Tire with interlock for sensor integration

Abstract

A tire is provided that has an attachment element that extends from an inner surface of the crown that terminates at an attachment element terminal end. A container defines a sensor cavity and has inner and outer radial terminal ends. A sensor is located in the sensor cavity, and an interlock retains the container to the attachment element. The interlock may have a container projection that is received within an attachment element recess. Additionally or alternatively, the interlock may have a container recess that receives an attachment element projection.

Description

TITLETIRE WITH INTERLOCK FOR SENSOR INTEGRATIONFIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a tire that has a sensor that is capable of measuring or identifying parameters of the tire such as pressure, temperature, acceleration, and tire identification. More particularly, the present application involves a tire that has a container, an attachment element, and an interlock for the two that are capable of holding a sensor to the inside cavity of the tire.BACKGROUND

[0002] It is known to place sensors into the tires of vehicles in order to measure such things as tire inflation pressure, tire temperature, tire acceleration, tire velocity, and other parameters. The sensors may also provide tire identification information and other data in addition to, or alternatively to, just measurement data. Such electronic sensors typically require a container to be fixed inside of the tire into which the sensor is inserted and retained. The container can have a cavity into which the electronic sensor is placed, and a lip could surround a portion of the top of an electronic sensor and hold it in place in the cavity. The lip is made of a flexible material and is rolled back to allow the sensor to be pushed past it and into the cavity. The flexible lip can then be flipped back into its original position, and in so doing engage the sensor and function to retain it in the cavity. The holding of the electronic sensor within the tire should be strong enough to keep the electronic sensor in place upon being subjected to high acceleration, forces, and temperatures during operation of the vehicle.

[0003] The container can be a piece that is separately formed and then subsequently attached to the tire once the tire has been molded. This attachment can be made by using green rubber or adhesive to bond the rubber container to the inner layer of the tire. Another way of providing a container to the interior of the tire is by molding it into the tire during the production process. One such method of molding a container onto the inner surface of the tire is disclosed in patent application publication WO 2021 / 126199 entitled “Method of Molding a Container into a Tire” which is owned by the present Applicant and is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes. This method involves the placement of a puck onto a flexible bladderof a mold which is used to mold the container onto the inner surface of the tire when at the same time the rest of the tire is being molded by the mold. Although capable of molding the container onto the inner surface, the disclosed method presents certain manufacturing challenges. For example, in one embodiment the puck is located within a concave cavity of the flexible bladder, and the construction of a flexible bladder with such a cavity that can expand and contract during production is not industrially practical. Such a molded on container requires that the sensor that is used in the tire be of a particular size and shape, and it is not possible to use sensors that have a different size or shape with a molded on container that is designed for a specific sensor. If a sensor of the exact size and shape cannot be found as a replacement, the container cannot accommodate sensors of other sizes and shapes and the sensor functionality cannot be used.

[0004] Patent number JP 2012-25319 discloses a pneumatic tire that has a mechanism for attaching a radio frequency identification tag to its inner surface. In this regard, a pouch-shaped cross-sectional space is formed on the interior of the tire, and a fastener member that is attached to the tag is inserted into the pouch. Although this engagement functions to hold the tag to the interior of the tire, it requires a void to be created in the interior of the tire. The pouch-shaped cross-sectional spaces are open on one end and allow for the attachment to separate on this open end. Although different techniques are known for producing tires that have objects located on their interior, there remains room for variation and improvement within the art.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, which makes reference to the appended Figs, in which:

[0006] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tire that has a container, sensor and acoustic foam.

[0007] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a tire that includes an attachment element with a container and sensor that are in an exploded view.

[0008] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the container of Fig. 2 and the attachment element that is in partial cross-section.

[0009] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the tire of Fig. 2 with the attachment element, container, and sensor in an assembled view.

[0010] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a container with a container recess, and an attachment element with an attachment element projection in partial cross-section.

[0011] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a tire with the attachment element and container of Fig. 5 in an assembled view.

[0012] Fig. 7 is a top, plan view of an attachment element that has a pair of attachment element projections.

[0013] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a container that has a pair of container recesses, and the attachment element of Fig. 7 in partial cross-section.

[0014] Fig. 9 is a top, plan view of an attachment element that has a pair of attachment element recesses.

[0015] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a container that has a pair of container projections, and the attachment element of Fig. 9 in partial cross-section.

[0016] Fig. 11 is a cross-section view of a tire that has a container that holds a sensor and that has both a container recess and a container projection.

[0017] Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the container of Fig. 11.

[0018] Fig. 13 is a top, plan view of the attachment element of Fig. 11.

[0019] Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a tire that has a container with a projection that has a triangular cross-sectional shape.

[0020] Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a tire that has acoustic foam on its interior that defines the attachment element into which the container is held.

[0021] Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a circular container with a container projection.

[0022] Fig. 17 is a perspective view of an elliptical shaped container with a container projection.

[0023] Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a container that has a pair of container projections with inclined surfaces and the attachment element in partial cross-section.

[0024] Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a container that has a pair of container projections with inclined and flat surfaces and the attachment element in partial cross-section.

[0025] Fig. 20 is a perspective view in partial cross-section with a helical attachment element recess.

[0026] Fig. 21 is a perspective view in partial cross-section of an attachment element and a corresponding container that has slits.

[0027] Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations.

[0029] It is to be understood that the ranges mentioned herein include all ranges located within the prescribed range. As such, all ranges mentioned herein include all sub-ranges included in the mentioned ranges. For instance, a range from 100-200 also includes ranges from 110-150, 170-190, and 153-162. Further, all limits mentioned herein include all other limits included in the mentioned limits. For instance, a limit of up to 7 also includes a limit of up to 5, up to 3, and up to 4.5.

[0030] A tire 10 is provided that includes a sensor 56 that is capable of providing identification information about the tire 10, or could alternatively or additionally be used to provide tire 10 information such as pressure, speed, temperature, or acceleration.Additionally or alternatively, the sensor 56 can measure any characteristic of the tire 10 such as shock, deformation, wear of certain portion of the tread or all of the tread of the tire 10. The sensor 56 could also be used to measure deformation of certain portions of the tread or all of the tread of the tire 10, or may be used to measure any desired characteristic of the tire 10. To incorporate the sensor 56 into the tire 10, the tire 10 is provided with an attachment element 100 and a container 44 that houses the sensor 56. An interlock 92 is present in orderto attach the container 44 / sensor 56 to the attachment element 100 and thus retain the sensor 56 into the tire 10. The interlock 92 can be configured in different ways. First, a container projection 94 could be included on the container 44, and this container projection 94 may be received within a complimentary attachment element recess 104 of the attachment element 100 to cause the container 44 to be retained to the attachment element 100. Additionally or alternatively, the container 44 could include a container recess 96 that receives a complimentary attachment element projection 106 such that receipt causes the container 44 to be held onto the attachment element 100 and hence causes the sensor 56 to be retained into the tire 10.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a tire 10 with a central axis 42 that extends in an axial direction 16 and tread 20 that extends completely 360 degrees around the central axis 42 in the circumferential direction 18 of the tire 10. The tread 20 is on the outer surface 26 of the tire 10 and is the portion of the tire 10 configured for engagement with the ground or road surface. The tire 10 has a pair of sidewalls 38, 40 that are included in a carcass portion of the tire 10 onto which the tread 20 is located. An inner surface 30, not visible in Fig. 1, of the tire 10 is located opposite the tread 20 and extends between the inner sides of the left sidewall 38 and the right sidewall 40. The container 44 is attached to the inner surface 30 and extends through acoustic foam 12 that is likewise attached to the inner surface 30 and is visible in the perspective view of Fig. 1. The container 44 and the sensor 56 included within the container 44 can both extend through a hole in the acoustic foam 12 so as to be located closer to the central axis 42 in a radial direction 14 of the tire 10 than the acoustic foam 12 is to the central axis 42 in the radial direction 14. The acoustic foam 12 may engage the container 44 and may be free from engagement with the sensor 56. The acoustic foam 12 extends completely 360 degrees about the central axis 42 in the circumferential direction 18 and is continuous in this regard except for the hole into which the container 44 is located.

[0032] A cross-section of a tire 10, which in this instance can be described as a radial cut of the tire 10, that includes a container 44 that can house a sensor 56 is shown with reference to Fig. 2. Various tissues, sometimes called products, composed of different materials are present throughout the tire 10. The tread 20 of the tire 10 is located farthest from the central axis 42 of the tire 10 in the radial direction 14. A first belt layer 64 and a second belt layer 66 are located below the tread 20 in the radial direction 14 and comprise belts for use instrengthening and holding the form of the tire 10. The reinforcement belts of the layers 64, 66 may be crossed relative to one another, and in some instances they can be arranged at an angle of 20 degrees to one another. The crown 22 of the tire 10 includes the tread 20 along with the belt layers 64, 66, and is located in the center of the tire 10 with respect to the axial direction 16 of the tire 10. Left and right sidewalls 38, 40 extend from the crown 22 in the radial direction 14 and terminate in a pair of beads 24, 34 that are arranged for mounting onto the rim of the wheel of the vehicle. The left bead 24 engages and is located at the end of the left sidewall 38, and the right bead 34 engages and is located at the end of the right sidewall 40 in the radial direction 14. The beads 24, 34 both extend from the sidewalls 38, 40 in the radial direction 14 and are the portions of the tire 10 that are located closest to the central axis 42 in the radial direction 14.

[0033] A left bead core 28 is located in the left bead 24, and a right bead core 86 is located in the right bead 34. The bead cores 28, 86 are present to provide strength and a gripping force in the beads 24, 34 for retention onto the rim. The left bead 24 can be a mirror image of the right bead 34 and both beads 24, 34 can have products that are made of the same material. Some of the tissues / products are located only in the beads 24, 34 while others are located in the beads 24, 34 and extend therefrom. For instance, an inner liner 68 is inside of the beads 24, 34 and extends to inner, exterior sides of the beads 24, 34 before extending up the sidewalls 38, 40 into which the inner liner 68 forms inner, exterior sides of the sidewalls 38, 40. The inner liner 68 then extends from the two sidewalls 38, 40 across the entire inner side of the crown 22 in the axial direction 16 and forms the inner surface 30 of the crown 22. The inner liner 68 is arranged in a mirror- image manner in the left and right beads 24, 34 and terminates within these two beads 24, 34. The inner liner 68 is a product of the tire 10 that extends all the way from one bead 24 to the other bead 34 and is made of a material that is fluid tight so that fluid between the tire 10 and rim is maintained therein for purposes of maintaining inflation pressure of the tire 10. The ends of the inner line 68 in the beads 24, 34 may be outboard of the rods 72, 62 in the axial direction 16 and may be positioned internally in the beads 72, 62 so that they are not on the exterior surface. The inner liner 68 does not engage the rods 72, 62 and is located inward in the radial direction 14 from the rods 72, 62, and inboard from the rods 72, 62 in the axial direction 16.

[0034] The tire 10 includes a tissue designated as a first reinforcement ply 32 that has an end that is located within the left bead 24 and extends through the left sidewall 38 and crown 22 and into the right sidewall 40 and finally into and terminating within the right bead 34. The first reinforcement ply 32 wraps around the left bead core 28 to a location that is outward in the axial direction 16 from the rod 72. The first reinforcement ply 32 has a main portion that is in the left bead 24 and is inboard from the rod 72. This main portion extends to the bead core 28 to a location of the first reinforcement ply 32 that is closest to the central axis 42 in the radial direction 14. The first reinforcement ply 32 is wrapped around the left bead core 28 and may engage the left bead core 28 in some embodiments. The first reinforcement ply 32 can be arranged in the right bead 34 in a similar manner in which it can wrap around and may engage the right bead core 86. The first reinforcement ply 32 may be outboard from the rod 62 in the axial direction 16 in the right bead 34 and can terminate within the right bead 34 at a position that is completely outboard from the rod 62 in the axial direction 16. The first reinforcement ply 32 may also be completely inboard from the right bead 34 in the radial direction 14 such that it is closer to the central axis 42 in the radial direction 14.

[0035] Relative positions in the axial direction 16 can be described with respect to inboard and outboard positions. The most inboard point of the tire 10 may be the radial direction line 14 shown in Fig. 2 in its location in Fig. 2 as it is located at the center of the tire 10 in the axial direction 16. The center of the tire 10 is inboard of both the left and right hand beads 24, 34 in the axial direction 16. As used herein, an object described as inboard in the axial direction 16 to another object means that it is located closer to the radial direction line 14 as shown in Fig. 2. Further, as used herein an object described as being located outboard from another object in the axial direction 16 means that it is located farther from the radial direction line 14 in the axial direction 16 as shown in Fig. 2. As another example, the first reinforcement ply 32 in the left bead 24 is outboard of the rod 72 in the axial direction 16. Relative positioning in the radial direction 14 may be described in relation to the central axis 42 in which objects may be closer to or farther from the central axis 42 in the radial direction 14 than other objects.

[0036] The left bead 24 has a left bead core 28 that is made up of one or more steel rods 72. Left bead filler 36 is present within the left bead 24 and may include padding gum with awrapping tissue that surrounds the entire left bead core 28. This padding gum and wrapping tissue are not shown in Fig. 2, and instead only bead filler 36 completely surrounds the rod 72, but it is to be understood that other arrangements of the left bead 24 are possible. The rod 72 making up the left bead core 28 is shown as a single piece and has a rectangular cross- sectional shape. This single piece can actually be many rods arranged together in the shape of a rectangle. In other embodiments the left bead core 28 can be made of multiple components and these components could have any cross-sectional shape. The wrapping tissue, if present, may have a stiffness of 14 MPa and can be made of a rubber mix and textile which in some instances can be a nylon ply. The padding gum, if present, can be a rubber mix and may have a stiffness of 28 MPa, and the rod 72 can be made of steel or aluminum and can have a stiffness of 30,000,000 MPa in some embodiments. The left bead core 28 can be lightened so that a smaller rod 72 can be used to improve performance properties of the tire 10. Although shown as being a rectangular rod 72, the rod 72 could be circular in other embodiments. In yet further arrangements, the rod 72 could be variously shaped and need not be a rectangular or circular in shape.

[0037] The left bead 24 includes left bead filler 36 that can engage and completely surround the rod 72, and may also engage the first reinforcement ply 32 and be between the main portion and the return casing ply of the first reinforcement ply 32. The left bead filler 36 also engages the second reinforcement ply 74 and the third reinforcement ply 80. The left bead filler 36 may be placed into the left bead 24 as a single layer, or it may be made of multiple layers within the left bead 24. The left bead filler 36 can be a rubber mix that can have a stiffness in the range from 3.6 MPa to 5.6MPa. The left bead filler 36 ends in the left bead 24, or in some instances may extend into the left sidewall 38 of the tire 10. However, the left bead filler 36 does not extend all the way under the belt layers 64, 66 to the other right sidewall 40 of the tire 10. The first reinforcement ply 32 is a composite material that includes metal cords and a rubber mix. The first reinforcement ply 32 in the direction of its cords is stiffer than the left bead filler 36.

[0038] The left bead 24 includes an anti -abrasive strip 46 that is on the outside of the left bead 24 and is designed to engage the rim. The anti-abrasive strip 46 engages the inner liner 68 and the second reinforcement ply 74. A similar anti-abrasive strip 84 is present in the right bead 34 and engages the inner liner 68 and the second reinforcement ply 74. The rightbead 34 can be arranged in a similar manner to the left bead 24. In this regard, the rod 62 and the right bead core 86 can be configured in the same manner as previously discussed with respect to the rod 72 and the left bead core 28. The right bead filler 82 may be arranged in the same manner as previously discussed with respect to the left bead filler 36 and a repeat of this information is not necessary. The two anti-abrasive strips 46, 84 can be made of the same material and may be shaped and sized the same as one another, and they can engage the same components and counterpart components in the left and right beads 24, 34. The other components in the right bead 34 can be arranged in a manner similar to that as previously discussed with respect to the left bead 24.

[0039] The present application describes the stiffness of a product or material. The stiffness that is being referred to is the Young’s modulus which is the stiffness of an elastic material, or elastic modulus. The stiffness is provided in measurements of mega pascals (MPa). The stiffness material property in question that is being referred to is MAIO. This stiffness property can be calculated using French standard NF T 46-002, September 1988.

[0040] The tire 10 includes three reinforcement plies 32, 74, and 80 that extend from the left bead 24 across the crown of the tire 10 under the belt layers 64, 66 and into the right bead 34. The first and second reinforcement plies 32, 74 wrap around the bead cores 28, 86, but the third reinforcement ply 80 does not wrap around the two bead cores 28, 86. The second and third reinforcement plies 74, 80 can be configured as previously discussed with respect to the first reinforcement ply 32 and a repeat of this information is not necessary. The reinforcement plies 32, 74, 80 provide strength and flexibility to the tire 10, and provide a support structure for the inflation pressure of the tire 10 which carries the tire 10 load. The third reinforcement ply 80 engages the second reinforcement ply 74 and is spaced from and not in engagement with the first reinforcement ply 32 in the left and right beads 24, 34. The third reinforcement ply 80 is located outboard from the second reinforcement ply 74 in the axial direction 16. The third reinforcement ply 80 engages the first reinforcement ply 32 in the left and right sidewalls 38, 40, and is spaced from and not in engagement with the second reinforcement ply 74 in the left and right sidewalls 38, 40.

[0041] In the crown 22 the third reinforcement ply 80 engages the second belt layer 66 and is located inward in the radial direction 14 from the second belt layer 66. The first reinforcement ply 32 engages the third reinforcement ply 80 and is located inward from it inthe radial direction 14. The second reinforcement ply 74 engages the first reinforcement ply 32 and is located inward from the first reinforcement ply 32 in the radial direction 14, and the second reinforcement ply 74 is free from engagement with the third reinforcement ply 80 in the crown 22. The inner liner 68 engages the second reinforcement ply 74 and forms the inner surface 30 of the crown 22. In the crown 22, the inner liner 68 is free from engagement with the first and third reinforcement plies 32, 80, belt layers 64, 66 and the tread 20.

[0042] An attachment element 100 extends from the inner surface 30 towards the central axis 42 in the radial direction 14. The attachment element 100 is formed integrally with the material of the inner liner 68 and is made of the same material as that of the inner liner 68. The attachment element 100 could be a separate component that is attached to the inner liner 68, however in the preferred embodiment the attachment element 100 is integrally formed with the inner liner 68. The attachment element 100 has the shape of a truncated cone but could be differently shaped in other arrangements. The attachment element 100 can be described as a component that extends from the inner surface 30 and is not actually a part of the inner surface 30, but allows the container 44 to be attached to the inner surface 30. The attachment element 100 may be integrally molded with the inner liner 68, or may be a patch of material placed onto the inner surface 30 and then molded to form the attachment element 100 and cause the attachment element 100 to be integrally connected with the inner liner 68. The material making up the inner liner 68 can be the same material that makes up the attachment element 100.

[0043] The attachment element 100 in any of the embodiments disclosed herein can be integrally formed with the inner liner 68. When described as being integrally formed, the attachment element 100 is not formed separately from the inner liner 68 and subsequently attached with adhesive thereto. Instead, the attachment element 100 is molded onto the inner liner 68 so adhesive is not used in its attachment. Also, in all of the embodiments, the container 44 and the attachment element 100 may be made of the same material. The attachment element 100 can be made of a material that has the same amount of flexibility as that of the container 44. Alternatively, the attachment element 100 could be made of a less flexible material than the container 44.

[0044] The attachment element 100 has a circular cross-sectional shape at the portion of the attachment element 100 closest to the inner surface 30, and this cross-sectional shapedecreases in size in the radial direction 14 as it moves towards the central axis 42. The portion of the attachment element 100 closest to the central axis 42, and the portion that is farthest from its extension point from the inner surface 30 in the radial direction 14 is identified as the attachment element terminal end 102. The attachment element 100 defines an inner surface 108. The inner surface 108 defines a cavity that can extend in the radial direction 14 away from the central axis 42 and terminate short of the inner surface 30 so that some portion of the attachment element 100 is present between the inner surface 108 and the inner surface 30. In other embodiments, the inner surface 108 extends to the inner surface 30 so that there is no material of the attachment element 100 between the inner surface 108 and the inner surface 30 of the inner liner 68. In this regard, the inner surface 30 within the attachment member 100 would have the same distance to the central axis 42 in the radial direction 14 as does the inner surface 30 immediately outside of the attachment element 100 in the axial direction 16.

[0045] The inner surface 108 may be a concave inner surface 108 that is a concave surface that extends completely 360 degrees around an attachment element axis 110. The concave inner surface 108 can be circular in shape. An attachment element recess 104 is defined on the concave inner surface 108 and extends into the attachment element 100 in the axial direction 16. The attachment element recess 104 has a rectangular cross-section and extends some amount around the attachment element axis 110, but not all the way around the attachment element axis 110. The attachment element recess 104 may extend 120 degrees about the attachment element axis 110, and the attachment element recess 104 terminates within the material of the attachment element 100 and does not extend through the attachment element 100. The attachment element recesses 104 as described in this embodiment or in any of the embodiments is a void that is present even when the container projection 94 is not inserted or disposed within the attachment element recess 104.

[0046] The tire 10 includes a container 44 as shown in Fig. 2. The container 44 may be made of the same material as that of the inner liner 68, or may be made of a different material. The container 44 could be made of plastic or rubber. The container 44 includes a body 50 that is cylindrical in shape and extends completely 360 degrees around a container axis 82. A base 54 of the container 44 extends in the radial direction 14 towards the inner surface 30 from the body 50. The base 54 and the body 50 can be integrally formed with oneanother. The base 54 extends completely 360 degrees about the container axis 82 and has an outer surface that is convex in shape. The base 54 has a smaller cross-sectional size than does the body 50 as the body 50 extends a greater distance in the axial direction 16 than does extension of the base 54 in the axial direction 16. The base 54 and body 50 could be made of the same or different material, and these two components could be attached to one another instead of being integrally formed with one another. An outer radial terminal end 90 is located on the terminal end of the container 44, and the outer radial terminal end 90 is located on the base 54. The terminal ends 88, 90 are on opposite terminal ends of the container 44 in the radial direction 14.

[0047] The body 50 defines a sensor cavity 52 that is open on one radial end, closed on the other radial end, and is closed around its axially extending perimeter. The inner radial terminal end 88 defines a lip that surrounds the sensor cavity 52 and the sensor cavity 52 is open to the exterior and is not a closed, encased cavity within the body 50. The base 54 has a convex shaped axial surface and a container projection 94 extends in the axial direction 16 from this convex shaped axial surface. The container projection 94 has a rectangular cross- sectional shape and extends around a portion of the container axis 82 but does not extend completely 360 degrees around the container axis 82. The container projection 94 extends in one embodiment 120 degrees about the container axis 82. A sensor 56 is also shown in Fig.2, and the sensor 56 is detached from the container 44, and the container 44 and sensor 56 are both detached from the attachment element 100.

[0048] Fig. 3 shows the container 44 detached from the attachment element 100. An interlock 92 is provided in the tire 10 that functions to attach the container 44 to the attachment element 100. The interlock 92 can be configured in a variety of manners, and the interlock 92 is arranged in the Figs. 2-4 embodiment in which the container 44 has a container projection 94, and in which the attachment element 100 includes an attachment element recess 104. The container projection 94 has a shape and extension about the container axis 82 that is complimentary to that of the shape of the attachment element recess 104 and its extension about the attachment element axis 110. In order to attach the container 44, the attachment element axis 100 is aligned with the container axis 82 and the base 54 is moved into the cavity of the attachment element 100 defined by the concave inner surface 108. The base 54 is advanced in the radial direction 14 until the container projection 94 isplaced into the attachment element recess 104. The container 44 and / or the attachment element 100 are made of a material that allow them to flex to some degree to allow the container projection 94 to be moved through the attachment element 100 until encountering the attachment element recess 104. Placement of the container projection 94 into the attachment element recess 104 results in an interference fit between these two components 94, 104 so that a significant amount of force is needed to disengage them such that the container 44 is retained onto the attachment element 100. The interference fit between the container projection 94 and the attachment element recess 104 is tight enough to prevent the container 44 from rotating about the container axis 82 during attachment of the interlock 92. Other embodiments are possible in which the container 44 can be attached to the attachment element 100 and be allowed to rotate some amount about the container axis 82 during this attachment.

[0049] Figs. 4 shows the container 44 attached to the attachment element 100 such that the interlock 92 functions to hold the container 44, and consequentially the sensor 56, to the interior of the tire 10. The interlock 92 features the container projection 94 inserted into the attachment element recess 104 which creates an attachment of the container 44 to the attachment element 100. The interlock 92 is arranged so that the container projection 94 is spaced from and free from contact with the inner radial terminal end 88 and the outer radial terminal end 90. The container projection 94 is thus located some amount of distance from both the inner and outer radial terminal ends 88, 90 in the radial direction 14. The attachment element recess 104 is spaced in the radial direction 14 from the attachment element terminal end 102 and the inner surface 30 in the radial direction 14. The interlock 92 can be permanent, or the interlock 92 can be designed so that the container 44 can be attached to the attachment element 100 and held thereon through use of the tire 10 and then removable from the attachment element 100 when the sensor 56 needs replaced. Alternatively, the container 44 could be permanently attached to the attachment element 100 via the interlock 92 and not removable therefrom. The attachment element recess 104 may be sized relative to the container projection 94 so that no space remains of the attachment element recess 104 and it is completely filled by the container projection 94. Alternatively, the interlock 92 may be arranged so that the container projection 94 does not completely fill the attachment element recess 104 when it receives the container projection 94 and someempty space still exists in the attachment element recess 104 when the interlock 92 is engaged.

[0050] The sensor 56 could be inserted into the sensor cavity 52 when the container 44 is attached to the attachment element 100, or the sensor 56 may be inserted into the container 44 first, and then the container 44 / sensor 56 then attached to the attachment element 100 via the interlock 92. Once inserted, and the interlock 92 is engaged, the container 44 engages the attachment element terminal end 102. Glue or other adhesive is not used in the interlock 92 to attach the container 44 to the attachment element 100. Instead, the only mechanism of attachment of the container 44 to the rest of the tire 10 is via the interlocking arrangement between the attachment element recess 104 and the container projection 94. When engaged, the attachment element 100 is located on opposite sides of the base 54 in the axial direction 16.

[0051] The sensor cavity 52 has a shape and size that is complimentary to that of the sensor 56 so that the sensor 56 can be fit within the sensor cavity 52. The sensor 56 has a circular cross-sectional shape, and the sensor cavity 52 likewise has a circular cross-sectional shape. The lip of the container 44 can be peeled back and the sensor 56 can be inserted into the sensor cavity 52. The lip of the container 44 can then be rolled back into the position as shown with reference to Fig. 4 so the sensor 56 is tightly held within the sensor cavity 52. The lip will function to hold the sensor 56 into the sensor cavity 52. This is possible due to the flexibility of the container 44 and the size and geometry of the lip on the lower end of the container 44. However, other arrangements are possible in which the lip is not present and the sensor 56 is held into the container 44 via a frictional fit or other geometry. The sensor 56 can be held by the container 44 without adhesive being used to cause this attachment. The container 44 extends outboard beyond the sensor 56 on both sides of the sensor 56. The container 44 surrounds the sensor 56 except for the inner radial terminal end 88 which is open and allows the sensor 56 to be viewed. A portion of the sensor 56 can extend out of the cavity 52 and not be surrounded at all by the container 44, although in Fig. 4 the entire sensor 56 is within the container 44 so that no portion of the container 44 is inward from the inner radial terminal end 88 in the radial direction 14.

[0052] The interlock 92 could also include configurations in which the attachment element 100 includes an attachment element projection 106, and in which the container 44includes a container recess 96. One such embodiment of the interlock 92 is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Here the attachment element 100 includes an attachment element projection 106 that has a square cross-sectional shape and extends around the attachment element axis 110, but does not extend 360 degrees around the attachment element axis 110. The attachment element projection 106 may extend 90 degrees about the attachment element axis 110. The attachment element projection 106 is spaced from and free from engagement with the attachment element terminal end 102 in the radial direction 14, and is spaced in the radial direction 14 from and free from engagement with the inner surface 30 and the inner radial end of the concave inner surface 108. The attachment element projection 106 extends from the concave inner surface 108 towards the attachment element axis 110 but not all the way to the attachment element axis 110. The container recess 96 in this embodiment, and in any of the embodiments in which it is present, is a void that is present even when the attachment element projection 106 is not present within or disposed within the container recess 96.

[0053] The container 44 includes a body 50 and a base 54 that extends from the body 50 in the radial direction 14. The base 54 has a convex outer surface 98 that is complimentary to the shape of the concave inner surface 108. The container 44 has a container recess 96 that is a recess that extends into the convex outer surface 98. The container recess 96 extends around the container axis 82, but does not extend completely 360 degrees around the container axis 82. The container recess 96 extends 90 degrees about the container axis 82 and extends into the convex outer surface 98 but not all the way to the container axis 82. The container recess 96 is positioned in the radial direction 14 on the container 44 so that it is spaced from, and free from engagement with, both the inner radial terminal end 88 and the outer radial terminal end 90.

[0054] The interlock 92 is shown engaged in Fig. 6 in which the container 44 is attached to the attachment element 100. The convex outer surface 98 engages the concave inner surface 108 and extends in the radial direction 14 until the outer radial terminal end 90 engages the attachment element 100. The body 50 engages the attachment element terminal end 102. The attachment element projection 106 is positioned within the container recess 96 and this insertion cause the container 44 to be held onto the attachment element 100.Flexibility of the container 44 and / or the attachment element 100 allows for this insertion to be made, and the container 44 and attachment element 100 are rigid enough for the engagedinterlock 92 to maintain the connection of the container 44 to the attachment element 100. The attachment element projection 106 can have an interference fit within the container recess 96 so that no space remains in the container recess 96 once the attachment element projection 106 is inserted. The sensor 56 can be held within the container 44 via a lip that is rolled back and then repositioned so that the lip covers the sensor 56 and is closer to the central axis 42 in the radial direction 14 than the sensor 56 is to the central axis 42.

[0055] The interlock 92 attachment is made without the presence of any adhesives. The interlock 92 allows for the production of a single size and type of attachment element 100 onto the tire 10. If sensors 56 of different sizes or shapes are desired to be used, the size and shape of the container 44 can be provided so that it accommodates housing of that particularly sized and shaped sensor 56. This container 44 could have a container recess 96 or container projection 94 into which the same size and type of attachment element recess 104 or attachment element projection 106 is fit in order to hold the container 44 and sensor 56 onto the tire 10. In this regard different sized and shaped containers 44 with different sized and shaped sensors 56 can be incorporated into attaching a standardized attachment element 100 on tires 10 of various sizes and configurations. If removal is desired, the sensor 56 can be removed from the container 44 by rolling back the lip of the container 44 and pulling the sensor 56 from the container 44. Also, the entire container 44 can be pulled off of the attachment element 100 to effect removal of the container 44 and attached sensor 56 from the inner surface 30. A different sized or shaped container 44 and / or sensor 56 could be attached to the same attachment element 100 if the sensor 56 no longer works and an exact replacement cannot be found or if a different sensor 56 is desired.

[0056] The embodiments described up to this point feature an interlock 92 with a single attachment element projection 106 or attachment element recess 104 attachable to a complimentary single container projection 94 or container recess 96. The interlock 92 could be provided with any number of these elements in other embodiments. Figs. 7 and 8 show an embodiment of the attachment element 100 and the container 44 in which a pair of attachment element projections 106, 116 are present and can be inserted into a pair of container recesses 96, 114. The attachment element projection 106 extends 90 degrees about the attachment element axis 110, and the second attachment element projection 116 extends 90 degrees as well. The attachment element projections 106, 116 are not in contact with oneanother and have the same square cross-sectional shape, and extend the same distance from the concave inner surface 108 towards the attachment element axis 110. The attachment element projections 106, 116 are spaced 90 degrees from one another about the attachment element axis 110.

[0057] The container 44 has a first container recess 96 and a second container recess 114 that both extend 90 degrees about the container axis 82 and are spaced from one another 90 degrees about the container axis 82. The interlock 92 functions by pushing the container 44 into the attachment element 100 so that the attachment element projection 106 is pushed into the container recess 96, and so that the second attachment element projection 116 is positioned into the second container recess 114 so that both of these engagements function to hold the container 44 onto the attachment element 100. During attachment of the interlock 92, the components 96, 114, 106, 116 are all spaced from and free from engagement with the inner radial terminal end 88, outer radial terminal end 90, inner surface 30, and attachment element terminal end 102 and are all located the same distances from these elements in the radial direction 14. Other arrangements exist in which the distances in the radial direction 14 are all not the same such that the recess 96 and projection 106 are located a certain radial distance from the attachment element terminal end 102, and in which the recess 114 and the projection 116 are located a different radial distance from the attachment element terminal end 102.

[0058] The container 44 does not have the body 50 and base 54 in previous embodiments, but instead includes a single element that defines the convex outer surface 98 into which the pair of recesses 96, 114 are defined. The container 44 can have a variety of configurations and need not have a base 54 in other embodiments. The container 44 when inserted into the attachment element 100 causes the inner radial terminal end 88 to be positioned the same distance in the radial direction 14 from the inner surface 30 as is the attachment element terminal end 102.

[0059] Another embodiment of the interlock 92 is shown with reference to Figs. 9 and 10 in which the interlock 92 includes a first container projection 94 and a second container projection 120 on the convex outer surface 98 that each extend 90 degrees about the container axis 82 and are spaced 90 degrees from one another about the container axis 82. The first and second container projections 94, 120 are both rectangular in cross-sectionalY1shape and extend the same distance from the container axis 82 from the convex outer surface 98. The container projections 94, 120 are spaced from and free from engagement with the inner and outer radial terminal ends 88, 90 in the radial direction 14. The attachment element 100 has a first attachment element recess 104 and a second attachment element recess 122 that both extend 90 degrees about the attachment element axis 110 and are spaced 90 degrees from one another and are free from contact with one another. To engage the interlock 92, the convex outer surface 98 is inserted into attachment element 100 so that it engages the concave inner surface 108 and the projections 94, 120 are inserted into the recesses 104, 122. The elements 94, 120, 104 and 122 are all the same distance in the radial direction 14 from the inner surface 30, but they could be at different distances in the radial direction 14 from the inner surface 30 in other configurations of the interlock 92. The container 44 is cylindrical in shape and does not have a base 54 as does other embodiments.

[0060] Figs. 11-13 disclose another embodiment of the tire 10 in which the interlock 92 includes a container 44 that has that has both a container projection 94 and a container recess 96. These two components 94, 96 are spaced from one another and not in contact with one another. Both the container projection 94 and the container recess 96 extend less than 180 degrees about the container axis 82, and are both spaced the same distance from the terminal ends 88, 90 in the radial direction 14. The attachment element 100 has both an attachment element projection 106 and an attachment element recess 104, and these two components are free from contact with one another and extend less than 180 degrees about the attachment element axis 110. Attachment of the interlock 92 causes the container projection 94 to be inserted within the attachment element recess 104, and the attachment element projection 106 within the container recess 96. These engagements cause the container 44 to be attached to the attachment element 100, and in turn the sensor 56 held by the container 44 to be retained onto the inner surface 30. In the attachment of the interlock 92, the entire base 54 is located within the attachment element 100 so that the attachment element 100 is on opposite sides of the base 54 in the axial direction 16. The body 50 remains outside of the attachment element 100 so that the only portion of the attachment element 100 that engages the body 50 is the attachment element terminal end 102. The entire body 50 is closer to the central axis 42 than the entire attachment element 100 in the radial direction 14.

[0061] Fig. 14 is another embodiment in which the interlock 92 has a container projection 94 that extends 360 degrees around the container axis 82. In a similar manner, the attachment element recess 104 extends completely 360 degrees around the attachment element axis 110. These two components 94, 104 each have a triangular cross-sectional shape. The container 44 has a body without a base 54 and when inserted into the attachment element 100 extends the entire way into the attachment element 100 so that the attachment element terminal end 102 aligns with the inner radial terminal end 88 so that these two ends 102, 88 are positioned at the same distance from the central axis 42 in the radial direction 14. The attachment element 100 engages the inner surface 30 and extends from it in the radial direction 14. The attachment element 100 is ring shaped and is open in its center so that the inner liner 68 is exposed and the attachment element 100 is not filled at its outer radial end with its material. This causes the container 44 when inserted to engage the inner surface 30 when the container projection 94 is disposed within the attachment element recess 104. The container 44 and the attachment element 100 may thus be positioned so as to have the outer radial terminal end 90 and the farthest outward radial end of the attachment element 100 be at the same distance from the central axis 42 in the radial direction 14. The container 44 does not have a lip to retain the sensor 56 therein. Instead, the sensor cavity 52 is sized relative to the sensor 56 so that the sensor 56 upon insertion into the sensor cavity 52 is frictionally retained therein as the sensor 56 may expand the size of the sensor cavity 52 and be held securely in place. No portion of the sensor 56 is closer to the central axis 42 than is the container 44 to the central axis 42 in the radial direction 14.

[0062] The sensor 56 has been described as being removably attached to the container 44 in variously described embodiments. However, any of the disclosed versions of the tire 10 can have the sensor 56 be permanently attached to the container 44. In this regard, the container 44 may be integrally formed with the sensor 56 and be part of the sensor 56. As such, the variously disclosed embodiments could have the sensor 56 be permanently attached to the container 44, or could be able to be removed from the container 44. The same sensor 56 or a different sensor 56 could be subsequently inserted into the container 44 and attached.

[0063] The tire 10 in Fig. 15 includes acoustic foam 12 that is attached to the inner surface 30. The acoustic foam 12 functions as a noise dampener within the tire 10 so that the tire 10 produces reduced noise during driving of the vehicle. The acoustic foam 12 may beatached to the inner surface 30 of the crown 22 via adhesion, and can be a single, unitary piece that may encircle the central axis 42 completely so that it extends 360 degrees around the central axis 42 in the circumferential direction 18. The container 44 and its inserted sensor 56 can be centered on the crown 22 so that they are at the midpoint of the crown 22 and tire 10 in the axial direction 16. The container 44 could be arranged to extend beyond the acoustic foam 12 in the radial direction 14 so that it is located closer to the central axis 42 in the radial direction 14 than the acoustic foam 12 is located to the central axis 42 in the radial direction 14. In other embodiments, the container 44 does not extend past the acoustic foam 12 so that the acoustic foam 12 is located closer to the central axis 42 in the radial direction 14 than the container 44 is to the central axis 42.

[0064] In this embodiment, the atachment element 100 itself is formed by the acoustic foam 12. An aperture 60 extends into the acoustic foam 12 from the inner radial end of the acoustic foam 12 and the concave inner surface 108 is formed by this aperture 60 within the acoustic foam 12. The atachment element recess 104 is a part of the acoustic foam 12 and extends completely 360 degrees around the attachment element axis 110. The atachment element recess 104 is spaced in the radial direction 14 and free from contact with the atachment element terminal end 102 and the inner surface 30. The container 44 is made of rubber, plastic, or some other material different from that making up the acoustic foam 12. The sensor 56 is pressed into the container 44 and held via a frictional fit therein, and extends out of the sensor cavity 52 so that it is closer to the central axis 42 than the acoustic foam 12 or any part of the container 44 is to the central axis 42 in the radial direction 14. The container projection 94 is on the convex outer surface 98 and extends completely 360 degrees about the container axis 82. The container 44 may be inserted into the aperture 60, but the container 44 has a length in the radial direction 14 longer than that of the aperture 60 so that the container 44 is not completely received within the aperture 60 in that a portion of it extends inward in the radial direction 14 outside of the aperture 60. The container projection 94 is located within the atachment element recess 104 and engages the acoustic foam 12, and this receipt of the container projection 94 within the atachment element recess 104 causes the container 44 and sensor 56 to be retained to the inner surface 30 via the atachment element 100 and the acoustic foam 12. The atachment element 100 can be localized in the acoustic foam 12 so that the atachment element 100 does not extend 360 degrees around thecentral axis 42 in the circumferential direction 18 while the acoustic foam 12 does in fact extend fully 360 degrees.

[0065] Additionally, adhesive can be applied to the acoustic foam 12 to cause the acoustic foam 12 to be held onto the inner surface 30. Although various embodiments illustrated in other drawings and described elsewhere herein have described an interlock 92 that does not use adhesive, it is to be understood that adhesive may be used to further attach the container 44 to the attachment element 100 in addition to the use of the projections and recesses. As such, adhesive is an optional feature that can be used to further attach the container 44 to the inner surface 30.

[0066] The acoustic foam 12 is a component that is provided in the tire 10 for absorbing the cavity noise of the tire 10. The acoustic foam 12 can be a single piece or may be multilayered in accordance with various embodiments. The acoustic foam 12 may have a density ranging from 10 to 100 kg / m3, the average basis weight of the acoustic foam may be from 0.3 to 3.0 kg / m2and preferably from 0.5 to 1.5 kg / m2, and the circumferential ends are in engagement with one another or non-existent if formed as a ring. In some embodiments, the acoustic foam 12 forming the attachment element 100 in addition to providing noise dampening characteristics is a foam material that has a density less than 1.0 g / cm3, preferably a density that is less than 0.07 g / cm3. The acoustic foam 12 is made of a material that affords it some degree of flexibility so that it can be compressed and formed into various shapes. The acoustic foam 12 can be a sponge-like porous material that has open or closed cells, and may be made of polyurethane, vegetable fiber, synthetic fibers, animal fibers, or rubber in accordance with various exemplary embodiments. The acoustic foam 12 may be easily deformed and compressed, and has a specific gravity and weight that will not impact the weight of the tire 10 into which it is contained. Examples of materials that can be used to construct the acoustic foam 12 may be found in United States Patent numbers 6,729,373; 6,755,483; and 7,975,740 the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties for all purposes. The acoustic foam 12 is not made of the same material as the inner surface 30 and is a separate component that is produced and subsequently attached to the inner surface 30.

[0067] The tire 10 can be designed so that only a single container 44 and sensor 56 are present in the tire 10, or it may be the case that from 2-5 containers 44 and associated sensors56 are present within the tire 10. Further, the container 44 and sensor 56 need not be centered on the crown 22 in the axial direction 16 but could be located off center. The container 44 that can be made out of the same material as that which makes up the inner surface 30, or could be made out of a different material than the inner surface 30. The container 44 may be made out of plastic or rubber in accordance with different exemplary embodiments. The container 44 is a separate component from the inner surface 30 that is produced or cured and is then subsequently attached to the inner surface 30. The container 44 can be arranged so that the only recess in the container 44 is the sensor cavity 52. The lip of the container 44 can be a flexible member capable of being bent. The sensor cavity 52 can be arranged so that only a single, and no more than a single, opening into the sensor cavity 52 exists and faces only in the radial direction 14 of the tire 10, and does not face in the axial direction 16 when the container 44 is incorporated into the tire 10. The spacing of the wall of the container 44 forming the sensor cavity 52 can be smaller than that of the width of the sensor 56 so that the presence of the sensor 56 deforms or pushes the wall in the axial direction 16 to generate frictional holding of the sensor 56 within the sensor cavity 52 to prevent the sensor 56 from exiting the sensor cavity 52.

[0068] The disclosed arrangements of the tire 10 allow for the incorporation of a sensor 56 without the need to use adhesion, which could fail as the tire 10 rotates, flexes, heats and cools. Some disclosed embodiments allow for the use of adhesives, but the interaction of the interlock 92 will still allow for a connection to exist even if the adhesive fails and can compliment the combined connection. If the sensor 56 fails or needs to be replaced and the same sensor 56 cannot be found, a sensor 56 of a different size, shape or configuration can be used with the same tire 10 and attachment element 100 since the attachment element 100 can be used with any sized, shaped, or configured container 44 so long as the interlock 92 arrangement is compatible with the container 44 into which the sensor 56 is housed. The container 44 could be made of the same material as the attachment element 100 and the inner liner 68, but could also be made of a different material such as polyurethane or foam. The container 44 attachment arrangement may reduce the risk of noise excitation and may increase tire uniformity. The material making up the container 44 can be selected so as to have a density less than 1.0 g / cm3, preferably a density that is less than 0.07 g / cm3.

[0069] Fig. 16 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the sensor 56 housed within the container 44. The container 44 and sensor 56 are both circular in shape, and the container 44 has a lip that circles an upper surface of the sensor 56 to hold it within the cavity 52 of the container 44. The walls of the container 44 engage the sensor 56 and function to hold the sensor 56 within the cavity 52 as well. Another arrangement of the sensor 56 is shown with reference to Fig. 17 in which the sensor 56 has an elliptical shape. The container 44 is shaped differently than the one in Fig. 16 as the container 44 has an elliptical shape to be complimentary to that of the elliptically shaped sensor 56. The cavity 52 of the container 44 is elliptical in shape to receive the sensor 56, and the lip and walls of the container 44 function to hold the sensor 56 within the cavity 52. Various sizes, shapes, and configurations of the container 44 are possible in order to hold sensors 56 of different sizes and shapes for retention onto the projection 100.

[0070] Both of the containers 44 in Figs. 16 and 17 include container projections 94 that are on the convex outer surfaces 98 and extend completely 360 degrees around the container axis 82. The container axis 82 and the attachment element axis 110 extend through the container 44 and the attachment element 100, however surfaces that extend around the axes 82 and 110 need not be circular surfaces but could be elliptical, rectangular, square, triangular or of any shape. The convex outer surface 98 and the concave inner surface 108 could have the same shape and be complimentary to one another, or they could have different shapes such as one arrangement in which the convex outer surface 98 is elliptical in shape and the attachment element 100 into which the container 44 is retained has a circular inner surface 108.

[0071] Fig. 18 discloses another embodiment in which the container 44 has pair of container projections 94, 120 that are arranged so as to have an inclined surface that extends in the same direction as the container axis 82. The container projections 94, 120 are sized and shaped the same, and have sides that are triangular in shape. The corresponding attachment element recesses 104, 122 are shaped and sized in a complimentary manner in that they are triangular with inclined surfaces and receive the container projections 94, 120 to hold the container 44 onto the attachment element 100. Another embodiment of the container 44 and attachment element 100 configurations is shown with reference to Fig. 19 in which again two container projections 94, 120 are present on the container 44. Each of thesecontainer projections 94, 120 are sized and shaped the same and include an inclined surface that extends from the convex outer surface 98. The inclined surface of the container projections 94, 120 terminate at flat surfaces that form a cube like shape at the ends of the container projections 94, 120 farthest from the container axis 82. The attachment element recesses 104, 122 have shapes that are complimentary to those of the container projections 94, 120 in that they have inclined surfaces that terminate at cube shaped ends.

[0072] Fig. 20 discloses another embodiment in which the attachment element 100 has a an attachment element recess 104 that can be described as being helical in shape. In this regard, the attachment element recess 104 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape and extends around the concave inner surface 108 so as to extend along the attachment element axis 110 direction. The attachment element recess 104 thus extends in the radial direction 14 as it extends across the concave inner surface 108. The attachment element recess 104 may in some arrangements circle the attachment element axis 110 one, two, three, or four times. In the embodiment shown, the attachment element recess 104 does not circle the attachment element axis 110 completely. The counterpart container projection 94 is likewise helical in shape with a shape and size that fits within the attachment element recess 104.

[0073] Fig. 21 shows another embodiment of how the interlock 92 could be arranged. The attachment element 100 has a concave inner surface 108 that does not extend completely in the radial direction 14. Instead, the concave inner surface 108 is conical in shape in that the concave inner surface 108 extends closer or farther from the attachment element axis 110 as it extends in the radial direction 14. The concave inner surface 108 is farther from the attachment element axis 110 at the attachment element terminal end 102 than at the end closest to the inner surface 30. The attachment element projection 106 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape and extends completely around the concave inner surface 108 so that it completely circles the attachment element axis 110.

[0074] The container 44 has a convex outer surface 98 that is shaped in a complimentary manner to that of the concave inner surface 108 in that it is not a cylinder in shape, but is instead conical in shape with a closer approach to the container axis 82 at the outer radial terminal end 90. The container recess 96 extends completely around the container 44 and receives the attachment element projection 106. The container 44 includes slits 124 that extend from the outer radial terminal end 90 and terminate within the container 44 notreaching the inner radial terminal end 88. The slits 124 extend through the container recess 96 so as to be on both radial sides of the container recess 96. Any number of slits 124 can be present in the container 44. The slits 124 cause the container 44 to have a plurality of legs at its outer radial end. The slits 124 are present in order to provide the container with a degree of flexibility. When the container 44 is pressed into the attachment element 100 for attachment, it may compress and the slits 124 allow it to compress without breaking or cracking as may otherwise occur in some instances. When detachment is desired, the slits 124 allow the container 44 to compress to accommodate this removal without causing the container 44 to be damaged. Although not shown in other arrangements, the slits 124 could be incorporated into other versions of the container 44 and / or the attachment element 100 as described herein to aid in the removal and / or insertion of these elements in other embodiments.

[0075] While the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the subject matter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to those specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended for the subject matter of the invention to include all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A tire, comprising: a central axis that extends in an axial direction, wherein a radial direction is perpendicular to the central axis; a crown with tread located at an outer surface of the tire, wherein the crown has an inner surface; a left sidewall that extends from the crown in the radial direction; a right sidewall that extends from the crown in the radial direction; a left bead that extends from the left sidewall in the radial direction; a right bead that extends from the right sidewall in the radial direction; an attachment element that extends from the inner surface of the crown towards the central axis in the radial direction and terminates at an attachment element terminal end; a container that defines a sensor cavity, wherein the container has an inner radial terminal end and an outer radial terminal end; a sensor that is located in the sensor cavity; and an interlock that retains the container to the attachment element, wherein the interlock comprising at least one of the following:A. a container projection that is spaced in the radial direction from and free from engagement with the outer radial terminal end and the inner radial terminal end, and an attachment element recess that is spaced in the radial direction from and free from engagement with the attachment element terminal end and the inner surface, wherein the container projection is received within the attachment element recess, and wherein the attachment element recess ispresent even when the container projection is not received within the attachment element recess; andB. a container recess that is spaced in the radial direction from and free from engagement with the outer radial terminal end and the inner radial terminal end, and an attachment element projection that is spaced in the radial direction from and free from engagement with the attachment element terminal end and the inner surface, wherein the attachment element projection is received within the container recess, and wherein the container recess is present even when the attachment element projection is not received within the container recess.

2. The tire as set forth in claim 1 , wherein an inner liner makes up the inner surface of the crown, wherein the attachment element is integrally formed with the inner liner and is made of the same material as the inner liner.

3. The tire as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the interlock comprising both A and B.

4. The tire as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the interlock comprising A but not B.

5. The tire as set forth in claim 4, wherein the container has a convex outer surface that extends completely 360 degrees around a container axis, and wherein the container projection extends from the convex outer surface; wherein the attachment element has a concave inner surface that extends completely 360 degrees around an attachment element axis, wherein the attachment element recess extends into the concave inner surface; andwherein the container axis and the attachment element axis are coaxial when the container is retained to the attachment element.

6. The tire as set forth in claim 5, wherein the container projection extends less than 360 degrees about the container axis, and wherein the attachment element recess extends less than 360 degrees about the attachment element axis.

7. The tire as set forth in claim 6, wherein the container projection is a first container projection, and wherein the attachment element recess is a first attachment element recess, and wherein the interlock further comprising: a second container projection that is spaced in the radial direction from and free from engagement with the outer radial terminal end and the inner radial terminal end, and a second attachment element recess that is spaced in the radial direction from and free from engagement with the attachment element terminal end and the inner surface, wherein the second container projection is received within the second attachment element recess; wherein the second container projection extends less than 360 degrees about the container axis, and wherein the second attachment element recess extends less than 360 degrees about the attachment element axis; and wherein the second container projection and the first container projection are both spaced the same amount from the outer radial terminal end in the radial direction.

8. The tire as set forth in any one of claims 1-7, wherein the container projection has a square shaped cross-section, and wherein the attachment element recess has a square shaped cross-section.

9. The tire as set forth in any one of claims 1-8, wherein the outer radial terminal end engages the inner surface of the crown.

10. The tire as set forth in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the container has a body that defines the sensor cavity, wherein the container has a base that extends from the body and terminates at the outer radial terminal end, wherein the container projection is located on the base, and wherein the container recess is located on the base.

11. The tire as set forth in any one of claims 1-10, further comprising acoustic foam that is attached to the inner surface, wherein the attachment element, the container, the sensor, and the interlock are all spaced from and free from engagement with the acoustic foam.

12. The tire as set forth in any one of claims 1-11, wherein adhesive is not used to retain the container to the attachment element or to the inner surface.

13. The tire as set forth in claim 1, wherein the attachment element is made of acoustic foam and the acoustic foam extends 360 degrees around the central axis in a circumferential direction, wherein the acoustic foam is attached to the inner surface, wherein the acoustic foam has an aperture into which the container is located, wherein the attachment element recess is defined in the acoustic foam, and wherein the attachment element projection is defined by the acoustic foam.

14. The tire as set forth in any one of claims 1-13, wherein the sensor has an elliptical shape, and wherein the sensor cavity has an elliptical shape.2915. The tire as set forth in any one of claims 1-13, wherein the sensor has a circular shape, and wherein the sensor cavity has a circular shape.

16. The tire as set forth in any one of claims 1-15, wherein the sensor provides tire identification information, pressure information, and temperature information.

17. The tire as set forth in any one of claims 1-16, wherein the container has a slit that extends from the outer radial terminal end.30

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