Patent ID: 6887063

Claim:
A processing mold for preparing a tire support having a wheel-rim surface, a tread-support surface surrounding said wheel-rim surface, and an internal configuration between said tread-support surface and said wheel-rim surface, said processing mold comprising: a. a unitary movable mandrel having a longitudinal axis and a diametrical axis, said mandrel comprising: i. a first end and a second end being spaced along said longitudinal axis, said first end comprising a first mold-body contact and said second end comprising a second mold-body contact; and ii. a mandrel body longitudinally interconnecting said first end and said second end, said mandrel body comprising a mandrel wall that defines an outer dimension of said mandrel body, said outer dimension being along said diametrical axis, said mandrel wall being suitable for defining said wheel-rim surface; b. a first mold body comprising: i. a first mandrel contact being engaged with said first mold-body contact of said mandrel to form a first engagement; and ii. a first mold support; c. a second mold body opposing said first mold body, said first mold body and said second mold body being aligned by said mandrel, said second mold body comprising: i. an inlet for receiving fluid polymeric or prepolymeric material; ii. a second mandrel contact being engaged with said second mold-body contact of said mandrel, said second mandrel contact being adjacent to said inlet and comprising a distribution port in fluid communication with said inlet; and iii. a second mold support, said second mold support meeting said first mold support, said first mold support or said second mold support or both defining said tread-support surface; and d. a tire-support region for molding a tire support, said tire-support region being defined by said mandrel wall, said first mold support, and said second mold support, and said tire-support region being in fluid communication with said distribution port.