Tire cord

A tire cord adapted for the reinforcement of an elastomeric article, comprising:

• a first group of filaments having a core filament number of from two to six core filaments and forming a helix along a longitudinal direction wherein said core filaments are not twisted together and said core filaments are arranged in a substantially parallel, substantially side-by-side configuration;
• and
• a second group of filaments having a sheath filament number of from one to seven sheath filaments and forming a flattened helix in the same sense as said helix of said core filaments, said second group being twisted about said first group in the same sense as said helix of said core filaments;
• wherein each of said core filaments and said sheath filaments contribute substantially to a breaking strength of said tire cord;
• wherein each of said core filaments is characterized by a core filament diameter and each of said sheath filaments is characterized by a sheath filament diameter;
• and
• wherein any cross section of said tire cord along said longitudinal direction is contained within a generally oval-shaped outer bound characterized by a major diameter along a major axis and a minor diameter along a minor axis, such that said minor diameter is no greater than 60% of said major diameter.

A tire cord adapted for the reinforcement of an elastomeric article, comprising:

• a first group of filaments having a core filament number of from two to six core filaments and forming a helix along a longitudinal direction wherein said core filaments are not twisted together and said core filaments are arranged in a substantially parallel, substantially side-by-side configuration;
• and
• a second group of filaments having a sheath filament number of from one to seven sheath filaments and forming a flattened helix in the same sense as said helix of said core filaments, said second group being twisted about said first group in the same sense as said helix of said core filaments;
• wherein each of said core filaments and said sheath filaments contribute substantially to a breaking strength of said tire cord;
• wherein each of said core filaments is characterized by a core filament diameter and each of said sheath filaments is characterized by a sheath filament diameter satisfying the equation:
• 1.5×dc≦(Dh−2×ds)≦m×dc+ds,
• where
• dc=said core filament diameter,
• Dh=said major diameter,
• ds=said sheath filament diameter, and
• m=said core filament number;
• and
• wherein any cross section of said tire cord along said longitudinal direction is contained within a generally oval-shaped outer bound characterized by a major diameter along a major axis and a minor diameter along a minor axis, such that said minor diameter is no greater than 60% of said major diameter.