Patents Examined by Gregory J. Wilber
  • Patent number: 5059268
    Abstract: A method for applying a tire material such as carcass ply to a building drum in a tire building process wherein the cut leading end of the ply is caused to pressure-adhere onto the building drum by a leading-end applying and pressure-adhering roller. The building drum is caused to rotate at an angle less than one rotation, and thereafter the ply is cut by the cutter mechanism, and the building drum is further rotated to join the cut trailing end of the ply with the cut leading end, while the roller is pressure-adhering the cut trailing end of the ply against the building drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Satoh, Tsutomu Nosaka
  • Patent number: 5058644
    Abstract: A stud-like link and tire chain using same. Each stud-like link has at least two link portions that extend at an angle to one another. The tire chain has an outer and inner portion that are interconnected by a surface contact portion that at least in part comprises such stud-like links. At least one of the link portions of the stud-like link extends at an angle to the circumferential direction of the surface contact portion of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Eisen-und Drahtwerk Erlau Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Anton Muller
  • Patent number: 5058645
    Abstract: A stud link for a tire chain is provided. The stud link includes a link body that has at least one attachment opening for further links of the chain. Longitudinal surfaces of the link body form a tire contact surface, and also form a wear surface beyond which at least one profiled element projects. At least a portion of the profiled element extends at an angle to a longitudinal central plane of the stud link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Eisen- und Drahtwerk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Anton Muller
  • Patent number: 5058647
    Abstract: Tires having white sidewalls are very popular in the United States and Canada. Tires having white lettering thereon are also very popular. This invention discloses a process for preparing such tires having decorative appliques thereon. By practicing the process of this invention, tires having better uniformity can be built at lower costs than when standard tire building techniques are utilized. This invention specifically relates to a method of preparing a pneumatic rubber tire having a decorative design on the sidewall thereof which comprises (a) applying the decorative applique to the sidewall of an uncured tire and (b) curing the tire; wherein the decorative applique is comprised of from about 25 weight percent to about 75 weight percent syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene having a melting point which is within the range of about 70.degree. C. to about 160.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Gartland, Anthony F. Finelli, Anthony J. Bell
  • Patent number: 5056206
    Abstract: In the several embodiments, the tire chain, and a method of installing a tire chain in which a line extends from each of the opposite ends of the portion of the tire chain that encircles the inside of a tire. In a preferred embodiment, the two lines cross the treaded portion of the tire diagonally, so that one line crosses the other, and are connected to the portion of the tire chains that encircle the outside of the tire. Preferably, the two lines are connected to each other at the point where they cross, which is about at the center of the treaded surface of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Inventor: Thomas E. Poulsen
  • Patent number: 5056574
    Abstract: A tire chain comprises an elongated inner side member adapted to form a circle of predetermined circumference about a rim of a vehicle wheel at the inner side thereof, the inner side member having co-operable fastener elements at opposite ends thereof which are joined to complete the circle. Cross members form a zig-zag pattern with opposite ends of the pattern adjacent to the fastener elements, respectively. The pattern includes a plurality of spaced inner vertices adjacent to the inner side member and a plurality of spaced outer vertices remote from the inner side member and adapted to be positioned adjacent to the rim at the outer side thereof, with the cross members extending back and forth across the tread of a tire mounted on the rim. The inner vertices are attached to the inner side member at predetermined positions by connectors intermediate the vertices and the inner side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Burns Bros., Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Maresh, Rene J. Martinelli, Daniel B. Griffith, Jack H. Burns, Steven A. Dehne
  • Patent number: 5055149
    Abstract: A belt join method, which is used in forming pneumatic radial tires, for joining belt components one upon the other and an apparatus therefor, in which the belt components are centered in such a manner that the center axes thereof are substantially coincident or vertically aligned with one another, by passing through a plurality of longitudinally aligned belt adjusting rollers which are urged by means of a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5052458
    Abstract: An improved tire such as a radial ply tire of the type including a radial carcass body ply or plies, side walls and a tread and further including at least one cordless belt assembly positioned and aligned on the outer or inner circumference of the radial carcass body ply or plies, or positioned on both sides of the radial carcass body ply or plies, including between the radial carcass and the tread, each cordless belt assembly consisting essentially of plural parallel, discontinuous, oriented fibers embedded in an elastomeric material, the fibers being oriented parallel to each other, the tire characterized by the absence of circumferential peripheral cords or other cords for restricting the periphery of the tire carcass against outward expansion, and the absence of corded belts on the shoulder of the radial carcass body ply or plies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: DICO Tire, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacques J. Bajer
  • Patent number: 5052456
    Abstract: In order to provide for the deflation of a tire, there is provided an orie in the rim of a wheel, a pusher element extending through the rim in a gas tight manner, the pusher element having one end communicating with gas pressure inside the tire and including means for selectively closing the orifice. The pusher element is mounted to the rim for movement between a first position wherein the means for selectively closing closes the orifice and a second position wherein the means for selectively closing opens the orifice. The pusher element has another end outside of the tire with a cam mounted thereto. A presser means mounted to be stationary relative to the rotation of the tire selectively engages the cam and moves the pusher element to the second position to control the opening of a valve to deflate the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin-Michelin & Cie
    Inventor: Andre Dosjoub
  • Patent number: 5053095
    Abstract: A wheel and tire assembly with a solid rubber tire for use on heavy construction equipment. The assembly comprises a mounting disc, a large diameter rim, having a cylindrical surface, rigidly affixed to the mounting disc and having actually opposed peripheral sides. Cross rib means are rigidly fastened to and laterally extending across the cylindrical surface. There are side support means rigidly affixed to and radially projecting from each peripheral side of the cylindrical rim surfaces. A base layer of even thickness of substantially flat rubber is cemented to the cylindrical surface interposed between the cross ribs and the side supports. Multiple additional layers of even thickness substantially flat sheet rubber are bonded to the base layer and each succeeding additional layer of even thickness substantially flat sheet rubber is bonded to the preceding additional layer until a low profile solid rubber tire is obtained, which tire is bonded directly to the large diameter rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Inventor: Giles Hill
  • Patent number: 5050657
    Abstract: A steel cord for the reinforcement of rubber articles is disclosed, which comprises a central base structure composed of 1 to 4 steel filaments, and at least one coaxial layer composed of plural steel filaments arranged around the central base structure so as to adjoin them to each other, these steel filaments being twisted in the same direction at the same pitch. In the steel cord of this type, the steel filaments constituting the central base structure have the same diameter (dc), while at least one steel filament of the coaxial layer has a diameter (dso) smaller than the diameter (dc) of the steel filament in the central base structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Yujiro Umezawa
  • Patent number: 5049220
    Abstract: Tires having white sidewalls are very popular in the United States and Canada. This invention discloses a process for preparing such tires having decorative appliques thereon. By practicing the process of this invention, tires having better uniformity can be built at lower costs than when standard tire building techniques are utilized. This invention specifically relates to a method of preparing a pneumatic rubber tire having a decorative applique on the sidewall thereof which comprises (a) applying the decorative applique to the sidewall of a cured tire and (b) binding the decorative applique to the sidewall by the application of heat and pressure; wherein the decorative applique is comprised of from about 25 weight percent to about 75 weight percent syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene or blends of SPBD having melting points which are within the range of about 70.degree. C. to about 160.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Gartland, Anthony F. Finelli, Anthony J. Bell
  • Patent number: 5044415
    Abstract: A tire chain which has a plurality of anti-sliding members, each of which is attached to a base plate and a pivot pin. Wing-shaped members are hingeably attached to the bases and the pivot pins are connected by chain links to form an endless linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Inventor: Shigeru Ishihara
  • Patent number: 5035273
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel rim device of a type in which a first wheel rim carries a first tire casing, and having a second tire casing inwardly of the first tire casing, characterized by the provision of a second rim inwardly of the first rim, the generally circular edge-portions of the second rim being supported by the generally cylindrical body portion of the first rim, and are spaced from the adjacent circular edge-portion of the first rim, and providing that the circular edge-portions of the second rim provide support for the bead-portions of the second tire casing in a manner in which the second tire casing bead portions are substantially spaced, respectively from the beam portions of the first tire casing, thus protecting the inward tire casing from the erratic flopping of the outer tire if it becomes disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Inventor: Francesco Ruvio
  • Patent number: 5033522
    Abstract: An anti-skid device for a vehicle is automatically positioned by securing members 50 which cause the device to pass from an installation position to the operating position in which an anti-skid assembly 70, such as a snow chain arrangement, is arranged on the peripheral surface of the tire 10. The anti-skid device comprises a principal annular section 30 fixed to the anti-skid assembly 70 by arms 40 and arranged in a manner such that the securing member 50 can be fixed to this annular section 30 and can move freely over the circumference thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Autotyp S.A.
    Inventor: Michel Metraux
  • Patent number: 5025844
    Abstract: A heavy duty pneumatic radial tire including a pair of bead portions, a carcass consisting of one steel cord layer and extending between the bead portions, and a tread portion arranged radially outward of a crown portion of the carcass. A normal rim on which the tire is mounted has a bead seat at an angle of approximately 15.degree. relative to a rotating axis of the tire and engaging the bead portions of the tire. During filling the tire with inner pressure from 7% to 100% of a determined maximum inner pressure of the tire, a ratio A/B of an enlargement amount A of a shoulder in radial and outward directions to an enlargement amount B of the bead portion in axial and outward directions is within 0.25-0.7, preferably 0.3-0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueda, Hisaaki Yoshigai, Mikio Masunaga
  • Patent number: 5024713
    Abstract: A method for applying ornamental elements is described. These elements have a layer of melt adhesive provided on the application side. The melt adhesive layer is designed as a shaft extending in the application direction, which can be passed through perforated material in order to obtain a good connection with the application material, in particular in the case of stratified materials such as leather, due to the formation of a flange on the back of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: D. Swarovski & Co.
    Inventor: Burkhart Buchbauer
  • Patent number: 5022449
    Abstract: A detachable automobile tire nonskid device includes a plurality of members mounted on a metallic portion which would otherwise come in contact with a road surface. The plurality of members may include spaced rigid nonskid plate members and annular elastic bodies alternately disposed on the metallic portion, with the annular bodies having outer diameters greater than a thickness of the nonskid members. The annular elastic bodies also may be supported on flanged spool members alternately mounted on the metallic portion between the nonskid plate members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Inventor: Masuo Koda
  • Patent number: 5014762
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire (10, 40) having a belt reinforcing structure (24) located between the carcass (12) and the tread portion (20) is reinforced with an overlay belt (30) located between the belt reinforcing structure (24) and the tread (20). The overlay belt (30) has a plurality of parallel cords (32) oriented at an angle with respect to the equatorial plane (EP) of the tire. The angle of the cords (32) is between 9.degree. to 24.degree. degrees. The overlay can be used by itself or in conjunction with a pair of belt reinforcing strips (42) located radially outwardly along both axial edges (46, 48) of one of the belts (26, 28) of the belt reinforcing structure (24). The belt reinforcing strips (42) also contain a plurality of cords (50) oriented at an angle of from 9.degree. to 24.degree. with respect to the equatorial plane of the tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Klaus Beer, Gary W. Richards, Thomas R. Oare, Thomas A. Brown, Thomas H. Wells
  • Patent number: 5014759
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel that includes a valve which has a check device, with the wheel being intended for use with a pneumatic tire that even when operating as a tire which is flat or has otherwise lost pressure permits great distances to be covered at a reduced speed. To prevent misuse of the tire, in other words reinflation of a tire subsequent to flat-tire operation and before the tire has been checked for leaks, the valve is provided with a mechanism that prevents such misuse. This mechanism is pneumatically disposed in series with the check device and is installed in an open position and in such a way that it changes over into a closed position upon commencement of a flat-tire operation, with a special tool and/or special replacement parts being required in order to reestablish the open position of the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holzbach, Carsten Boltze, Karl-Heinz Kramer, Heinrich Meier