Abstract: A tire includes a carcass; a tread band on the carcass; a belt, positioned between the tread band and the carcass, including at least one layer of rubberized fabric; and at least one reinforcing metal strap in the at least one layer of rubberized fabric. The at least one reinforcing metal strap is made of a shape-memory material oriented at about 0° to an equatorial plane of the tire. The at least one reinforcing metal strap has a width of no less than about 1 mm. And the at least one reinforcing metal strap has coils disposed side-by-side in a direction substantially perpendicular to a radius of the tire.

Abstract: Windshield wiper comprising an oscillating arm and a frame connected thereto for receiving a wiper blade, wherein the wiper blade comprises a body portion and a downwardly extending wiping lip for wiping the upper surface of a windshield, said wiping lip being connected to said body portion through two connecting pieces at least partially surrounding a hollow space, seen in cross-section, characterized in that said connecting pieces are at least substantially straight.

Abstract: Windshield wiper comprising an oscillating arm and a frame connected thereto for receiving a wiping blade, wherein the wiping blade is reinforced by at least two backing strips located in longitudinally extending recesses provided opposite each other in the wiping blade, said recesses defining between them a longitudinally extending connection part of the wiping blade, wherein the frame has a, least one claw which partially surrounds the backing strips and the upper portion of the wiping blade, and wherein means extending laterally from the interior longitudinal edge of at least one backing strip are provided for retaining the backing strip on the wiping blade, characterized in that the connecting cart is deformed asymmetrically vis-a-vis the plane of symmetry of the wiping blade by said means.

Abstract: A tire includes a carcass, a tread band, at least a reinforcing belt between the tread band and the carcass, a pair of bead cores disposed one at each end of the carcass with ends of the carcass wrapped around the pair of bead cores to form a pair of beads, and at least one clamp disposed around each bead core, wherein the at least one clamp is made of a shape-memory material. A bead core including at least one clamp made of a shape-memory material, a method for manufacturing a tire including at least one clamp made of a strip of shape-memory material, and a method for manufacturing a bead core including at least one clamp made of a strip of shape-memory material are also disclosed.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of a reinforcing fabric for articles made from rubber, such as pneumatic tires, conveyor belts, flexible tubes, and similar, comprising a plurality of metal cords orientated parallel to each other in a single direction and in which each cord comprises metal wires wound spirally around each other, wherein at least one of the wires of the cord consists of a shape memory material.

Abstract: Reinforcing fabric for articles made from elastomeric material, particularly for pneumatic tires, comprising a plurality of filamentary elements having at least tensile strength, parallel and adjacent to each other in a plane, lying in a predetermined direction. The reinforcing elements, preferably cords, are incorporated in an elastomeric material and constitute at most the 40% of the volume of the fabric.

Abstract: A metal cord for reinforcing articles made from elastomeric material comprises a plurality of metal wires wound spirally around each other. At least one of the metal wires is formed from a shape memory material, has capacities of recovering a previously memorized shape, and is deformed from the memorized shape. The shape memory wire of the cord has the recovery capacities substantially active in a first heat cycle and degraded to at least a significant predetermined extent after the first heat cycle. One or more such metal cords may be incorporated in pneumatic tires, reinforcing fabric, and other articles, including by means of processes described herein.

Abstract: A wire, generally made of steel and used to make composite elements of elastomeric material, is submitted to an electrodeposition process in an electrolytic bath for being coated with a zinc/cobalt alloy in which the average cobalt content is lower than 1%. In the coating thickness made of the zinc/cobalt alloy, different cobalt concentrations exist, that is a 1% to 3% concentration at the area close to the metal wire and a concentration as low as 0.5% maximum at the overlying area. Adhesion promoters for example consisting of cobalt neodecanate, added to the elastomeric material, promote the adhesion of said elastomeric material to the wire.

Abstract: A wire, generally made of steel and used to make composite elements of elastomeric material, is submitted to an electrodeposition process in an electrolytic bath for being coated with a zinc/cobalt alloy in which the average cobalt content is lower than 1%. In the coating thickness made of the zinc/cobalt alloy, different cobalt concentrations exist, that is a 1% to 3% concentration at the area close to the metal and a concentration as low as 0.5% maximum at the overlying area. Adhesion promoters for example consisting of cobalt neodecanate, added to the elastomeric material, promote the adhesion of said elastomeric material to the wire.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire particularly adapted for cars, is provided with belt strips (7, 8) each comprising a first and a second series of cords (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) made of different materials, alternated with each other axially across the width of the tire according to a preestablished sequence. The cords (7b, 8b) of the second series, made of aramid or glass for example, cooperate with those of the first series (7a, 8a), made of steel, to withstand tensile stresses in the longitudinal direction. Conversely, the cords (7b, 8b) of aramid or glass have a greater compliance than the steel cords (7a, 8a) towards compressive stresses. The elastomer incorporating the cords (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) is filled with reinforcing fibers, short aramid fibers or aramid pulp for example, and has a modulus of elasticity between 15 and 50 megapascals.

Abstract: Tire bead members (10) have radially superposed layers (11,12,13,14) of fibers (15) embedded in a polymeric matrix (16). Interposed between the layers (11,12,13,14) of composite material are thin layers (17,18,19) of a material that is not adhered to both of the adjacent layers (11,12;12,13;13,14) of composite material. Tires employing said bead members are also disclosed.