FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970) & THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10, rule 13)
1. Title of the invention: TIRE FLAP
2. Applicant(s)
NAME NATIONALITY ADDRESS
CEAT LIMITED Indian CEAT Ltd At: Get Muwala
Po: Chandrapura Ta: Halol - 389 350
Dist: Panchmahal, Gujarat, India
3. Preamble to the description
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it
is to be performed.

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates to tire flaps used in wheel
assemblies of vehicles of various kinds.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Many tires for large vehicles, such as buses, heavy trucks, and
tractors are designed for use with a tube provided inside a tire with high internal pressure. The tube is a torus-shaped balloon generally made from an impermeable material such as soft, elastic synthetic rubber, to prevent air leakage. The tube is inflated with a valve and fits inside the casing of the tire. The inflated tube provides structural support and suspension, while the tire provides grip and protects the more fragile tube.
[0003] A tire flap is usually inserted in the tire to occupy the space
between the tube and rim that holds the tire on a wheel assembly of a vehicle. The tire flap is used to protect the tube from immense heat and pressure generated owing to the motion of the vehicle by avoiding direct contact with the rim. Thus, the tire flap adds life to the tube as well as the tire. The tire flap also protects the tube from sharp areas on the inside of the wheel and getting sucked into the tire bead toe, therefore, preventing the tube from being punctured.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0004] The detailed description is described with reference to the
accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.
[0005] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a conventional tire flap.
[0006] Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a tire flap depicting a
surface of the tire flap that is to contact a tube upon assembly, in accordance with an implementation of the present subject matter.

[0007] Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a second surface of the
tire flap depicting an elliptical etching pattern on the second surface, in
accordance with an implementation of the present subject matter.
[0008] Figure 4 illustrates another perspective view of a second surface
of the tire flap depicting an irregular etching pattern on the second surface, in accordance with an implementation of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] The present invention relates to providing a tire flap having an
etching pattern on a surface of the tire flap that contacts a tube upon assembly in a wheel assembly of a vehicle, in accordance with the present subject matter.
[0010] Tire flaps are generally used to separate a tube from a tire's bead
and rim of a vehicle. The tire flaps help protect the tube from the heat generated by the rim during travel, damage by the rocking of the bead, abrasion with the rim, and to prevent the entry of foreign material into the tube. Generally, the tire flaps are a continuous band of solid rubber used in tube-based wheel assemblies for vehicles requiring high tire pressures. The tire flaps are usually made of the same solid vulcanized rubber material as the tube and are intended to solve the problem of fatigue stress cracks occurring in the tube when the tire sidewall deflects somewhat under heavy loads. When a tire is not fitted with the tire flap, the tire may have a very high chance of experiencing blowout or failure.
[0011] However, a significant limitation of the conventionally available
tire flaps is that they may not be able to withstand the extreme heat produced by the rim and may become heated. This is specifically true if the vehicle has been in operation for a significant duration of time. As a result, the heat may transfer from the tire flap to the tube, potentially causing the tire flap to adhere to the tube that may cause harm to the tube during the reassembly process.

[0012] To elaborate, reference is made to Figure 1 which illustrates a
conventional tire flap (100) depicting a surface that contacts a tube upon assembly.
[0013] As shown in Figure 1, generally, the tire flap (100) for a tire is
composed of a cylindrical base portion (102) that, upon assembly, comes between bead portions of the tire and is inserted between a wheel rim and a tube and extends along the outer periphery of the wheel rim. The cylindrical base portion (102) comprises a first surface and a second surface contacting a rim and a tube, respectively upon wheel assembly. A pair of annular wing portions (104a, 104b) is made integral on both sides of the cylindrical base portion (102) and come in contact with the inner surfaces of the bead portions of the tire upon assembly. Both the cylindrical base portion (102) and the annular wing portions (104a, 104b) may be formed of rubber or rubber-like elastic materials, for example.
[0014] The first and the second surface of the cylindrical base portion
(102) generally has plain surfaces. During rotation of the tire, the cylindrical base portion (102) of the tire flap fails to withstand the heat generated by the rim and thus sticks to the tube. This generally causes damage to the tube.
[0015] In accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter,
described herein is a tire flap having an etching pattern on the tire flap’s surface that contacts the tube, to prevent the tire flap from adhering to the tube due to heat generated in course of movement of the tire. The etching pattern on the tire flap’s surface that contact the tube also reduces friction between the tire flap and the tube.
[0016] An implementation of the present subject matter describes the tire
flap for a wheel assembly. The tire flap comprises a unitary body having a round shape, a first surface, and a second surface. The first surface contacts a rim upon assembly. The second surface is opposite the first surface and contacts the tube upon assembly. The second surface includes an etching pattern throughout the second surface of the tire flap.

[0017] In an example embodiment, the etching pattern is formed by the
removal of rubber material from the second surface of the tire flap, which in turn creates surface irregularity. Air pockets are formed in the area where the material is removed from the surface leading to accommodation of air in the aforesaid area.
[0018] Thus, with the above-disclosed subject matter, the etching
pattern on the second surface of the tire flap provides air pockets between the tire flap and the tube upon assembly. The presence of air lessens the friction between the tire flap and the tube and consequently heat generation as the interaction of the tire flap and the tube is reduced.
[0019] The presence of air on the surface of the tire flap thus leads to
dampening the sharp rise in temperature of the tire flap and the tube that generally occurs due to prolonged operation of the wheel assembly. When the tire rotates, a substantial amount of heat is generated from the rim. This heat is then transferred from the rim to the tire flap and further to the tube. Since, both the tube and the tire flap are made up of rubber material, the transferred heat may cause partial melting of the rubber and cause sticking of the tire flap and the tube. The presence of air on the surface of the tire flap serves to protect the tire flaps against becoming overheated. This is done by providing the etching pattern on the second surface of the tire flap which defines air pockets between the tire flap and the tube providing a better heat dissipation.
[0020] The creation of air pockets significantly reduces the heat
generation and friction between the tire flap and tube, thereby, preventing the tire flap from adhering to the tube. As a result of this, sticking of tire flap to the tube during reassembly is avoided. Hence, the tube is prevented from damage during reassembly.
[0021] The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
subject matter will be better explained with regard to the following description and accompanying figures. It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject

matter along with examples described herein and should not be construed as a limitation to the present subject matter. It is thus understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof. Further, for the sake of simplicity, and without limitation, the same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.
[0022] Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a tire flap (200) depicting
etching patterns on a surface of the tire flap that contacts a tube, in
accordance with an implementation of the present subject matter.
[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the tire flap (200) has a unitary body and
includes a first surface (not illustrated) and a second surface (202) opposite to the first surface. The first surface contacts a rim of a wheel assembly upon being mounted thereon. Similarly, the second surface (202) contacts the tube upon assembly. The tire flap (200) includes a pair of annular wing portions (204a, 204b) that are integral with the unitary body of the tire flap (200).
[0024] In one embodiment, an etching pattern is formed on the second
surface (202) of the flap (200). The etching pattern is formed throughout the second surface (202) including the pair of annular wing portions (204a, 204b) of the tire flap (200).
[0025] The etching pattern is formed on the second surface (202) of the
tire flap by placing an un-vulcanized tire flap in a tire-flap molding device, wherein the etching design is embossed on a surface of mold. Further, the tire molding device is pressed and passed through the compression molding under heating to imprint the etching design on the second surface (202) of the tire flap. The molding creates the surface irregularities. In one example, the surface irregularities may have a depth in range between 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm.

[0026] The removal of rubber material from the second surface (202) of
the tire flap (200) creates air pockets on the second surface (202). The air pockets lessen the heat generation and friction between the second surface (202) of the tire flap (200) and tube by better heat dissipation and accommodating the air inside the air pockets respectively. This prevents the tire flap (200) from sticking to the tube.
[0027] In one example, the etching pattern may be formed by a process
of chemical etching on the second surface (202) of the tire flap (200). Similarly, in another example, the etching pattern may be formed by electrical discharge machining techniques on the second surface (202) of the tire flap (202).
[0028] In various embodiments, etching patterns having different shapes
or configurations may be created on the second surface (202) of the tire flap (200). Examples of such shapes include, but are not limited to, circular, oval hexagonal or other polygonal shapes. Such polygonal shapes formed in the etching patterns may have smooth edges.
[0029] In some examples, the etching patterns may include
configurations that may not be polygonal but comprise smooth edges.
[0030] In accordance with the embodiment of the present subject matter
depicted in Figure 3, the shape of the etching pattern on the second surface (202) of the tire flap (200) may elliptical. As will be understood, such etching pattern has smooth edges.
[0031] In some examples, the shapes may not be polygonal or a regular
shape. In other words, the etching patterns may include irregular configurations. Examples of such irregular configurations may include, but are not limited to, zig-zag configuration. In some cases, the irregular configurations may have irregular but smooth edges.
[0032] In accordance with the embodiment of the present subject matter
depicted in Figure 4, the etching pattern on a second surface (402) of a tire flap (400), which is similar to the second surface (202) of the tire flap (200)

depicted in Figures 2 and 3, may comprise irregular configurations. As is apparent, such etching patterns may have irregular edges.
[0033] In accordance with the embodiment of the present subject matter,
the ratio between land and sea in etching pattern may be in the range of
60:40 to 70:30. As will be understood, the sea in the etching pattern is the
area which is formed by removal of rubber material from the second surface
(402) whereas the land is the remaining portion of the second surface (402).
[0034] Although implementations for improving the tire flap
manufacturing process are described, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as implementations.

I/We Claim:
1. A tire flap (200, 400) for a wheel assembly comprising:
a unitary body having a first surface and a second surface (202, 402) opposite to the first surface,
wherein the first surface is to contact a rim of the wheel assembly upon assembly; and
wherein the second surface (202, 402) is to contact a tube of a tire mounted on the wheel assembly upon assembly,
the second surface (202, 402) comprising an etching pattern throughout the second surface (202, 402) of the tire flap (200, 400).
2. The tire flap (200, 400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the etching pattern is formed by removal of material from the second surface (202, 402) of the tire flap (200, 400).
3. The tire flap (200, 400) as claimed in claim 2, wherein a depth of a surface irregularity created due to the removal of material from the second surface (202, 402) of the tire flap (200, 400) is in range between 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm.
4. The tire flap (200, 400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the etching pattern is formed by chemical etching carried out on the second surface (202, 402) of the tire flap (200, 400).
5. The tire flap (200, 400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the etching pattern is formed by electrical discharge machining carried out on the second surface (202, 402) of the tire flap (200, 400).
6. The tire flap (200, 400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the etching pattern includes irregular configurations on the second surface (202, 402) of the tire flap (200, 400).

7. The tire flap (200, 400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the etching pattern includes polygonal configurations on the second surface (202, 402).
8. The tire flap (200, 400) as claimed in claim 7 wherein the polygonal configurations comprise smooth edges.
9. The tire flap (200, 400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein ratio between land and sea in the etching pattern is in a range between 60:40 to 70:30.