Patents by Inventor Gianfranco Colombo

Gianfranco Colombo 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: 9840115
    Abstract: A tire for a vehicle wheel includes a tread band. The tread band includes a pattern, including at least two circumferential portions, an elongated ridge, and at least two shoulder blocks. The at least two circumferential portions are disposed in axial side-by-side relationship. At least one of the circumferential portions includes a first geometric module repeated along a circumferential extension direction of the tire. The elongated ridge is bounded by two grooves oblique to the circumferential extension direction and is divided into a plurality of intermediate blocks with respect to an axial extension direction of the tread band. The intermediate blocks are bounded by a plurality of cuts substantially transverse to the elongated ridge. The at least two shoulder blocks are associated with the elongated ridge, are circumferentially aligned along a side edge of the tread band, and are bounded by grooves oriented substantially transversely to the circumferential extension direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: PIRELLI PNEUMATICI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Vito Bello, Marco Verona
  • Patent number: 9636951
    Abstract: A tyre for a motor vehicle includes a tread and two shoulders. The tread includes a circumferential row of blocks between first and second circumferential grooves. Each of the blocks is delimited by a section of the first circumferential groove and by first and second transverse grooves that terminate at a common vertex spaced from the second circumferential groove. The common vertex is separated from the second circumferential groove by a continuous circumferential tread rib. The second transverse groove delimits one of the blocks and is separated from the first transverse groove that delimits a circumferentially adjacent block by a solid tread portion. The solid tread portion extends from the first circumferential groove to the continuous circumferential tread rib. The common vertex of each block is located at a position axially intermediate the first circumferential groove and a portion of one of the transverse grooves that delimits the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: PIRELLI PNEUMATICI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Giancarlo Cucco, Vito Bello
  • Publication number: 20170001477
    Abstract: Tire for vehicle wheels includes a tread pattern defined by modules arranged circumferentially along the tread, each of the modules including: a) a first slanted transverse groove extending from a first shoulder portion in the first half of the tread to a first end located in the second half of the tread; b) a second slanted transverse groove extending from a second shoulder portion in the second half of the tread to a second end located in the first half of the tread; c) a third slanted transverse groove extending from the first shoulder portion to a third end located in the first half of the tread; d) a fourth slanted transverse groove extending from the second shoulder portion to a fourth end located in the second half of the tread; wherein: e) the first end is substantially located at an intermediate portion of the second slanted transverse groove; and f) the second end is substantially located at an intermediate portion of the first slanted transverse groove of a circumferentially adjacent module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stefano MONTESELLO, Gianfranco COLOMBO, Roberto BOLZONI, Maurizio BOIOCCHI
  • Patent number: 9475657
    Abstract: Apparatus for transferring an object from a first station to a second station with a different orientation is provided comprising a stator, a rotor rotatable externally of the stator about an axis of rotation, and at least one retaining member for retaining the object. The retaining member can rotate integrally with the rotor, and is rotatable with respect to the rotor about its own axis of rotation. The stator has a cam profile coupled to and functionally cooperating with at least one axially extending follower which is constrained to the retaining member. The axis of rotation of the retaining member and the axis of extension of the follower are substantially always incident to the axis of rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: INMAN S.R.L.
    Inventors: Vincenzo Bettinelli, Gianfranco Colombo
  • Publication number: 20160193880
    Abstract: A tyre having a tread is described. The tyre has a central portion located across an equatorial plane, a first shoulder portion located towards an outer side of the tyre and a second shoulder portion located towards an inner side of the tyre. The central portion is separated from the first shoulder portion by two first circumferential grooves. The first shoulder portion and the second shoulder portion have a plurality of first transverse grooves having a first end located substantially at the respective edge of the tread, having a width greater than or equal to about 4 mm and an axial extension equal to at least 50% of the width of the shoulder portion in which they are located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Gianfranco COLOMBO, Roberto BOLZONI, Stefano BIZZI, Daniele LORENZETTI
  • Patent number: 9254719
    Abstract: A motor car tire having a tread includes a central portion situated on either side of an equatorial plane and two shoulder portions. The central portion is separated from the shoulder portions of the tread by two circumferential grooves and has at least one circumferential rib situated between a first and a second circumferential groove. The tread has a solid/void ratio of less than 0.28. The circumferential rib includes transverse grooves which extend over at least 50% of its width. The transverse grooves include at least one curvilinear section, have a width less than that of the circumferential grooves and at least one of the circumferential grooves including the circumferential rib has at least one side wall defining an undulating profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Montesello, Gianfranco Colombo
  • Publication number: 20160031654
    Abstract: Apparatus for transferring an object from a first station to a second station with a different orientation compared to that at the first station is disclosed. The apparatus has a stator, a rotor rotatable externally of the stator about an axis of rotation, and at least one retaining member for retaining the object. The retaining member can rotate integrally with the rotor, and it is in turn rotatable with respect to the rotor about its own axis of rotation. The stator is provided with a cam profile coupled to and functionally cooperating with at least one axially extending follower which is constrained to the retaining member in such a way as to cause it to be rotated about said axis of rotation thereof as a function of the relative position of the follower with respect to the cam profile. The axis of rotation of the retaining member and the axis of extension of the follower are substantially always incident to the axis of rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: Inman S.R.L.
    Inventors: Vincenzo BETTINELLI, Gianfranco Colombo
  • Publication number: 20150352904
    Abstract: A winter tyre is described having a tread band wherein a plurality of blocks configured to obtain optimal performance both on snow-covered roads and on dry and wet roads in specific conditions of use (in particular during acceleration, braking or cornering with high power vehicles). Each of the aforementioned blocks has at least one sipe that defines two adjacent block portions in the respective block, each block portion having a respective surface facing the sipe. The surface has a radially outer portion having a profile which is substantially undulating, a radially inner portion also having a profile which is substantially undulating and an intermediate portion arranged between the radially outer portion and the radially inner portion and having a profile which is substantially rectilinear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Roberto BOLZONI, Gianfranco COLOMBO, Alberto ABONDIO
  • Publication number: 20150183273
    Abstract: A tyre for vehicle wheels having a tread pattern includes: a) two circumferential grooves, which define a first and a second shoulder region, and one central region; b) a plurality of asymmetric transverse grooves having a substantially “V” shape, which extend for the whole width of the tread, including an alternate sequence of a first and a second asymmetric transverse groove defining an alternate sequence of a first and a second asymmetric module; and c) a plurality of lateral transverse grooves, which includes one first lateral transverse groove extending for the whole width of the first shoulder region and for a portion of the central region of the first asymmetric modules, and one second lateral transverse groove extending for the whole width of the second shoulder region and for a portion of the central region of the second asymmetric modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco COLOMBO, Stefano MONTESELLO, Roberto SANGALLI
  • Patent number: 8925600
    Abstract: Winter tyre includes a tread band on which a plurality of grooves, blocks and sipes of complex shape are provided, wherein the complex shape of the sipe is defined by a first protuberance having a vertex at a first depth from the tread surface. The vertex is connected to a sipe reference plane via a first connecting surface facing toward a radially outer side of the sipe and a second connecting surface facing toward a radially inner side of the sipe, the first connecting surface being inclined with respect to the plane of reference at an angle of between about 50° and about 90°, and the second connecting surface being inclined with respect to the plane of reference at an angle of between about 0° and about 50°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Trombin, Stefano Montesello, Gianfranco Colombo
  • Publication number: 20140209226
    Abstract: A tyre for a vehicle wheel includes a tread band. The tread band includes a pattern, including at least two circumferential portions, an elongated ridge, and at least two shoulder blocks. The at least two circumferential portions are disposed in axial side-by-side relationship. At least one of the circumferential portions includes a first geometric module repeated along a circumferential extension direction of the tyre. The elongated ridge is bounded by two grooves oblique to the circumferential extension direction and is divided into a plurality of intermediate blocks with respect to an axial extension direction of the tread band. The intermediate blocks are bounded by a plurality of cuts substantially transverse to the elongated ridge. The at least two shoulder blocks are associated with the elongated ridge, are circumferentially aligned along a side edge of the tread band, and are bounded by grooves oriented substantially transversely to the circumferential extension direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco COLOMBO, Vito Bello, Marco Verona
  • Patent number: 8701724
    Abstract: A tire for a vehicle wheel includes a tread band. The tread band includes a pattern, including at least two circumferential portions, an elongated ridge, and at least two shoulder blocks. The at least two circumferential portions are disposed in axial side-by-side relationship. At least one of the circumferential portions includes a first geometric module repeated along a circumferential extension direction of the tire. The elongated ridge is bounded by two grooves oblique to the circumferential extension direction and is divided into a plurality of intermediate blocks with respect to an axial extension direction of the tread band. The intermediate blocks are bounded by a plurality of cuts substantially transverse to the elongated ridge. The at least two shoulder blocks are associated with the elongated ridge, are circumferentially aligned along a side edge of the tread band, and are bounded by grooves oriented substantially transversely to the circumferential extension direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Vito Bello, Marco Verona
  • Patent number: 8701725
    Abstract: A tire for a motor vehicle includes a tread and two shoulders. The tread includes a first circumferential row of blocks disposed between first and second circumferential grooves. Each of the blocks is delimited by a section of the first circumferential groove and by first and second transverse grooves that extend from the first circumferential groove and terminate at a first common vertex spaced from the second circumferential groove. The tread further includes a second circumferential row of blocks disposed between the second circumferential groove and a third circumferential groove. Each of the blocks of the second circumferential row of blocks is delimited by a section of the second circumferential groove and by third and fourth transverse grooves that extend from the second circumferential groove and converge and terminate at a second common vertex. The first common vertex is separated from the second circumferential groove by a circumferential tread rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Giancarlo Cucco, Vito Bello
  • Publication number: 20140014247
    Abstract: A tyre for a motor vehicle includes a tread and two shoulders. The tread includes a circumferential row of blocks between first and second circumferential grooves. Each of the blocks is delimited by a section of the first circumferential groove and by first and second transverse grooves that terminate at a common vertex spaced from the second circumferential groove. The common vertex is separated from the second circumferential groove by a continuous circumferential tread rib. The second transverse groove delimits one of the blocks and is separated from the first transverse groove that delimits a circumferentially adjacent block by a solid tread portion. The solid tread portion extends from the first circumferential groove to the continuous circumferential tread rib. The common vertex of each block is located at a position axially intermediate the first circumferential groove and a portion of one of the transverse grooves that delimits the block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: PIRELLI PNEUMATICI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco COLOMBO, Giancarlo Cucco, Vito Bello
  • Publication number: 20140000774
    Abstract: Winter tyre includes a tread band on which a plurality of grooves, blocks and sipes of complex shape are provided, wherein the complex shape of the sipe is defined by a first protuberance having a vertex at a first depth from the tread surface. The vertex is connected to a sipe reference plane via a first connecting surface facing toward a radially outer side of the sipe and a second connecting surface facing toward a radially inner side of the sipe, the first connecting surface being inclined with respect to the plane of reference at an angle of between about 50° and about 90°, and the second connecting surface being inclined with respect to the plane of reference at an angle of between about 0° and about 50°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Andrea Trombin, Stefano Montesello, Gianfranco Colombo
  • Patent number: D754587
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Roberto Bolzoni, Daniele Lorenzetti
  • Patent number: D760641
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Stefano Montesello, Vittorio Nestel
  • Patent number: D794541
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Montesello, Gianfranco Colombo
  • Patent number: D797034
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Roberto Bolzoni, Stefano Bizzi, Daniele Lorenzetti
  • Patent number: D804395
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Diego Speziari, Carlo Ravizza, Gianfranco Colombo