Method of manufacturing a tubular tire for cycles

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With the above discussion in mind, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved method of forming wholly enclosed tubular tires for cycles, both of the inner tube type and of the tubeless type.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a method which overcomes the disadvantages of prior art methods.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such an improved method which may be readily adapted to mass production techniques and which thereby reduces the overall cost of the finished products.
These objects are achieved in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention by providing a non-vulcanized tire body in the form of an endless band having opposite edges, an inner surface, and an outer surface having thereon a tread.
A completely enclosed toroidal shaped inner tube formed of non-vulcanized material is positioned on the inner surface of the tire body.
The tire body is wrapped about the inner tube, and the opposite edges of the tire body are overlapped over the inner tube, to thereby enclose the inner tube within the tire body.
The overlapped edges are joined to form a tire having irremovably enclosed therein the inner tube.
Thereafter, the tire, including the tire body, tread and inner tube are vulcanized.
The overlapped edges may be joined by any suitable and known adhesive.
Furthermore, prior to the step of vulcanizing, a protective tape may be applied over the overlapped edges.
The materials of the tire body, the tread, and the inner tube may be any materials which are conventionally employed for such articles.
In accordance with a preferred further specific feature of this embodiment of the present invention, the tire body may be positioned on a cylindrical drum with the inner surface of the tire body positioned radially outwardly.
The inner tube is then positioned around the tire body and the cylindrical drum, whereafter the tire body is wrapped around the inner tube and the opposite edges are overlapped and joined, whereby the overlapped edges will be formed at the outer circumference of the tire and the tread will be positioned at the inner circumference of the tire