height or depth of from 0.3 mm to 2.0 mm and a width of from 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire according to claim 11, wherein at least one section of the indicator in the tire circumferential direction includes a missing portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire according to claim 12, wherein the indicator is expressed as a marking for identification made of a letter, a number, a symbol or a graphic. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire according to claim 9, wherein the protrusion portion or recess portion constituting the indicator has a height or depth of from 0.3 mm to 2.0 mm and a width of from 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire according to claim 9, wherein at least one section of the indicator in the tire circumferential direction includes a missing portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire according to claim 9, wherein the indicator is expressed as a marking for identification made of a letter, a number, a symbol or a graphic. ### Claim 17 A pneumatic tire comprising: a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions disposed on either side of the tread portion, and a pair of bead portions disposed inward of the sidewall portions in the tire radial direction; at least four indicators each made of a protrusion portion or a recess portion that extends in a tire circumferential direction on a tire inner surface of the tread portion, the at least four indicators being formed from an inner liner of the pneumatic tire; and a sound absorbing member or a sealant layer applied to the tire inner surface along a plurality of the at least four indicators; wherein the sound absorbing member or the sealant layer is a single and only sound absorbing member or sealant layer applied to the tire inner surface, and a width direction edge of the sound absorbing member or the sealant layer is disposed abutting at least one of the at least four indicators. ### Claim 18 A pneumatic tire comprising: a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions disposed on either side of the tread portion, and a pair of bead portions disposed inward of the sidewall portions in the tire radial direction; at least two indicators on a same width direction side of a sound absorbing member or a sealant layer, each of the at least two indicators being made of a protrusion portion or a recess portion that extends in a tire circumferential direction on a tire inner surface of the tread portion, the at least two indicators being formed from an inner liner of the pneumatic tire; and, the sound absorbing member or the sealant layer applied to the tire inner surface along at least one of the at least two indicators; wherein the sound absorbing member or the sealant layer is a single and only sound absorbing member or sealant layer applied to the tire inner surface, and a width direction edge of the sound absorbing member or the sealant layer is disposed abutting at least one of the at least two indicators.