Patents Assigned to Firestone, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5516817
    Abstract: A flame retardant asphalt material useful for the processing and formation of a roofing membrane includes from about 40 to about 50 parts by weight of asphalt; from about 10 to about 20 parts by weight of a copolymer; from 0 to about 5 parts by weight of polypropylene homopolymer having at least about 45 percent by weight of crystallinity; from about 10 to about 40 parts by weight of a functional filler having a decomposition temperature above the processing temperature of the material; from about 0 to about 15 parts by weight of a non-functional filler; and, from about 0.5 to about 10 parts by weight of an intumescent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Carter C. Slusher, Eric A. Ogren, William B. Gorman, Gary S. Thompson, Edward G. Kane, Arthur M. Usmani
  • Patent number: 5514299
    Abstract: A chemical resistant static dissipative container liner for facilitating reuse of a metal container by providing a barrier between the metal container and a flammable liquid contained therein is comprised of a suitable polymeric composition having distributed therein an amount of conductive carbon black which is sufficient to imbue the composition with a surface resistivity of from about 1.5.times.10.sup.4 to about 1.3.times.10.sup.8 ohms/square.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph J. Kalwara
  • Patent number: 5512118
    Abstract: A rooftop curable heat seamable sheet material for roofing prepared from an uncured polymeric composition of matter comprises 100 parts by weight of a semi-crystalline polymer having more than about 2 percent by weight crystallinity and selected from the group consisting of polyolefins prepared from monomers containing at least 2 carbon atoms from about 20 to 300 parts by weight of a filler selected from the group consisting of reinforcing and non-reinforcing materials and mixtures thereof per 100 parts of polymer; from about 20 to 150 parts by weight of a processing material and mixtures thereof, per 100 parts of polymer; and from about 1.5 to 10 parts by weight of a cure package capable of allowing the composition of matter to cure at temperatures of at least about 50.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Davis, Joseph K. Valaitis
  • Patent number: 5504136
    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: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Davis, Joseph R. Hoppert, Chester T. Chmiel, Brian S. Alexander
  • Patent number: 5500065
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a tire wherein a monitoring device is embedded within the tire during its manufacture. The method includes placing the device with a dowel on a tie gum ply prior to curing the tire, without having the device contact a body ply of the tire. Then an inner liner ply of the tire is assembled over the monitoring device and over the tie gum ply. Pressure is applied to cause the dowel to press through the inner liner ply and the tire is then cured. After curing, the dowel is removed in order to produce an aperture, thereby permitting the internal space of the tire to communicate with a pressure sensor located on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell W. Koch, John L. Turner, Guy J. Walenga, Hiroyoshi Takigawa, Keizo Okamoto
  • Patent number: 5486319
    Abstract: A tire cure control system and method characterized by a computer-based data acquisition and process control unit that uses non-invasive, direct cure measurements to adjust the length of cure so that all cured articles such as tires will be cured to the same extent in the minimum amount of time, thereby to maximize production while providing uniformly cured products. The unit generally includes at least one microwave probe, although preferably multiple microwave probes, placed in the mold and a processor to process probe data and to initiate a control action principally initiating a mold opening sequence at the optimal time. Initiation of the mold opening sequence at least in part is based upon a measurement of the time rate of change of the attenuation of microwave energy caused by the curing rubber compound in the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Ross Stone, Robert L. Palmer, Virgil D. Mochel, Robert P. Karpinski
  • Patent number: 5479974
    Abstract: A noise-reduction system for a vehicle wheel assembly which is comprised of a usual rim and a tubeless pneumatic tire having a pair of sidewalls and bead areas mounted thereon. A plurality of flexible, non-self-supporting pieces of cloth or other sheet material are attached to the rim or are attached to the bead areas and extend therebetween, preferably at equally spaced intervals, and form baffles within the annular air chamber of the wheel assembly to reduce noise by changing the characteristics of the sound waves created within the wheel assembly. When the wheel assembly is stationary, the baffles collapse on the rim, and when the wheel assembly is rotating, the baffles move outwardly by centrifugal force and substantially conform to the transverse cross section of the air chamber to obstruct the movement of acoustic waves traveling with the chamber to reduce tire noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary C. Noggle, Donald E. Andrews, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5468140
    Abstract: An apparatus for curing a tapered airsleeve has a bladder curing chamber into which a rigid tapered sleeve cartridge is inserted to form the airsleeve thereon. The bladder curing chamber is formed by a rigid bladder support tube positioned between upper and lower plates and joined by strain rods. A straight cylindrical bladder is positioned within the bladder support tube and the ends are sealed by flipping them from the inside of the bladder support tube 180.degree. over each end of the tube for sealing the curing chamber. The hollow tapered sleeve mold or cartridge is inserted into the bladder curing chamber and will be dimensionally similar to the airsleeve to be molded therein. A preshaped uncured green sleeve is positioned over the tapered sleeve cartridge before inserting it into the curing chamber. The straight cylindrical bladder is inflated and expands radially outwardly causing the uncured sleeve to conform against the tapered sleeve cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith E. Hoffman, Robert F. Elliott, David J. Mickler
  • Patent number: 5468550
    Abstract: Vulcanizable elastomeric roof sheet materials for roofing having improved burn resistivity and prepared from a polymeric composition of matter comprise at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins prepared from monomers containing at least two carbon atoms and mixtures thereof, the polymer having a crystallinity of up to about 2 percent by weight; about 20 to 125 parts by weight of one or more non-black mineral fillers per 100 parts of the polymer, about 50 to 110 parts by weight of one or more black-type fillers per 100 parts of the polymer; and from about 50 to 70 parts by weight of a processing material or softener per 100 parts of the polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Davis, Edward G. Kane, Brian S. Alexander, William F. Barham
  • Patent number: 5460354
    Abstract: A clamp assembly includes an annular clamping member for clamping an open end of an elastomeric sleeve of an air spring of a suspension system in a fluid tight relationship with a sealing surface of an end member of the air spring. An annular concave recess is formed in either the end member or clamping member and is in radial alignment with a convex projection formed on the other of the end member or clamping member. The concave recess has an axial length at least equal to or greater than the axial length of the convex projection but not as deep as the height of the convex projection. This provides a pair of pinch areas on opposite sides of the radially aligned centers of concavity of said recess and apex of the projection to sealingly secure the sleeve therebetween without excess squeezing of the sleeve at the radially aligned centers of the recess and projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark R. Easter
  • Patent number: 5451621
    Abstract: An asphalt material, useful for forming a membrane, comprises a mixture of from about 47 to about 74 parts by weight of asphalt, from about 7 to about 15 parts by weight of styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, from about 15 to about 25 parts by weight of a filler component, and from about 1 to about 5 parts by weight of polypropylene homopolymer. A method for preparing a modified-asphalt material comprises the steps of forming a mixture by admixing from about 47 to about 74 parts by weight of asphalt; from about 7 to about 15 parts by weight of a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer; from about 15 to about 25 parts by weight of a filler; and from about 1 to about 5 parts by weight of a polypropylene homopolymer; wherein the polypropylene homopolymer inhibits high temperature crosslinking of the styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur M. Usmani, William B. Gorman, Gary S. Thompson, Edward G. Kane
  • Patent number: D362211
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Lassan, Bill J. Wallet, Dennis W. Krupa, Fred J. Cusimano, Christopher Kocaj
  • Patent number: D362222
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Guspodin, John J. Freer, Roger N. Klaas
  • Patent number: D364594
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis W. Krupa, James G. Guspodin, Roger W. Marble
  • Patent number: D365061
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Lassan, Timothy F. Robinson
  • Patent number: D365789
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Lassan, Timothy F. Robinson
  • Patent number: D366018
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis W. Krupa, Bill J. Wallet, Joseph F. Molnar
  • Patent number: D366233
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Lassan, Timothy F. Robinson
  • Patent number: D368450
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Lassan, John J. Regallis, Bradley J. Wurst
  • Patent number: D368451
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill J. Wallet, John J. Regallis, Bradley J. Wurst