Patents Examined by Brendon Charles Darby
  • Patent number: 11845303
    Abstract: Agricultural vehicle tire having tread (1) with bearing surface (10) on which main lugs (3) and shorter secondary lugs (3) are formed on each side of the equatorial mid-plane (XX?), each secondary lug (3) interposed between two main lugs (2). The main lugs (2) and secondary lugs (3) make up, in the radial direction, a lens (21, 31) of a first material, each lens (21, 31) surmounted by a second material extending to the contact face of the main lugs and the secondary lugs. The viscous modulus G?1 of the first material is at most 60% of the viscous modulus G?2 of the second material. The complex modulus G?1 of the first material differs from the complex modulus G?2 of the second material, the difference between these complex moduli being at most 30% of the complex modulus G?2 of the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Alexandra Curat, Florence Tran, Jean-Luc Cabioch, Anthony Monod, Eduardo Anton-Antolin
  • Patent number: 11833859
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire, a first shoulder block comprises at least one first shoulder circumferential groove which extends in a tire circumferential direction, the at least one first shoulder circumferential groove is respectively separated from a pair of first shoulder slits, a center block comprises at least one center circumferential groove which extends in the tire circumferential direction, and the at least one center circumferential groove is respectively contiguous with a pair of center slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Toyo Tire Corporation
    Inventor: Seiya Ishihara
  • Patent number: 11833858
    Abstract: Pneumatic vehicle tire having a profiled tread (3), side walls (5) and rounded tire shoulders, wherein, when the tire is mounted on a rim, the tread (3) has, in a first operating state with no load, a first contact surface and outside of the contact surface has profiled shoulder portions (4) extending in the direction of the side walls (5). The shoulder portions (4) have blocks (8a, 8b), between which grooves (9a, 9b) extending in the direction of the side walls (5) are provided and which are provided with sipes (11, 12, 13) and/or grooves extending in the direction of the side walls (5), wherein, in at least one further operating state of the tire mounted on the rim, the tire has a further contact surface, which is wider than the first contact surface and at least partially includes the shoulder portions (4) and the profiling thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Behr
  • Patent number: 11813896
    Abstract: A tire includes a visible outer surface being provided with a decorative region at least partially, the decorative region having 2 to 10 micro-protrusions per 1 mm2. The micro-protrusions protrude in a tapered manner toward outwardly of the tire. The micro-protrusions include first protrusions having a first taper angle and a second protrusions having a second taper angle greater than the first taper angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Sakakibara, Tomohiro Hamada, Tokuhito Nakajima, Sawa Ogihara, Suxiang Yuan
  • Patent number: 11807048
    Abstract: Tire (1) comprising a carcass reinforcement (2) surmounted by a crown reinforcement (3), itself capped by a tread (7), the said tread being connected to two beads (6) via two sidewalls (4) each having an exterior surface (40), at least one of the said sidewalls comprising at least two circumferential protrusions (5a, 5b, 5c), each sidewall (4) comprising an equator point (E) situated on the exterior surface of the sidewall radially at the same position as the axially outermost point (20) of the carcass reinforcement (2) in the unladen reference configuration, each circumferential protrusion (5a, 5b, 5c) being bounded by a radially upper wall (51), by a radially lower wall (52), and by a connecting wall (53) situated between the radially upper wall (51) and the radially lower wall (52) tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: William License, Jacques Babaud
  • Patent number: 11801715
    Abstract: A tire includes a tread portion including four circumferential grooves between outboard and inboard tread edges, and five land portions divided by the circumferential grooves. The circumferential grooves include an inboard shoulder circumferential groove located nearest to the inboard tread edge in the circumferential grooves. The land portions include an inboard shoulder land portion disposed axially outward of the inboard shoulder circumferential groove and having a ground contact surface with the smallest axial width in the land portions. The inboard shoulder land portion is provided with inboard shoulder lateral grooves and inboard shoulder sipes. The inboard shoulder lateral grooves include inner ends away from the inboard shoulder circumferential groove. The inboard shoulder lateral grooves extend axially outward from the inner ends to a location beyond the inboard tread edge. The inboard shoulder sipes extends from the inboard shoulder circumferential groove to a location beyond the inboard tread edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Higuchi, Ryota Ikeda, Takashi Hagihara, Takuya Osawa, Takuya Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 11787237
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a pair of sidewall portion 3. An outer surface of at least one of the pair of sidewall portions 3 includes a decorative region 5 extending in a tire circumferential direction. In the decorative region 5, a plurality of pattern elements 8 are arranged, whereby the decorative region 5 includes a plurality of circumferential pattern lines 6 in each of which the pattern elements 8 are aligned in the tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of radial pattern lines 7 in each of which the pattern elements 8 are aligned in a tire radial direction. In each circumferential pattern line 6, lengths in the tire circumferential direction of the pattern elements 8 are changed in the tire circumferential direction. In each radial pattern line 7, lengths in the tire radial direction of the pattern elements 8 are changed in the tire radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Ishida, Takahiro Kawanoue
  • Patent number: 11772433
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire according to an embodiment, a spiral-shaped pattern is formed in a pattern forming area provided on a surface of a sidewall. The spiral-shaped pattern is formed by alternately providing ridges protruding from a reference surface in the pattern forming area and grooves recessed from the reference surface along a spiral while gradually changing the height and the depth with respect to the reference surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Toyo Tire Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Kamada
  • Patent number: 11766898
    Abstract: A lateral groove provided in a tread portion has: an opening formed in a tread surface; a minimum portion having the smallest groove width, positioned radially inside the opening; and a maximum portion having the largest groove width, positioned radially inside the minimum portion. The width of the opening increases toward the outside in the tire axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11760134
    Abstract: Tread (1) for a heavy-duty vehicle tire having, when new, a tread surface (10), with at least one evolving cut (2) comprising a part (22) hidden inside the tread which is delimited by opposing walls (221, 222) distant from one another by a maximum width Lc. The part (22) being extended towards the tread surface (10) by a sipe (21), opening into the hidden part (22) to be offset from one of the walls (221, 222) delimiting the hidden part to form a bridge situated radially over said hidden part (22). The tread having a plurality of grooves (4) open when new onto the tread surface (10), these grooves (4) opening into an evolving cut (2) to form a connecting region (41), the tread (1) further comprising, in at least 50% of the connecting regions (41, 42), a protuberance (5) extending over the entire height Hc of the hidden part (22) and over a maximum thickness Ep so as to act as a support for the bridge (211) situated radially over the hidden part (22) in the connecting region (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Damien Bardin
  • Patent number: 11760136
    Abstract: A noise damper includes an open cell foam having a circumferential first tier and an interposed circumferential second tier including blocks and voids. The first tier has a radial height that is 3.0-8.0% of a section height and a first axial width. The second tier has a radial height that is 3.0-12.0% of a section height and a second axial width. The blocks span 10-30% of the second tier's inner circumference and the voids span 70-90% of the second tier's inner circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Jon I. Stuckey, Bradley S. Plotner
  • Patent number: 11738602
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes: a first and second main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction; first and second inclined grooves extending obliquely toward the same side with respect to the tire circumferential direction and connected to the first and second main grooves; and a block defined by the first and second main grooves and the first and second inclined grooves. The block includes a sub groove having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being open to an intermediate portion of the first inclined groove and extending in the tire circumferential direction, the second portion being inclined to a side opposite to the first inclined groove, extending from a terminal end of the first portion in a direction away from the first inclined groove, and being open to the first main groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuji Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 11679631
    Abstract: A pneumatic tyre comprising an inner surface of the tyre, wherein a sound absorbing device component is connected to the inner surface of the tyre. The sound absorbing device component comprises a panel with a plurality of perforations and two sidewall sections, the sidewall sections being distinct from the panel, wherein the sidewall sections are connected to the inner surface of the tyre and arranged opposite of each other and wherein the panel is borne by the sidewall sections, thereby positioning the panel at a distance from the inner surface of the tyre and defining an inner volume enclosed by the panel, the sidewall sections and the inner surface. Furthermore, ?95 area-% of all perforations which permit access to the inner volume are located on the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: APOLLO TYRES GLOBAL R&D B.V
    Inventors: Martin Goossens, Ysbrand Hans Wijnant, Bharatkumar Makwana
  • Patent number: 11654724
    Abstract: A tire includes a pair of shoulder land regions each provided with a plurality of wavy sipes and first shoulder lateral grooves each having a groove width of 2 mm or less and larger than a width of each of the wavy sipes. The tire further includes a pair of middle land regions and a crown land region each provided with a plurality of non-wavy sipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuro Saeki
  • Patent number: 11648804
    Abstract: A tire can include a block having a recess. The recess can include a first opening on a tread side and a second opening on a side wall face side. The first opening can include a pair of first edges extending from a first vertex to the side wall face side so as to form a V-shaped edge on the tread. The second opening can include a pair of second edges that can extend from a second vertex on the side wall face, and can be connected to the pair of first edges at intersection points. One of the pair of second edges can include a second edge body that can extend on a straight line from the second vertex to the intersection point, and a second edge subsidiary portion that can be bent so as to widen the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11628691
    Abstract: A tire includes a pattern portion on a surface of a sidewall portion. The pattern portion includes an outer pattern and an inner pattern. The outer pattern includes a plurality of outer ridges disposed concentrically around a first point on a tire circumferential line on an outer side in a tire radial direction and extending toward a second point, on the tire circumferential line, which is different from the first point. The inner pattern includes a plurality of inner ridges disposed concentrically around the second point on an inner side in the tire radial direction and extending toward the first point. Each of the outer ridges connects with one of the inner ridges on the tire circumferential line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takafumi Noguchi, Yoshiaki Kanematsu
  • Patent number: 11597240
    Abstract: A decorative body includes a first set through a fourth set that are a first solid shape pair at which initial points of respective vectors of a pair of reflecting pieces that are adjacent to one another are adjacent to one another and the respective vectors face in opposite directions, a second solid shape pair at which terminal points of a pair of respective vector of reflecting pieces that are adjacent to one another are adjacent to one another and the respective vectors face in opposite directions, a first solid shape group that is an aggregate in which three or more reflecting pieces at which the orientations of the vectors face in a same direction are continuous, and a third solid shape pair that is a pair formed from two reflecting pieces that do not belong to any of these.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoko Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11590808
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion and a pair of sidewall portions each extending inwardly in a tire radial direction from the tread portion. At least one of the pair of the sidewall portions is provided with at least one side protector protruding outwardly in a tire axial direction. The side protector is provided with a groove, a cut-out portion connected with the groove, and a sipe connected with the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroki Hokazono
  • Patent number: 11560023
    Abstract: Tire (1) having sidewalls (2), a substantially electrically insulating crown block (7) and a substantially insulating tread (8), the tire (1) also having at least one conductive peg (21) that is oriented in the radial direction and positioned under the tread (8) of the tire so as to create an electrically conductive path between the ground and a rim on which the tire is able to be mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Claude Orlowski, Olivier Muhlhoff, Jośe Merino, Pascal Prost, Mattheiu Quadrini
  • Patent number: 11535066
    Abstract: A tire comprises a tread portion axially divided into four land regions. The tire has a mounting direction to a vehicle and the land regions 4 include a widest outboard middle land region. The outboard middle land region is provided with first, second and third inclined grooves. The first inclined groove extends from a crown main groove and terminates within the outboard middle land region. The second inclined groove has its both ends terminated within the outboard middle land region. The third inclined groove intersects the first and second inclined grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Komori, Hiroshi Yamaoka, Yuta Sakakibara