Patents Examined by Robert C Dye
  • Patent number: 11648806
    Abstract: At least one mark formed by a character or a figure and a surface geometry arrangement region disposed adjacent to the mark outside the mark can be formed on a surface of a sidewall portion of a tire. The surface geometry arrangement region can have a plurality of micro projections. The surface geometry arrangement region can include a first region formed in at least a part of the surface geometry arrangement region such that the greater a distance from the mark is, the less a height of the micro projection can be.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Nakajima, Tetsuya Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 11648803
    Abstract: A tire has a block pattern. The block pattern includes a plurality of linked block pairs. Each linked block pair includes two blocks 28 and a tie bar 30 interposed between the two blocks 28 and linking the two blocks 28 together. The tie bar 30 has a toe end 40 having a height equal to or smaller than a height of the blocks 28 and a heel end 38 having a height smaller than the height of the toe end 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Sueishi
  • Patent number: 11642917
    Abstract: Tire comprising at least one working layer (41). The radially outermost one thereof comprises at least one undulation (412) radially on the outside of the points of the working layer (41) that are in line with the centre of the bottom face (243) of the major groove (24) closest to undulation (412). The undulation (412) of the radially outermost working layer (41) is such that, over at least 10% of the radially outer surface (ROS) of the said working layer (41), the radial distance (do) between the radially outer surface (ROS) and the tread surface (21) is at least 1 mm less than the radial distance (dc) between the radially outer surface (ROS) and the tread surface (21), which is the distance in line with the centre of the bottom face (243) of the major groove (24) closest to the said undulation (412).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Richard Abinal, Mathieu Albouy, François-Xavier Bruneau, Cyril Charreire, Pierre Fevrier, Patrick Pallot
  • Patent number: 11639079
    Abstract: A process for applying noise-reducing elements to a tyre for vehicle wheels. A plurality of noise-reducing elements are arranged on a feeding belt movable along a predetermined feeding direction. The noise-reducing elements are subsequently aligned along the feeding direction and brought into mutual contact, to then be transferred onto a service plane arranged downstream of the feeding belt along the feeding direction and having, on an upper surface thereof, a continuous film which supports a layer of adhesive material. The layer of adhesive material is applied onto a lower surface of each of the noise-reducing elements taking it from the continuous film. The noise-reducing elements are then transferred one by one onto a conveyor belt arranged downstream of the service plane along the feeding direction. The noise-reducing elements are finally positioned one by one on a radially inner surface of a tyre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ivan Gildo Boscaino, Maurizio Marchini, Adriano Girotto
  • Patent number: 11639078
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire, a plurality of side blocks include a first side block and a second side block that are adjacent in a tire circumferential direction, the first side block comprises a first recess that is recessed in a tire width direction and that is disposed at a location which is separated from an edge of an end in the tire circumferential direction of the first side block, and the second side block comprises a first convexity that protrudes in the tire width direction and that is disposed at a location which is separated from an edge of an end in the tire circumferential direction of the second side block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo Sano
  • Patent number: 11633929
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bead-apex storage system and a method for handling carriers, each carrier supporting a stack of bead-apexes stacked in a stacking direction and alternated with spacers separating the bead-apexes, wherein the bead-apex storage system includes a plurality of storage stations for storing the carriers and a transfer station for transferring one of the plurality of bead-apexes to a tire building machine, wherein the bead-apex storage system further includes a spacer gripper for lifting one or more of the spacers from one of the carriers in one of the plurality of storage stations and for carrying said one or more lifted spacers to the transfer station, wherein the bead-apex storage system includes a spacer gripper base for supporting the spacer gripper, wherein the spacer gripper base is movable from the transfer station to any one of the plurality of storage stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventors: Keimpe Theunis Bijl, Antonius Willibrordus Joseph Stout
  • Patent number: 11633987
    Abstract: A tire includes a tread portion including a circumferential groove and a land portion defined by the circumferential groove, the land portion including a land sidewall facing the circumferential groove. The land sidewall includes a first surface, a second surface located on a groove centerline side of the circumferential groove with respect to the first surface, and a stair portion formed between the first surface and the second surface. The stair portion varies its radial height stepwise in two or more steps in a longitudinal direction of the circumferential groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinsuke Yukami
  • Patent number: 11633989
    Abstract: The tire includes a tread portion 2 having at least one groove 3 that includes two groove walls 6. At least one of the groove walls 6 has a protrusion 10 that protrudes from the groove wall 6. The protrusion 10 includes at least two ribs 11 that extend in a length direction of the groove 3 and are spaced from each other in the tire radial direction, and a joining portion 12 for joining the ribs 11 to each other. Each rib 11 protrudes from the groove wall 6 so as to form such an inclination that the rib 11 is inclined outward from the groove wall 6 in a tire radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11633992
    Abstract: The tire can achieve both cut resistance and mud drainage performance of the sidewall. The tire includes: a tread; sidewalls; and a plurality of side block groups on at least one of the sidewalls. Each of the side block groups protrudes from the sidewall reference plane. Each of the side block groups includes: a first side block; and a second side block. In each of said plurality of side block groups, the fi3 . . . 3rst side block 2 has a groove 23 extending from the second side block 3 toward an inside of the first side block in the tire circumferential direction D3, In each of said plurality of side block groups, the second side block 3 has a slope 35c whose height from the reference plane S2 becomes lower toward the first side block, such that the slope extends into the groove of the first side block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiki Sato
  • Patent number: 11628694
    Abstract: A tire including a rubber sheet which covers an end of the carcass ply which has been folded back and an RFID tag serving as an electronic component provided between the bead filler and the rubber sheet, in which the bead filler is formed in an annular shape, the rubber sheet is formed in an annular shape by one end side and another end side of a long sheet being joined, and the RFID tag serving as the electronic component is disposed between the bead filler and the rubber sheet at a joint part which is a portion of the rubber sheet which is joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Toyo Tire Corporation
    Inventor: Harunobu Suita
  • Patent number: 11623480
    Abstract: The tire is provided which has secured a traction performance in the side surface of the tire while showing a cut resistance property on the side surface of the tire. The tire includes a side block arranged on a side surface of the tire. The side block includes: a first block 11 formed on the side surface, the first block protruded from a tire surface 5 at a first height; a second block 12 formed on the side surface, the second block protruded from the tire surface at a second height different from the first height; a third block 13 formed on the side surface, the third block protruded from the tire surface at a third height different from the second height; and a fourth block 14 formed on the side surface, the fourth block protruded from the tire surface at a fourth height different from the third height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Ikuno
  • Patent number: 11623479
    Abstract: A tire having a tread portion that is provided with sipes. Four sipe segments of the sipe include a first sipe segment, a second sipe segment, a third sipe segment, and a fourth sipe segment. At least one of the first sipe segment and the third sipe segment includes, in the cross section orthogonal to the length direction, an oscillated portion which extends in the tire radial direction, while oscillating in the lateral direction orthogonal to the length direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11618228
    Abstract: A sealing device comprising a flexible holding strip having an adhesive layer on a first surface, wherein the strip is configured for attachment to an inner surface of a tubeless tire via the adhesive layer, and a plurality of flexible flags attached to a second surface of the flexible holding strip opposite the first surface, wherein the plurality of flags is attached to the second surface at a fixed widthwise edge of each of the plurality of flags and wherein the plurality of flags are configured to seal a hole in the tubeless tire when the strip is attached to the inner surface of the tubeless tire is provided. Methods of protecting tires by attaching a sealing device are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz University
    Inventor: Abdulhameed Fouad A Alkhateeb
  • Patent number: 11618229
    Abstract: A tire turn-up apparatus for selectively engaging a cylindrical tire building drum may include a base and a first plurality of finger assemblies. The tire building drum may be a selected drum from a group of drums of different drum diameters. Each finger assembly may have a backstop connected to the base and a finger pivotally connected to the backstop. Each finger may be moveable between a radially retracted and extended position to turn-up the tire carcass. Each finger may be radially adjustable on its respective backstop to align with different drum diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Nikolas R. Tomassoni, Phillip T. Brasher, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11618285
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a first land portion that is provided on a sidewall portion, projects to an outer side in a tire width direction, and extends in a tire circumferential direction over the entire tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of second land portions that are provided in a central portion in a tire radial direction of the first land portion, project to an outer side in the tire width direction, extend in the tire circumferential direction, and are disposed apart from each other in the tire circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Toyo Tire Corporation
    Inventor: Keisuke Matsubara
  • Patent number: 11613145
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire having a point-symmetric structure block pattern, narrow and wide outer blocks having different outer end positions in the lateral direction are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction. Among side blocks provided in a side region, large and small blocks are disposed respectively on the outer sides of the narrow and wide outer blocks in the lateral direction. The lateral and side grooves are continuous such that the groove width of the side groove connected to the wide portion of the lateral groove where the outer block converges toward the inner side in the radial direction, and the groove width of the side portion connected to the narrow portion of the lateral groove where the outer block widens toward the inner side in the radial direction, and the side block is tapered with an inner portion block width in the radial direction converges toward the wide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenji Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 11607916
    Abstract: A mark indicating portion arranged on a sidewall portion is provided with a reference surface provided on a surface of the sidewall portion and one or more marks formed on the reference surface. A surface of the or each mark is provided with a ridge line extending obliquely with respect to a tyre radial direction, a first surface portion positioned on an outer side in the tyre radial direction of the ridge line, and a second surface portion positioned on an inner side in the tyre radial direction of the ridge line. Each of the first surface portion and the second surface portion is inclined in a direction in which a height thereof from the reference surface is decreased as it goes away from the ridge line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11607913
    Abstract: In a state in which a pneumatic tire is mounted on a specified rim, inflated to 92% of a specified internal pressure, and loaded with a load of 75% of the maximum load capacity, an average thickness of an undertread rubber is smaller in a center region than in a shoulder region, a ratio (CAO/UAO) is 0.15 or more and 0.95 or less, a ratio (UAI/UAO) is less than 1, and a ratio (L/W) is 0.29 or more and 0.51 or less, in a tire meridian cross-sectional view, where CAO, UAO and UAI are cross-sectional areas of the cap tread rubber, the undertread rubber, and the undertread rubber in the center region, respectively, L is a tire width direction dimension from a defined intersection point to a ground contact edge, and W is a tire width direction dimension of each shoulder region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Fujii
  • Patent number: 11602913
    Abstract: The method includes the step of forming a carcass from at least one first material based on a thermoplastic elastomer. The method continues with the step of forming, on the carcass, at least bead zone from at least one second material based on a thermoplastic elastomer to form an assembly. The method proceeds with the step of forming, on the assembly an additional part from at least one third material based on a thermoplastic elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Frederic Pialot, Thomas Fabre, Pierre Wiel
  • Patent number: 11602957
    Abstract: Provided are a tire with new sidewall pattern and a tire mold, which belongs to the technical field of tire, the tire includes a tire body, a sidewall of the tire body has a labeling region, in which multiple pattern units are provided; the pattern units are provided to protrude from the tire body, the pattern unit includes a curved portion having a curved segment and extension ends provided at both ends of the curved segment. The tire mold is used for manufacturing the tire. The tire has better visual performance and mechanical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Himile Mechanical Science and Technology (Shandong) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chenglin Li, Peng Zhao, Ping Du, Wei Zhang, Gongyun Zhang, Jiqiang Shan, Yaoyu Gong, Qinfeng Wang, Riwen Sun, Zhilan Liu, Xiliang Shen