Patent Publication Number: US-2017361557-A1

Title: Tire having an over-molded bead construction

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In the construction of a pneumatic tire, one of the many key elements is a bead, which typically comprises individual bead wires wound into a bundle of a desired diameter and configuration prior to tire assembly. The bead, also known as a bead bundle, may help to anchor the inflated tire to a wheel rim. A tire may include a bead bundle on each of an inboard portion and an outboard portion of the tire, with each inboard and outboard portion being positioned to engage the corresponding inboard and outboard flanges of a wheel. 
     A tire may also include at least one body ply. The body ply, which typically comprises reinforcement cord and rubber skim, wraps around the bead bundle (creating a “turnup” portion), passes axially across the tire, and wraps around the bead bundle on the opposite side (creating another “turnup” portion). The portion of body ply adjacent to the bead bundle on the inner portion of the tire (i.e. opposite the turnup) may be referred to as the inner body ply. The body ply may provide strength to contain the air pressure within the tire and may provide sidewall impact resistance. A tire may include one or more body plies to achieve the desired degree of strength and sidewall impact resistance. 
     A tire may also include a bead filler applied to the top of the bead bundle to fill the void between the inner body ply and the body ply turnup. The bead filler, also known as an apex, may be configured with various properties. Such properties may include, without limitation, height, width, and hardness. Changing the properties of the bead filler may affect the ride and handling characteristics of the tire, such as, without limitation, sidewall stiffness, noise, and rolling resistance. 
     When constructing a tire, tire manufacturers may choose various configurations of bead bundles and bead fillers. The bead filler and the bead bundle may be assembled simultaneously with the tire. Alternatively, the bead filler may be preassembled onto the bead bundle before tire assembly. 
     When a tire is assembled, the one or more body plies, together with other tire components such as an innerliner, may be rolled down over a rotating, collapsible drum. The bead wire and bead filler, or alternatively the preassembled bead wire and bead filler assembly, may be set into place around the drum. The edges of the one or more body plies may then be turned-up around each bead bundle and bead filler and rolled or stitched to the flat portion of the body plies, thereby creating the body ply turnups. The drum may then be collapsed so that the completed body carcass may be removed for further assembly stages. 
     The tire manufacturing process described above may have certain drawbacks. For example, after the bead bundle and bead filler are assembled with the tire, the positions of the bead bundle, the bead filler, and the body ply may move relative to one another. When the tire is cured, any such movements may result in tire uniformity irregularities. Such irregularities may result in, for example, tire imbalance, ineffective sealing between the bead of the tire and the flange of the wheel, high stress points within the tire structure, and weakness within the tire structure. Additionally, the current tire manufacturing process may not allow for significant control over other aspects of tire design and construction, such as ride and handling characteristics, and weight. What is needed is a bead bundle and a bead filler that can be more uniformly assembled with other tire components to reduce or eliminate these drawbacks. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, an over-molded bead for a pneumatic tire may have a bead bundle having at least one of: a bead wire, a fabric reinforcement, and a polymer; and a bead filler molded about the bead bundle so as to at least substantially encapsulate the bead bundle within the bead filler. In one embodiment, the molded bead filler may fully encapsulate the bead bundle. 
     In another embodiment, a bead for a pneumatic tire may have a bead bundle having at least one of: a bead wire, a fabric reinforcement, and a polymer; and a molded bead filler, wherein the outer surface of the radially inward portion of the molded bead filler may be contoured to mate with the outer surface of the radially outward portion of the bead bundle. At least one of the bead bundle and the molded bead filler may be configured to be operatively connected to the other so as to collectively form an integrated unit. The outer surface of the bead bundle and the outer surface of the molded bead filler may have at least one of a surface feature, wherein the at least one surface feature may have at least one of a protrusion and an indentation, and wherein the at least one surface feature of the bead bundle may be configured to mate with the at least one surface feature of the molded bead filler. The molded bead filler may have at least one surface feature. The at least one surface feature may have at least one of: a dimple, an indentation, a ridge, a slit, a knurl, a cavity, a recess, a cut-out, and a step. The molded bead filler may include a polymer. The polymer may have a hardness of about 75 durometer or lower. The polymer may have a hardness of about 75 durometer or higher. The molded bead filler may have a fabric reinforcement, wherein the fabric reinforcement may be oriented in at least one of: an interior of the molded bead filler and an exterior surface of the molded bead filler. The bead bundle may have at least one of: a single bead wire, at least two adjacently-oriented bead wires, a plurality of bead wires arranged in a grid array, a plurality of bead wires arranged in an offset grid array, a plurality of bead wires arranged in a radial array, and a plurality of bead wires arranged in at least one linear array. The bead wire may have at least one of: a bronze, a brass, a steel, a nylon, a polyester, a rayon, an aramid fiber, a carbon fiber, a fiberglass, and an alloy. 
     In another embodiment, a pneumatic tire may have a bead bundle having at least one of: a bead wire, a fabric reinforcement, and a polymer; and a bead filler molded about the bead bundle so as to at least substantially encapsulate the bead bundle within the molded bead filler. The molded bead filler may fully encapsulate the bead bundle. The bead bundle may have a bead wire, wherein the bead wire is at least one of: molded onto an exterior surface of the molded bead filler, and applied to the surface of the molded bead filler. The molded bead filler may have at least one surface feature. The at least one surface feature may have at least one of: a dimple, an indentation, a ridge, a slit, knurl, a cavity, a recess, a cut-out, and a step. The molded bead filler may include a polymer. The molded bead filler may have a fabric reinforcement, wherein the fabric reinforcement may be oriented in at least one of: an interior of the molded bead filler and an exterior surface of the molded bead filler. The molded bead bundle may have at least one of: a single bead wire, at least two adjacently-oriented bead wires, a plurality of bead wires arranged in a grid array, a plurality of bead wires arranged in an offset grid array, a plurality of bead wires arranged in a radial array, and a plurality of bead wires arranged in at least one linear array. The bead wire may have at least one of: a bronze, a brass, a steel, a nylon, a polyester, a rayon, an aramid fiber, a carbon fiber, a fiberglass, and an alloy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various example apparatuses and systems, and are used merely to illustrate various example embodiments. In the figures, like elements bear like reference numerals. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of a tire having an over-molded bead construction. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of a prior art tire construction. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of an over-molded bead construction. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of an over-molded bead construction. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of an over-molded bead construction. 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of an over-molded bead construction. 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of an over-molded bead construction. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of a two-piece over-molded bead construction. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of a two-piece over-molded bead construction. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of an over-molded bead construction. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of an over-molded bead construction. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of an over-molded bead construction. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of tire  100  having an over-molded bead construction. Tire  100  may include at least one bead wire  110  located on each of inboard side  104  and outboard side  106 . Tire  100  may also include a bead bundle  120  having at least one bead wire  110 . Tire  100  may also include a bead filler  130 , which may include bead bundle  120 . Tire  100  may also include at least one of a body ply  140 , which may extend axially outward from crown portion  102  to each of inboard side  104  and outboard side  106 . Body ply  140  may extend radially inward from crown portion  102 . Body ply  140  may turn about at least one of bead bundles  120  and extend radially outward, forming a body ply turnup  145  on at least one of inboard side  104  and outboard side  106  of tire  100 . 
     Tire  100  may be a pneumatic tire. Tire  100  may be a pneumatic tire designed for application to a vehicle. Tire  100  may be a pneumatic tire designed for application to an off-the-road vehicle. Tire  100  may be a pneumatic tire designed for application to a road vehicle. Tire  100  may be a non-directional tire, wherein tire  100  is configured to be mounted on a vehicle without a specified forward rolling direction. Tire  100  may be a uni-directional tire, wherein tire  100  is configured to be mounted on a vehicle with a specified forward rolling direction. Tire  100  may include a crown portion  102 . Tire  100  may include a designated inboard side  104  and a designated outboard side  106 , such that when mounted on a vehicle, inboard side  104  is always oriented toward the centroid of the vehicle, while outboard side  106  is always oriented away from the centroid of the vehicle. Tire  100  may include no designated inboard or outboard side, but rather may have two sides that are substantially similar to one another. 
     Bead wire  110  may be made from any of a variety of materials. For example, bead wire  110  may be made from a steel. Bead wire  110  may be coated in a bronze to aid in adhesion to a rubber or other polymer. Bead wire  110  may be made from other materials, including a brass, a nylon, a polyester, a rayon, an aramid fiber, a carbon fiber, a fiberglass, an alloy, and the like. Bead wire  110  may be made from any material that provides the desired physical properties, including without limitation, strength, stiffness, hardness, weight, fatigue resistance, flexibility, heat resistance, cost, and the like. 
     Tire  100  may include at least one bead wire  110  arranged in various configurations to form bead bundle  120 . For example, bead wires  110  may be arranged as any of: a single bead wire  110 , at least two adjacently-oriented bead wires  110 , a plurality of bead wires  110  arranged in a grid array, a plurality of bead wires  110  arranged in an offset grid array, a plurality of bead wires  110  arranged in a radial array, a plurality of bead wires  110  arranged in at least one linear array, and the like. Bead bundle  120  may include at least one of: a bead wire  110 , a fabric reinforcement (not shown), and a polymer (not shown). Bead bundle  120  may be located in inboard side  104  of tire  100 . Bead bundle  120  may also be located in outboard side  106  of tire  100 . Bead bundle  120  located in inboard side  104  may be either identical to or different from bead bundle  120  located in outboard side  106 . 
     Tire  100  may include at least one bead filler  130 . Bead filler  130  may be located in inboard side  104  of tire  100 . Bead filler  130  may be located in outboard side  106  of tire  100 . Bead filler  130  may be located in both of inboard side  104  and outboard side  106  of tire  100 . Bead filler  130  located in inboard side  104  may be either identical to or different from bead filler  130  located in outboard side  106 . 
     Bead filler  130  may include at least one bead bundle  120 . Bead filler  130  may be made from a polymer. Bead filler  130  may be made from any material that provides the desired physical properties, including without limitation, strength, stiffness, hardness, weight, fatigue resistance, flexibility, heat resistance, cost, and the like. Bead filler  130  may have a hardness of about  75  durometer. Bead filler  130  may have a hardness of about  75  durometer or lower. Bead filler  130  may have a hardness of about  75  durometer or higher. Bead filler  130  may have a desired stiffness so as to control the ride quality and handling of tire  100 . 
     Bead filler  130  may be molded over bead bundle  120  to form an integrated unit. Bead filler  130  may completely encapsulate bead bundle  120 . Bead filler  130  may substantially encapsulate bead bundle  120 . Bead filler  130  may sufficiently encapsulate bead bundle  120  so as to form an integrated unit. 
     Bead filler  130  may be molded into a variety of shapes. For example, bead filler  130  may be molded into a wedge shape. Bead filler  130  may be molded into an irregular shape. Bead filler  130  may be molded into any shape that aids in the integration of bead filler  130  and bead bundle  120 . Bead filler  130  may be molded into any shape that reduces stress risers in tire  100 . For example, bead filler  130  may be molded into a shape that allows body ply turnup  145  to terminate flush against either of bead filler  130  or body ply  140 . 
     Bead filler  130  may include surface features (not shown) that increase the coefficient of friction between bead filler  130  and at least one of body ply  140  and body ply turnup  145 . These surface features may also include at least one void space to allow the end of body ply turnup  145  to nest within bead filler  130 . Surface features may include, without limitation, a dimple, an indentation, a ridge, a slit, a knurl, a cavity, a recess, a cut-out, and a step. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of tire  200  having a prior art construction. Tire  200  may include at least one bead wire  210  located on each of inboard side  204  and outboard side  206 . Tire  200  may also include a bead bundle  220  having at least one bead wire  210 . Tire  200  may also include a bead filler  230 , which may include bead bundle  220 . Tire  200  may also include at least one body ply  240 , which may extend axially outward from crown portion  202  to each of inboard side  204  and outboard side  206 . Body ply  240  may extend radially inward from crown portion  202 . Body ply  240  may turn about each bead bundle  220  and extend radially outward, forming a body ply turnup  245  on each of inboard side  204  and outboard side  206  of tire  200 . 
     Bead filler  230  does not include bead bundle  220 . Rather, bead filler  230  and bead bundle  220  are separate structures. This arrangement may result in several disadvantages. The end of body ply turnup  245  may not properly or consistently align with either of bead bundle  220 , bead filler  230 , or body ply  240 , which may create an imbalance in tire  200 . Furthermore, bead bundle  220  and bead filler  230  may drift apart, which may cause further imbalances in tire  200 . Moreover, relative movement among bead bundle  220 , bead filler  230 , and body ply  240  may cause a weakness in tire  200  due to either an insufficient amount of material or an abundance of material at any given location. Insufficient material, which may occur when bead bundle  220  and bead filler  230  drift apart, may result in a weakness at that location Likewise, an abundance of material, which may occur when body ply turnup  245  moves relative to bead filler  230 , may result in a stress riser at that location. A stress riser may occur when the end of body ply turnup  245  does not transition smoothly into body ply  240 . When this happens, the resulting step between body ply  240  and body ply turnup  245  may create a location of high stress, which may result in early failure of body ply  240  at that location. Additionally, bead bundle  220  may need to be of sufficient stiffness to facilitate forming a round hoop when building tire  200 . This limits a tire designer&#39;s freedom of choice of materials for bead wire  210 , which in turn may limit the tire designer&#39;s ability to tailor the desired ride quality and handling of tire  200 . 
     By contrast, tire  100  and its over-molded bead construction may avoid at least one or more or the disadvantages described above. Bead bundle  120  may be formed by the desired number and arrangement of bead wire  110 . Bead bundle  120  may be over-molded within bead filler  130  to form an over-molded bead as a single integrated unit. Because bead filler  130  is molded, it need not rely on the stiffness of bead bundle  120  to provide its round hoop shape. This may allow the tire designer to choose from a wider variety of materials and configurations for bead bundle  120  and bead filler  130 , which in turn may result in greater control for the tire designer over the ride quality and handling of tire  100 . For example, the tire designer may select materials that provide proper bead stiffness when tire  100  is mounted on a vehicle, and need not select materials based on the stiffness necessary to construct tire  100 . Furthermore, tire  100  may be constructed either symmetrically or asymmetrically with respect to at least one of bead bundle  120  and bead filler  130 . 
     Furthermore, molding bead bundle  120  within bead filler  130  may eliminate the possibility of bead bundle  120  and bead filler  130  drifting apart or shifting during the tire construction process. This may result in higher uniformity of tire  100  and thus more predictable and reliable ride quality and handling of tire  100 . Moreover, bead filler  130  may include at least one surface feature (not shown), including without limitation, a dimple, an indentation, a ridge, a slit, a knurl, a cavity, a recess, a cut-out, a step, and the like. The surface feature may allow body ply  140  and body ply turnup  145  to positively engage with bead filler  130  during the construction process, so that when body ply turnup  145  is formed and the drum is collapsed, the engagement between bead filler  130 , body ply  140 , and body ply turnup  145  may prevent the three components from moving relative to one another. This may further contribute to higher uniformity of tire  100  when compared to prior art tire  200 . 
     The surface feature may include a void that allows the end of body ply turnup  145  to nest within bead filler  130 . Nesting the end of body ply turnup  145  within bead filler  130  may contribute to a reduction or elimination of stress risers within tire  100  and may further prevent the relative movement of bead filler  130 , body ply  140 , and body ply turnup  145  during construction of tire  100 . Nesting the end of body ply turnup  145  within bead filler  130  may allow for body ply turnup  145  to be created with a lower height because body ply turnup  145  need not extend beyond bead filler  130 . As a result, bead filler  130  may be extended radially outward from bead bundle  120  past the radially outermost end of body ply turnup  145 . Bead filler  130  may extend radially outward from bead bundle  120  into the sidewall portion of tire  100 . Bead filler  130  may extend radially outward from bead bundle  120  into the shoulder portion of tire  100 . Bead filler  130  may extend radially outward from bead bundle  120  into crown portion  102 . Bead filler  130  may extend radially outward from bead bundle  120  across crown portion  102 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of an over-molded bead  300 . Bead wire  310  may be arranged in an offset grid-array arrangement to form bead bundle  320  (as shown). Bead wire  310  may be arranged in any of a variety of arrangements. Bead wire  310  may be arranged in any manner that meets the tire design requirements, such as, without limitation, strength, stiffness, hardness, weight, fatigue resistance, flexibility, heat resistance, cost, and the like. Bead filler  330  may be molded over bead bundle  320  to form over-molded bead  300 . Bead filler  330  may at least substantially encapsulate bead bundle  320  within bead filler  330 . Bead filler  330  may fully encapsulate bead bundle  320 . Over-molded bead  300  may form a variety of shapes, such as the particular wedge shape as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of an over-molded bead  400 . Bead wire  410  may be arranged with a central bead wire  410  that is surrounded by a radial array of bead wires  412  to form bead bundle  420  (as shown). Bead wires  410 , 412  may be arranged in any manner that meets the tire design requirements, such as, without limitation, strength, stiffness, hardness, weight, fatigue resistance, flexibility, heat resistance, cost, and the like. Bead filler  430  may be molded over bead bundle  420  to form over-molded bead  400 . Bead filler  430  may at least substantially encapsulate bead bundle  420  within bead filler  430 . Bead filler  430  may fully encapsulate bead bundle  420 . Over-molded bead  400  may form a variety of shapes, such as the particular wedge shape as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of an over-molded bead  500 . Bead wire  510  may be arranged in a grid array arrangement to form bead bundle  520  (as shown). Bead wire  510  may be arranged in any manner that meets the tire design requirements, such as, without limitation, strength, stiffness, hardness, weight, fatigue resistance, flexibility, heat resistance, and cost. Bead filler  530  may be molded over bead bundle  520  to form over-molded bead  500 . Bead filler  530  may at least substantially encapsulate bead bundle  520  within bead filler  530 . Bead filler  530  may fully encapsulate bead bundle  520 . Over-molded bead  500  may form a variety of shapes, such as the particular wedge shape as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6A  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of an over-molded bead  600 . Bead wire  610  may be arranged in at least one linear array arrangement to form bead bundle  620 . For example, bead wire  610  may be arranged in a horizontal linear array. Bead wire  615  may be arranged in a vertical linear array. Bead wires  610 , 615  may collectively form bead bundle  620  (as shown). Bead wires  610 , 615  may be arranged in any manner that meets the tire design requirements, such as, without limitation, strength, stiffness, hardness, weight, fatigue resistance, flexibility, heat resistance, cost, and the like. Bead filler  630  may be molded over bead bundle  620  to form over-molded bead  600 . Bead filler  630  may at least substantially encapsulate bead bundle  620  within bead filler  630 . Bead filler  630  may fully encapsulate bead bundle  620 . Over-molded bead  600  may form a variety of shapes, such as the particular irregular shape as shown in  FIG. 6 . Over-molded bead  600  may include at least one cut-out  650  to allow the end of a body ply turnup (not shown) to nest within over-molded bead  600 . 
     Alternatively, bead wires  610 , 615  may be oriented in any pattern disclosed herein, including in a grid array arrangement, circular array, and the like. Alternatively, bead wires  610 , 615  may be oriented in any traditional pattern. 
       FIG. 6B  illustrates a sectional view of over-molded bead  600 . Over-molded bead  600  may be at least partially surrounded by a first body ply  640 A and a second body ply  640 B. In one embodiment, an end of first body ply  640 A may be oriented at least partially in cut-out  650 . Second body ply  640 B may be oriented about over-molded bead  600 , and may extend radially outwardly past an end of first body ply  640 A oriented at least partially in cut-out  650 . Second body ply  640 B may be oriented about over-molded bead  600 , and may extend radially outwardly past cut-out  650 . Second body ply  640 B may be oriented about over-molded bead  600 , and may extend radially outwardly past over-molded bead  600 . Second body ply  640 B may be oriented about over-molded bead  600 , and may extend radially outwardly past cut-out  650  but may end radially inwardly of the radially outwardmost portion of over-molded bead  600 . 
     Orientation of second body ply  640 B along over-molded bead  600 , while an end of first body ply  640 A is oriented in cut-out  650  may allow second body ply  640 B to extend about over-molded bead  600  at least one of: more smoothly; without an abrupt step at the point that second body ply  640 B overtakes an end of first body ply  640 A; and without creating a stress riser in second body ply  640 B. 
     Bead wires  610 , 615  may be oriented as illustrated in  FIG. 6B . Bead wires  610 , 615  may be oriented in any pattern disclosed herein, including in a grid array arrangement, circular array, and the like. Alternatively, bead wires  610 , 615  may be oriented in any traditional pattern. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of a two-piece over-molded bead  700 . Bead wire  710  may be arranged in an offset grid-array arrangement to form bead bundle  720  (as shown). Bead wire  710  may be arranged in any manner that meets the tire design requirements, such as, without limitation, strength, stiffness, hardness, weight, fatigue resistance, flexibility, heat resistance, cost, and the like. Bead filler  730  may be molded separately from bead bundle  720 . Bead filler  730  may form a variety of shapes, such as the particular wedge shape as shown in  FIG. 7 , a triangular shape, a square shape, a pentagonal shape, a hexagonal shape, and the like. Bead bundle  720  may have a polymer coating  760 . Polymer coating  760  may be molded over bead bundle  720 . Polymer coating  760  may have a variety of shapes, such as the particular circular shape as shown in  FIG. 7 , a triangular shape, a square shape, a pentagonal shape, a hexagonal shape, and the like. Bead filler  730  and polymer coating  760  may have complimentary shapes that allow each to nest together, forming two-piece over-molded bead  700 . For example, the radially inward portion of bead filler  730  may have at least one surface with a particular radius of curvature. The radially outward portion of polymer coating  760  may have at least one surface with the same, or similar, radius of curvature, thus allowing polymer coating  760  to nest with bead filler  730  so as to collectively form two-piece over-molded bead  700 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of a two-piece over-molded bead  800 . Bead wire  810  may be arranged in an offset grid-array arrangement to form bead bundle  820  (as shown). Bead wire  810  may be arranged in any manner that meets the tire design requirements, such as, without limitation, strength, stiffness, hardness, weight, fatigue resistance, flexibility, heat resistance, cost, and the like. Bead filler  830  may be molded separately from bead bundle  820 . Bead filler  830  may form a variety of shapes, such as the particular wedge shape as shown in  FIG. 8 . Bead bundle  820  may have a polymer coating  860 . Polymer coating  860  may be molded over bead bundle  820 . Polymer coating  860  may also have a variety of shapes, such as the particular wedge shape as shown in  FIG. 8 . Bead filler  830  and polymer coating  860  may have complimentary shapes that allow each to nest together, forming two-piece over-molded bead  800 . For example, the radially inward portion of bead filler  830  may have at least one surface having a particular angle. The radially outward portion of polymer coating  860  may have at least one surface with the same, or similar, angle, thus allowing polymer coating  860  to nest with bead filler  830  so as to collectively form two-piece over-molded bead  800 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of an over-molded bead  900 . Bead wire  910  may be arranged in an offset grid-array arrangement to form bead bundle  920  (as shown). Bead wire  910  may be arranged in any manner that meets the tire design requirements, such as, without limitation, strength, stiffness, hardness, weight, fatigue resistance, flexibility, heat resistance, cost, and the like. Over-molded bead  900  may include more than one material. For example, over-molded bead  900  may include portion  930  made from one material and portion  970  made from another material. Portion  930  may have a hardness that the same as the hardness of portion  970 . Portion  930  may have a hardness that is different from the hardness of portion  970 . Over-molded bead  900  may include more than two materials, which may be distributed throughout over-molded bead  900  in various ways. For example, the exterior surface of over-molded bead  900  may be a different material from the interior volume of over-molded bead  900 . Materials may vary across over-molded bead  900  either radially, axially, or in any combination thereof. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of an over-molded bead  1000 . Bead wire  1014  may be a fabric reinforcement, including without limitation, a nylon, a polyester, a rayon, an aramid fiber, a carbon fiber, a fiberglass, and the like. Bead filler  1030  may be molded over bead wire  1014 , forming over-molded bead  1000 . Bead wire  1014  may be arranged in any manner that meets the tire design requirements, such as, without limitation, strength, stiffness, hardness, weight, fatigue resistance, flexibility, heat resistance, cost, and the like. Over-molded bead  1000  may form a variety of shapes, such as the particular wedge shape as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a sectional view of an example arrangement of an over-molded bead  1100 . Bead wire  1114  may be a fabric reinforcement, including without limitation, a nylon, a polyester, a rayon, an aramid fiber, a carbon fiber, a fiberglass, and the like. Bead filler  1130  may be molded such that bead wire  1114  is molded onto the exterior surface of bead filler  1130 . Bead wire  1114  may be applied to the surface of bead filler  1130  after over-molded bead  1100  is molded. Bead wire  1114  may be arranged in any manner that meets the tire design requirements, such as, without limitation, strength, stiffness, hardness, weight, fatigue resistance, flexibility, heat resistance, cost, and the like. Bead wire  1114  may be oriented over at least a radially inner portion of bead filler  1130 . Bead wire  1114  may be oriented over at least an axially inner portion of bead filler  1130 . Bead wire  1114  may be oriented over at least an axially outer portion of bead filler  1130 . Over-molded bead  1100  may form a variety of shapes, such as the particular wedge shape as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     It is contemplated that any of the bead bundle shapes and/or bead wire orientations disclosed herein with respect to any particular figure may likewise be applied in an alternative arrangement to any other figure. That is, the bead bund shapes and/or bead wire orientations illustrated in each particular figure are not intended to be limiting, and it is contemplated that any shape and/or orientation illustrated or disclosed could be interchanged with another shape and/or orientation. 
     To the extent that the term “includes” or “including” is used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as that term is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “or” is employed (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean “A or B or both.” When the applicants intend to indicate “only A or B but not both” then the term “only A or B but not both” will be employed. Thus, use of the term “or” herein is the inclusive, and not the exclusive use. See Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage  624  (2d. Ed. 1995). Also, to the extent that the terms “in” or “into” are used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to additionally mean “on” or “onto.” To the extent that the term “substantially” is used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to take into consideration the degree of precision available in the relevant manufacturing industry. To the extent that the term “selectively” is used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to refer to a condition of a component wherein a user of the apparatus may activate or deactivate the feature or function of the component as is necessary or desired in use of the apparatus. To the extent that the term “operatively connected” is used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to mean that the identified components are connected in a way to perform a designated function. As used in the specification and the claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural. Finally, where the term “about” is used in conjunction with a number, it is intended to include ±10% of the number. In other words, “about 10” may mean from 9 to 11. 
     As stated above, while the present application has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the present application. Therefore, the application, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, illustrative examples shown, or any apparatus referred to. Departures may be made from such details, examples, and apparatuses without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept.