Patents Assigned to Firestone, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5612141
    Abstract: An adhesive tape composition includes a polymer blend comprising at least one EPDM rubber, and preferably three EPDM rubbers in substantially equal amounts, and an adhesive-enhancing polymer selected from the group consisting of polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and ethylene-propylene copolymer and mixtures thereof. The tape adhesive composition further includes at least one tackifying additive compatible with said polymer blend and a sulfur and organic accelerator cure package for said polymer blend, the adhesive composition being devoid of butyl rubber which is found in most other adhesive tape compositions. This composition is seen as providing excellent long-term heat aging, weathering resistance, and low temperature properties as compared to adhesive tape compositions containing butyl rubber. Moreover, the adhesive tape composition provides more surface tack, better "quick-grab", and higher green strength as compared to adhesive tape compositions containing 100 percent EPDM rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Davis, Joseph R. Hoppert, Chester T. Chmiel, Brian S. Alexander
  • Patent number: 5610227
    Abstract: The present invention provides anionic polymerization initiators, comprising lithium amino magnesiate complexes, resulting in diene polymer and copolymer elastomers. The invention initiators have stable living ends at high polymerization temperatures and produce polymers containing a high level of tertiary amine functionality. Such polymers exhibit an increased efficiency in coupling termination reactions, and elastomers and products prepared from such polymers exhibit reduced hysteresis properties. Methods are also provided for preparing the initiators, the polymers and the elastomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Antkowiak, James E. Hall
  • Patent number: 5599409
    Abstract: A vehicle tire and wheel assembly for use in high brake heat generated service has an overall tire diameter (TD) of approximately 43 inches and an overall wheel diameter (WD) of approximately 24.5 inches to provide a ratio of approximately 1.76. The tire section height (H) is approximately 9.2 inches and the tire section width (W) is approximately 11.5 inches. The tire is of a radial construction containing steel reinforcing cords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventor: Traian Benchea
  • Patent number: 5596053
    Abstract: Diene polymers having a high content of trans-1,4 addition and two distinct melting points in the ranges of 30.degree. C. to 50.degree. C. and 70.degree. C. to 130.degree. C. are prepared by polymerizing a 1,3-diene monomer in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising (a) a carboxylated nickel oxy borate compound; (b) an orKanoaluminum compound; (c) a triaryloxy phosphorus compound and (d) a carboxylic acid preferably a fluorinated carboxylic acid. The resultant polymers are useful as additives to tire rubbers to improve processability by reducing compound Mooney viscosity and reducing the shrinkage of various compound stocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Jung W. Kang, Jason T. Poulton
  • Patent number: 5590745
    Abstract: A vibration damping device for mounting between two spaced portions of a vehicle for absorbing road forces exerted on the vehicle. An inner metal cylindrical housing forms an internal piston chamber and is connected at one end to one portion of the vehicle, with the outer end of the rod of a piston which is slidably mounted within the piston chamber, being connected to the other portion of the vehicle. An outer housing surrounds a portion of the inner housing and forms a fluid transfer duct between fluid chambers formed on opposite sides of the piston within the piston chamber. A plurality of spaced metal electrode bands are mounted on an inner surface of the outer housing and are electrically isolated therefrom and communicate with the fluid transfer duct for applying voltages across the duct to affect the viscosity of an electrorheological (ER) fluid flowing therethrough to increase the damping force of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Rensel, David A. Weitzenhof
  • Patent number: D377330
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Kakegawa, James G. Guspodin, Francis J. Byrne
  • Patent number: D379336
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Hanlon, Michael A. Mileski, Kashiwa Maki, Timothy J. Lassan
  • Patent number: D379337
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Guspodin, John J. Regallis, Timothy F. Robinson
  • Patent number: D379338
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Guspodin, Francis C. Hauz
  • Patent number: D379339
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Guspodin, Leonard F. Blankenship
  • Patent number: D379790
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Guspodin, William C. Hanlon
  • Patent number: D380998
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Lassan, Bill J. Wallet, Joseph F. Molnar
  • Patent number: D381944
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Regallis, Timothy J. Lassan, David M. Reep
  • Patent number: D382236
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Kakegawa, James G. Guspodin, Francis J. Bryne
  • Patent number: D384614
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Hanlon, Timothy J. Lassan
  • Patent number: D384617
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Regallis, William C. Hanlon, Leonard F. Blankenship
  • Patent number: D384618
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Guspodin, John J. Regallis, Leonard F. Blankenship, Elizabeth M. Beutler
  • Patent number: D384918
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Guspodin, Bill J. Wallet
  • Patent number: D386453
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventor: James G. Guspodin
  • Patent number: D386454
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventor: James G. Guspodin