Patents by Inventor Naohiko Kikuchi

Naohiko Kikuchi 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: 20100056684
    Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a rubber composition for a studless tire that contributes to both good braking force and high handling stability on ice or snow, and a high performance studless tire using the rubber composition. The rubber composition for the studless tire contains: a mixture of a zinc salt of an aliphatic carboxylic acid and a zinc salt of an aromatic carboxylic acid; an oil or a plasticizer; and a rubber component that comprises 40% by mass or more of a butadiene rubber relative to 100% by mass of a total amount of the rubber component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Takayuki HATTORI, Ryoji Kojima, Naohiko Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7513281
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire comprises assembling unvulcanized rubber components to make a green tire, vulcanizing the green tire, and winding an unvulcanized rubber tape so that the windings collectively have a predetermined cross sectional shape for at least one of the unvulcanized rubber components to thereby make said at least one of the unvulcanized rubber components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuji Ikeda, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Naohiko Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20090020203
    Abstract: The present invention provides a run-flat tire that can improve both of ride quality and run-flat performance. The run-flat tire of the present invention comprises a sidewall-reinforcing layer prepared by using a rubber composition comprising non-metallic short fibers having an average fiber diameter of 1 to 100 ?m and an average fiber length of 0.1 to 20 mm in an amount of 5 to 120 parts by weight on the basis of 100 parts by weight of a diene rubber, the non-metallic short fibers being oriented in the circumferential direction of the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Naohiko Kikuchi, Kazuo Hochi
  • Publication number: 20090018272
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a rubber composition suitable for a studless tire, which can inhibit rubber hardness increase with time and reveals excellent performance on ice and snow for a long time. The present invention relates to a rubber composition comprising 1 to 60 parts by weight of hydrogenised liquid polybutadiene based on 100 parts by weight of a rubber component containing at least 80% by weight of a natural rubber and a butadiene rubber, wherein a peak temperature of tan ? is at most 45° C. and rubber hardness at 0° C. is at most 64.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Takayuki Hattori, Naohiko Kikuchi, Ryoji Kojima
  • Publication number: 20080308207
    Abstract: The invention provides a rubber composition for forming a clinch of a tire, containing a rubber component containing at least one of a natural rubber and an epoxidized natural rubber, and not less than 30 parts by mass of silica and not less than 0.1 part by mass to not more than 10 parts by mass of a quinone diimine compound to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, and a clinch and a tire formed using the rubber composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Naohiko Kikuchi, Toru Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7432318
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tread rubber composition for a tire, which highly controls energy loss in a wide frequency range and has high frictional force especially on wet road surfaces, and a tire using the same. Specifically, the present invention provides a rubber composition for a tire comprising 5 to 100 parts by weight of a fatty acid obtained from a vegetable oil having an iodine value of at least 80, based on 100 parts by weight of a rubber component, wherein the ratio of tan? at 60° C. to tan? at 0° C. is at least 0.85, and a pneumatic tire using the rubber composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naohiko Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7307116
    Abstract: To provide a rubber composition for breaker having balanced properties among rigidity, heat resistance, adhesiveness, humid aging adhesion and elongation, and a pneumatic tire having a breaker layer or a belt layer comprising the rubber composition. A rubber composition for breaker comprises 55 to 65 parts by weight of carbon black, 5 to 15 parts by weight of silica, 3.5 to 4.5 parts by weight of sulfur, at least 0.08 part by weight of cobalt, a resorcinol resin and a methylene donor based on 100 parts by weight of a rubber component containing a natural rubber and/or an isoprene rubber as a main component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Mizuno, Masato Kawase, Mamoru Uchida, Naohiko Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20070240610
    Abstract: An earth-friendly tire using raw materials derived from non-petroleum resources instead of all or part of raw materials derived from petroleum resources currently used for tires. The tire is prepared by using a natural rubber instead of a synthetic rubber; an inorganic filler and/or a biofiller instead of carbon black; vegetable oil instead of petroleum oil; and natural fiber instead of synthetic fiber so that the tire has a non-petroleum raw material in an amount of at least 75 % by weight based on the total weight of the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Naohiko Kikuchi, Kazuo Hochi, Takuya Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 7275572
    Abstract: An earth-friendly tire using raw materials derived from non-petroleum resources instead of all or part of raw materials derived from petroleum resources currently used for tires. The tire is prepared by using a natural rubber instead of a synthetic rubber; an inorganic filler and/or a biofiller instead of carbon black; vegetable oil instead of petroleum oil; and natural fiber instead of synthetic fiber so that the tire comprises a non-petroleum raw material in an amount of at least 75% by weight based on the total weight of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohiko Kikuchi, Kazuo Hochi, Takuya Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 7247663
    Abstract: An earth-friendly tire using raw materials derived from non-petroleum resources instead of all or part of raw materials derived from petroleum resources currently used for tires. The tire is prepared by using a natural rubber instead of a synthetic rubber; an inorganic filler and/or a biofiller instead of carbon black; vegetable oil instead of petroleum oil; and natural fiber instead of synthetic fiber so that the tire comprises a non-petroleum raw material in an amount of at least 75% by weight based on the total weight of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohiko Kikuchi, Kazuo Hochi, Takuya Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 7211612
    Abstract: A tread rubber composition improved both in grip performance on ice-covered and snow-covered road surfaces and in abrasion resistance is provided. The tread rubber composition contains aluminum hydroxide having an untamped density of not more than 0.60 g/cm3, a DOP oil absorption of at least 70 cm3/100 g and less than 250 cm3/100 g, and a BET specific surface area of at least 30 m2/g and not more than 350 m2/g in an amount of 5–60 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of a rubber component containing at least 50% by weight of at least one of polyisoprene rubber and polybutadiene rubber. The tread rubber composition has a tan? peak temperature of not more than ?45° C. and a type A durometer hardness at 0° C. of not more than 64.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naohiko Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7165585
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a lightweight tire without decreasing durability and to reduce rolling resistance and improve steering stability of the tire. Specifically, the present invention relates to a rubber composition for a tire comprising 20 to 120 parts by weight of an inorganic filler, and 5 to 70 parts by weight of polyethylene powder, based on 100 parts by weight of diene rubber, the tire being prepared by kneading at 140° C. at most. The particle size of the polyethylene powder is preferably at most 500 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kunisawa, Naohiko Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7122090
    Abstract: The present invention provides a studless tire excellent in performance on ice and snow in which digging friction is improved without losing adhesion friction. The studless tire has a tread comprising specific short fiber or plate-like material dispersed in diene rubber so as to be oriented in the tread thickness direction, wherein when measured at 25° C. the tread has a complex elastic modulus E1 in the tread thickness direction, and the sheet has a complex elastic modulus E? in the extrusion direction and a complex elastic modulus E? in a 90° direction from the extrusion direction, when the rubber composition is made into 2 mm sheets with a roller and these moduli fulfill the following equation, 60?(E1?E?)/(E??E?)×100?100 and the tread has a specific tread rubber hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Isamu Tsumori, Akira Minakoshi, Naohiko Kikuchi, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Takuzo Iwata, Norio Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 7119147
    Abstract: A rubber composition which prevents the rise in rubber hardness over time and can maintain good performance on snow and ice over a long period, which includes (A) a diene rubber containing, as a main component, at least one member selected from the group consisting of natural rubber and butadiene rubber, and (B) 5 to 60 parts by weight of vegetable oil which has an iodine value of at least 80 and contains at least 70% by weight of unsaturated fatty acid having at least 18 carbon atoms, based on 100 parts by weight of the diene rubber (A), the rubber composition having a tan ? peak temperature Tg of at most ?50° C. and a rubber hardness of at most 64 at 0° C. The present invention also relates to a pneumatic tire using the rubber composition as the tread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naohiko Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7060146
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire comprises assembling unvulcanized rubber components to make a green tire, vulcanizing the green tire, and winding an unvulcanized rubber tape so that the windings collectively have a predetermined cross sectional shape for at least one of the unvulcanized rubber components to thereby make said at least one of the unvulcanized rubber components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuji Ikeda, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Naohiko Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7044181
    Abstract: There is provided a studless tire that is excellent especially in performance on a snow or ice road. A studless tire, wherein non-metal staple fibers having an average fiber diameter of 1 to 100 ?m and an average length of 0.1 to 5 mm are dispersed in a diene rubber in such a way that the non-metal staple fibers are oriented in a thickness direction of a tread, a complex elastic modulus E1 in the thickness direction of the tread and an elastic module E2 in a circumferential direction of the tire measured at 25° C. satisfy the equation 1.1?E1/E2?4, and hardness of the tread rubber measured at ?10° C. is 45 to 75 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Uchida, Naohiko Kikuchi, Narihiro Tahara, Takeshi Ohta
  • Publication number: 20050236084
    Abstract: An earth-friendly tire using raw materials derived from non-petroleum resources instead of all or part of raw materials derived from petroleum resources currently used for tires. The tire is prepared by using a natural rubber instead of a synthetic rubber; an inorganic filler and/or a biofiller instead of carbon black; vegetable oil instead of petroleum oil; and natural fiber instead of synthetic fiber so that the tire comprises a non-petroleum raw material in an amount of at least 75% by weight based on the total weight of the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: Naohiko Kikuchi, Kazuo Hochi, Takuya Horiguchi
  • Publication number: 20050171260
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tread rubber composition for a tire, which highly controls energy loss in a wide frequency range and has high frictional force especially on wet road surfaces, and a tire using the same. Specifically, the present invention provides a rubber composition for a tire comprising 5 to 100 parts by weight of a fatty acid obtained from a vegetable oil having an iodine value of at least 80, based on 100 parts by weight of a rubber component, wherein the ratio of tan? at 60° C. to tan? at 0° C. is at least 0.85, and a pneumatic tire using the rubber composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventor: Naohiko Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20050145314
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire comprises assembling unvulcanized rubber components to make a green tire, vulcanizing the green tire, and winding an unvulcanized rubber tape so that the windings collectively have a predetermined cross sectional shape for at least one of the unvulcanized rubber components to thereby make said at least one of the unvulcanized rubber components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ikuji Ikeda, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Naohiko Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20040211111
    Abstract: The present invention provide a rubber composition which prevents the rise in rubber hardness over time and can maintain good performance on snow and ice over a long period. The rubber composition comprises (A) a diene rubber containing, as a main component, at least one member selected from the group consisting of natural rubber and butadiene rubber, and (B) 5 to 60 parts by weight of vegetable oil which has an iodine value of at least 80 and contains at least 70% by weight of unsaturated fatty acid having at least 18 carbon atoms, based on 100 parts by weight of the diene rubber (A), the rubber composition having a tan &dgr; peak temperature Tg of at most −50° C. and a rubber hardness of at most 64 at 0° C. The present invention also relates to a pneumatic tire using the rubber composition as the tread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventor: Naohiko Kikuchi