Protective tire liner for a bicycle and related methods

Abstract

A protective tire liner is positioned between the bicycle inner tube and the bicycle outer tire of a bicycle wheel. The tire liner includes a puncture-resistant flexible strip to protect the inner tube from puncture damage, and at least one covering layer on the puncture-resistant flexible strip to cover at least the side edges thereof. The puncture-resistant strip has a relatively abrasive surface especially at side edges thereof so as to be capable of abrading the inner tube upon relative motion. Accordingly, the covering layer prevents abrading of the inner tube which would otherwise occur. The protective liner protects the inner tube from puncture damage, such as from thorns, as are commonly encountered when mountain biking. In one embodiment, the at least one covering layer comprises a flexible plastic strip spirally wound about the puncture-resistant flexible strip. In another embodiment, the at least one covering layer may be provided by a pair of flexible plastic strips being folded around respective side edges and adjacent portions of the puncture-resistant strip. In yet another embodiment, the at least one covering layer comprises a pair of opposing first and second flexible plastic layers covering opposing major first and second surfaces of the puncture-resistant flexible strip, and with the pair of flexible plastic layers including respective outwardly extending portions which extend outwardly beyond side edges of the puncture-resistant strip and which are joined together. Method aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.