Patents by Inventor Logan M. Koepke

Logan M. Koepke 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: 20240066928
    Abstract: A tire tread is provided. The tire tread includes a plurality of tread elements positioned on a tire tread surface so as to comprise a tread pattern. The tire tread also includes a plurality of grooves provided between the plurality of tread elements. A first set of sipes is provided to the tire tread, the first set of sipes extending from a longitudinal axis of the tire tread and toward a first edge of the tire tread at a first non-zero angle with respect to a lateral axis of the tire tread. A second set of sipes is also provided to the tire tread, the second set of sipes extending from the longitudinal axis and toward the first edge of the tire tread at a second non-zero angle with respect to the lateral axis, the second set of sipes intersecting the first set of sipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE BANDAG, LLC
    Inventor: Logan M. Koepke
  • Publication number: 20240034017
    Abstract: A sipe forming assembly is provided. The sipe forming assembly includes a plunge cutting assembly, a leading roller assembly positioned upstream of the plunge cutting assembly, and a trailing roller assembly positioned downstream of the plunge cutting assembly. The plunge cutting assembly includes a blade and a linear actuator configured to actuate the blade to cut a sipe in a tire tread. The leading roller assembly includes a first leading roller and a second leading roller positionable relative to the first leading roller. The second leading roller and the first leading roller are configured to cooperate to clamp the tire tread between the first leading roller and the second leading roller. The trailing roller assembly includes a first trailing roller and a second trailing roller configured to cooperate to clamp the tire tread between the first trailing roller and the second trailing roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE BANDAG, LLC
    Inventors: Troy A. Kost, Jim L. Jones, Robert G. Otting, Logan M. Koepke
  • Publication number: 20220258542
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, a pneumatic tire having a tread portion is described. The tread portion includes a generally circumferentially extending groove defined therein. The groove has a groove cross-section defined by a groove bottom, a first groove sidewall, hand a second groove sidewall. The second groove sidewall is opposite and substantially parallel to the first groove sidewall. The groove has a groove width defined between the first groove sidewall and the second groove sidewall. A plurality of stone rejectors extend between the first groove sidewall and the second groove sidewall. Each stone rejector in the plurality of stone rejectors is circumferentially spaced from an adjacent stone rejector. Each stone rejector includes a raised platform and a protrusion. The raised platform extends axially from the first groove sidewall to the second groove sidewall. The protrusion extends from a top surface of the raised platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE BANDAG, LLC
    Inventors: Logan M. Koepke, Terry A. Westaway, Andrew D. Cerny