Patents Examined by Thomas Bokan
  • Patent number: 4405006
    Abstract: Anti-skidding device for vehicle wheels with tires, particularly pneumatic tires, for ice and snow surfaces. The anti-skidding device 100 consists of a support disk 120 which can be attached at the wheel disk or rim 11. The support disk is provided, adjacent to its periphery, with a plurality of anti-skidding arms 140 which extend radially in a fixed manner, equally spaced apart or are pivotal about axes 141 which extend parallel to the wheel disk bearing axis 117. The anti-skidding arms are prebent sections of plastic which engage over the tire travel surface 14 and carry spikes at their free ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: Firma Niveau AG
    Inventor: Werner Preusker
  • Patent number: 4403639
    Abstract: A stud arrangement on casehardened studded chains for motor vehicles, wherein the studs consist of a steel body which is permanently welded to a chain link and provided with a centrally disposed hard metal pin. The hard metal pin is inserted into the steel body such that it is covered on all sides by steel material of a thickness which at least corresponds to the casehardening penetration depth. In a method for producing such studded chains, an inwardly converging blind hole is cut out from one end of the steel body. The hard metal pin, of a shape corresponding to the conical hole, is forced into the hole, the pin being shorter than the blind hole so that a skirt is formed outside the pin. The edge of the skirt is beveled, and the steel body with the metal pin therein is joined to the chain by resistance welding in a machine for welding studs onto chain links, the body with the pin being moved gradually toward the chain link as the beveled edge melts and flows radially outwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Inventor: Bjarne Holte
  • Patent number: 4402356
    Abstract: A tire, particularly for aircraft, has a crown reinforcement formed of plies of circumferential cables having a relative extensibility upon rupture of at least 8%, preferably between 10% and 26%, when the vulcanized tire is mounted on its service rim but not yet inflated, and a relative contraction under the effect of the heat at the temperature of vulcanization of at least 1.25%, preferably between 2% and 8%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventor: Jacques Musy
  • Patent number: 4401144
    Abstract: An assembly comprising a wheel rim and an annular safety support member mounted on the rim portion between the rim bead seats and extending radially outwards beyond the rim bead retaining flanges to support a tire mounted on the rim when in a deflated condition. The support member rotates with the rim in the non load-bearing condition but rotates relative to the rim in the load-bearing condition to compensate for circumferential differences between the tire tread and the radially outer surface of the support member. The confronting surfaces on the support member and rim portion are profiled to axially locate the support member on the rim. Preferably the radially inner surface of the support member is of shallow convex profile and the confronting surface on the rim portion is of shallow concave profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Assignee: Dunlop Limited
    Inventor: Ralph Wilde
  • Patent number: 4399851
    Abstract: The running characteristics of a tire for a wheel are improved to provide a more quiet run, by attaching to an inner and/or outer surface of the tire vibration absorbing elements. Vibration absorbing elements may even be inserted into the tire material itself. The vibration absorbing elements are secured to the tire surface in a force and moment or torque transmitting manner by vulcanization or by a suitable adhesive. A strap may hold the individual absorbing elements together or the elements may form integral parts of the strap which is secured to the tire surface, for example, by a rubber vulcanizing operation. The vibration absorber elements may be secured to an inner tube instead of to the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventor: Oskar Bschorr
  • Patent number: 4398988
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatic applying a predetermined length of ply stock onto a tire building drum wherein the ply stock is unwound from a supply source, conveyed in an untensioned condition on a conveyor means, cut to length and the delivered to a tire building drum. The cut stock is then wrapped in an untensioned condition about the drum with the aid of the conveyor means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company
    Inventor: Claude Mullender
  • Patent number: 4398584
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire for heavy vehicles is disclosed. This tire comprises a carcass composed of at least one ply of cords arranged in a substantially radial plane inclusive of the rotary axis of the tire with a turnup portion thereof, and a plurality of reinforcing layers for bead portion each containing cords crossed with the cords of the carcass ply. Among these reinforcing layers, reinforcing layers having heights which are different in radially upward end as measured from a reference line parallel to the rotary axis of the tire passing through the center of a bead core toward the radial direction of the tire and having cords with substantially the same modulus of elasticity are crossed with each other such that the cords of the reinforcing layer are inclined at a larger angle with respect to the radial plane of the tire as the height of the radially upward end becomes lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: Bridgestone Tire Company Limited
    Inventors: Hikaru Tansei, Kenichi Motomura
  • Patent number: 4398582
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having remarkably low rolling resistance and high wet skid resistance without deteriorating the wear resistance is obtained by using in at least the ground-contact area of its tread, a rubber composition consisting essentially of 100 parts by weight of a mixed elastomer and 40-80 parts by weight of carbon black, the mixed elastomer consisting of 10-60 parts by weight of a solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber having a bonded styrene content of 5-30% by weight and a trans-1,4 content in butadiene unit of not more than 45% by weight; 10-50 parts by weight of an emulsion-polymerized styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber having a bonded styrene content of 30-50% by weight; and 0-80 parts by weight of at least one rubber having a glass transition temperature of not higher than -50.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: Bridgestone Tire Company Limited
    Inventors: Kazuaki Yuto, Toru Oniki, Nobumasa Ikeda, Itsuo Miyake
  • Patent number: 4397708
    Abstract: Etching method and etching and etchant removal apparatus. A specific embodiment includes two sets of fan spray nozzles located adjacent to the etching chamber and positioned to direct a spray at the work piece as the work piece exits the etching chamber. A sensor is also located adjacent to the etching chamber for turning the nozzles on when the work piece is present. Hydrometer means for determining the specific gravity of the etchant solution controls one set of nozzles whereby the nozzles are turned on to decrease the density of the etchant and turned off to increase the density of the etchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Assignee: Koltron Corporation
    Inventor: John J. Frantzen
  • Patent number: 4393913
    Abstract: In many designs, a tire (14) of a wheel (10) is inadequately restrained with respect to a tire supporting rim assembly (12) of the wheel. Movement of the tire (14) with respect to the rim assembly (12) results in a wastage of energy. In the present invention a wheel assembly (10) has a rim assembly (12) and a tire (14) mounted on the rim assembly (12). The rim assembly (12) has an annular elastic element (22) affixed thereto for increasing the coefficient of friction between said rim assembly (12) and the tire (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventors: Charles E. Grawey, John J. Groezinger
  • Patent number: 4393911
    Abstract: The liner includes a generally C-shaped, flexible band of bearing material disposed to be placed around the drop center of a tire rim. Two, complimentary, generally semi-circular members made from a polyester elastomer are then mounted as a ring coaxially around the outside of the band with the inner peripheral surfaces thereof slidably seated in a circumferential groove that is formed in the outer periphery of the band. The confronting ends of the members are releasably secured together by a pair of rigid links, each of which is releasably and pivotally mounted at one end in a recess in one end of a member, and has its opposite end connected to a rotatable eccentric that is mounted in the confronting end of the other member. When the associated eccentric is rotated, it causes the attached link to be reciprocated further into, or out of, the end of the associated member, thereby causing the link selectively to shift confronting ends of the members toward or away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: Astronics Corporation
    Inventor: Mason C. Winfield
  • Patent number: 4391314
    Abstract: The present invention relates to snow tire spikes for use with automobiles adapted to run on frozen road surfaces or on snow. The snow tire spike comprises a spike body formed by using a ceramic stock molded by pressing with dies and a flange made of plastics which coats at least the end part of the spike body which is attached to the tire. The anchoring part formed at the attaching end of the spike body has a larger diameter than the opposite end of the spike body, but has a diameter smaller than 1.5 times that of the latter. This larger diameter part is wholly coated with plastics, and is unified with the outer circumferential part of the spike body through a smoothly tapered or arc-shaped joining surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiro Inamoto, Naohiro Hayata
  • Patent number: 4391315
    Abstract: An anti-skid tire chain is improved by having a resilient strap at one end, the strap being adapted to be secured on the inside wall of a mounted tire having its tread on a road surface. On both of the side wall links of the chain, there are plates having a plurality of sharply pointed hooks or barbs adapted to be pressed into the side walls of the tire when the chain is initially being secured to the tire. In order to have the barbs securely engage the tire so as to hold the chain thereon during the rotation of the wheel and tire, the resilient strap is extended transversely on the chain from adjacent one of the plates to the other and the plates are secured to the tire by pressing them against the side walls with the barbs extending toward the tire wall and toward the tread. At the same time the strap is stretched so that when it is released, the barbs will be additionally pulled into the tire by the resilient retraction of the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Inventor: Gerald D. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 4391317
    Abstract: A band device for retaining a tire on a wheel rim in the event that the tyre should become deflated, which band device comprises a first band portion which is part circular for substantially its entire length, a second band portion which is part circular for substantially its entire length and which is substantially the same size as the first band portion, a link portion which is part circular for substantially its entire length and which is for joining the first and second band portions together at one end, and fastener means for joining the first and second band portions together at their other ends whereby the band portions and the link portion are retainable in position around a base of a wheel rim, the link portion having an apertured part for receiving a valve of a tube for a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Inventor: Bernard J. Savage
  • Patent number: 4391316
    Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-skid device for vehicle wheels, comprising a plurality of U-shaped elements radially mounted on the wheel tire, and two series of connecting levers pivoted on each arm of said U-shaped elements. In order to provide an automatic mounting operation of the device on a vehicle wheel by simply advancing the wheel on the device, each arm of each of the U-shaped elements carries retaining means for said levers, which removably retain the U-shaped elements and levers in a relative position wherein each of said U-shaped elements forms a pre-set angle with the levers adjacent to the same, said angle corresponding to that formed when the device is mounted on the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Inventor: Gianfranco Seggio
  • Patent number: 4391313
    Abstract: At the nodal points of the chain net in a tire chain, components (1) are provided which have at least one T-shaped section, the transverse bar (3,4) of which forms holding arms (5) for chain links (6) to be hung in; in these components, the ends, forming locking pins (9), of a closure element (8) mounted in a bore (7) in the middle of the longitudinal bar of the T-shaped section serve to secure the chain links (6) hung into the hook-shaped holding arms (5) (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Assignee: RUD-Kettenfabrik Rieger & Dietz GmbH u. Co.
    Inventor: Erhard A. Weidler
  • Patent number: 4390052
    Abstract: A bias-belted motorcycle tire whose belt cord angle is at least two degrees less than the cord angle of the carcass plies. A sidewall stiffening structure extends from each bead and terminates in the respective sidewall a distance from the respective bead which is equal to between about 40 and about 60 percent of tire section height. A belt extends across the tread and terminates at a location which is spaced radially from the radially outermost point of the sidewall stiffening structure a distance equal to at least one-half inch to provide a flex zone.This abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Joseph V. Mendiola, David E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4390053
    Abstract: In the case of an anti-slip chain, possessing an inner and outer holding device (4,5) which holds a chain-net, a tensioning chain-strand (7) runs from the inner holding device (4), over the tread of the tire, to the outer holding device (5). In order to guarantee that the tensioning chain-strand (7) is correctly guided in the region of the tread of the tire, the said strand is led through a sliding sleeve (9,11) which is located at the end of a track piece (3) and is comparatively long.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: RUD-Kettenfabrik Rieger 6 Dietz GmbH u. Co.
    Inventors: Hansjorg Rieger, Dietmar Holzwarth
  • Patent number: 4390390
    Abstract: A label applicator device for applying a label to the surface of a substantially rectangular package in a selected orientation includes a package conveyor for presenting a package at an applicator station, control means for manually selecting a first or a second label orientation, and applicator means. The applicator means is responsive to a control means and receives a label at an output station. The applicator means applies the label to the surface of the package in a first orientation with respect to the package or in a second orientation with respect to the package. The second orientation is rotated approximately 90.degree. with respect to the first orientation. The applicator means includes a cam and cam follower arrangement which provides for rotation of a portion of an applicator head which engages each label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: Hobart Corporation
    Inventors: Dallas A. Margraf, Fritz F. Treiber
  • Patent number: 4387755
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a tread reinforcement layer constituted by a steel cord strip layer adjacent the carcass and an aromatic polyamide cord strip layer superposed to the steel cord strip layer in a parallel side-by-side relationship. The aromatic polyamide cord strip layer is folded at its both edges toward the center, in such a manner that the folded portions contact the main portion in a parallel side-by-side relationship. The main portion has a width ranging between 100 and 110% of the width of the tread surface, while the width of each folded portion ranges between 27.5 and 35% of the width of main portion. Furthermore, the free edge of each folded portion is located at a distance from the center of the outermost circumferential groove in the tread surface, which distance being between 25 and 75% of the distance between the outermost groove and the adjacent groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Kato, Tuneo Morikawa, Kazuyuki Kabe