Patent ID: 6676788
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: B29D,B29K,B29L

Abstract:
An improved inflatable bladder (10) for use in making an uncured rubber tire on a tire building machine with which the bladder (10) is associated, wherein the bladder (10) is adapted to fit on a tire building machine, the bladder (10) including an inflatable body portion having dimensions suitable to attach the bladder in an operative relationship with the tire building machine, the bladder (10) having a first outer end (20), a second outer end (22), and an outer surface, the ends and outer surface being relative to the operative relationship of the bladder (10) with the tire building machine, the improvement being characterized by:the bladder (10) being comprised of a rubber elastomer portion (30) and a polyurethane portion (26, 32) bonded to the rubber elastomer portion, an outermost portion of the rubber elastomer portion comprises part of the outer surface of the bladder (10), the polyurethane portion (26, 32) is bonded to the rubber elastomer portion and an outermost surface of the polyurethane portion also comprises part of and is flush with the outer surface of the bladder.