SIDEWALL INSERT FOR A MOTORCYCLE TIRE

Abstract

An assembly (18) comprises a motorcycle tire (12) and at least one insert (16) for a sidewall of the tire (12). The insert (16) is removably fastened to the sidewall. The sidewall insert (16) comprises two free end edges arranged so that, when the tire (12) is mounted on a mounting support (14) in order to form a mounted assembly (10) and when the mounted assembly (10) is mounted on the motorcycle, the insert (16) can be mounted on and removed from the sidewall of the tire (12) without removing the mounted assembly (10) from the motorcycle. An insert (16) and a set of inserts that can be used in such an assembly (18), are disclosed together with a method for mounting an insert (16) or a set of inserts in order to form such an assembly (18).

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. An insert (16) for a sidewall (26) of a motorcycle tire (12) that is capable of being removably fastened to a sidewall (26) of the motorcycle tire (12), wherein a sidewall insert (16) forms an angular sector of a ring, the angular sector ranging from 330? to 380?, and wherein the insert (16) comprises two free end edges (36, 38) arranged so that, when the tire (12) is mounted on a mounting support (14) in order to form a mounted assembly (10) and when the mounted assembly (10) is mounted on the motorcycle, the insert (16) can be mounted on and removed from the sidewall (26) of the tire (12) without removing the mounted assembly (10) from the motorcycle.

17. The insert (16) according to claim 16, wherein the sidewall insert forms the angular sector of a circular ring.

18. The insert (16) according to claim 17, further comprising a radially inner edge (40) and a radially outer edge (42), each of the radially inner edge and the radially outer edge (40, 42) following a circular curve.

19. The insert (16) according to claim 16, further comprising removable means (48) for fastening the insert (16) to the sidewall (26) of the tire (12) comprising means (50) for fastening the insert (16) to the sidewall (26) of the tire (12) through reversible elastic clipping.

20. An assembly (18) of a motorcycle tire (12) and at least one insert (16; 161, 162, 163, 164) for a sidewall (26) of the tire (12), the or each insert (16; 161, 162, 163, 164) being removably fastened to the sidewall (26), wherein the or each sidewall insert (16; 161, 162, 163, 164) comprises two free end edges (36, 38) arranged so that, when the tire (12) is mounted on a mounting support (14) in order to form a mounted assembly (10) and when the mounted assembly (10) is mounted on the motorcycle, the insert (16; 161, 162, 163, 164) can be mounted on and removed from the sidewall (26) of the tire (12) without removing the mounted assembly (10) from the motorcycle.

21. The assembly (18) according to claim 20, wherein the assembly comprises a single insert (16) for a sidewall (26) removably fastened to the sidewall (26), the sidewall insert (16) forming an angular sector of a ring, the angular sector ranging from 330? to 380?.

22. The assembly (18) according to claim 20, wherein the assembly comprises N?2 inserts (161, 162, 163, 164) for a sidewall (26) removably fastened to the sidewall (26), each sidewall insert (161, 162, 163, 164) forming an angular sector of a ring, the angular sector of each sidewall insert being substantially equal to 360?/N, the sidewall (26) comprising N portions (261, 262, 263, 264) arranged circumferentially adjacent to each other, and each of the N inserts (161, 162, 163, 164) interacting with each portion of the sidewall arranged circumferentially adjacent to each other (261, 262, 263, 264) so that they fully form a discontinuous ring.

23. The assembly (18) according to claim 20, wherein the assembly comprises N?2 inserts (161, 162, 163, 164) for a sidewall (26) removably fastened to the sidewall (26), each sidewall insert (161, 162, 163, 164) forming an angular sector of a ring, the angular sector of each sidewall insert being substantially equal to (360?A)/N with A ranging from 10? to 330?, and the sidewall (26) comprising: N covered portions (261, 262, 263, 264) of the sidewall (26) interacting with each of the N inserts (161, 162, 163, 164), and N?2 uncovered portions (265, 266, 267, 268) of the sidewall (26) without a sidewall insert, each covered portion (261, 262, 263, 264) of the sidewall (26) being circumferentially adjacent to and arranged between two uncovered portions (265, 266, 267, 268) of the sidewall (26).

24. A method for mounting an insert (16) on a sidewall (26) of a motorcycle tire (12), the insert (16) being capable of being removably fastened to the sidewall (26) of the motorcycle tire (12), the sidewall insert (16) forming an angular sector of a ring, the angular sector ranging from 330? to 380?, and the insert (16) comprising two free end edges (36, 38), the method comprising: passing the insert (16) around a fork arm (56), a branch of a swing arm or a hub (58) of the mounted assembly (10) of the motorcycle, each free end edge (34, 36) being axially offset relative to the other so as to allow the insert (16) to pass around the fork arm (56), the branch of the swing arm or the hub (58) of the mounted assembly (10), and/or each free end edge (34, 36) being circumferentially separated from the other so as to allow the insert (16) to pass around the fork arm (56), the branch of the swing arm or the hub (58) of the mounted assembly (10); and removably fastening the insert (16) to the sidewall (26).

25. A method for mounting a plurality of inserts (161, 162, 163, 164) on a sidewall (26) of a motorcycle tire (12), each sidewall insert (161, 162, 163, 164) being capable of being removably fastened to the sidewall (26) of the motorcycle tire (12), each sidewall insert (16) forming an angular sector of a ring and comprising two free end edges (36, 38), the angular sector of each sidewall insert being substantially equal to 360?/N with N?2, or the angular sector of each sidewall insert being substantially equal to (360?A)/N with N?2 and A ranging from 10? to 330?, the method comprising: passing each sidewall insert around a fork arm (56), a branch of a swing arm of the motorcycle or a hub (58) of the mounted assembly (10), where the or each sidewall insert (161, 162, 163, 164) being such that there is sufficient space between each free end edge (36, 38) to allow the or each sidewall insert (161, 162, 163, 164) to pass around the fork arm (56), the branch of the swing arm or the hub (58) of the mounted assembly (10) without moving one free end edge (36, 38) relative to the other, the fork arm (56), the branch of the swing arm or the hub (58) of the mounted assembly (10) is passed into the space between each free end edge (36, 38), or where the or each sidewall insert (161, 162, 163, 164) being such that there is insufficient space between each free end edge (36, 38) to allow the or each sidewall insert (161, 162, 163, 164) to pass around the fork arm (56), the branch of the swing arm or the hub (58) of the mounted assembly (10), each free end edge (36, 38) is axially offset relative to the other so as to allow each sidewall insert (161, 162, 163, 164) to pass around the fork arm, the branch of the swing arm or the hub (58) of the mounted assembly (10), and/or each free end edge (36, 38) is circumferentially separated from the other so as to allow the fork arm, the branch of the swing arm or the hub (58) of the mounted assembly (10) to pass into the space between each free end edge (36, 38); and removably fastening each sidewall insert (161, 162, 163, 164) to the sidewall (26).

Description

[0106] FIG. 1 shows a mounted assembly denoted by the general reference 10. The mounted assembly 10 comprises a motorcycle tyre 12 and a mounting support 14 on which the tyre 12 is mounted. The mounted assembly 10 also comprises an insert 16 for a sidewall of the tyre 12 according to a first embodiment. The tyre 12 and the insert 16 form an assembly 18 according to a first embodiment.

[0107] With reference to FIG. 2, the tyre 12 substantially exhibits symmetry of revolution about an axis substantially parallel to the axial direction Y. Here, the tyre 12 is suitable for a motorcycle and has dimensions 130/80B17. Being suitable for a motorcycle, the tyre is in particular characterized by a curvature rate ranging from 0.15 to 0.50, preferably ranging from 0.20 to 0.40, and here equal to 0.36 with H=47 mm and SW=130 mm.

[0108] The tyre 12 comprises a crown 20 comprising a tread 22 suitable for coming into contact with the ground when the tyre is running. The tyre 12 also comprises a sealing layer 24 for sealing against an inflation gas being suitable for defining a closed internal cavity with the mounting support 14 once the tyre 12 has been mounted on the mounting support 14. The tyre 12 comprises two sidewalls 26 that extend the crown 20 radially inwards. The tyre 12 also has two beads 28 radially inside the sidewalls 26. Each sidewall 26 connects each bead 28 to the crown 20.

[0109] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the insert 16 forms an angular sector of a circular ring 30 having a centre of symmetry O and comprises first and second circumferential ends 32, 34 respectively bearing first and second free end edges 36, 38. The ring 30 is discontinuous at a single point. The insert 16 also comprises a radially inner edge 40 and a radially outer edge 42. Each radially inner and outer edge 40, 42 follows a circular curve. In this first embodiment, the angular sector formed by the insert 16 between the first and second free end edges 36, 38 ranges from 330? to 380?, preferably from 350? to 370?, and here is substantially equal to 360?.

[0110] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the insert has a face 44 visible when the insert 16 is fastened to the sidewall 26 and a face 46 by which the insert 16 bears against the sidewall 26, the bearing face 46 being intended to be concealed when the insert 16 is fastened to the sidewall 26. Here, the visible face 44 is monochrome and has a single appearance texture.

[0111] The insert 16 comprises removable means 48 for fastening the insert 16 to the sidewall 26. These removable fastening means 48 comprise means 50 for fastening the insert 16 to the sidewall 26 through reversible elastic clipping. The means 50 for fastening through reversible elastic clipping here comprise two fastening tabs 52, 54 borne by the bearing face 46. The insert in FIG. 4 is thus capable of being removably fastened to the sidewall 26. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the insert 16 is removably fastened to the sidewall 26.

[0112] The sidewall 26 of the tyre 12 comprises fastening means that complement the removable fastening means 48 of the insert 15. The complementary fastening means formed in the tyre will preferably be positioned sufficiently far away from the bead to ensure that these complementary fastening means do not catch in the rim flange when the tyre 12 is mounted on the mounting support 14.

[0113] The insert 16 is formed from a through-dyed monolithic material. Here, the monolithic material comprises a thermoplastic polymeric material, here polypropylene.

[0114] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the insert 16 is such that the first and second free end edges 36, 38 are arranged so that, when the tyre 12 is mounted on the mounting support 14 in order to form the mounted assembly 10 and when the mounted assembly 10 is mounted on the motorcycle, here on a fork 56 of the motorcycle by means of a hub 58 of the mounted assembly 10, the insert 16 can be mounted on and removed from the sidewall 26 without removing the mounted assembly 10 from the motorcycle.

[0115] During the method for mounting the insert 16 on the sidewall 26, a step of passing the insert 16 around the fork arm 56 or the hub 58 is carried out.

[0116] To this end, as shown in FIG. 5, each first and second free end edge 36, 38 can be offset relative to the other so as to allow the insert 16 to pass around the fork arm 56 or the hub 58 of the mounted assembly 10. In order to achieve this offset, a force F is applied to at least one of the first and second ends 32, 34 so as to twist a portion 60 of the insert 16.

[0117] As shown in FIG. 6, each first and second free end edge 36, 38 can also be circumferentially separated from the other so as to allow the insert 16 to pass around the fork arm 56 or the hub 58 of the mounted assembly 10. In order to achieve this circumferential separation, aforce F is applied to each first and second end 32, 34 so as to compress a portion 62 of the insert 62 and extend a portion 64 of the insert 16.

[0118] Of course, each first and second free end edge 36, 38 can be simultaneously axially offset and circumferentially separated.

[0119] Once the step of passing the insert 16 has been carried out, the insert 16 is removably fastened to the sidewall 26.

[0120] An assembly according to a second embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, comprising a tyre and a set of a plurality of inserts according to a first embodiment. Elements similar to those described in the first embodiment are denoted by identical reference signs.

[0121] With reference to FIG. 7, the assembly 18 comprises N?2 inserts 161, 162, 163, 164 with N=4 here. Each sidewall 26 of the tyre 12 of the assembly 18 comprises N=4 portions 261, 262, 263, 264, arranged circumferentially adjacent to each other. Each of the N inserts 161, 162, 163, 164 interacts with each sidewall portion 261, 262, 263, 264 arranged circumferentially adjacent to each other so that they fully form a ring 30 that is discontinuous at a plurality of points.

[0122] Each visible face of each insert 161, 162 is monochrome and has a single appearance texture. Each visible face of each insert 163, 164 is polychrome and has a single appearance texture, here the same appearance texture as the visible faces of the inserts 161, 162. Here, the inserts 161, 162 are identical so that their respective visible faces are the same single first colour. The inserts 163, 164 are identical so that their respective visible faces are the same colours.

[0123] Unlike the insert according to the first embodiment, the angular sector of each insert 161, 162, 163, 164 is substantially equal to 360?/N with N=4 here, that is, substantially equal to 900.

[0124] With reference to FIG. 8, the inserts 161, 162, 163, 164 form a set of inserts 17. When the inserts 161, 162, 163, 164 in the set 17 are arranged circumferentially adjacent to and in contact with each other, whether on a tyre sidewall as shown in FIG. 7 or on a flat support, the inserts 161, 162, 163, 164 fully form a ring 30 that is discontinuous at a plurality of points as illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0125] In this second embodiment, during the method for mounting the inserts 161, 162, 163, 164 on the sidewall 26, a step of passing each insert 161, 162, 163, 164 around the fork arm 56 or the hub 58 is carried out.

[0126] Here, each insert 161, 162, 163, 164 is such that there is sufficient space between each free end edge to allow each insert 161, 162, 163, 164 to pass around the fork arm or the hub of the mounted assembly without moving one free end edge relative to the other.

[0127] The fork arm or the hub of the mounted assembly is thus simply passed into the space between each free end edge.

[0128] Each insert 161, 162, 163, 164 is then removably fastened to the sidewall 26.

[0129] An assembly according to a third embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, comprising a tyre and a set of a plurality of inserts according to a second embodiment. Elements similar to those described in the preceding embodiments are denoted by identical reference signs.

[0130] With reference to FIG. 9, each sidewall 26 of the tyre 12 of the assembly 18 comprises N=4 covered portions 261, 262, 263, 264 of the sidewall interacting with each of the N inserts 161, 162, 163, 164. Each sidewall 26 of the tyre 12 of the assembly 18 comprises N=4 uncovered portions 265, 266, 267, 268 of the sidewall without an insert.

[0131] Each covered portion 261, 262, 263, 264 is circumferentially adjacent to and arranged between two uncovered portions 265, 266, 267, 268. Here, each uncovered portion 265, 266, 267, 268 is incapable of interacting with each of the inserts 161, 162, 163, 164.

[0132] Unlike the inserts of the second embodiment, the angular sector of each insert 161, 162, 163, 164 is substantially equal to (360?A)/N, with N?2 and A ranging from 10? to 330?. In this instance, N=4 and A=180?, so that the angular sector of each insert 161, 162, 163, 164 is equal to 45?.

[0133] Unlike the inserts of the second embodiment, when the inserts 161, 162, 163, 164 in the set 17 are circumferentially evenly distributed relative to each other, whether on a tyre sidewall as shown in FIG. 9 or on a flat support, each insert 161, 162, 163, 164 is circumferentially at a distance from the two inserts adjacent to it.

[0134] An assembly according to a fourth embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 11, comprising a tyre and the set of a plurality of inserts according to the second embodiment. Elements similar to those described in the preceding embodiments are denoted by identical reference signs.

[0135] Unlike in the assembly of the third embodiment, each uncovered portion 265, 266, 267, 268 is capable of interacting with each of the inserts 161, 162, 163, 164. The user can thus position the inserts 161, 162, 163, 164 as they see fit, without being dependent on prepositioned portions on the sidewall of the tyre.

[0136] An assembly according to a fifth embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, comprising an insert according to a fourth embodiment. Elements similar to those described in the preceding embodiments are denoted by identical reference signs.

[0137] Unlike the previous embodiments, the means 50 for fastening the insert 16 to the sidewall 26 of the tyre 12 through reversible elastic clipping comprise two fastening tabs 52, 54, each tab 52, 54 being borne by each radially inner and outer edge 40, 42 of the insert 16.

[0138] An insert according to a fifth embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 14. Elements similar to those described in the preceding embodiments are denoted by identical reference signs.

[0139] Unlike the insert of the first embodiment, the visible face 44 is polychrome and has a single appearance texture. In this instance, the visible face 44 comprises first portions 441 having two different colours and second portions 442 having the same single colour. The texture is the same on the first and second portions 441, 442.

[0140] An insert according to a sixth embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 15. Elements similar to those described in the preceding embodiments are denoted by identical reference signs.

[0141] Unlike the insert of the first embodiment, the insert 16 comprises a first part 13 formed from a first monolithic material and intended to be visible when the insert is fastened to the sidewall of the tyre. The insert 16 comprises a second part 15 formed from a second monolithic material different from the first monolithic material and comprising the means 50 for fastening through reversible elastic clipping. Here, the first monolithic material comprises a polymeric material, here polypropylene, and the second monolithic material is metallic, here steel.

[0142] An insert according to a seventh embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 16A. Elements similar to those described in the preceding embodiments are denoted by identical reference signs.

[0143] Here, each first and second circumferential end 32, 34 bears complementary means 66, 67 for locking each first and second circumferential end 32, 34 to each other between: [0144] an unlocked position, shown in FIG. 16A, in which each first and second circumferential end 32, 34 is movable relative to the other end, and [0145] a locked position in which each first and second circumferential end 32, 34 is fixed relative to the other end and in which the complementary locking means 66, 67 interact with each other.

[0146] Here, the complementary locking means 66, 67 comprise means for locking through reversible elastic clipping comprising a male tab 68 borne by the circumferential end 32 and a complementary recess 70 made in the circumferential end 34.

[0147] When the insert 16 is mounted on the tyre 12, the locking means 66, 67 are in an overlapping region 71 that is not taken into account for determining the angular sector, which is determined on the basis of the two free end edges 36, 38.

[0148] In a variant of the insert in FIG. 16A illustrated in FIG. 16B, the insert 16 is not provided with locking means borne by the first and second circumferential ends 32, 34, but comprises first and second circumferential ends 32, 34 having a tapered profile that respectively complements each second and first circumferential end 34, 32 in at least part of the overlapping region 71 between the first and second circumferential ends 32, 34.

[0149] A set of a plurality of inserts according to a third embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 17. Elements similar to those described in the preceding embodiments are denoted by identical reference signs.

[0150] Unlike the set according to the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, each insert 161, 162, 163, 164 in the set 17 according to the third embodiment comprises locking means 66, 67 similar to those described with reference to FIG. 16A. Each first and second circumferential end 32, 34 respectively bears first and second complementary means 66, 67 for locking each first and second circumferential end to each other between: [0151] an unlocked position, illustrated in FIG. 17, in which each first and second circumferential end 32, 34 is movable relative to a second and a first circumferential end 34, 32 respectively of an insert bearing identical complementary locking means 66, 67, and [0152] a locked position in which each first and second circumferential end 32, 34 is fixed relative to a second and a first circumferential end 34, 32 respectively of an insert bearing identical complementary locking means 66, 67 and in which the complementary locking means 66, 67 of the two inserts interact with each other.

[0153] An insert according to eighth and ninth embodiments will now be described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19. Elements similar to those described in the preceding embodiments are denoted by identical reference signs.

[0154] In the eighth embodiment in FIG. 18, the insert 16 forms a ring 30 that is discontinuous at a single point in a similar manner to the embodiments in FIGS. 3 and 14. Unlike these embodiments, each radially inner and outer edge 40, 42 follows a broken curve around the central point between each first and second free end edge 36, 38.

[0155] In the ninth embodiment in FIG. 19, the insert 16 also forms a ring 30 that is discontinuous at a single point in a similar manner to the embodiments in FIGS. 3, 14 and 18. Unlike these embodiments, each radially inner and outer edge 40, 42 follows an undulating curve around the central point between each first and second free end edge 36, 38.

[0156] It will be noted that variants of the eighth and ninth embodiments can be envisaged in which a set of a plurality of inserts following a straight curve (for the eighth embodiment) or an arc of a circle (for the ninth embodiment) makes it possible, once the inserts form the set, to form a ring that is discontinuous at a plurality of points.

[0157] An assembly according to a sixth embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 20, comprising inserts according to tenth and eleventh embodiments.

[0158] The assembly 18 comprises a first insert 161 and a second insert 162. The first insert 161 forms an angular sector of a circular ring substantially equal to (360?A)/N with N?2 and A ranging from 10? to 330?. Here, N=8 and A=160?, so that the angular sector of first insert is substantially equal to 25?. The second insert 162 forms an angular sector of a circular rin g ranging from 330? to 380? and here equal to 335?. The set of first and second inserts 161, 162 forms a ring 30 that is discontinuous at two points. In this embodiment, during the mounting method, each first and second insert 161, 162 being such that there is sufficient space between each free end edge 36, 38 to allow each first and second insert 161, 162 to pass around the fork arm 56, the branch of the swing arm or the hub 58 of the mounted assembly 10 without moving one free end edge 36, 38 relative to the other, thefork arm 56, the branch of the swing arm or the hub 58 of the mounted assembly 10 is passed into the space between each free end edge 36, 38.

[0159] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

[0160] The different embodiments described above can be combined, and in particular the embodiments in FIGS. 8 and 11 can be combined.

[0161] The features of the means for fastening the insert in FIGS. 12 and 13 can also be applied to the other embodiments.

[0162] Although the figures only illustrate a single sidewall of the tyre, the invention can obviously be used on both sidewalls of the tyre.

[0163] Finally, according to the invention, the invention can be used on a mounted assembly intended to be mounted or mounted on a branch of a swing arm of a motorcycle.