Patent ID: 7189298

Claim:
A method for providing a precured innerliner ( 50 ) for a pneumatic tire assembly ( 94 ), said pneumatic tire assembly being built on an associated tire building drum ( 48 ) and subsequently mounted into an associated shaping and vulcanizing mold ( 90 ), the method including the steps of providing calendering means ( 10 ) for forming a continuous strip of elastomeric material and a press ( 40 ), comprising a press platen ( 80 ) for curing said continuous strip, said calendering means being able to form said continuous strip of elastomeric material having a predetermined cross sectional profile, the method characterized by the steps of: utilizing said calendering means to provide said continuous strip ( 12 ) of elastomeric material having a cross-sectional profile ( 66 ) including a center region ( 70 ) bounded by first and second lateral regions ( 72 , 74 ), said center region having a maximum thickness T 1 at least twice a minimum thickness T 2 of said first lateral region; providing said press platen with a pressing surface mating with a profiled surface ( 62 ) of said continuous strip ( 12 ); utilizing said press to in-line cure a predetermined portion of said continuous strip of elastomeric material by engaging said press platen with said predetermined portion of said continuous strip to preserve said cross-sectional profile, said predetermined portion having a length equal to or greater than a circumference of said associated tire building drum; winding said predetermined portion onto said associated tire building drum after said step of utilizing said curing means; cutting said predetermined portion to provide splice surfaces ( 58 , 60 ) after said step of utilizing said curing means; and, forming said precured innerliner ( 50 ) by joining said splice surfaces.