Collapsible mechanism for molding a tire bead

A mold element for shaping a tire bead, comprising:

• a platform, said platform having a support surface;
• a base residing over said platform and having a first surface and a second surface, said base supported by a plurality of springs in mechanical communication with said first surface and said support surface;
• a plurality of floating sectors connected to said second surface and configured for simultaneous radial and axial movement, wherein each of said floating sectors has a tire bead molding surface located along the outer radius of said floating sectors and has a drive surface located along the inner radius of said floating sectors;
• a plurality of radial sectors connected to said second surface and configured for radial movement, wherein said radial sectors each have a tire bead molding surface positioned along the outer radius and each have a drive surface located along the inner radius;
• and
• an actuator having a contacting surface and positioned over said base;
• wherein upon causing said actuator to move towards said platform, said contacting surface of said actuator contacts said drive surfaces to move said plurality of floating sectors and said plurality of radial sectors so as to cause said tire bead surfaces to form a uniform, sealed surface for application to the tire bead.

A mold element for a tire, comprising;

• an annular disk comprised of a plurality of movable sectors, said annular disk having an axis about which the said sectors are radially located, each said movable sector having a molding surface located along its outer radius, wherein each said molding surface is configured for contact with a bead of the tire;
• at least one of said plurality of movable sectors configured for radial movement between a release position and an engaged position;
• at least one of said plurality of movable sectors configured for simultaneous radial and axial movement between a release position and an engaged position;
• and
• an actuator positioned above said annular disk and configured for selectively acting upon said annular disk so as to move said plurality of movable sectors between said release position and said engaged position;
• wherein upon being placed into the engaged position, said mold surfaces of said plurality of movable sectors collectively form a continuous surface for molding the tire bead.

A tire mold, comprising:

• a circular member comprising a series of alternatingly disposed radial sectors and diagonal sectors,
• said radial sectors configured for movement in a radial direction between a release position, in which the tire may be placed upon or removed from the mold, and a secure position, in which a bead of the tire is in contact with said radial sectors and diagonal sectors,
• said diagonal sectors configured for movement simultaneously in both an axial direction and a radial direction between said release position and said secure position;
• and
• an actuating member positioned axially above said circular member, said actuating member configured for contacting said radial and axial sectors so as to selectively position said radial and axial sectors between said release position and said secure position;
• wherein upon being placed into the secure position, said radial and diagonal sectors collectively create a uniform surface for contacting and molding the bead of the tire.