Patents by Inventor Jack Dutcher

Jack Dutcher 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: 6722191
    Abstract: A monitoring assembly for a pneumatic tire is designed to be loosely disposed within the tire and rim combination. The monitoring assembly includes a protective body that surrounds a monitoring device. The protective body at least includes a rigid encapsulation material and may include a cushion layer disposed outside the rigid encapsulation layer. One embodiment of the invention provides channels disposed through the protective body to speed the temperature response of the monitoring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Russell W. Koch, Paul B. Wilson, Jack Dutcher, Guy J. Walenga, John D. Rensel
  • Publication number: 20030150261
    Abstract: A monitoring assembly for a pneumatic tire is designed to be loosely disposed within the tire and rim combination. The monitoring assembly includes a protective body that surrounds a monitoring device. The protective body at least includes a rigid encapsulation material and may include a cushion layer disposed outside the rigid encapsulation layer. One embodiment of the invention provides channels disposed through the protective body to speed the temperature response of the monitoring assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Russell W. Koch, Paul B. Wilson, Jack Dutcher, Guy J. Walenga, John D. Rensel
  • Patent number: 6543277
    Abstract: A monitoring assembly for a pneumatic tire includes an electronic monitoring device having at least one sensor disposed in a protective body. The monitoring assembly may be configured to float on a variety of liquids that are typically disposed within a tire. The body includes a device that predictably orients the monitoring assembly when the assembly is floating in the liquid. The monitoring assembly is simply placed in a tire before the tire is mounted on a vehicle rim and allowed to move about loosely in the tire chamber when the tire is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Russell W. Koch, Paul B. Wilson, Jack Dutcher, Guy J. Walenga, John D. Rensel
  • Patent number: 6516660
    Abstract: A monitoring assembly for a pneumatic tire includes an electronic monitoring device having at least one sensor disposed in a protective body. The monitoring assembly is configured to float on a variety of liquids that are typically disposed within a tire. The protective body is liquid-tight and includes an encapsulation layer that encapsulates the substrate and sensors, a cushion, and a skin on the outside of the cushion. The protective body is substantially spherical allowing the assembly to roll about the inside of a tire without being permanently connected to the tire. The monitoring assembly is simply placed in a tire before the tire is mounted on a vehicle rim and allowed to move about loosely in the tire chamber when the tire is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Russell W. Koch, Paul B. Wilson, Jack A. Dutcher, Guy J. Walenga
  • Patent number: 6360594
    Abstract: A monitoring assembly for a pneumatic tire includes an electronic monitoring device having at least one sensor disposed in a protective body. The monitoring assembly is configured to float on a variety of liquids that are typically disposed within a tire. The protective body is liquid-tight and includes an encapsulation layer that encapsulates the substrate and sensors, a cushion, and a skin on the outside of the cushion. The protective body is substantially spherical allowing the assembly to roll about the inside of a tire without being permanently connected to the tire. The monitoring assembly is simply placed in a tire before the tire is mounted on a vehicle rim and allowed to move about loosely in the tire chamber when the tire is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Russell W. Koch, Paul B. Wilson, Jack A. Dutcher, Guy J. Walenga
  • Publication number: 20020029626
    Abstract: A monitoring assembly for a pneumatic tire includes an electronic monitoring device having at least one sensor disposed in a protective body. The monitoring assembly may be configured to float on a variety of liquids that are typically disposed within a tire. The body includes a device that predictably orients the monitoring assembly when the assembly is floating in the liquid. The monitoring assembly is simply placed in a tire before the tire is mounted on a vehicle rim and allowed to move about loosely in the tire chamber when the tire is in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Russell W. Koch, Paul B. Wilson, Jack Dutcher, Guy J. Walenga, John D. Rensel
  • Patent number: 6082192
    Abstract: A monitoring assembly for a pneumatic tire includes an electronic monitoring device having at least one sensor disposed in a protective body. The protective body includes an encapsulation layer that encapsulates the substrate and sensors, a cushion, and a skin on the outside of the cushion. The protective body is substantially spherical allowing the assembly to roll about the inside of a tire without being permanently connected to the tire. A breathing tube through the protective body is provided so that a pressure sensor can sense the pressure within the pneumatic tire. The breathing tube may be filled with a transfer gel to prevent the breathing tube from being clogged. The monitoring assembly may further include wings that help position the monitoring assembly within the tire. The antenna of the monitoring device may be disposed within one of the wings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell W. Koch, Paul B. Wilson, Jack A. Dutcher, Guy J. Walenga