Patents by Inventor Frank Schmitz

Frank Schmitz 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).

  • Publication number: 20110146859
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of conducting static electricity in a pneumatic tire, comprising the steps of mixing a rubber compound comprising at least one diene based rubber, from 60 to 150 phr of precipitated silica, less than 40 phr of carbon black, and from 1 to 10 phr of carbon nanotubes having a length of at least 5 microns; forming a tire tread from the rubber compound; and including the tire tread in the tire; wherein the volume resistivity of the tire tread is less than 1×109 ohm-cm as measured by ASTM D257-98.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Frank Schmitz, Georges Marcel Victor Thielen, Nicola Costantini, Giorgio Agostini, Isabelle Lea Louise Marie Lambert, Richard Michael D'Sidocky, Larry Ashley Gordon, Xiaoping Yang, Bruce Raymond Hahn, Rebecca Lee Dando, John Eugene Varner, Leslie Allen Haller
  • Publication number: 20110120606
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a ground contacting tread, the tread comprising a rubber composition comprising from about 60 to about 90 phr of a functionalized solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber having a bound styrene content of at least 36 percent by weight, a vinyl 1,2 content of less than 25 percent by weight, and functionalized with an alkoxysilane group and a thiol group; from about 40 to about 10 phr of a high-cis polybutadiene; and from about 50 to about 150 phr of silica.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Nicola Costantini, Georges Marcel Victor Thielen, Frank Schmitz, Maurice Peter Klinkenberg, Kenneth Allen Bates, Fernand Antoine Joseph Fourgon
  • Patent number: 7906602
    Abstract: A tread cap composition, in accordance with the principles of the invention, may be a composition resulting from a combination of components including: a conjugated diene-based elastomer; a reinforcing filler; an oil softener; a silane coupling agent; and an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Frank Schmitz, Filomeno Gennaro Corvasce, Claude Charles Jacoby
  • Patent number: 7789119
    Abstract: A pneumatic runflat tire including at least one sidewall insert, the at least one sidewall insert including a heterogenous rubber compound comprising first rubber and second rubber composition phases, wherein the second rubber phase is further vulcanizable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Giorgio Agostini, Filomeno Gennaro Corvasce, Christian Kaes, Marc Weydert, Frank Schmitz, Leon Jean Mathias Gregorius, Anne Therese Peronnet-Paquin, Mercedes Maria Diaz-Scharfe
  • Publication number: 20100144215
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10.1) for connecting a web (25), comprising a pair of limbs (11, 12), the first two limb ends (13) being fixed to a support (30) while the remaining two limb ends (14) spring back and produce spring ends (14) for the purpose of connecting a web (25). In order to obtain a simpler and reliable connection, it is proposed that the two spring ends of the pair of limbs (11, 12) are connected to each other by means of a loop (20), the inside of the loop (24) serving to accommodate the web (25). When the web is connected, the loop (20) encompasses the cross section of the web and maintains it between its spring ends (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Frank Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20100144946
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a ground contacting tread, the tread comprising a rubber composition comprising a solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber having a bound styrene content of at least 36 percent by weight and a vinyl 1,2 content of less than 25 percent by weight; optionally, at least one additional diene based rubber; silica; a sulfur donor; a sulfenamide accelerator; at least one secondary accelerator selected from the group consisting of guanidines, dithiocarbamates and thiurams; and an ?,?-bis(N,N?-dihydrocarbylthiocarbamamoyldithio)alkane; wherein the zinc content of the rubber composition is less than 0.5 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr) as Zn metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Nicola Costantini, Georges Marcel Victor Thielen, Frank Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20100116404
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: from 60 to 90 parts by weight of a diene based elastomer selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and styrene-butadiene rubber, from 10 to 40 parts by weight of a functionalized elastomer derived from styrene, 1,3-butadiene, and a monomer of formula II where n is an integer of from 4 to 10; and from 1 to 100 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), of a polyketone short fiber having a length ranging from 0.5 to 20 mm and a weight ranging from 0.5 to 5 decitex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Annette Lechtenboehmer, Frank Schmitz, Ralf Mruk
  • Publication number: 20100116403
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising a diene based elastomer and from 1 to 30 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), of a polyketone short fiber having a length ranging from 0.5 to 20 mm having a weight ranging from 0.5 to 5 decitex, and from 1 to 30 phr of an epoxidized polyisoprene having a number-average molecular weight of 5000 to 100000.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Ralf Mruk, Frank Schmitz, Serge Julien Auguste Imhoff, Annette Lechtenboehmer, Julia Martine Francoise Claudine Tahon
  • Patent number: 7714041
    Abstract: The plasticity of a tread composition may advantageously be increased by incorporating, for example, a relatively small amount of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”). A tread cap composition, in accordance with the principles of the invention, may be a composition resulting from the combination of components including: a sulfur-vulcanizable elastomer containing olefinic unsaturation; a reinforcing filler; a mineral oil softener; a silane coupling agent; and an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Frank Schmitz, Claude Charles Jacoby, Marc Weydert
  • Patent number: 7713086
    Abstract: A component (30) is to be attached by means of a plug connector (10) in a hole (53) of a base plate (50). To this end, the plug connector (10) has a shaft (15) with a flat profile. When the plug is inserted in the socket, the shaft end (20) projects out of the hole (53) on the rear side of the circuit board (52). The shaft end (20) is followed by a shaft section (13), broadened relative to the hole width (54), which has an opening (14). By means of the opening (14), the shaft section (13) is split into two legs (11, 12), which are sprung against each another and which hold the shaft (15) in the hole (53) of the circuit board (50) when the plug is inserted in the socket. To improve the holding effect, the two legs (11, 12) are constructed differently one from the other, wherein one leg (11) has a greater longitudinal extension (21) than the other (12). This means that the broadened shaft section (13) splits into a long (11) and a short leg (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: William Prym GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Frank Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20100108219
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising a diene based elastomer and from 1 to 30 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer, of a polybenzobisoxazole (PBO) short fiber having a length ranging from 0.5 to 20 mm and a thickness ranging from 10 to 30 microns, and from 1 to 30 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer, of an epoxidized palm oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Ralf Mruk, Serge Julien Auguste Imhoff, Julia Martine Francoise Claudine Tahon, Annette Lechtenboehrner, Frank Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20100108220
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of apexes, flippers and chippers, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising a diene based elastomer and from 1 to 30 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), of a polybenzobisoxazole (PBO) short fiber having a length ranging from 0.5 to 20 mm having a thickness ranging from 10 to 30 microns, and from 1 to 50 phr of an epoxidized polyisoprene having a number-average molecular weight of 5000 to 100000.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Ralf Mruk, Serge Julien Auguste Imhoff, Julia Martine Francoise Claudine Tahon, Annette Lechtenboehmer, Frank Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20100106304
    Abstract: A control device of a blower and air conditioner module a for motor vehicle is disclosed with a blower controller and an air conditioner controller, which governs the refrigerating plant with a refrigerant condenser, as well as flaps and valves of the blower and air conditioner module, and processes information from sensors and a man-machine interface, with the blower controller and the air conditioner controller, together with a blower motor controller of a blower motor designed as a central control device and it is placed on the blower motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Juergen Alfred Wawer, Michael Weiss, Andrea Gentile, Frank Schmitz
  • Patent number: 7694708
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire including a circumferential tread, two spaced apart beads, and sidewalls connecting said beads and tread, wherein said tire sidewall contains at least one internal annular sidewall insert including at least two annular segments, the at least two annular segments including first and second adjacent annular segments; wherein said first and second annular segments are disposed with an interface therebetween; wherein each of the at least two annular segments includes a rubber composition comprising at least one diene based rubber and at least one vulcanization modifier selected from the group consisting of ?,?-bis(N,N?-dihydrocarbylthiocarbamamoyldithio)alkanes, bismaleimides, and biscitraconimides; and wherein the concentration of vulcanization modifier in the first annular segment is less than the concentration of vulcanization modifier in the second annular segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Giorgio Agostini, Filomeno Gennaro Corvasce, Christian Kaes, Marc Weydert, Frank Schmitz, Anne Therese Peronnet-Paquin, Mercedes Maria Diaz-Scharfe
  • Publication number: 20100063202
    Abstract: The invention includes a siloxy-amine functionalized rubbery polymer, which exhibits good reinforcing characteristics and filler dispersing effect, a method for making, and a rubber composition including the same. In one embodiment, a process for manufacturing includes polymerizing a conjugated diene monomer using an organolithium compound as an initiator in a hydrocarbon solvent. Next, an active terminal end of the polymer is reacted with a functionalized terminating agent represented by: RN—(CH2)XSi(OR1)3, ??Formula (I) wherein R, in combination with the nitrogen (N) atom, is a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic aromatic or non-aromatic compound which includes a ring structure with one or more nitrogen atoms as part of the ring; R1 represents a group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms selected from an alkyl, a cycloalkyl, an allyl, or an aryl; and X is an integer from 1 to 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Adel Farhan Halasa, Nicola Constantini, Frank Schmitz
  • Patent number: 7671128
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tire comprising at least one component comprising (A) a first copolymer rubber comprised of repeat units derived from (1) 10 to 99 weight percent of a conjugated diene monomer which contains from 4 to 8 carbon atoms; (2) 0 to 70 weight percent of a vinyl substituted aromatic monomer; and (3) 1 to 20 weight percent of at least one co-monomer selected from the group consisting of the following general formulas I: wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; wherein R1 represents a saturated alcohol group containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and (B) a second copolymer rubber comprised of repeat units derived from (1) 10 to 99 weight percent of a conjugated diene monomer which contains from 4 to 8 carbon atoms; (2) 0 to 70 weight percent of a vinyl substituted aromatic monomer; and (3) 1 to 20 weight percent of at least one co-monomer selected from the group consisting of the following general formulas I:
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Georges Marcel Victor Thielen, Frank Schmitz
  • Patent number: 7669626
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising a diene based elastomer and from 1 to 30 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), of a polyketone short fiber having a length ranging from 0.5 to 20 mm having a weight ranging from 0.5 to 5 decitex, and from 1 to 15 phr of a polyethyleneimine having an average molecular weight of 800 to 2000000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Ralf Mruk, Frank Schmitz, Serge Julien Auguste Imhoff, Annette Lechtenboehmer, Julia Martine Francoise Claudine Tahon
  • Patent number: 7671132
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a ground contacting tread, the tread comprising a rubber composition comprising from 30 to 70 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of s first elastomer (phr) having a glass transition temperature Tg ranging from about ?40° C. to about ?10° C. and a solubility parameter ranging from about 4.1 MPa1/2 to about 4.5 MPa1/2; from 70 to 30 phr of a second elastomer having a Tg ranging from about ?105° C. to about ?30° C. and a solubility parameter ranging from about 3.7 MPa1/2 to about 4.1 MPa1/2; from 1 to 40 phr of a first plasticizer having a solubility parameter ranging from 3.4 MPa1/2 to 3.8 MPa1/2; from 1 to 20 phr of a second plasticizer having a solubility parameter ranging from 4.3 MPa1/2 to 4.7 MPa1/2; and from 30 to 150 phr of silica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Georges Marcel Victor Thielen, Frank Schmitz, Nicola Costantini
  • Publication number: 20090305535
    Abstract: A component (30) is to be attached by means of a plug connector (10) in a hole (53) of a base plate (50). To this end, the plug connector (10) has a shaft (15) with a flat profile. When the plug is inserted in the socket, the shaft end (20) projects out of the hole (53) on the rear side of the circuit board (52). The shaft end (20) is followed by a shaft section (13), broadened relative to the hole width (54), which has an opening (14). By means of the opening (14), the shaft section (13) is split into two legs (11, 12), which are sprung against each another and which hold the shaft (15) in the hole (53) of the circuit board (50) when the plug is inserted in the socket. To improve the holding effect, the two legs (11, 12) are constructed differently one from the other, wherein one leg (11) has a greater longitudinal extension (21) than the other (12). This means that the broadened shaft section (13) splits into a long (11) and a short leg (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Frank Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20090156740
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising a diene based elastomer and from 1 to 100 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer of a polymer nanofiber having a thickness ranging from 20 to 200 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Annette Lechtenboehmer, Frank Schmitz