Abstract: A garment (20) for inhibiting relatively moving air from contacting a portion of a person wearing the garment. The garment (20) comprises a first panel (22) for inhibiting relative air movement contact against a portion of the body of the person. The first panel (22) includes a first fabric layer (62), a second fabric layer (64) and a first membrane (66) located between the first and second the first fabric layers. The first membrane (66) is water-resistant. The first panel (22) has an air permeability of not more than 3 CFM/ft.sup.2 and a moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 800 gm/m.sup.2 .multidot.day. The garment (20) also comprises a second panel (24) connectable with the first panel (22). The second panel (24) includes a third fabric layer (62a), a fourth fabric layer (64a) and a second membrane (66a) located between the third and fourth fabric layers. The second membrane (66a) is water-resistant. The second panel (24) has an air permeability of at least 6 CFM/f.sup.

Abstract: An apparatus for building a tire comprises a supply of elastomeric sheet material of a predetermined length and having spaced apart first and second end portions. A plurality of parallel extending reinforcing members are contained in the elastomeric sheet material of which adjacent reinforcing members are spaced apart a substantially equal first distance. An embosser for elastically deforming the first and second end portions of the elastomeric sheet material increases the distance between the adjacent reinforcing members in each of the first and second end portions to a second distance greater than the first distance. A drum is provided to receive the elastomeric sheet material with the first and second end portions overlapped. A mold is provided to bond together the first and second end portions of the elastomeric material in the overlapped portion under heated pressure to form a joint.

Abstract: Axle alignment for a tractor-trailer vehicle combination is important for tire wear, fuel economy and driver fatigue. Misalignment occurs when the tractor thrust line vectors (one perpendicular to each drive axle) has a skew angle with respect to a longitudinal reference axis of the tractor. In addition, the tandem axles of a dual axle combination must be parallel to minimize scrubbing between the tires and the roadway. The same problems exist when the trailer drag line vectors (one perpendicular to each trailer axle) are not aligned with a longitudinal reference, and the dual axles are not parallel, due to axle misalignment.The instrument and method of this invention are components of an alignment system for making accurate alignment adjustments to the vehicle. The instrument is compact, light weight and portable. Also, only one instrument is required to establish location points on the reference surface supporting the vehicle.

Abstract: In a tire mold having a pair of mold parts separable about cooperating surfaces of the respective mold parts which define a parting line region, each of the mold parts includes a surface defining at least a portion of a cavity for shaping a tire. The tire mold further includes a plurality of pockets for defining a respective plurality of circumferentially arranged tread elements in the tire. The improvement comprises a vacuum source in fluid communication with the cavity of the tire mold for evacuating fluid from the cavity in the tire mold through a space located between the surfaces of the mold parts which define the parting line region. A vent fluidly connects a pair of adjacent pockets. A passage associated with one of the mold parts provides fluid communication between the vacuum source and one of the pair of adjacent pockets connected by the vent.

Abstract: A container for an uncured radial tire assembly having a tread portion and a sidewall joined at a shoulder and having a bead portion located axially outwardly of the sidewall. The container comprises a base and a frustoconical surface attached to the base. The frustoconical surface is for engaging the shoulder of the tire assembly to support the tire assembly with the bead portion and sidewall extending axially from the tire assembly substantially without deforming. The frustoconical surface is capable of supporting more than one size tire assembly. Two containers are stackable so a tire assembly is supported in one of the containers without being contacted by the other container.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing radial force variations of pneumatic tires by removing rubber in selected areas of the tire wherein a tire is rotated at a suitable high speed for nongrinding functions such as warmup and testing and the tire is rotated at a suitable slow speed for removing rubber from the selected areas of the tire. A tire with distinct suitable texture features was unexpectantly found using an apparatus and method.

Abstract: A mold for curing a green tire which is made of an elastomeric material capable of flowing prior to curing. The mold includes a surface defining a cavity in the mold for receiving the green tire. A passage communicates the cavity with the exterior of the mold. A vent plug is located in the passage. The vent plug has an opening extending therethrough communicating the cavity with the passage. Elastomeric material may flow into the opening to form a projection extending from the tire as the green tire is pressed against the surface defining the cavity during a molding operation. The vent plug has a portion extending into the cavity a predetermined distance from the surface to form a recess in the tire adjacent the projection. The recess provides a space that the projection may deflect into to prevent shearing off of the projection during removal of the tire from the mold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing radial force variations of pneumatic tires by removing rubber in selected areas of the tire wherein a tire is rotated at a suitable high speed for nongrinding functions such as warmup and testing and the tire is rotated at a suitable slow speed for removing rubber from the selected areas of the tire. A tire with distinct suitable texture features was unexpectantly found using an apparatus and method.

Abstract: An apparatus for building a tire comprises a supply of elastomeric sheet material of a predetermined length and having spaced apart first and second end portions. A plurality of parallel extending reinforcing members are contained in the elastomeric sheet material of which adjacent reinforcing members are spaced apart a substantially equal first distance. An embosser for elastically deforming the first and second end portions of the elastomeric sheet material increases the distance between the adjacent reinforcing members in each of the first and second end portions to a second distance greater than the first distance. A drum is provided to receive the elastomeric sheet material with the first and second end portions overlapped. A mold is provided to bond together the first and second end portions of the elastomeric material in the overlapped portion under heated pressure to form a joint.