Patent ID: 7887312

Claim:
A tire building core assembly comprising: a segmented toroidal core formed by a plurality of core segments having crown and sidewall portions configured in an adjacent array defining an outer tire-building toroidal surface, adjacent core segments having adjacent and opposed annularly directed peripheral edge surfaces; at least one pair of interlocking elements secured to the adjacent and opposed edge surfaces of the adjacent core segments, respectively, the interlocking elements operatively engaging to deter relative radial movement between the adjacent core segments; wherein the interlocking elements operatively disengage to facilitate a disassembly of the segmented toroidal core; wherein the interlocking elements comprise an elongate bar having a leading portion extending from one of the adjacent core segment edge surfaces and an elongate groove having a sectional configuration complementing the leading portion of the elongate bar; wherein the elongate bar and the elongate groove extend along and substantially span respective radially outward crown regions of respective core segment edge surfaces.