An article containing an innerduct structure and a woven rope located within the innerduct structure. The woven rope an inner portion comprising a plurality of multifilament fibers in the length direction of the woven rope and a jacket portion covering the inner portion. The jacket portion contains a plurality of monofilament fibers in the length direction of the woven rope and at least one multifilament fiber in the circumferential direction interwoven with the monofilament fibers in the length direction of the jacket portion. The monofilament fibers of the jacket portion form the majority of the outer surface of the woven rope.

A metal cord has an M+N construction with two concentric layers. An internal first layer or core includes M wire(s) of diameter d.sub.1, M having a value from 1 to 4. An external second layer includes N wires of diameter d.sub.2 and is positioned around the core, the N wires being wound in a helix. Between the wires of the two layers are gaps, some or all of which include a filling rubber based on an unsaturated thermoplastic elastomer. The filling rubber may be, for example, based on an SBS or an SIS block copolymer. When used in a molten state, the thermoplastic elastomer presents no problem due to unwanted stickiness if the filling rubber overspills outside the cord after manufacture. The unsaturated and therefore (co)vulcanizable nature of the thermoplastic elastomer makes it compatible with diene rubber matrices used as calendering rubber in metal fabrics intended for reinforcing tires.

A metal cord has an M+N construction with two concentric layers. An internal first layer or core includes M wire(s) of diameter d.sub.1, M having a value from 1 to 4. An external second layer includes N wires of diameter d.sub.2 and is positioned around the core, the N wires being wound in a helix. Between the wires of the two layers are gaps, some or all of which include a filling rubber based on an unsaturated thermoplastic elastomer. The filling rubber may be, for example, based on an SBS or an SIS block copolymer. When used in a molten state, the thermoplastic elastomer presents no problem due to unwanted stickiness if the filling rubber overspills outside the cord after manufacture. The unsaturated and therefore (co)vulcanizable nature of the thermoplastic elastomer makes it compatible with diene rubber matrices used as calendering rubber in metal fabrics intended for reinforcing tires.

A method of manufacturing a metal cord with two concentric layers of wires is provided. The cord includes an internal layer of M wires, M having a value from 1 to 4, and an external layer of N wires. The cord is rubberized from within in situ. That is, during manufacture of the cord, the cord is rubberized from inside. According to the method, the internal layer is sheathed with rubber or a rubber compound by passing the internal layer through an extrusion head, and the N wires of the external layer are assembled around the sheathed internal layer to form a two-layer cord rubberized from the inside. The rubber is an unsaturated thermoplastic elastomer that is extruded in a molten state, and preferably is a thermoplastic styrene (TPS) type of thermoplastic elastomer, such as an SBS or an SIS block copolymer, for example.

A method of manufacturing a metal cord with two concentric layers of wires is provided. The cord includes an internal layer of M wires, M having a value from 1 to 4, and an external layer of N wires. The cord is rubberized from within in situ. That is, during manufacture of the cord, the cord is rubberized from inside. According to the method, the internal layer is sheathed with rubber or a rubber compound by passing the internal layer through an extrusion head, and the N wires of the external layer are assembled around the sheathed internal layer to form a two-layer cord rubberized from the inside. The rubber is an unsaturated thermoplastic elastomer that is extruded in a molten state, and preferably is a thermoplastic styrene (TPS) type of thermoplastic elastomer, such as an SBS or an SIS block copolymer, for example.

A reinforcing cord for rubber reinforcement of the present invention that is used for reinforcing a rubber product is provided with a plurality of strands. The strand includes bundled fibers and a coating layer formed so as to cover the bundled fibers. The plurality of strands are in tight contact with one another via the coating layer. The coating layer contains a material that is crosslinkable by thermal treatment. A method of manufacturing the reinforcing cord for rubber reinforcement includes the steps of (i) forming strands that include bundled fibers and a coating layer formed so as to cover the bundled fibers, and (ii) bringing the strands into tight contact with one another via the coating layer by twisting the strands together. The coating layer contains a material that is crosslinkable by thermal treatment.

A reinforcing cord for rubber reinforcement of the present invention that is used for reinforcing a rubber product is provided with a plurality of strands. The strand includes bundled fibers and a coating layer formed so as to cover the bundled fibers. The plurality of strands are in tight contact with one another via the coating layer. The coating layer contains a material that is crosslinkable by thermal treatment. A method of manufacturing the reinforcing cord for rubber reinforcement includes the steps of (i) forming strands that include bundled fibers and a coating layer formed so as to cover the bundled fibers, and (ii) bringing the strands into tight contact with one another via the coating layer by twisting the strands together. The coating layer contains a material that is crosslinkable by thermal treatment.

The tire (10) comprises a crown (12) surmounted by a tread (22), two sidewalls (24), two beads (26), each sidewall (24) connecting each bead (26) to the crown (12), a carcass reinforcement (34) anchored in each of the beads (26) and extending in the sidewalls (24) as far as the crown (12). The carcass reinforcement (34) comprises one carcass ply (44) comprising carcass reinforcing elements (46) having a mean laying pitch (P) strictly greater than 1.5 mm. The carcass ply (44) comprises an elastomer matrix (54) in which the carcass reinforcing elements (46) are embedded, each carcass reinforcing element (46) comprising: one filamentary element (56), and one sheath (58) coating the filamentary element (56) and comprising at least one layer (60) of a thermoplastic polymer composition.

The tire (10) comprises a crown (12) surmounted by a tread (22), two sidewalls (24), two beads (26), each sidewall (24) connecting each bead (26) to the crown (12), a carcass reinforcement (34) anchored in each of the beads (26) and extending in the sidewalls (24) as far as the crown (12). The carcass reinforcement (34) comprises one carcass ply (44) comprising carcass reinforcing elements (46) having a mean laying pitch (P) strictly greater than 1.5 mm. The carcass ply (44) comprises an elastomer matrix (54) in which the carcass reinforcing elements (46) are embedded, each carcass reinforcing element (46) comprising: one filamentary element (56), and one sheath (58) coating the filamentary element (56) and comprising at least one layer (60) of a thermoplastic polymer composition.

A woven rope an inner portion comprising a plurality of multifilament fibers in the length direction of the woven rope and a jacket portion covering the inner portion. The jacket portion contains a plurality of monofilament fibers in the length direction of the woven rope and at least one multifilament fiber in the circumferential direction interwoven with the monofilament fibers in the length direction of the jacket portion. The monofilament fibers of the jacket portion form the majority of the outer surface of the woven rope.