Patent Description:
The invention also relates to the use of such assembly for filling a tyre of a cycle or motorcycle, a kit and a wheel which include such assembly.

It is known that in motorcycling or cycling sports, both competitive and amateur, on rough or in any case non-asphalted terrains it is advisable to fill the inside of the tyres of the cycle or motorcycle using a filling element.

This increases the protection of the tyre against punctures and pinching compared, for example, to conventional air chambers. On the other hand, the filling element enhances the performance of the tyre in terms of damping against impacts, raises the grip of the tyre on different types of terrain and, more generally, it improves the comfort and riding feeling for the rider.

Various types of filling elements are available on the market. In particular, a toroidal ring made of foamed elastomeric material, for example butyl or EVA, which fills the entire section of the tyre is known.

The main drawbacks of this known filling element are the complex assembly in the tyre, a poor versatility of use and a limited duration over time.

Furthermore, this known filling element is expensive in case of damage or breakage.

From <CIT> an annular modular assembly is known having all the features of the preamble of claim <NUM>.

An object of the present invention is to at least partly overcome the drawbacks illustrated above by providing a module for filling a tyre of a cycle or motorcycle that is highly efficient and cost-effective.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a filling module which that is easy and quick to fit into the tyre of any cycle or motorcycle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a filling module which allows to adapt the elastic response of the tyre of a cycle or motorcycle depending on the needs of the user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a long-life module for filling a tyre of a cycle or motorcycle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a module for filling a tyre of a cycle or motorcycle which is highly versatile in terms of adaptability to different types of tyres and/or rims.

These and other objects which will be more apparent hereinafter, are attained by an annular modular assembly for filling a tyre of a cycle or motorcycle and by the relative use for filling a tyre of a cycle or motorcycle according respectively to claim <NUM> and <NUM>.

In a further aspect, the invention provides for a kit and a wheel which include such annular modular assembly.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:.

With reference to the attached figures, herein described is an annular modular assembly <NUM> suitable for filling a tyre of a cycle or motorcycle, for example a mountain bike or a motocross motorcycle.

In a per se known manner, the tyre is mounted on the rim of a wheel of the cycle or motorcycle. Given that it is per se known, the tyre and the rim of the cycle or motorcycle were not shown in the attached drawings.

By way of non-limiting example, the present invention may be particularly useful for cycling or motorcycling sports activity on rough terrain, for example mountain bike or motocross. On the other hand, it is clear that the present invention may be used in any situation wherein the cyclist or motorcyclist deems it appropriate to use it, without particular limitation.

However, by its nature, the use of the present invention is limited to cycling, motorcycling or applications in which the stresses on the tyre are substantially similar. Therefore, it is clear that the present invention cannot be used for filling the tyre of a motor vehicle, a tractor or similar vehicle.

The annular modular assembly <NUM> consists of a plurality of modules <NUM> to be removably inserted into the tyre arranged side by side, so as to cover the entire circumferential extension of the tyre.

More particularly, once inserted into the tyre, the modules <NUM> may be in contact with each other, for example as illustrated in <FIG>, or spaced from each other, for example as illustrated in <FIG>, for example a distance of <NUM> - <NUM>. It is clear that <FIG> shows an embodiment of the annular modular assembly <NUM> which includes a number of modules <NUM> smaller than that of <FIG>.

However, even when they are spaced apart, when using the cycle or motorcycle the modules <NUM> will tend to deform under load, due to the stresses to which they are subjected and the resulting thermal expansion, therefore they can in any case come into mutual contact.

Basically, each module <NUM> of the annular modular assembly <NUM> will define a portion or section of the latter and it may consist of a body made of foamed elastomeric material, preferably with closed cells, for example butyl rubber or EVA. As known, the foamed elastomeric material is highly compressible and elastic, so as to absorb impacts and deformations in an optimum manner.

By way of example, the foamed elastomeric material may have a density comprised between <NUM> gr/cm<NUM> and <NUM> gr/cm<NUM>, measured according to the ASTM D297 standard, or a density comprised between <NUM> gr/cm<NUM> and <NUM> gr/cm<NUM>, for example measured according to the ISO <NUM> standard.

A possible composition of the material may be:.

All the aforementioned components may be of the type per se known to the person skilled in the art.

For example, the basic elastomer may be IIR, BIIR or CIIR. The black fillers may optionally consist of carbon black, whereas the white ones, which may be reinforcing and non-reinforcing, may for example be silica and/or kaolin.

The modules <NUM> can be made by vulcanisation, for example with sulphur or peroxide.

The configuration of the modules <NUM> may be such that once inserted into the tyre, the entire internal volume of the latter may be filled, without any empty spaces.

Although the present description describes modules <NUM> entirely consisting of a body made of foamed elastomeric material, it is clear that the modules <NUM> may optionally include a central main body as described above and one or more surface covering layers, for example, one or more anti-friction layers or acting as a barrier against the leakage of gases, without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

Advantageously, each module <NUM> may have the circular-section shape, for example as illustrated in <FIG>, or ellipse-shaped, for example as illustrated in <FIG>, with tapered end areas <NUM> preferably flat or slightly dome-shaped designed, as mentioned above, to remain facing or in contact with the corresponding tapered end areas <NUM> of the adjacent modules once inserted into the tyre to form the annular modular assembly <NUM>.

Advantageously, the end areas <NUM> may have a circular or elliptical cross-section, so as to optimally adhere to the corresponding end areas of the adjacent modules <NUM>.

Each module <NUM> may also have a lateral surface <NUM> interposed between the tapered end areas <NUM> designed for use to come into contact with the tyre and with the tyre and with the rim of the wheel on which the latter is mounted.

More particularly, the lateral surface <NUM> may have a first portion <NUM> designed to come into contact with the inside of the tyre and a second portion <NUM> designed to come into contact with the rim of the wheel.

On the other hand, for example as illustrated in <FIG>, the modules <NUM> may also have an elongated cylindrical or ellipsoidal shape. As a matter fact, thanks to the elasticity of the foamed elastomeric material, they may take the shape of a circular or ellipsoidal section, that is they may take a curved shape, once inserted into the tyre and elastically forced thereinto, as schematically illustrated in <FIG> where the solid line indicates the shape that the module <NUM> takes in the absence of stresses and the dashed line indicates the shape that the module <NUM> takes when elastically forced into the tyre.

In any case, the tapered end areas <NUM> may define respective planes π incident with respect to each other and angularly spaced by an angle α comprised between <NUM>° and <NUM>°, preferably comprised between <NUM>° and <NUM>°, and even more preferably comprised between <NUM>° and <NUM>°.

Thanks to this characteristic, the number of modules <NUM> for covering the entire circumferential extension of the annular modular assembly <NUM> may be sufficiently high to allow the user to customise the elastic response of the tyre whenever required.

The number of modules <NUM> sufficient to cover the entire circumferential extension of the tyre will vary depending on the size of the latter, without prejudice to the angular extension indicated above. Furthermore, the number and size of the modules may vary depending on whether the modules themselves are intended to fill the front or rear wheel.

Furthermore, the compressibility of the foamed elastomeric material allows to insert - into the tyre - a number of modules <NUM> greater than those required to cover the entire circumferential extension of the annular modular assembly <NUM>.

This will allow to stiffen the tyre, given that the modules <NUM> inside the tyre are preloaded.

For this reason, a kit for filling a given tyre may include a packaging and a number of modules <NUM> greater than those required to cover the entire circumferential extension of the same tyre.

This allows a user to customise the elastic response of the tyre to the maximum, given that the user may insert a number of modules greater than those required to cover the entire circumferential extension of the tyre.

By way of non-limiting example for example if <NUM> circular-section shaped modules (<FIG>), <NUM>° each, are required to cover the entire circumferential extension of a front tyre of a motorcycle, the kit may contain <NUM>, <NUM> or more modules.

By way of example, each module can have a weight of <NUM> - <NUM>, a length of the external cord measuring <NUM> - <NUM> and a diameter measuring <NUM> - <NUM>.

On the other hand, for example if <NUM> modules, <NUM>° each are required to cover the entire circumferential extension of a rear tyre of a motorcycle, the kit may contain <NUM>, <NUM> or more modules.

Still by way of example, each module may have a weight of <NUM> - <NUM>, an external cord length measuring <NUM> - <NUM> and a diameter measuring <NUM> - <NUM>.

The compressibility of the material may be different for the modules <NUM> designed for the rear or front wheel.

Given the small size, the modules <NUM> are very simple to manufacture with respect to the toroidal filling elements of the state of the art, and very simple to fit and remove for the user or operator.

Furthermore, still with respect to the known toroidal filling elements, the modules <NUM> have a longer life over time and better performance because they tend to overheat less during use thanks to the greater overall surface extension considering the same volume.

Furthermore, with respect to known toroidal filling elements, the present invention is particularly cost-effective in the event of damage or breakage, because in this case it is possible to change the one or more damaged or broken modules and it is not necessary to change the whole filling element.

Suitably, before inserting into the tyre, a lubricating gel, for example of the silicone type, may be applied to the modules <NUM>. Besides facilitating the operation of insertion into the tyre, this gel increases the heat dissipation of the modules <NUM> and it acts as a barrier against the leakage of the gases therefrom, increasing the duration thereof over time.

In the light of the above, it is clear that the invention attains the pre-set objectives.

The present invention may include various parts and/or similar or identical elements. Unless otherwise specified, similar or identical parts and/or elements will be indicated by a single reference numeral, it being understood that the technical characteristics described are common to all similar or identical parts and/or elements.

Claim 1:
An annular modular assembly (<NUM>) suitable to fill a tyre of a cycle or motorcycle consisting of a plurality of identical modules (<NUM>), the tyre including a carcass and being designed to be mounted on the rim of a wheel, each module (<NUM>) being removably insertable in the tyre and comprising or consisting of a body made of compressible foamed elastomeric material defining a portion of said annular modular assembly (<NUM>), the body having tapered end areas (<NUM>) defining respective planes (π) designed - in use - to remain in contact with one of the tapered end areas (<NUM>) of the adjacent modules and a lateral surface (<NUM>) interposed between said tapered end areas (<NUM>) designed - in use - to come into contact with the tyre and with the rim on which the tyre is mounted,
characterized in that the number of said modules (<NUM>) is greater than those required to cover the entire circumferential extension of said annular modular assembly (<NUM>), so that the modules (<NUM>) are mutually pre-compressed within the carcass of the tyre; and further
characterized in that:
- said body has a curved shape with a circular or ellipsoidal section, said planes (π) being mutually incident and angularly spaced with respect to each other by an angle (α) comprised between <NUM>° and <NUM>°;
or alternatively
- said body has an elongated cylindrical or ellipsoidal shape designed to conform to the shape of the tyre when the module (<NUM>) is inserted therein to take the shape of
a circular or ellipsoidal section with said planes (π) mutually incident and angularly spaced with respect to each other by an angle (α) comprised between <NUM>° and <NUM>°.