Patents by Inventor Francois-Xavier Bruneau

Francois-Xavier Bruneau has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • 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: 11560020
    Abstract: A tire (1) for a vehicle has a tread surface having a transverse radius RT and comprises a crown layer (3) that comprises at least one undulation (312) in line with a rib (26). The undulation (312) is such that it is radially on the outside of the points of the undulated layer in line with the center of the bottom face of the circumferential furrow (25) closest to the undulation (312) and has an amplitude at least equal to 1 mm. The radial distance (da) between at least one contact edge corner of a rib (26) in line with which an undulation is located and the transverse radius RT of the rib is at least equal to 0.2 mm and at most equal to 2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Pierre Fevrier, Richard Abinal, Mathieu Albouy, Francois-Xavier Bruneau, Cyril Charreire, Patrick Pallot
  • Patent number: 11453242
    Abstract: Tire comprising major grooves with a depth at least equal to 4 mm and with a width at least equal to 1 mm. The radially outermost working layer (41) comprises at least one undulation (412). The undulation (412) is such that the undulation (412) portion of the working layer (41) represents at least 10% of the surface of the working layer (41), has an amplitude of at least 1 mm and is radially on the outside of the points of the working layer (41) that are in line with the bottom face (243) of the major groove (24) closest (412). All the layers of material (3, 6, 7) making up the radial stack of the crown structure (S) have mean surfaces parallel to that of the radially outermost working layer (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Richard Abinal, Mathieu Albouy, François-Xavier Bruneau, Cyril Charreire, Pierre Fevrier, Patrick Pallot
  • Publication number: 20220194131
    Abstract: The invention is a tyre comprising, in the central part of its crown, at least one undulation (51) of the radially outermost crown layer, having a radial amplitude A at least equal to 1 mm. At least one bead comprises, aside from the radial carcass layer and the bead wire, a radial reinforcing element that is such that the axial distance between the radial reinforcing element and the axially innermost carcass layer is at least equal to 1 mm and at most equal to 12 mm at the point of the radial reinforcing element that is situated 30 mm from the radially innermost point of the bead wire, for a better trade-off between the stiffness of the undulating crown and of the bead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: DANIEL FABING, PATRICE FRAYSSE, ALEXANDRE TOBIE, FRANCOIS-XAVIER BRUNEAU, PATRICK PALLOT
  • Publication number: 20210260925
    Abstract: The invention is a tire comprising a crown comprising at least one layer of reinforcing elements. The radially outermost layer comprises at least one undulation (512). The undulations (512) in the radially outermost layer (5) are such that the points of the undulations are radially on the outside of the points of said layer (5) that are vertically beneath the centre of the bottom face (243) of the closest major groove (24) by at least a radial distance of 1.5 mm. The undulations (512) in the radially outermost crown layer make up at least 10% of the radially outer surface (ROS) of said crown layer (5). A rubber compound with a dynamic modulus G*, measured at 40° C. at 10% peak-to-peak strain at 10 Hz, that is at most equal to 3.25 MPa, makes up at least 30% of the rubber compounds vertically above said undulations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: François-Xavier BRUNEAU, Mathieu ALBOUY, Daniel FABING, Patrice FRAYSSE, Vincent TOURNEUX
  • Patent number: 10710414
    Abstract: Tire having a predetermined direction of mounting on a vehicle. The tire tread (40) comprises a central rib (411-413) and two side ribs (421, 422), separated by circumferential grooves (141-144). The side ribs are made from a first rubber composition less than 50% filled with black. The central rib comprises a portion (4111, 4121) made from a second rubber composition more than 50% filled with black, the axial width (LP) of said portion being greater than or equal to 20% of the axial width LC of the central rib. The first rubber composition has a tan ?0 value which is greater than the tan ?0 value of the second rubber composition, where tan ?0 denotes the tan ? value measured at a temperature of 0° C. and under a stress of 0.7 mPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Frédéric Bourgeois, François-Xavier Bruneau, Patrice Fraysse, Emmanuel Igier
  • Publication number: 20200122519
    Abstract: A tire (1) for a vehicle, has a tread surface having a transverse radius RT and comprises a crown layer (3) that comprises at least one undulation (312) in line with a rib (26). The undulation (312) is such that it is radially on the outside of the points of the undulated layer in line with the center of the bottom face of the circumferential furrow (25) closest to the undulation (312) and has an amplitude at least equal to 1 mm. The radial distance (da) between at least one contact edge corner of a rib (26) in line with which an undulation is located and the transverse radius RT of the rib is at least equal to 0.2 mm and at most equal to 2 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: PIERRE FEVRIER, RICHARD ABINAL, MATHIEU ALBOUY, FRANCOIS-XAVIER BRUNEAU, CYRIL CHARREIRE, PATRICK PALLOT
  • Publication number: 20200055344
    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: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Richard ABINAL, Mathieu ALBOUY, François-Xavier BRUNEAU, Cyril CHARREIRE, Pierre FEVRIER, Patrick PALLOT
  • Publication number: 20190248187
    Abstract: Tire (1) for a vehicle, comprising a radially outermost working layer (41) which comprises at least one undulation (412) in line with a rib (26). The undulation (412) is such that it is 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 circumferential groove (25) closest to the undulation (412) and that the minimum radial distance (do), between the radially outer surface of the radially outermost working layer (41) and the tread surface (21) is at least 1 mm less than the radial distance (dc) between the radially outer surface (ROS) of the radially outermost working layer (41) and the tread surface (21), which is the distance in line with the circumferential groove (25) closest to the undulation (412) concerned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Richard ABINAL, Mathieu ALBOUY, François-Xavier BRUNEAU, Cyril CHARREIRE, Pierre FEVRIER, Patrick PALLOT
  • Publication number: 20190241019
    Abstract: Tire comprising major grooves with a depth at least equal to 4 mm and with a width at least equal to 1 mm. The radially outermost working layer (41) comprises at least one undulation (412). The undulation (412) is such that the undulation (412) portion of the working layer (41) represents at least 10% of the surface of the working layer (41), has an amplitude of at least 1 mm and is radially on the outside of the points of the working layer (41) that are in line with the bottom face (243) of the major groove (24) closest (412). All the layers of material (3, 6, 7) making up the radial stack of the crown structure (S) have mean surfaces parallel to that of the radially outermost working layer (41).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Richard ABINAL, Mathieu ALBOUY, Francois-Xavier BRUNEAU, Cyril CHARREIRE, Pierre FEVRIER, Patrick PALLOT
  • Patent number: 10232671
    Abstract: A tire tread comprising at least one groove that is delimited by two opposing walls that are connected by a groove bottom. The groove has a width and a depth and at least one resonance-noise-reducing device. The device is formed of at least one blade that is fixed to one of the walls delimiting the groove or to the groove bottom and at least partially closes the cross section of the groove. The each flexible blade comprises two main walls which close the cross section of the groove. End walls delimit the main walls and a connecting wall connecting to the tread. Each blade further comprises at least one raised rib on at least one of its main walls, and the raised rib starts from the wall or the bottom bearing the blade and extends over at least 50% of the length of the flexible blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche Et Technique, S.A.
    Inventors: Frederic Bourgeois, Francois-Xavier Bruneau, Olivier Muhlhoff
  • Patent number: 10029516
    Abstract: Tire comprising a tread which has at least one central rib (411-413) and two lateral ribs (421-422) which are separated by circumferential grooves (141-144), in which tire a first lateral rib (421) adjacent to the outer axial edge of the tread and at least one (and preferably each) of the central ribs have a first portion (4211, 4111, 4121, 4131) the axial width of which exceeds 2 % of the axial width of the relevant rib made and the depth of which is less than that of the relevant rib, from a rubber composition containing an elastomer and a reinforcing filler consisting predominantly of carbon black, and an axially adjacent second portion (4212, 4112, 4122, 4132) made of a rubber composition containing an elastomer and a reinforcing filler a minority proportion of which consists of carbon black, in which the rubber compositions that make up the second portion of the first lateral rib and the second portion of the central rib all have a tan 50 value which is higher than the tan 50 value of the rubber composit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Frédéric Bourgeois, François-Xavier Bruneau, Patrice Fraysse, Emmanuel Igier
  • Publication number: 20180134103
    Abstract: Tire of maximum width LT comprising a tread (1) asymmetric about the equatorial plane, one of its sides of which is intended to be positioned on the outboard side of the vehicle, a crown inner liner, radially furthest on the inside of the crown, and an electronic device with a sensor making for measuring at least one parameter. This electronic device is installed in the tire under the crown, radially on the inside of the inner liner of the crown, on the side of the tread that is intended to be positioned on the outboard side of the vehicle with respect to the equatorial plane and such that the axial distance from the centre of gravity of the electronic device to the equatorial plane is at least equal to 5% and at most equal to 25% of the maximum axial width of the tire LT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: François-Xavier BRUNEAU, Lionel FAGOT-REVURAT
  • Patent number: 9919565
    Abstract: Tire tread has a central rib (411-413) and two lateral ribs (421-422) which are separated by circumferential grooves (141-144). A first lateral rib (421) adjacent to the outer axial edge of the tread and a central rib have a first portion (4211, 4111, 4121, 4131) the axial width of which exceeds 20% of the axial width of the relevant rib made from a first rubber composition containing an elastomer and a reinforcing filler consisting predominantly of carbon black, and an axially adjacent second portion (4212, 4112, 4122, 4132) made of a second rubber composition containing an elastomer and a reinforcing filler a minority proportion of which consists of carbon black. The second rubber composition has a tan d0 value which is less than the tan d0 value of the first rubber composition, the tan d0 values being measured at a temperature of 0 C and under a stress of 0.7 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Frédéric Bourgeois, François-Xavier Bruneau, Patrice Fraysse, Emmanuel Igier
  • Patent number: 9789737
    Abstract: Tread having a plurality of generally circumferentially orientated grooves delimiting a plurality of relief elements, this tread further comprising a plurality of cut-outs in the form of transversely orientated grooves and/or slits, each relief element comprising a contact face intended to come into contact with the road and lateral faces cutting this contact face along edges intended to come into contact with a road during running, this tread having chamfers on at least a plurality of transverse edges of the relief elements, this tread having, in straight-line running, a total contact surface S comprising a part Sc in which all the transverse edges have chamfers and a part Snc in which all the transverse edges are free of chamfers, this tread having, in a cornering maneuver corresponding to a transverse acceleration of 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Frédéric Bourgeois, François-Xavier Bruneau
  • Patent number: 9561692
    Abstract: Tread comprising at least one groove delimited by two walls facing one another, joined together by a groove bottom, this groove having a plurality of closure devices, each made up of at least one flexible blade (of thickness E suited to allowing flexing under the effect of a circulation of liquid in the groove, and secured to a wall delimiting the groove, each flexible blade bounded by a bottom wall facing the bottom of the groove, an end wall facing the other wall of the groove and a contact wall to come into contact with the roadway and lateral walls spaced apart from one another by a distance equal to the thickness E of the blade, the bottom wall of each flexible blade having a notch in the vicinity of the wall to which the blade is attached, wherein each flexible blade is connected to one of the walls delimiting the groove inside a housing (formed on the wall bearing the blade, each housing having a depth suited to containing in its entirety a notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE, S.A.
    Inventors: Olivier Muhlhoff, Jr., Francois-Xavier Bruneau, Frederic Bourgeois
  • Publication number: 20170001476
    Abstract: Tire comprising a tread having a first lateral rib (421) adjacent to the outer axial edge of the tread and a central rib with a first portion (4211, 4111, 4121, 4131) having axial width exceeding 20% the axial width of the relevant rib made from a rubber composition containing an elastomer and a reinforcing filler consisting predominantly of carbon black. Axially adjacent second portion (4212, 4112, 4122, 4132) is made of a rubber composition containing an elastomer and a reinforcing filler a minority proportion of which consists of carbon black. The rubber compositions that make up the respective second portions of the first lateral rib and the central rib all have a tan ?0 value which is less than the tan ?0 value of the rubber compositions that form the respective first portions of the first lateral rib and the central rib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Frédéric BOURGEOIS, François-Xavier BRUNEAU, Patrice FRAYSSE, Emmanuel IGIER
  • Patent number: 9499014
    Abstract: Tire having two beads each comprising an annular reinforcing structure and a carcass reinforcement which is anchored in the two beads by being wrapped around the annular reinforcing structure so as to form, in each bead, a main portion and a wrapped-around portion, wherein each bead comprises an apex situated between the main portion and the wrapped-around portion of the carcass reinforcement, and an outer strip positioned axially on the outside of the carcass reinforcement and of the apex, the apex and the outer strip being made of a rubber compound that has an elastic modulus G? less than or equal to 15 MPa and a viscous modulus G? such that: G?[MPa]?0.2·G?[MPa]?0.2 MPa, the elastic and viscous moduli being measured at 23° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: Frédéric Bourgeois, François-Xavier Bruneau
  • Patent number: D800049
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: Richard Abinal, Mathieu Albouy, Francois-Xavier Bruneau
  • Patent number: D802520
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Richard Abinal, Mathieu Albouy, Francois-Xavier Bruneau