Patents by Inventor Hirokazu Takano

Hirokazu Takano 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: 11766896
    Abstract: A pneumatic tyre includes a tread portion including a shoulder land portion having a tread edge. The shoulder land portion is provided with shoulder lateral grooves extending inwardly in a tyre axial direction from the tread edge so as to define shoulder block elements therebetween, and at least one protrusion protruding from an outer surface in the tyre axial direction of the respective shoulder land portion. The protrusion includes first portions provided on the respective shoulder block elements and extending in a tyre radial direction, and a second portion located inwardly in the tyre radial direction of one of the shoulder lateral grooves and extending in a tyre circumferential direction to connect inner portions of at least two first portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Takano
  • Patent number: 11279177
    Abstract: A tire having a tread portion with: zigzag shoulder main grooves having a trapezoidal wave form comprising first and second circumferential segments and first and second oblique segments; and shoulder axial grooves extending from the shoulder main grooves beyond the tread edges. The shoulder axial grooves are respectively smoothly continued to the first oblique segments or the second oblique segments so as to form composite shoulder axial grooves whose groove widths are smoothly increased toward the axially outside of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Takano
  • Patent number: 11267291
    Abstract: A tire comprises a tread portion 2 comprising at least a first main groove 3 and a second main groove 4 extending continuously in a tire circumferential direction. The first main groove 3 comprises a first oblique portion 11 inclined with respect to the tire circumferential direction and a second oblique portion 12 connected with the first oblique portion and inclined in an opposite direction to the first oblique portion 11. The second main groove 4 comprises a third oblique portion 13 inclined in a same direction as the first oblique portion 11 with respect to the tire circumferential direction, a fourth oblique portion 14 inclined in an opposite direction to the third oblique portion 13, and a longitudinal groove portion 15 disposed between the third and fourth oblique portions 13 and 14 so that they are not directly connected and extending along the tire circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Takano
  • Publication number: 20200039297
    Abstract: A pneumatic tyre includes a tread portion including a shoulder land portion having a tread edge. The shoulder land portion is provided with shoulder lateral grooves extending inwardly in a tyre axial direction from the tread edge so as to define shoulder block elements therebetween, and at least one protrusion protruding from an outer surface in the tyre axial direction of the respective shoulder land portion. The protrusion includes first portions provided on the respective shoulder block elements and extending in a tyre radial direction, and a second portion located inwardly in the tyre radial direction of one of the shoulder lateral grooves and extending in a tyre circumferential direction to connect inner portions of at least two first portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokazu TAKANO
  • Publication number: 20190359003
    Abstract: A tire having a tread portion with: zigzag shoulder main grooves having a trapezoidal wave form comprising first and second circumferential segments and first and second oblique segments; and shoulder axial grooves extending from the shoulder main grooves beyond the tread edges. The shoulder axial grooves are respectively smoothly continued to the first oblique segments or the second oblique segments so as to form composite shoulder axial grooves whose groove widths are smoothly increased toward the axially outside of the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokazu TAKANO
  • Publication number: 20180326792
    Abstract: A tire comprises a tread portion 2 comprising at least a first main groove 3 and a second main groove 4 extending continuously in a tire circumferential direction. The first main groove 3 comprises a first oblique portion 11 inclined with respect to the tire circumferential direction and a second oblique portion 12 connected with the first oblique portion and inclined in an opposite direction to the first oblique portion 11. The second main groove 4 comprises a third oblique portion 13 inclined in a same direction as the first oblique portion 11 with respect to the tire circumferential direction, a fourth oblique portion 14 inclined in an opposite direction to the third oblique portion 13, and a longitudinal groove portion 15 disposed between the third and fourth oblique portions 13 and 14 so that they are not directly connected and extending along the tire circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokazu TAKANO
  • Patent number: 9731560
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion provided with at least one circumferentially extending main groove, and at least one lateral groove extending from the main groove. The at least one lateral groove comprises a bottom, and at least one stepwise groove wall that includes at least one level part, wherein the number of level part is not more than three. In a cross-sectional view of the lateral groove, a depth Da from a ground contacting surface of the tread portion to a radially innermost level part is in a range of from 50% to 80% a maximum groove depth D4 of the lateral groove, and a width Wa from the radially innermost level part to a groove edge of the stepwise groove wall measured along in a groove width direction is in a range of from 50% to 150% the depth Da.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Takano
  • Patent number: 9636953
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread portion provided with a center land portion defined between two crown main grooves 3 extending continuously in the tire circumferential direction. The widthwise center line of the crown main groove is made up of successively-arranged circular arcs all oriented toward the same axial direction. The center land portion is provided in its both sides with sloping-surface portions each defined by a sloping surface extending from the radially outer surface of the center land portion to the axially inner groove-sidewall surface of one of the crown main grooves. Each of the sloping-surface portions includes, in its circumferential extent, the circumferential position of one of axially outermost points of the widthwise center line of the adjacent crown main groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Takano
  • Patent number: 9421827
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with a circumferential shoulder main groove, shoulder lateral grooves extending from the shoulder main groove toward a tread edge, and middle lateral grooves extending from the shoulder main groove toward a tire equatorial plane, the shoulder main groove extending in a zigzag manner through an axially innermost and outermost points alternately, each middle lateral groove extending from each innermost point of the shoulder main groove with an angle of 50-75 degrees with respect to a tire axial direction, and each shoulder lateral groove extending from the shoulder main groove with the same inclination direction with the middle lateral groove at an angle of 10-25 degrees with respect to the tire axial direction, wherein the number of shoulder lateral grooves is larger than the number of middle lateral grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Toshio Koyama, Keiji Higuchi, Hirokazu Takano
  • Patent number: 9056530
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with a shoulder main groove, shoulder lateral grooves extending from the shoulder main groove toward axially outwardly, the shoulder main groove extending in a zigzag manner comprising linear portions and curved portions which are arranged alternately in a circumferential direction of the tire, each linear portion inclined with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire, each curved portion having a radius of curvature of from 12-80 mm, the curved portion protruding toward axially outwardly of the tire, the shoulder main groove having a pair of groove edges and a circumferential space therebetween which straightly extends along the circumferential direction of the tire without coming into contact with both groove edges and the circumferential space with an axial width of from 0.2 to 0.7 times an axial groove width of the shoulder main groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keiji Higuchi, Hirokazu Takano
  • Publication number: 20140338804
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion provided with at least one circumferentially extending main groove, and at least one lateral groove extending from the main groove. The at least one lateral groove comprises a bottom, and at least one stepwise groove wall that includes at least one level part, wherein the number of level part is not more than three. In a cross-sectional view of the lateral groove, a depth Da from a ground contacting surface of the tread portion to a radially innermost level part is in a range of from 50% to 80% a maximum groove depth D4 of the lateral groove, and a width Wa from the radially innermost level part to a groove edge of the stepwise groove wall measured along in a groove width direction is in a range of from 50% to 150% the depth Da.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokazu TAKANO
  • Patent number: 8813800
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire 1, a center land portion 5a between center main grooves 3, a middle land portion 5b between the center main groove 3 and a shoulder main groove 4, and a pair of shoulder land portions 5c extending on outer sides of the shoulder main groove 4 in a tire axial direction are divided from each other. The center main groove 3 includes arc groove pieces 6 which are continuously provided in a tire circumferential direction. The arc groove piece 6 includes an arc portion 7 which is curved to swell toward a tire equator C. The middle land portion 5b is provided with a middle inclined groove 9 which extends from an intersection portion K of the arc groove piece 6 toward the shoulder main groove 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Takano
  • Patent number: 8678055
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a plurality of protect ribs extending at an angle ? of 0 to 20° with respect to a tire radial direction line and provided on outer surfaces S of sidewall portions at distances from each other in a circumferential direction of a tire. Each of the protect ribs includes a maximum height portion whose height from the outer surface S is maximum. A vertical cross section shape which passes through the maximum height portion is of substantially triangular shape. This s substantially triangular shape includes an outer end-side inclined portion having the height which is gradually reduced from the maximum height portion to a radial outer end Ra, and an inner end-side inclined portion having the height which is gradually reduced from the maximum height portion to a radial inner end Rb. A distance La between the maximum height portion and the radial outer end Ra in the length direction is in a range of 0.1 to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Takano
  • Publication number: 20140014244
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread portion provided with a center land portion defined between two crown main grooves 3 extending continuously in the tire circumferential direction. The widthwise center line of the crown main groove is made up of successively-arranged circular arcs all oriented toward the same axial direction. The center land portion is provided in its both sides with sloping-surface portions each defined by a sloping surface extending from the radially outer surface of the center land portion to the axially inner groove-sidewall surface of one of the crown main grooves. Each of the sloping-surface portions includes, in its circumferential extent, the circumferential position of one of axially outermost points of the widthwise center line of the adjacent crown main groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventor: Hirokazu TAKANO
  • Publication number: 20130292017
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with a shoulder main groove, shoulder lateral grooves extending from the shoulder main groove toward axially outwardly, the shoulder main groove extending in a zigzag manner comprising linear portions and curved portions which are arranged alternately in a circumferential direction of the tire, each linear portion inclined with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire, each curved portion having a radius of curvature of from 12-80 mm, the curved portion protruding toward axially outwardly of the tire, the shoulder main groove having a pair of groove edges and a circumferential space therebetween which straightly extends along the circumferential direction of the tire without coming into contact with both groove edges and the circumferential space with an axial width of from 0.2 to 0.7 times an axial groove width of the shoulder main groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji HIGUCHI, Hirokazu TAKANO
  • Publication number: 20130269846
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with a circumferential shoulder main groove, shoulder lateral grooves extending from the shoulder main groove toward a tread edge, and middle lateral grooves extending from the shoulder main groove toward a tire equatorial plane, the shoulder main groove extending in a zigzag manner through an axially innermost and outermost points alternately, each middle lateral groove extending from each innermost point of the shoulder main groove with an angle of 50-75 degrees with respect to a tire axial direction, and each shoulder lateral groove extending from the shoulder main groove with the same inclination direction with the middle lateral groove at an angle of 10-25 degrees with respect to the tire axial direction, wherein the number of shoulder lateral grooves is larger than the number of middle lateral grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshio KOYAMA, Keiji HIGUCHI, Hirokazu TAKANO
  • Patent number: D662465
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Takano
  • Patent number: D662466
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Takano
  • Patent number: D666555
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Takano
  • Patent number: D879023
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Takano