INSERT FOR MOUNTING INTO AN INFLATABLE TIRE

1 . An inflatable tire ( 5 ) comprising an annularly shaped tire body extending along a circumference ( 20 ) of the tire ( 5 ) around a central rotational axis ( 18 ) of the tire ( 5 ), at least partially delimiting an annular space ( 6 ) surrounding the rotational axis ( 18 ) and enclosing an inflatable volume ( 7 ) for receiving a condensed state filling material ( 8 ), the annular space ( 6 ) containing an insert ( 1 ) in view of decreasing the inflatable volume ( 7 ) so that less inflating material ( 8 ) is needed to inflate the tire ( 5 ), characterised in that the assembly of the insert ( 1 ) and the annularly shaped tire body comprises positioning means ( 4 ) which permit positioning and at least temporarily fixing the position of the insert ( 1 ) into the annular space ( 6 ) of the tire ( 5 ).

2 . An inflatable tire according to claim 1 , characterised in that the positioning means ( 4 ) comprises a protrusion ( 14 , 24 ) extending from an outer face ( 2 ) of the insert ( 1 ) facing an inner face ( 3 , 13 , 23 ) of the annularly shaped tire body towards the annularly shaped tire body, the protrusion ( 14 , 24 ) being provided to contact the inner face ( 3 , 13 , 23 ) of the annularly shaped tire body of the uninflated tire.

3 . An inflatable tire ( 5 ) according to claim 2 , characterised in that the positioning means ( 4 ) comprises a plurality of protrusions ( 14 , 24 ).

4 . An inflatable tire ( 5 ) according to claim 3 , characterised in that the annularly shaped tire body comprises a first ( 38 ) and second ( 39 ) base portion provided to contact a rim ( 16 ) to mount the tire ( 5 ) to the rim ( 16 ) and in that the protrusions ( 14 , 24 ) are provided to extend from the insert ( 1 ) towards respectively the first ( 38 ) and the second ( 39 ) base portion and contact respectively the first ( 38 ) and the second ( 39 ) base portion.

5 . An inflatable tire ( 5 ) according to any one of claims 1 - 4 , characterised in that the protrusion ( 14 , 24 ) comprises an extension ( 15 ) having a cross-section with smaller dimensions than the dimensions of the cross-section of the protrusion ( 14 , 24 ) at his end part facing the inner face ( 3 , 13 , 23 ) of the annularly shaped tire body to minimise the contact surface area between the protrusion ( 14 , 24 ) and the inner face ( 3 , 13 , 23 ) of the annularly shaped tire body of the uninflated tire ( 5 ).

6 . An inflatable tire ( 5 ) according to any one of claims 1 - 5 , characterised in that the protrusion ( 14 , 24 ) is positioned on a radial or axial extending outer face ( 2 ) of the insert ( 1 ) and in that it extends in a radial or axial direction respectively.

7 . An inflatable tire ( 5 ) according to any of claims 1 - 6 , characterised in that the insert ( 1 ) is annularly shaped and in that the insert ( 1 ) comprises a rounded outer face ( 2 ).

8 . An inflatable tire ( 5 ) according to any one of claims 1 - 7 , characterised in that the insert ( 1 ) is made in one piece.

9 . An inflatable tire ( 5 ) according to any one of claims 1 - 8 , characterised in that the insert ( 1 ) is made of a material chosen from the group of: deformable, solid and/or foamed plastic material, elastomer, rubber, polypropene, EPDM rubber, polyethylene.

10 . An inflatable tire ( 5 ) according to any one of claims 1 - 9 , characterised in that the volume of the insert ( 1 ) is such that the volume of the annular space ( 6 ) is reduced with 20-80%, preferably 30-70%, more preferably 40-60% as compared to the volume of the annular space ( 6 ).

11 . An insert ( 1 ) according to any one of claims 1 - 10 .

12 . A method for mounting an insert ( 1 ) according to claim 11 into an inflatable tire ( 5 ) comprising an annularly shaped tire body extending along a circumference ( 20 ) of the tire ( 5 ) around a central rotational axis ( 18 ) of the tire ( 5 ), at least partially delimiting an annular space ( 6 ) surrounding the rotational axis ( 18 ) and enclosing an inflatable volume ( 7 ) for receiving a condensed state filling material ( 8 ), characterised in that the insert ( 1 ) is compressed together in a diametrical direction before insertion into the annular space ( 6 ) of the tire ( 5 ).

13 . A method according to claim 12 , characterised in that the insert ( 1 ) is compressed by pulling it through a tube in a diametrical direction.