Patents Assigned to Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
  • Pneumatic tire having multiple element bead assembly
    Patent number: 6732776
    Abstract: The invention improves tire flat spotting by providing a bead assembly that has bead filler elements disposed outside the body cords so that the turn up portion of the ply of body cords is disposed immediately back against the main portion of the ply of body cords above the bead core. This carcass structure increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall and decreases the flat spotting experience by the tire. In one embodiment of the invention, a reinforcing ply is wrapped around the bead filler elements to further increases the stiffness of the lower sidewall. In another embodiment, a bead filler element is disposed inside the body cords so that an air pocket is not formed in the carcass during the manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Neel K. Mani, John L. Turner, Thomas R. Branca, Hidetoshi Yokota, Brian E. Moore, Stanley J. Olesky
  • High density metal oxide fillers in rubber compounds
    Patent number: 6734245
    Abstract: The use of high density metal oxide fillers in vulcanizable rubber compounds is disclosed. The use of the fillers reduce or eliminate the need for conventional fillers, such as carbon black or silica, because viscoelastic performance properties of vulcanized rubber compounds with high density metal oxide fillers therein predict improved wet traction and rolling resistance, two key factors in the use of rubber compounds as vehicle tire treads. Methods of making and using such rubber compounds are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventor: Todd M. Baranek
  • Rubber compositions containing ground curing bladder rubber
    Patent number: 6730732
    Abstract: Rubber compositions such as tire innerliners contain significant amounts of ground, fine size tire curing bladder rubber as a filler. Critical properties such as air retention are not affected and spent or old curing bladder rubber which would otherwise go to a landfill is effectively recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Nicole L. Squire, Michael S. James, William J. O'Briskie
  • Non-attached monitoring assembly for pneumatic tire
    Patent number: 6722191
    Abstract: A monitoring assembly for a pneumatic tire is designed to be loosely disposed within the tire and rim combination. The monitoring assembly includes a protective body that surrounds a monitoring device. The protective body at least includes a rigid encapsulation material and may include a cushion layer disposed outside the rigid encapsulation layer. One embodiment of the invention provides channels disposed through the protective body to speed the temperature response of the monitoring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Russell W. Koch, Paul B. Wilson, Jack Dutcher, Guy J. Walenga, John D. Rensel
  • Apparatus and method of providing electrical power to an active electronic device embedded within a tire
    Patent number: 6705365
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting an electronic monitoring device to a pneumatic tire includes the steps of providing a green tire and attaching the electronic monitoring package to an anchoring patch. The anchoring patch having the electronic monitoring package is then mounted to the green tire and cured during the green tire cure process. A battery is then provided and a direct electrical connection between the electronic monitoring package and battery is then formed by plugging the battery into the electronic monitoring package. The electronic monitoring package may also be mounted in the green tire itself and cured with the green tire. The battery is connected to the electronic monitoring package after the cure process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventor: Paul B. Wilson
  • Pneumatic tire having tapered tie bars
    Patent number: 6695024
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread pattern having circumferential and lateral grooves forming a plurality of circumferentially extending ribs, each rib having a plurality of tread blocks. A plurality of tie bars extend circumferentially across certain of the lateral grooves between adjacent tread blocks in at least two of the ribs which are located equally opposite of a mid-circumferential plane of the tire. The tie bars have a pair of sidewalls and a sloped top surface with the slope of the top surface in one of the ribs being opposite to the slope of the tie bars in the other rib to generate a residual aligning torque (RAT) on the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Paul M. Neugebauer, John L. Turner, Stephen M. Vossberg
  • Attachment patch for mounting an electronic monitoring device to the inside of a pneumatic tire
    Patent number: 6688353
    Abstract: A patch and method for mounting an electronic monitoring device to the innerliner of a pneumatic tire is provided wherein the monitoring device is potted directly to an attachment patch. A frame is built on an attachment patch and the electronic monitoring device is disposed inside the frame. An encapsulation material is poured into the frame and cured to encapsulate the monitoring device directly against the patch. The patch may then be connected to the innerliner of a pneumatic tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventor: Russell W. Koch
  • Green tire holding device with turning spindle(s)
    Patent number: 6673182
    Abstract: A green tire holding device (50) including a horizontal turning spindle (52) which supports and turns a green tire (T) so that no set portion of the tire is constantly subjected to the downward pull of the rest of the tire carcass. The spindle (52) can be programmed to automatically continuously turn the green tire (T) or to automatically turn the green tire (T) at spaced intervals corresponding to desired angular movements. In a tire manufacturing method, the holding device (50) is used to turn the green tire (T) during a pre-curing wait cycle to thereby minimize distortion of the green tire (T).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventor: Paul A. Merendino, Sr.
  • Combination pneumatic tire and monitoring device
    Patent number: 6668884
    Abstract: An attachment between a monitoring device and an innerliner of a tire includes the use of an epoxy adhesive that bonds the monitoring device directly to the inner surface of the innerliner of the tire. The innerliner is first roughened in a manner that provides a roughened portion of the innerliner without removing the entire thickness of the innerliner. The entire thickness of the innerliner is not removed because the innerliner is preferably more than {fraction (1/16)} of an inch thick. The thickness of the innerliner allows the rigid cured epoxy to bond the monitoring device to the inner surface of the innerliner while allowing the innerliner to flex with the tire so as to not break the seal between the rigid epoxy and the innerliner. The monitoring device is preferably located at a low flex area of the tire to help avoid the problem of the innerliner flexing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Russell W. Koch, Paul B. Wilson
  • Use of spray-able anti-tack coating for puncture sealant tire application
    Publication number: 20030230369
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus to protect self-sealing tires from being damaged during shipment. The method for shipping self-sealing tires comprises the steps of applying a coating to the puncture sealant material on the tire and allowing the coating to cure. The method further includes arranging the tires including the cured coating in a shipment container in a predetermined configuration, followed by shipment of the tires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Christine L. Domer, Jeffrey A. Bader
  • Tire tread
    Patent number: D484088
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventor: Andrea Kindig
  • Tire tread
    Patent number: D484089
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Kindig, Jeffrey D. Parker
  • Tire tread
    Patent number: D484090
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Kindig, Jeffrey D. Parker
  • Tire tread
    Patent number: D484457
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Kindig, James G. Guspodin, David M. Reep
  • Tire tread
    Patent number: D485233
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Kindig, John J. Regallis, David M. Reep
  • Tire tread
    Patent number: D486444
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Lassan, James G. Guspodin, Thomas J. Walton
  • Tire tread
    Patent number: D488431
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventor: Keith E. Grabo
  • Tire tread
    Patent number: D490050
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Kindig, John J. Regallis, David M. Reep
  • Tire tread
    Patent number: D490367
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Kindig, John J. Regallis, Christopher G. Schrader
  • Tire tread
    Patent number: D490368
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Kindig, John J. Regallis, David M. Reep