# US 5,346,731 A · Fiber-reinforced rubber > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,346,731 A - Document ID: US5346731A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/728,335 - Filed: 1991-07-11 - Granted: 1994-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 1990-07-12 - Assignees: Bando Chemical Industries, Ltd. - Inventors: Yasuyuki Nakanishi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346731A ## CPC - D07B 1/062: {the reinforcing cords being characterised by the strand configuration} - D02G 3/48: Tyre cords {(tyre reinforcements B60C9/00; metal cords for reinforcing rubber or plastic articles D07B1/0606)} - D04C 1/12: Cords, lines, or tows - D07B 1/0613: {the reinforcing cords being characterised by the rope configuration} - F16G 1/08: with reinforcement bonded by the rubber - F16G 1/28: with a contact surface of special shape, e.g. toothed - D07B 2201/1096: braided - D07B 2201/2022: coreless - Y10T 428/1314: Contains fabric, fiber particle, or filament made of glass, ceramic, or sintered, fused, fired, or calcined metal oxide, or metal carbide or other inorganic compound [e.g., fiber glass, mineral fiber, sand, etc.] - Y10T 428/1362: Textile, fabric, cloth, or pile containing [e.g., web, net, woven, knitted, mesh, nonwoven, matted, etc.] - Y10T 428/1369: Fiber or fibers wound around each other or into a self-sustaining shape [e.g., yarn, braid, fibers shaped around a core, etc.] - Y10T 428/1386: Natural or synthetic rubber or rubber-like compound containing - Y10T 428/2935: Discontinuous or tubular or cellular core - Y10T 428/294: including metal or compound thereof [excluding glass, ceramic and asbestos] - Y10T 428/2971: Impregnation - Y10T 428/31826: Of natural rubber - D07B: ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL (joining ropes or cables to one another or to other objects B65H69/00, F16G11/00; {mountaineering ropes A63B29/02}; mechanical finishing or dressing of ropes D02J; {braiding D04C}; decorative ropes or cords D04D; suspension cables for bridges E01D19/16; specially adapted for driving, or for being driven by, pulleys or other gearing elements F16G9/00; electric cables or joints insofar as electrical aspects are essential H01B, H01R) - D02G: CRIMPING OR CURLING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, OR YARNS; YARNS OR THREADS - D04C: BRAIDING OR MANUFACTURE OF LACE, INCLUDING BOBBIN-NET OR CARBONISED LACE; BRAIDING MACHINES; BRAID; LACE (machines for making soles from strips of material A43D29/00; cane working B27J1/00) - F16G: BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A fiber-reinforced rubber article has a rubber body portion with a fiber reinforcement embedded therein. The fiber reinforcement includes a plurality of tubular braided cords braided by yarns. Each of the tubular braided cords is braided by more than three yarns at a braid angle in a range between 10.degree. and 35.degree., wherein said braid angle is an angle between a yarn of the tubular braided cord and the axial line of the tubular braided cord. Each tubular braided cord also has a fistulous center hole defined by the tubular braided cord. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fiber-reinforced rubber article, comprising: a rubber body portion; and a fiber reinforcement embedded in said rubber body portion, said fiber reinforcement comprising a plurality of tubular braided cords braided by yarns, each said tubular braided cord being braided by more than three yarns at a braid angle in a range between 10.degree. and 35.degree. wherein said braid angle is an angle between a said yarn forming said tubular braided cord and the axial line of said tubular braided cord, and each said tubular braided cord having a fistulous center hole defined by said tubular braided cord. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fiber-reinforced rubber article of claim 1, wherein said yarns of said tubular braided cords comprise inorganic fibers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fiber-reinforced rubber article of claim 1, wherein said yarns of said tubular braided cords comprise organic fibers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fiber-reinforced rubber article of claim 3, wherein said organic fibers of said yarns are aramid fibers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fiber-reinforced rubber article of claim 1, wherein said yarns of said tubular braided cords comprise metallic fibers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fiber-reinforced rubber article of claim 1, wherein said yarns of said tubular braided cords comprise long fiber spun yarns. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fiber-reinforced rubber article of claim 1, wherein said yarns of said tubular braided cords comprise short fiber spun yarns. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fiber-reinforced rubber article of claim 1, and further comprising a center cord disposed in said center hole of said tubular braid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fiber-reinforced rubber article of claim 1, wherein said rubber body portion defines a belt having a direction of elongation, and said fiber reinforcement is embedded in said belt with the axial lines of said tubular braided cords extending in said direction of elongation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fiber-reinforced rubber article of claim 9, wherein said belt defined by said rubber body portion is an endless power transmission belt. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fiber-reinforced rubber article of claim 10, wherein said endless power transmission belt is a synchronous belt, and said rubber body portion includes a belt base comprising an elongated rubber layer and a plurality of teeth formed on one side of said elongated rubber layer and made of the same material as said elongated rubber layer, said fiber reinforcement being embedded in said elongated rubber layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fiber-reinforced rubber article of claim 1, wherein said rubber body portion defines a conveyor belt. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The fiber-reinforced rubber article of claim 1, wherein said rubber body portion defines a tire. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The fiber-reinforced rubber article of claim 1, wherein said rubber body portion defines a hose. ### Claim 15 A fiber-reinforced rubber article, comprising: a rubber body portion; and a fiber reinforcement embedded in said rubber body portion, said fiber reinforcement comprising a plurality of tubular braided cords braided by yarns, each said tubular braided cord being braided by more than three yarns at a braid angle in a range between 10.degree. and 35.degree., wherein said braid angle is an angle between a said yarn forming said tubular braided cord and the axial line of said tubular braided cord, and wherein said rubber body portion defines an endless belt having a direction of elongation and said fiber reinforcement is embedded with the axial lines of said tubular braided cords extending in said direction of elongation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The fiber-reinforced rubber article of claim 15, wherein said belt defined by said rubber body portion is an endless power transmission belt. ### Claim 17 A fiber-reinforced rubber as claimed in 16, wherein said endless power transmission belt is a synchronous belt, and said rubber body portion includes a belt base comprising an elongated rubber layer and a plurality of teeth formed on one side of said elongated rubber layer and made of the same material as said elongated rubber layer, said fiber reinforcement being embedded in said elongated rubber layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The fiber-reinforced rubber article of claim 15, wherein each said tubular braided cord has a fistulous center hole defined by said tubular braided cord. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The fiber-reinforced rubber article of claim 18, and further comprising a center cord disposed in said center hole of said tubular braid.