System and method for post-cure application of electronics to a tire
AssigneeThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
InventorsRobert Leon Benedict, Peter Ross Shepler, Stephen Frederick Roth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for post-cure application of electronics to a tire includes: a first stage assembly in which an ends of an annular antenna wire are positioned within conductive grommets in a base member; a second stage in which a plug is affixed to the base member to hold the antenna ends in place during shaping and curing of the antenna wire into a tire; and a third stage in which the plug is replaced by a tag carrier, the carrier including means for establishing and maintaining electrical contact between the antenna ends and the tag.
Claims12
An antenna assembly for application to a tire, the assembly comprising:
- a shaped antenna wire having first and second ends;
- a base member having at least first and second apertures and conductive portions, each aperture receiving a respective one of the antenna wire ends therein;
- and
- a removable plug member attached to the base member and having at least first and second plug member protrusions press inserting into a respective base member aperture, each protrusion engaging and securing a respective antenna end between the protrusion and a base member conductive portion.
A tag carrier for insertion into an antenna apparatus of the type comprising a shaped antenna wire having first and second opposite ends and a base member having conductive portions for respectively receiving and electrically contacting the antenna wire ends, the tag carrier comprising:
- a carrier body having a tag supporting surface and at least one protrusion depending from the body for engagement with the conductive portion of the base member;
- a conductor extending from the tag to an outer surface of the one protrusion, the conductor being positioned to establish electrical contact with the conductive base member portion upon establishment of engagement between the carrier body and the base member.
An antenna assembly for application to a tire in pre-cure and post-cure stages, the assembly comprising:
- a shaped antenna wire having first and second ends:
- a base member having conductive portions;
- a removable plug member configured for pre-cure attachment to the base member, the plug member having at least one coupling protrusion configured to extend into the base member to engage at least the first antenna end and maintain the first antenna end against a conductive portion of the base member;
- a carrier body configured to replace the plug member in a post-cure attachment to the base member, the carrier body having a tag supporting surface and at least one coupling protrusion configured to extend into the base member to engage the first antenna end and maintain the first antenna end against the conductive portion of the base member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.