Method for the construction of improved tire liners

In the method for preparing an annular shaped tire liner adapted to fit around and in contact with the inside U-shaped surface of a casing which is part of a pneumatic tire, wherein the tire has spaced apart annular sidewalls supporting a tread and circular beads around the tire on each sidewall for mounting on a rim, wherein the tire liner includes an annular strip of a high temperature and pressure (HPT) vulcanized rubber defining an annular length which conforms to the shape of the U-shaped surface of the tire casing opposite the tread, and wherein the strip has a width across the tread defined by two opposite long sides which are between two opposite short sides defining a thickness along the length the improvement which comprises the steps of:

• (a) providing the HPT vulcanized rubber as a first elongate strip with ends defining a length adapted to be joined together to form the annular strip of rubber;
• (b) providing at least one second elongate strip of low temperature and pressure (LPT) vulcanizable rubber bonded on at least one long side of the first strip;
• (c) forming the bonded first elongate strip with the second elongate strip into the annular strip by joining and bonding the ends of the first HPT strip together;
• and
• (d) vulcanizing the LPT vulcanizable rubber to the annular strip in a closed mold to form the tire liner, wherein some of the LPT vulcanizable rubber flows across the long side width to both short sides of the first annular strip of HPT vulcanized rubber.

In the method for preparing an annular shaped tire liner adapted to fit around and in contact with the inside U-shaped surface of a casing which is part of a pneumatic tire and around and in contact with the outside of an inner tube for the tire so as to be between the inner tube and the casing to reduce the frequency of flat tires, wherein the tire has spaced apart annular sidewalls supporting a tread and circular beads around the tire on each sidewall for mounting on a rim, wherein the tire liner includes an annular strip of a high temperature and pressure (HPT) vulcanized rubber defining an annular length which conforms to the shape of the U-shaped surface of the tire casing opposite the tread and wherein the strip has a width across the tread defined by two opposite long sides which are between two opposite short sides defining a thickness along the length and wherein the tire liner provides for substantial protection against and resistance to penetration of the inside casing to the inner tube by a foreign object the improvement which comprises the steps of:

• (a) providing the HPT vulcanized rubber as a first elongate strip with ends defining a length adapted to be joined together to form the annular strip of rubber;
• (b) providing at least two thin cross-sectioned second elongate strips of low temperature and pressure (LPT) vulcanizable rubber bonded on the long sides of the first strip, each of the LPT strips having widths which are greater than the width of one long side of the first elongate strip, which are wrapped around and bonded to both short sides and one long side of the first elongate strip such that there is one second elongate strip across each long side of the first elongate strip;
• (c) forming the bonded first elongate strip with the second elongate strip into the annular strip by joining the ends of the first HPT strip together such that there is LPT vulcanizable rubber surrounding the joined ends of the first strip;
• and
• (d) vulcanizing the LPT vulcanizable rubber to the annular strip in a closed mold to form the tire liner, wherein some of the LPT vulcanizable rubber flows across the long side widths to both short sides of the first annular strip of HPT vulcanized rubber.