Patents by Inventor Mikko Liukkula

Mikko Liukkula 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: 20240375446
    Abstract: A tyre includes a tread having tread blocks such that grooves are arranged between the tread blocks and studs installed into at least some of the tread blocks. The tread blocks define a land portion of the tread, and an envelope surface consisting of the land portion of the tread and a sea portion. An average land ratio of the tyre defined as a ratio of total land area to total envelope area, is 55% to 78%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Applicant: NOKIAN RENKAAT OYJ
    Inventors: Mikko LIUKKULA, Aappo LAITILA, Lauri HEIKKINEN
  • Publication number: 20240375455
    Abstract: A tyre includes a tread having tread blocks; a plurality of stud holes; and a plurality of studs installed in at least some of the stud holes. A constellation of the studs is such that less than two studs are in a line perpendicular to a rolling direction of the tyre. Less than two studs within an area of a footprint are in the same line parallel to the rolling direction. A distance between two adjacent studs is more than 20 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Applicant: Nokian Renkaat Oyj
    Inventors: Mikko LIUKKULA, Hannu ONNELA, Aappo LAITILA, Lauri HEIKKINEN
  • Publication number: 20240375452
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a studded pneumatic tire for a vehicle, the tire comprising studs, at least one ply, at least one metal belt, a cap layer forming at least part of a running surface of the studded pneumatic tire, an underlayer made of a first rubber compound, and an intermediate layer made of a second rubber compound, the intermediate layer being arranged, at least partially, between the underlayer and the cap layer, wherein the method comprises steps of forming an annular belt comprising a metal belt, the underlayer, the intermediate layer, and the cap layer, then arranging the annular belt onto an annular carcass comprising the at least one ply to form a preform, vulcanizing the preform, and installing studs. The invention further relates to a studded pneumatic tire for a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: Mikko LIUKKULA, Jouko ILOMÄKI, Lauri HEIKKINEN, Noora KEMPPAINEN, Aappo LAITILA, Alexandra SHAKUN
  • Publication number: 20240375454
    Abstract: A tyre includes a tread having tread blocks such that grooves are arranged between the tread blocks and studs installed into at least some of the tread blocks. A central region of the tread is arranged between a first shoulder region of the tread and a second shoulder region of the tread. A land ratio of the central region of the tread of the tyre is 1 to 30 percentage points greater than either or both of a land ratio of the first shoulder region of the tread of the tyre and a land ratio of the second shoulder region of the tread of the tyre.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Applicant: Nokian Renkaat Oyj
    Inventors: Mikko LIUKKULA, Aappo LAITILA, Lauri HEIKKINEN
  • Publication number: 20240375451
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a studded pneumatic tire, the method comprising steps of producing an annular carcass by providing a first ply material comprising first cords), wherein the first cords comprise aramid, aramid content of the first cords being at least 50 wt. % of total weight of the first cords, winding at least a layer of the first ply material onto a carcass drum, thereby forming a cylindrical carcass preform, arranging two cables to the cylindrical carcass preform, and expanding the preform, thereby forming the annular carcass, forming a preassembly of belts and a tread, arranging the preassembly of belts and a tread onto the annular carcass to form a preform, vulcanizing the preform, and installing studs. The invention further relates to a studded pneumatic tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: Aappo LAITILA, Mikko LIUKKULA
  • Publication number: 20240375456
    Abstract: A stud is for improving grip of a tyre. The stud includes a body having a base flange and a second part, the second part being joined to the base flange, and a pin protruding from the second part in the longitudinal direction (Sz) of the stud. The pin is made of hard metal or ceramic. The base flange has a first cross-section having a first area. The pin has a second cross-section having a second area. A ratio of the first area to the second area is 6.5 to 21. Moreover, the pin protrudes a first height from the second part such that a ratio of the first area to the first height is 20 to 50 mm2/mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Applicant: NOKIAN RENKAAT OYJ
    Inventors: Mikko LIUKKULA, Lauri HEIKKINEN
  • Publication number: 20240375453
    Abstract: A tyre (200) includes a tread (210) having tread blocks (220); a plurality of stud holes (250); and a plurality of studs (100) installed in at least some of the stud holes (250). Studs (100b) in a centre area (CR) of the tyre (200) have higher protrusion from a surface of the tread block (220) than studs (100a) in a shoulder area (SR1, SR2) of the tyre (200).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Applicant: NOKIAN RENKAAT OYJ
    Inventors: Lauri HEIKKINEN, Mikko LIUKKULA, Aappo LAITILA
  • Publication number: 20240375439
    Abstract: A pneumatic tyre contains a structure wherein a thermally adaptive underlayer is positioned beneath a tread layer and an intermediate layer. The thermally adaptive underlayer is based on a polymer system that containing elastomers with distinct glass transition temperatures sufficiently far apart which exhibit low miscibility towards each other. Due to the tyre construction and the thermally adaptive underlayer, while driving a vehicle, the performance characteristics of the pneumatic tyre adapt to the driving conditions on the road based on the temperature experienced by the thermally adaptive underlayer. This is of particular relevance for a winter tyre, wherein the thermally adaptive underlayer may be used to design an improved tread layer and for a studded pneumatic tyre, wherein the composition and thickness of the thermally adaptive underlayer may control dynamic impact of the stud on a driving surface, when the tyre is in motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: Mikko LIUKKULA, Jouko ILOMÄKI, Lauri HEIKKINEN, Noora KEMPPAINEN, Aappo LAITILA, Alexandra SHAKUN
  • Publication number: 20240375449
    Abstract: A tyre (200) includes a tread (210) having tread blocks (220) with grooves (230) arranged between the tread blocks (220) and studs (100, 100a, 100b) installed into at least some of the tread blocks (220). A central region (CR) of the tread (210) is arranged between a first shoulder region (SR1) of the tread (210) and a second shoulder region (SR2) of the tread (210). At least some of the tread blocks (220) are provided with sipes (240). The tyre (200) has a first density of sipes (240) in the central region (CR), a second density of sipes (240) in the first shoulder region (SR1), and a third density of sipes (240) in the second shoulder region (SR2). The first density of sipes (240) is at least 15% greater than either or both of the second density of sipes (240) and the third density of sipes (240).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Applicant: NOKIAN RENKAAT OYJ
    Inventors: Mikko LIUKKULA, Aappo LAITILA, Lauri HEIKKINEN
  • Publication number: 20240375457
    Abstract: A tyre (200) includes a tread (210) and multiple studs (100) in the tread (210) such that at least pins (110) of the studs (100) are exposed on the tread (210). The tyre (200) is configured such that a load index (LI) of the tyre (200) as defined in The European Tyre and Rim Technical Organization Standards Manual (2023) table G.7 is from eighty-six to one hundred sixteen (from 86 to 116). The tyre (200) is further configured such that a road wear of the tyre (200) as measured according to the standard SFS7503:2022:en is less than the value calculatable by the polynomial formula ?0.000139×LI2+0.0431×LI?1.90.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: Mikko LIUKKULA, Lauri HEIKKINEN, Aappo LAITILA, Noora KEMPPAINEN, Alexandra SHAKUN, Jouko ILOMÄKI, Jarkko KULMALA
  • Patent number: 11560021
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tire stud comprising a stainless steel body with a flange and a blind hole and further comprising a spike installed in said hole, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the hole is different from the cross-sectional shape of the spike at least at one of: the opening, the lower surface of the spike, and a depth between the opening lower surface of the spike; whereby only protrusions of the spike are attached to the side wall of the hole with friction joints where the cross-sectional shape of the hole is different from the cross-sectional shape of the spike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Nokian Renkaat Oyj
    Inventors: Juha Pirhonen, Mikko Liukkula, Tommi Ajoviita
  • Publication number: 20200223262
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tire stud comprising a stainless steel body with a flange and a blind hole and further comprising a spike installed in said hole, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the hole is different from the cross-sectional shape of the spike at least at one of: the opening, the lower surface of the spike, and a depth between the opening lower surface of the spike; whereby only protrusions of the spike are attached to the side wall of the hole with friction joints where the cross-sectional shape of the hole is different from the cross-sectional shape of the spike.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: Nokian Renkaat Oyj
    Inventors: Juha Pirhonen, Mikko Liukkula, Tommi Ajoviita
  • Patent number: 10513152
    Abstract: A method for installing a stud in a tyre. The method includes identifying a stud hole for the stud in the tyre; imaging the vicinity of at least the stud hole, whereby information is received about the pattern in the vicinity of the stud hole, and using the received information to determine [i] the stud type suitable for the stud suitable in the stud hole and/or [ii] the suitable stud orientation of the stud suitable in the stud hole. The method includes providing a stud and installing it in a stud hole. The stud type of the stud is the same as the suitable stud type of a stud suitable in the stud hole; and/or the stud is installed in the stud hole in such a way that the main direction of the stud is parallel with the suitable stud orientation. Further a tyre studded by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: NOKIAN RENKAAT OYJ
    Inventors: Tommi Ajoviita, Mikko Liukkula, Esko Kukkonen, Jukka Alajuuma
  • Publication number: 20170368889
    Abstract: A method for installing a stud in a tyre. The method includes identifying a stud hole for the stud in the tyre; imaging the vicinity of at least the stud hole, whereby information is received about the pattern in the vicinity of the stud hole, and using the received information to determine [i] the stud type suitable for the stud suitable in the stud hole and/or [ii] the suitable stud orientation of the stud suitable in the stud hole. The method includes providing a stud and installing it in a stud hole. The stud type of the stud is the same as the suitable stud type of a stud suitable in the stud hole; and/or the stud is installed in the stud hole in such a way that the main direction of the stud is parallel with the suitable stud orientation. Further a tyre studded by the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Tommi AJOVIITA, Mikko LIUKKULA, Esko KUKKONEN, Jukka ALAJUUMA
  • Patent number: 9849731
    Abstract: A vehicle tire including a tread intended for a rolling contact against a foundation, the tread having a tread pattern which includes circumferential and transverse grooves for removing water from a contact patch between the foundation and the tire, and anti-skid studs mounted in the tread and including a stud body and a hard metal pin secured thereto. An end of the metal pin, intended against a foundation, is formed as an inclined surface, whereby the metal pin has its end provided with the inclined surface acting on the foundation in an axial direction of the metal pin to a varying depth and the inclined surface being placed relative to a rotating direction of the tire in such an orientation that, as the tire is rolling freely forward, a leading edge of the hard metal pin to impinge first on the foundation is lower than a trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: NOKIAN RENKAAT OYJ
    Inventor: Mikko Liukkula
  • Publication number: 20150197122
    Abstract: A vehicle tire including a tread intended for a rolling contact against a foundation, the tread having a tread pattern which includes circumferential and transverse grooves for removing water from a contact patch between the foundation and the tire, and anti-skid studs mounted in the tread and including a stud body and a hard metal pin secured thereto. An end of the metal pin, intended against a foundation, is formed as an inclined surface, whereby the metal pin has its end provided with the inclined surface acting on the foundation in an axial direction of the metal pin to a varying depth and the inclined surface being placed relative to a rotating direction of the tire in such an orientation that, as the tire is rolling freely forward, a leading edge of the hard metal pin to impinge first on the foundation is lower than a trailing edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventor: Mikko LIUKKULA
  • Patent number: D902138
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: NOKIAN TYRES PLC
    Inventors: Tommi Ajoviita, Mikko Liukkula, Lauri Heikkinen
  • Patent number: D902139
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: NOKIAN TYRES PLC
    Inventors: Tommi Ajoviita, Mikko Liukkula, Lauri Heikkinen
  • Patent number: D1034427
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: NOKIAN TYRES PLC
    Inventors: Lauri Heikkinen, Mikko Liukkula
  • Patent number: D1045770
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: NOKIAN TYRES PLC
    Inventors: Lauri Heikkinen, Tommi Ajoviita, Mikko Liukkula