Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Swartzwelder

Christopher A. Swartzwelder has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20180126808
    Abstract: Method for determining concentric mounting of a tire on a wheel. In one embodiment, method for determining concentric mounting of a tire on a wheel comprises: providing a tire including at least one bead area, wherein at least one rim centering tolerance indicator is oriented in the at least one bead area, and wherein the at least one rim centering tolerance indicator extends circumferentially about the tire; mounting the tire on a wheel to form a tire-wheel assembly, the wheel includes a circular cross-section including a center point; rotatably mounting the tire-wheel assembly on a tire balancing machine; providing a light source adjacent to the tire-wheel assembly, the light source projects a projected reference point upon the at least one bead area; rotating the tire-wheel assembly; and observing the runout of the projected reference point relative to the at least one rim centering tolerance indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Todd A. BUXTON, Jason R. MISUTKA, Steven M. SAWYER, Christopher SWARTZWELDER, Guy J. WALENGA
  • Publication number: 20160313215
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining concentric mounting of a tire on a wheel is provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for determining concentric mounting of a tire on a wheel is provided, the apparatus comprising: a head portion including a viewfinder; a body portion including at least one index member; and a neck portion connecting the head portion to the body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Todd Alan Buxton, Jason R. Misutka, Steven Mark Sawyer, Christopher A. Swartzwelder, Guy Joseph Walenga, Reubin R. Close
  • Patent number: 9440499
    Abstract: A tire includes a circumferential tread, at least one belt, and a pair of sidewalls, with each sidewall forming an outermost point of a side of the tire. The tire further includes a pair of bead portions and at least one carcass ply extending circumferentially about the tire from one bead portion to the other. The tire also has a chafer having a first portion radially below the bead portion and the carcass ply, and a second portion axially outward from the bead portion and the carcass ply, wherein the sidewall is located radially below the first portion of the chafer and axially outward from the second portion of the chafer. A sidewall gum strip extends radially upward from the second portion of the chafer. The sidewall gum strip is located axially between the carcass ply turn-up end and at least a portion of the chafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley J. Harris, Christopher A. Swartzwelder
  • Patent number: 9073389
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire for agricultural equipment or forestry equipment includes a circumferential tread, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of bead portions. A steel reinforced radial carcass ply extends circumferentially about the tire. The carcass ply includes an axially inner portion and axially outer turn-up portions. First and second steel reinforced belts are disposed between the carcass ply and the circumferential tread. Axial ends of the belts are separated by belt wedges. The tire includes a pair of sidewall inserts. Each sidewall insert extends continuously from an upper end extending between the first belt and the carcass ply, through a sidewall region of the tire, to a lower end extending between the inner portion of the carcass ply and one of the turn-up portions of the carcass ply. A tie gum layer binds an inner liner to the carcass ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Todd A. Buxton, Bradley J. Harris, Christopher A. Swartzwelder, Nobuo Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20130306213
    Abstract: A tire includes a circumferential tread, at least one belt, and a pair of sidewalls, with each sidewall forming an outermost point of a side of the tire. The tire further includes a pair of bead portions and at least one carcass ply extending circumferentially about the tire from one bead portion to the other. The tire also has a chafer having a first portion radially below the bead portion and the carcass ply, and a second portion axially outward from the bead portion and the carcass ply, wherein the sidewall is located radially below the first portion of the chafer and axially outward from the second portion of the chafer. A sidewall gum strip extends radially upward from the second portion of the chafer. The sidewall gum strip is located axially between the carcass ply turn-up end and at least a portion of the chafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley J. HARRIS, Christopher A. Swartzwelder
  • Publication number: 20130098518
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire for agricultural equipment or forestry equipment includes a circumferential tread, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of bead portions. A steel reinforced radial carcass ply extends circumferentially about the tire. The carcass ply includes an axially inner portion and axially outer turn-up portions. First and second steel reinforced belts are disposed between the carcass ply and the circumferential tread. Axial ends of the belts are separated by belt wedges. The tire includes a pair of sidewall inserts. Each sidewall insert extends continuously from an upper end extending between the first belt and the carcass ply, through a sidewall region of the tire, to a lower end extending between the inner portion of the carcass ply and one of the turn-up portions of the carcass ply. A tie gum layer binds an inner liner to the carcass ply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Todd A. Buxton, Bradley J. Harris, Christopher A. Swartzwelder, Nobuo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8413700
    Abstract: A tire having a circumferential tread, at least one belt, an inner liner, a pair of sidewalls, and at least three carcass plies. The tire includes a pair of bead portions, each including a bead core, a bead filler, a flipper, a chafer, and a gum strip. The at least three carcass plies extend radially downward, inward of the bead filler, extend around the bead core, and continue upward, outward of the bead filler and terminate in at least three turn-up ends. At least one of the turn-up ends does not contact at least one of the radially downward extending carcass plies, the flipper, or the bead filler in one of the sidewalls, and at least two of the turn-up ends contact at least one of the radially downward extending carcass plies, the flipper, or the bead filler in one of the sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Todd A Buxton, Bradley J Harris, Taro Iwamoto, Christopher A Swartzwelder
  • Publication number: 20110186201
    Abstract: A tire having a circumferential tread, at least one belt, an inner liner, a pair of sidewalls, and at least three carcass plies. The tire includes a pair of bead portions, each including a bead core, a bead filler, a flipper, a chaffer, and a gum strip. The at least three carcass plies extend radially downward, inward of the bead filler, extend around the bead core, and continue upward, outward of the bead filler and terminate in at least three turn-up ends. At least one of the turn-up ends does not contact at least one of the radially downward extending carcass plies, the flipper, or the bead filler in one of the sidewalls, and at least two of the turn-up ends contact at least one of the radially downward extending carcass plies, the flipper, or the bead filler in one of the sidewalls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS TIRE OPERATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Todd A. Buxton, Bradley J. Harris, Taro Iwamoto, Christopher A. Swartzwelder