Abstract: A wheel assembly includes a mounting plate for attachment to a rotatable axle; a plurality of friction plates each engaging one of a plurality of parts of a tire assembly; and a plurality of cable members each connecting the mounting plate to the tire assembly such that each cable member extends radially outward through a first hole in one of the friction plates and radially inward through a second hole in the one friction plate to form a loop about the one friction plate and the one part of the plurality of parts of the tire assembly.

Abstract: A first tread pattern display system for new tread patterns includes a first upper sidewall part, a second upper sidewall part, a first tread shoulder part, a second tread shoulder part, and a middle tread part. The first upper sidewall part removably attaches to the first tread shoulder part by a plurality of projections extending from the first upper sidewall part to corresponding recesses in the first tread shoulder part.

Abstract: A wheel assembly includes a hub for attachment to a rotatable axle, a plurality of first friction plates each engaging a first surface of one part of a plurality of parts of a tire assembly, a plurality of second friction plates each engaging a second surface of the one part of a plurality of parts of a tire assembly, the second surface being radially opposite the first surface, and a plurality of radial cable members each connecting the hub to the tire assembly such that each radial cable member extends radially away from the hub, bends circumferentially adjacent a corresponding second friction plate, bends radially outward and back circumferentially adjacent a corresponding first friction plate, and radially inward to a first point of intersection with the same radial cable member.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a functionalized elastomer comprising the reaction product of a living anionic elastomeric polymer and a polymerization terminator of formula I where X is Cl, Br, or I; m is an integer from 0 to 2, n is an integer from 1 to 3, with the proviso that n+m=3; R1, R2 are independently C1 to C18 alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof, or R1, R2 are independently —SiR3 where R is independently alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, or disubstituted amino, or R1 and R2 taken together with their common nitrogen atom and optionally a sulfur or oxygen heteroatom to form a five to eight membered ring; R3 is hydrogen, or C1 to C18 alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof, or R3 is —SiR3 where R is independently alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, or disubstituted amino, or R3 is —R6—R7, where R6 is C1 to C3 alkanediyl and R7 is selected from the following structures —S—Z, —N(R8)(R9), —O(Y), or Si(OR10)3, where R8 and R9 are independently C1 to C18 alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof, Y and Z are independently s

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a functionalized elastomer comprising the reaction product of a living anionic elastomeric polymer and a polymerization terminator of formula I where X is Cl, Br, or I; m is an integer from 0 to 2, n is an integer from 1 to 3, with the proviso that n+m=3; R1, R2 are independently C1 to C18 alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof, or R1, R2 are independently —SiR3 where R is independently alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, or disubstituted amino, or R1 and R2 taken together with their common nitrogen atom and optionally a sulfur or oxygen heteroatom to form a five to eight membered ring; R3 is hydrogen, or C1 to C18 alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof, or R3 is —SiR3 where R is independently alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, or disubstituted amino, or R3 is -R6-R7, where R6 is C1 to C3 alkanediyl and R7 is selected from the following structures —S—Z, —N(R8)(R9), —O(Y), or Si(OR10)3, where R8 and R9 are independently C1 to C18 alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof, Y and Z are independently s

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), (A) from about 40 to about 90 phr of a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber having a glass transition temperature (Tg) ranging from ?40° C. to 0° C.; (B) from about 60 to about 10 phr of polybutadiene; and (C) from 5 to 50 phr of a hydrocarbon resin having a Tg ranging from ?40° C. to 20° C.; (D) optionally, a rubber process oil (E) optionally, a hydrocarbon resin having a Tg ranging above 20° C. wherein the total amount of hydrocarbon resins and oils is less than 65 phr, and the weight ratio of silica to the total of hydrocarbon resins and oils is greater than 2. (F) from 70 to 130 phr of silica.

Abstract: A tire with a sensor attachment reservoir is provided. The tire includes a pair of bead areas, a sidewall extending from each respective bead area to a tread, a carcass extending toroidally between each of the bead areas, and an innerliner disposed inwardly of the carcass. A compound ring is secured to the innerliner, and the compound ring defines a reservoir upon being secured to the innerliner. A sensor adhesive is disposed in the reservoir and a sensor is secured to the tire innerliner by the sensor adhesive. A corresponding method of attaching a sensor to a tire is also provided.

Abstract: A wheel assembly includes a plurality of discreet, axially extending curved friction plates for engaging a first side of a spoke structure of a tire assembly, a first annular rim piece for engaging a rotatable axle, and a second annular rim piece for engaging the first rim piece. The first rim piece and the second rim piece each have axially extending lugs for engaging opposite ends of the friction plates.

Abstract: A tread wear indicator is affixed to a respective tire tread element. The indicator is constructed as a plurality of electroactive sensor elements operatively configured and located to sequentially sacrificially abrade and change in electrical signal responsive to a progressive tread wear of the respective tread element. The electroactive elements are connected by printed circuitry that communicates an electrical signal to a passive RFID sensor tag that can be powered and read by a RFID reader.

Abstract: A stud is inserted into a tread portion of a tire. The first stud includes a tip end protruding from the tread portion for contacting a surface, the tip end comprising a radially outer portion with a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, a fourth surface, a fifth surface, a sixth surface, and a seventh surface, the first surface defining an irregular quadrilateral and extending radially inward from the fourth surface toward a planar side of the tip end; and a base including a flanged bottom portion provided on an end opposite the tip end and extending radially outward, a stump portion provided between the bottom portion and the tip end, and a shank portion interconnecting the stump portion and the bottom portion, the base being embedded and secured in the tread portion of the tire in which the first stud is installed, the bottom portion having a tear-drop shape comprising three planar sides and one semi-cylindrical side.

Abstract: A reinforcement structure for a polymer ply includes a plurality of flat woven cords. Each flat woven cord has a width between 0.5 mm and 1.6 mm and a thickness between 0.2 mm and 0.8 mm thereby producing the reinforcement structure with an overall width between 25.0 mm and 26.0 mm. Each flat woven cord includes materials with melting points between 130° C. and 230° C.

Abstract: An interactive graphic wall includes a vertical wall that is formed with a plurality of graphical images. Selected graphical images represent activities that are geographically near to a location in which the interactive graphic wall is disposed. A plurality of placards are mounted on the vertical wall, and each one of the placards corresponds to a respective one of the selected graphical images. A machine-readable code is formed on each placard and corresponds to one of the selected graphical images. The code is capable of being read by an imaging device contained in a portable device that is connected to the Internet. When the machine-readable code is read by the imaging device, data in the machine-readable code directs a browser or a software application stored on the portable device to a web site containing information about the activity represented by the respective selected graphical image.