Tire having a conductivity path

Abstract

A tire includes a pair of beads and a crown region including a circumferential tread disposed radially above a circumferential belt. The tire further includes a pair sidewalls extending from the pair of beads to the crown region. A body ply wraps around the pair of beads and terminates in a pair of turn up ends in the crown region, below the middle 30% of the circumferential belt. A conductive substance is disposed along a strip of the body ply.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tire comprising:
 a circumferential tread;   a circumferential belt disposed radially below the circus circumferential tread;   a first annular bead and a second annular bead;   a first sidewall extending between the first annular bead and a first shoulder, the first shoulder being associated with the circumferential tread;   a second sidewall extending between the second annular bead and a second shoulder, the second shoulder being associated with the circumferential tread; and   a body ply extending between the first annular bead and the second annular bead,
 wherein the body ply further extends around the first annular bead, forming a first turn up portion that extends through the first sidewall, over the first shoulder, and below at least 20% of the width of the circumferential belt, and 
 wherein the body ply further extends around the second annular bead, forming a second turn up portion that extends through the second sidewall, over the second shoulder, and below at least 20% of the width of the circumferential belt; and 
   a metal filament disposed radially between the circumferential tread and the body ply, wherein the metal filament extends from a first abrasion area associated with the first annular bead to a second abrasion area associated with the second annular bead.   
     
     
         2 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein the tire further comprises a second metal filament disposed radially between the circumferential tread and the body ply, wherein the second metal filament extends from a first abrasion area associated with the first annular bead to a second abrasion area associated with the second annular bead. 
     
     
         3 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein the tire further comprises a second metal filament and a third metal filament, the second and third metal filaments being disposed generally equidistantly around a tire circumference. 
     
     
         4 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein the metal filament is composed of at least 50% copper. 
     
     
         5 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein the metal filament includes a nylon core and silver coating. 
     
     
         6 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein the metal ent includes a metal core and conductive rubber coating. 
     
     
         7 . The tire of  claim 1 , wherein the metal filament has conductivity between 1.0×10 7  and 8.0×10 7  σ-cm. 
     
     
         8 . A tire comprising:
 a tread;   an undertread below the tread;   a belt region below the undertread;   a pair of beads, each bead including a bead core and a bead filler;   a pair of abrasion areas, each abrasion area being associated with one of the pair of beads;   a body ply having a pair of turn up portions that wrap around the bead cores and the bead fillers and extend to the belt region of the tire;   a pair of sidewalls outside the body ply, each sidewall extending between the tread and one of the abrasion areas; and   a conductive substance extending from at least one of the abrasion areas to the belt region of the tire.   
     
     
         9 . The tire of  claim 8 , wherein the conductive substance is a metal filament. 
     
     
         10 . The tire of  claim 8 , wherein the conductive substance is a metallic powder. 
     
     
         11 . The tire of  claim 10 , wherein the metallic powder is disposed on an adhesive strip. 
     
     
         12 . The tire of  claim 10 , wherein the metallic powder is suspended within an adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . The tire of  claim 8 , wherein the sidewalls are comprised of a polymer having 25-40 phr carbon black. 
     
     
         14 . The tire of  claim 8 , wherein the conductive substance is a conductive rubber strip. 
     
     
         15 . The tire of  claim 8 , wherein the conductive substance extends from the belt region down a sidewall region of the tire, radially inside one of the bead fillers and one of the bead cores, and wherein the conductive substance wraps around the bead core and at least a portion of the bead filler. 
     
     
         16 . A tire comprising:
 a pair of beads;   a crown region including a circumferential tread disposed radially above a circumferential belt;   a pair sidewalls extending from the pair of beads to the crown region;   a body ply that wraps around the pair of beads and terminates in a pair of turn up ends in the crown region, below the middle 30% of the circumferential belt;   a conductive substance disposed along a strip of the body ply.   
     
     
         17 . The tire of  claim 16 , wherein the conductive substance is disposed along 40-60% of the length of the body ply. 
     
     
         18 . The tire of  claim 16 , wherein the conductive substance extends from an area below the middle 30% of the circumferential belt to an abrasion area associated with one of the beads. 
     
     
         19 . The tire of  claim 16 , wherein the conductive substance has conductivity between 1.0×10 7  and 8.0×10 7 σ-cm. 
     
     
         20 . The method tire of  claim 16 , further comprising a non-conductive sealing gel disposed above the circumferential belt.