Patent ID: 8336588

Claim:
A vehicle tire comprising: a tire body having an innerliner defining an inside surface; an attachment patch for mounting a monitoring device to the inside of the tire body; the attachment patch fabricated from a material; the attachment patch having at least a first surface and a second surface; an antenna carried by the attachment patch; the antenna including a connecting element that protrudes outwardly from the attachment patch; an electronic monitoring package being spaced from the first surface of the attachment patch; the electronic monitoring package being connected to the antenna with the connecting element at a connection location; an encapsulation material surrounding at least a portion of the electronic monitoring device; the encapsulation material surrounding the connection location; the encapsulation material encircling the location where the connecting element protrudes outwardly from the attachment patch; at least a portion of the encapsulation material being disposed between the first surface of the attachment patch and the monitoring package; the encapsulation material being integrally bonded to the material of the attachment patch to define an integral combination, the encapsulation material having been directly applied and then cured to the first side of the attachment patch so as to directly and securely bond with the material of the attachment patch to connect the encapsulation material and the electronic monitoring device to the material of the attachment patch; and the second surface of the attachment patch being connected to the innerliner.