Wide monofilament reinforcing cords employing high performance thermoplastics and tire belts made therefrom

An improved reinforcing belt for a pneumatic tire, the pneumatic tire having a carcass extending between a pair of side walls, each side wall terminating in a bead portion, and having a tread disposed radially outward of the carcass, the tread connected to the side walls by shoulder portions, the reinforcing belt disposed radially between the carcass and the tread and being of the type having at least two cord reinforced bias plies and a cord reinforced substantially circumferential ply situated radially outward of the cord reinforced bias plies, the cord reinforced substantially circumferential ply including a plurality of reinforcing cords bound together in a matrix of polymeric material the cord reinforced substantially circumferential ply being axially longer than the cord reinforced bias plies for overlaying the cord reinforced bias plies and strengthening the shoulder and crown portions of the pneumatic tire, wherein the improvement comprises:

• said reinforcing cords comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of nylons, polyesters, and polyphenylene ethers;
• and
• each of said plurality of reinforcing cords having a substantially elliptic cross-section to improve handling of pneumatic tires in which the reinforcing belt is placed by resisting lateral movement and developing an increase in cornering force, and also to extend the useful life of pneumatic tires in which the reinforcing belt is placed both by providing a relatively thin and light reinforcing belt, by reducing the standing wave of the pneumatic tire to reduce heat build-up and generally stabilizing the crown portion of the tire.

A reinforcing belt for a pneumatic tire having shoulder portions, the reinforcing belt comprising:

• at least one cord reinforced ply having a plurality of reinforcing cords bound together in a matrix of an elastomeric material;
• said reinforcing cords comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of nylons, polyesters, and polyphenylene ethers;
• each of said plurality of reinforcing cords having a substantially elliptic cross-section to improve handling and useful life of pneumatic tires in which the reinforcing belt is placed;
• and
• said substantially elliptic cross-section having a width (W) which is greater than or substantially equal to two times a height (H) of each of said plurality of reinforcing cords;
• said width (W) of said plurality of reinforcing cords aiding to resist lateral movement and develop cornerning force of pneumatic tires in which the reinforcing belt is placed while said height (H) permits the reinforcing belt to be relatively thin and lightweight to reduce heat build-up and the amount of cord material needed to reinforce pneumatic tires in which the reinforcing belt is placed.

A reinforcing belt for a pneumatic tire comprising:

• at least one cord reinforced ply having a plurality of reinforcing cords bound together in a matrix of an elastomeric material;
• said reinforcing cords comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of nylons, polyesters and polyphenylene ethers;
• said reinforcing cords having a substantially elliptic cross-section to improve handling and useful life of pneumatic tires in which the reinforcing belt is placed;
• and
• said substantially elliptic cross-section having a width (W) which is greater than or substantially equal to two times a height (H) of said reinforcing cords.

A reinforcing belt for a pneumatic tire having shoulder portions, the reinforcing belt comprising:

• at least one cord reinforced ply having a plurality of reinforcing cords bound together in a matrix of an elastomeric material;
• said reinforcing cords comprised of a polyphenylene ether;
• each of said plurality of reinforcing cords having an elongated cross-section to improve handling and useful life of pneumatic tires in which the reinforcing belt is placed;
• and
• said elongated cross-section having a width (W) which is greater than or substantially equal to two times a height (H) of each of said plurality of reinforcing cords;
• said width (W) of said plurality of reinforcing cords aiding to resist lateral movement and develop cornering force of pneumatic tires in which the reinforcing belt is placed while said height (H) permits the reinforcing belt to be relatively thin and lightweight to reduce heat build-up and the amount of cord material needed to reinforce pneumatic tires in which the reinforcing belt is placed.