Patents Examined by James P. Mackey
  • Patent number: 10870247
    Abstract: A tire vulcanization mold 10 of an embodiment includes a side mold 14 having a side molding surface 20 for molding a side wall portion. The side mold 14 includes: a side mold body 24 having recesses 30 provided in the side molding surface 20; a side piece 26 fitted into the recess 30 to form a vent gap 28 with a wall surface of the recess; and a replacement piece 44 for displaying information closely fitted into a mounting hole 42 provided in the side molding surface 20 without a gap therebetween. The replacement piece 44 is provided in the side piece 26 or in the side mold body 24 so as not to span the side piece 26 and the side mold body 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 10870248
    Abstract: A mold design having a non-symmetric tread ring parting line is described that forms a tread pattern that extends onto the off-shoulder area of a tire on one side. The mold has a single tread segment that forms the entire tread pattern on the tire. The tread segment of the mold is non-symmetric in that one end, a first end, extends farther downward than the opposite end, a second end. The first end of the tread segment contains a tread pattern design capable of imparting a tread design on the off-shoulder or sidewall of one side of the tire to form a non-symmetric tread pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Dale R. Harrigle, Michael J. Kubiak, Neal G. Sehm, Chad J. Saylor
  • Patent number: 10864692
    Abstract: The curing bladder for a tire has a shape of revolution around a central axis and comprises a flexible wall made of crosslinked rubber. The surface of the wall is covered with a coating film made of a non-stick composition. When the bladder is non-inflated, the coating film has a variable thickness over the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Frédéric Pialot, Gérard Bor, Alain Faugeras, Frédéric Ramz
  • Patent number: 10857710
    Abstract: There is provided a mold conveying guide device for use in replacement of a mold by conveying the mold into and out of a mold fixing position in an injection molding machine. A connecting arm is attached to the mold and projects in a direction in which the mold is conveyed into the mold fixing position. A guide roller is rotatably supported at a tip end portion of the connecting arm. The guide roller is configured to rotate while being in contact with a mold attaching surface of at least one of a fixed platen and a movable platen, and configured to guide the mold such that the mold can come close to or move away from the at least one of the fixed platen and the movable platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Nichietsu Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10857699
    Abstract: The tire vulcanization mold includes a molding surface for molding a tire surface of a pneumatic tire set in a cavity, a concave portion provided on the molding surface, and a vent plug provided in the concave portion. The vent plug includes a housing having a cylindrical shape and including an exhaust passage, a stem that is inserted in the housing and configured to open and close the exhaust passage of the housing, and an urging member urging the stem toward the cavity side. The concave portion has a narrow portion having a width substantially equal to the outer diameter of the housing of the vent plug, and the vent plug is disposed in the narrow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 10850434
    Abstract: Aspects hereof provide methods for molding a single-phase solution comprised of a polymer composition and a gas. The polymer composition and the gas are maintained under pressure during the molding operation to prevent a cellular structure from being formed by the dissolved gas in the polymer composition coming out of solution. The mold cavity in which the single-phase solution is introduced for molding purposes is pressurized to a mold pressure that is sufficient to maintain the single-phase solution as a single-phase solution as the mold cavity is filled. Subsequent to filling the mold cavity with the single-phase solution under pressure, the resulting article may solidify entrapping the compressed gas, or the article may be exposed to a reduction in pressure causing the entrapped gas to form a cellular structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Darland, Ryan Alvin Mace
  • Patent number: 10850432
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizing mold is disclosed capable of accurately providing a clearance, from which air existing between a green tire and a side mold is released, on a side shaping surface and thereby preventing shaping defect. The tire vulcanizing mold includes an upper and lower pair of side molds having side shaping surfaces, each of which shapes a sidewall of a tire. Each of the side molds includes a side mold main body, plural pieces, and a clearance provided between the side mold main body and each of the pieces. The side mold main body includes plural recesses, each of which is closed in a tire circumferential direction and a tire radial direction and is opened to a side shaping surface, at spaced intervals in the tire circumferential direction. Each of the pieces is fitted into the recess and forms the side shaping surface with the side mold main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 10843426
    Abstract: A tire vulcanization mold disclosed herein includes sectors 13 divided in a tire circumferential direction and molding a tread portion 1 of a tire, and a pair of upper and lower side plates 11 and 12 molding a sidewall portion 2 of the tire. Mold parting lines 16a and 17a formed by the sectors 13 and a pair of the upper and lower side plates 11 and 12 are located in the tread portion 1 and set to pass a bend point 8c of a surface design in the tread portion 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 10843431
    Abstract: A device for producing pellets has a machine frame, a hollow outer cylinder mounted therein with a first axis of rotation and an inner cylinder, arranged in the outer cylinder, with a second axis of rotation, wherein a wedge-shaped gap is formed between an inner surface of the outer cylinder and an outer surface of the inner cylinder, the outer cylinder and/or the inner cylinder has radial holes for pressing through material, and a pivot arm is arranged on each of the two sides next to the inner cylinder, on which pivot arms the inner cylinder is rotatably mounted. Each pivot arm is moveably mounted on the machine frame in the region of both ends of the pivot arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: JOSEF SCHAIDER PRIVATSTIFTUNG
    Inventors: Ludwig Schaider, Josef Schaider
  • Patent number: 10821688
    Abstract: A method of molding a green tire having a first and second bead area is described herein, wherein the method includes the steps of: inserting a tire clamping device inside a tire bladder and then inserting the tire clamping device and the bladder into the green tire, aligning the outer surfaces of the tire clamping device into engagement with a respective bead area of the tire so that each tire bead area is clamped between a respective upper and a lower mold ring and the tire clamping device during cure. A tire clamping device includes an inner portion, and a plurality of segments connected to the inner portion, wherein the tire clamping device has a closed position wherein the plurality of segments together forms a first and second ring for engagement with the bead areas of the tire so clamp the bead areas between the clamping device and the mold rings during cure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: George Michael Stoila, John Edward Anderson, Michael James Hogan
  • Patent number: 10821689
    Abstract: A mold for vulcanizing a tire includes a plurality of first and second sectors alternatively arranged in parallel in a circumferential direction to form an annular shape. A projecting portion formed across the first sector and the second sector includes a first convex portion whose occupied volume is larger, which is formed in the first sector, and a second convex portion whose occupied volume is smaller, which is formed in the second sector. The second convex portion has a length of at least 1.5 mm along an extending direction of the protrusions from an end surface of the second sector and has substantially the same height as the protrusions, and a corner portion of an end surface side of the first sector is chamfered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10821691
    Abstract: An expandable bladder for shaping a pneumatic tire to be mounted inside a tire curing mold, the expandable bladder having a toroidal configuration and having a pair of opposing annular beads, wherein the bladder has an expansion section that is formed from a plurality of waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: George Michael Stoila, Michael James Hogan, Minwu Yao
  • Patent number: 10814528
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a flexible mat forming system includes a rotating drum having a plurality of mold cavities about an outer periphery thereof; a hopper positioned adjacent the drum, the hopper shaped to receive a hardenable paste and deposit the hardenable paste into successive mold cavities of the plurality of mold cavities facing the hopper, as the drum rotates relative to the hopper; wherein the hopper includes an opening shaped and positioned to align with the mold cavities facing the hopper; and a sheet of mesh material that is fed between the hopper and the mold cavities facing the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: MOTZ ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: James G. Motz, Matthew J. Motz
  • Patent number: 10814530
    Abstract: A mold device configured for use in a rotational molding device configured to perform a rotational molding process by rotating the mold device by means of a robot arm is provided. The mold device generally includes a connector part for connecting to the robot arm, first and second mold parts configured to assemble to each other for enclosing a mold cavity in an assembled state. The mold device includes a magnet gripper for releasably attaching the mold parts and heating and cooling elements integrated in at least one of the mold parts for respectively heating and cooling the mold part. The heating elements may be arranged in first grooves positioned in an exterior face of the respective mold part. The cooling elements may be arranged in second grooves positioned in the exterior face of the respective mold part in between the first grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: PLASTIGI
    Inventors: Filip Claus, Stefan Claus
  • Patent number: 10814573
    Abstract: A bead ring for a tire mold includes a plurality of concentric rings, wherein at least two adjacent concentric rings form an interface having a circumferential seam. The circumferential seam is configured to receive airflow from an interior of the tire mold, and the circumferential seam is in fluid communication with an air chamber located radially exterior of the circumferential seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Hugo K. Takenaka, Jamie M. Young, Neal G. Sehm
  • Patent number: 10807333
    Abstract: A tire mold comprises sector molds for forming a tread portion of a tire and mold pins provided on the sector molds for forming insertion holes in the tread portion. The insertion holes each comprise a first hole portion with a first inner diameter where a body portion of a stud pin is disposed and a second hole portion with a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter where a bottom flange portion of the stud pin is disposed. The mold pins each comprise a trunk portion with a first outer diameter for forming the first hole portion and a tip portion with a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter for forming the second hole portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10800120
    Abstract: A tyre mold for curing and molding a tyre includes a plurality of tread segments for molding a tread rubber of the tyre. The plurality of tread segments, upon being connected with one another in a mold circumferential direction, forms a tread molding-surface that is substantially continuous in the mold circumferential direction through parting lines that appear between adjacent tread segments. The parting lines include one or more inclined parting lines inclined with respect to a mold axial direction, and the inclined parting lines extend straightly between ends in the mold axial direction of the tread molding-surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Komori, Ryuhei Sanae
  • Patent number: 10791746
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for processing food materials such as dough. The apparatus includes (1) a frame formed with a trough hole and a slot; (2) a motor obliquely attached to a side wall of the frame; (3) a rear roller positioned in the slot and operably coupled to the motor by a driving gear; (4) a front roller positioned in the slot and operably coupled to the rear roller via a transmission gear set; and (5) a cam component operably attached to the frame and positioned adjacent to the front roller. When the cam portion is rotated, the front roller is moved toward or far away from the rear roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Specialty Food Manufacturing Machines and Devices, LLC
    Inventor: Jerold S. McCarty, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10791745
    Abstract: An apparatus for receiving a baking mold and holding the baking mold in a desired position for baking. For a baking mold that is held together by a seal that extends around the edges of the mold, the apparatus includes a slot or trough that bisects the top of the apparatus and receives the seal within the trough. Other embodiments include receptors for protrusions from the baking mold and others include a rim that the baking mold sits over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Inventors: Todd Lindsay Wirth, Fatimah Wirth
  • Patent number: 10780661
    Abstract: The molding element has a molding surface forming a contact face and a groove forming rib portion forming the groove comprising two opposed rib side faces and a rib top face connecting two rib side faces. The groove forming rib portion provides at least one cavity opening to the rib top face and to at least one of the rib side faces. The cavity has two opposed cavity faces. The molding element comprises at least one cutting means extending and/or projecting in a direction the groove forming rib portion extends for cutting a material filled in the cavity during demolding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Anthony Gueugneau, Romain Calvel, Bernard Villeneuve, Khotchakorn Pengsaloong