Patents Assigned to Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
  • Patent number: 8518199
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are used to provide ways of tire tread molding and retreading with a double tread rubber body having a unitary structure that comprises two treads in order to remove the need for buffing an oxide layer typically associated with tread molding and curing. Embodiments of the double tread molding and retreading methods also remove the need for cementing the cured tread to prevent future oxidation buildup. Once the double tread is cured and cooled, it is cut along the centerline with a double tread separation apparatus to expose a soft non-oxidized inner rubber. The cutting is much less energy intensive when compared to buffing with an expendable wire brush. There is no risk of spots of oxidized rubber being missed as is the case with buffing. There is little or no dust created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventor: Troy Allen Kost
  • Publication number: 20130180645
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a buffer brush. When rotating, the buffer brush acts as a centrifugal pump. The buffer brush contains a core having a first side and a second side and the brush extends racially from the surface of the core. The first and second sides have at least one opening configured to allow air to flow laterally through the core. Vents on the surface of the cure are configured to allow air flowing laterally through the core to also flow radially through the vents into the brush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE BANDAG, LLC
    Inventor: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130101802
    Abstract: A tread for use in a tire retread process includes a first side and a second, flat side. A plurality of lugs is formed on a first side of the tread and arranged along in a periodically repeating tread pattern. A set of marks is formed in at least one outer lug and defines a finite linear distance along the tread within which the tread is adapted to be cut into the length of tread, such that when the length of tread is deposited around the casing of the tire and the ends of the length of tread are placed in abutting relationship one relative to the other along a seam, the periodically repeating tread pattern appears substantially continuous. The set of marks is predetermined in advance of retreading to be located in positions where at least some of the performance and processing characteristics of the tread may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE BANDAG, LLC
    Inventor: BRIDGESTONE BANDAG, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130029002
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are used to provide ways of tire tread molding and retreading with a double tread rubber body having a unitary structure that comprises two treads in order to remove the need for buffing an oxide layer typically associated with tread molding and curing. Embodiments of the double tread molding and retreading methods also remove the need for cementing the cured tread to prevent future oxidation buildup. Once the double tread is cured and cooled, it is cut along the centerline with a double tread separation apparatus to expose a soft non-oxidized inner rubber. The cutting is much less energy intensive when compared to buffing with an expendable wire brush. There is no risk of spots of oxidized rubber being missed as is the case with buffing. There is little or no dust created.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE BANDAG, LLC
    Inventor: BRIDGESTONE BANDAG, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130022696
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are used to provide ways of tire tread molding and retreading with a double tread rubber body having a unitary structure that comprises two treads in order to remove the need for buffing an oxide layer typically associated with tread molding and curing. Embodiments of the double tread molding and retreading methods also remove the need for cementing the cured tread to prevent future oxidation buildup. Once the double tread is cured and cooled, it is cut along the centerline with a double tread separation apparatus to expose a soft non-oxidized inner rubber. The cutting is much less energy intensive when compared to buffing with an expendable wire brush. There is no risk of spots of oxidized rubber being missed as is the case with buffing. There is little or no dust created.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventor: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
  • Patent number: 8357254
    Abstract: A method of cutting a length of tire tread for a retread tire includes measuring a circumference of the tire casing and cushion gum, and dispensing a length of tire tread from a roll based on the measured circumference. The length of tire tread relative to a tread cutter is adjusted so that the tire tread design at the point where the tread may be cut is between a set of marks formed in the periodically repeating tread design. The tread is then cut along a linear length of the tread disposed within the marks so that the periodically repeating tread pattern appears substantially continuous across a seam defined when the section of tire tread is wrapped around the casing such that the first and second ends meet in abutting relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventor: Andy Cerny
  • Patent number: 8298463
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are used to provide ways of tire tread molding and retreading with a double tread rubber body having a unitary structure that comprises two treads in order to remove the need for buffing an oxide layer typically associated with tread molding and curing. Embodiments of the double tread molding and retreading methods also remove the need for cementing the cured tread to prevent future oxidation buildup. Once the double tread is cured and cooled, it is cut along the centerline with a double tread separation apparatus to expose a soft non-oxidized inner rubber. The cutting is much less energy intensive when compared to buffing with an expendable wire brush. There is no risk of spots of oxidized rubber being missed as is the case with buffing. There is little or no dust created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventor: Troy Allen Kost
  • Publication number: 20110253316
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are used to provide ways of tire tread molding and retreading with a double tread rubber body having a unitary structure that comprises two treads in order to remove the need for buffing an oxide layer typically associated with tread molding and curing. Embodiments of the double tread molding and retreading methods also remove the need for cementing the cured tread to prevent future oxidation buildup. Once the double tread is cured and cooled, it is cut along the centerline with a double tread separation apparatus to expose a soft non-oxidized inner rubber. The cutting is much less energy intensive when compared to buffing with an expendable wire brush. There is no risk of spots of oxidized rubber being missed as is the case with buffing. There is little or no dust created.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventor: Troy Allen Kost
  • Publication number: 20110253275
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are used to provide ways of tire tread molding and retreading with a double tread rubber body having a unitary structure that comprises two treads in order to remove the need for buffing an oxide layer typically associated with tread molding and curing. Embodiments of the double tread molding and retreading methods also remove the need for cementing the cured tread to prevent future oxidation buildup. Once the double tread is cured and cooled, it is cut along the centerline with a double tread separation apparatus to expose a soft non-oxidized inner rubber. The cutting is much less energy intensive when compared to buffing with an expendable wire brush. There is no risk of spots of oxidized rubber being missed as is the case with buffing. There is little or no dust created.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventor: Troy Allen Kost
  • Publication number: 20110214801
    Abstract: A system and method for removing an outer layer of resilient material from an object to achieve a target outer dimension includes performing an initial cut at a cutting depth to remove an outer layer of the material. A parameter indicative of a work input to a cutter that performed the cut is acquired and used to determine the cutting depth that will be used for performing a subsequent cut to remove an additional layer. In this way, subsequent cuts are performed until the target outer dimension is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventors: John S. Lindsay, Brian Paul Goschka
  • Publication number: 20110186198
    Abstract: A method of cutting a length of tire tread for a retread tire includes measuring a circumference of the tire casing and cushion gum, and dispensing a length of tire tread from a roll based on the measured circumference. The length of tire tread relative to a tread cutter is adjusted so that the tire tread design at the point where the tread may be cut is between a set of marks formed in the periodically repeating tread design. The tread is then cut along a linear length of the tread disposed within the marks so that the periodically repeating tread pattern appears substantially continuous across a seam defined when the section of tire tread is wrapped around the casing such that the first and second ends meet in abutting relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE BANDAG, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Cerny
  • Publication number: 20110126961
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a buffer brush. When rotating, the buffer brush acts as a centrifugal pump. The buffer brush contains a core having a first side and a second side and the brush extends racially from the surface of the core. The first and second sides have at least one opening configured to allow air to flow laterally through the core. Vents on the surface of the cure are configured to allow air flowing laterally through the core to also flow radially through the vents into the brush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventor: Troy Allen Kost
  • Patent number: D609174
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventor: Junhui Cai
  • Patent number: D616357
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Cerny
  • Patent number: D620879
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventor: Terry A. Westaway
  • Patent number: D641684
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew D. Cerny
  • Patent number: D649927
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew D. Cerny
  • Patent number: D651556
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventor: Terry A. Westaway
  • Patent number: D651968
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventor: Terry A. Westaway
  • Patent number: D663680
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventor: Terry A. Westaway