Patents by Inventor James A. Popio

James A. Popio 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: 5777219
    Abstract: An apparatus and related methods for capturing a digital foot print image of a tire and for extrapolating load-deflection curves of the tire is presented. A frame carries a test pod that is coupled to a tire to perform various tests. In one application, a loading plate couples the tire to a transparent plate on the test pod where a camera captures a digital gray-scale image of the tire foot print. A processor converts the gray-scale image into a pressure map wherein each pixel of the digital image is correlated to a pressure value. In another application, the loading plate couples the tire to a sliding cover plate on the test pod, wherein the loading plate is incremented through a plurality of load values at predetermined inflation pressures. By using two inflation pressures, the processor extrapolates further load-deflection curves for the tire at other inflation pressures. The apparatus also provides a unique way for imparting camber on the tire during the above tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Popio, John L. Turner, Richard J. Macioce, Wayne A. Indorf, Fu-Min Chen, Stanley J. Olesky, Vladimir Roth