Patents by Inventor Robert W. Asper
Robert W. Asper 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).
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Patent number: 11958260Abstract: A tire includes a central region configured to be mounted to a wheel and a crown region including a circumferential tread and a shear element disposed below the circumferential tread. The shear element includes an upper reinforcement layer, a lower reinforcement layer, and an elastic region disposed between the upper reinforcement layer and the lower reinforcement layer. A radial distance between the upper reinforcement layer and the lower reinforcement layer varies along an axial width of the tire. The tire also includes an intermediate region extending from the central region to the crown region.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2021Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLCInventors: Andrew V. Haidet, Douglas B. Costlow, Robert W. Asper
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Patent number: 11904561Abstract: A green tire includes a plurality of sheets of green rubber having a substantially circular shape, with each sheet having a tread region disposed along a circumference. A plurality of objects are sandwiched between adjacent sheets of green rubber in the tread region. Each object is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, polyester, nylon, carbon fiber, aramid, fiber glass, cotton, hemp, polyurethane and other plastic, other synthetic or natural fibers and other metal materials.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLCInventors: Andrew V. Haidet, Douglas B. Costlow, Robert W. Asper
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Publication number: 20230055889Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes an annular inner ring, an annular outer ring, and a support structure extending from the annular inner ring to the annular outer ring. The support structure includes a plurality of spokes, webbing, cells, or other open-sided support structure. The tire includes a bump stop. The bump stop includes an inner member radially extending from a radially outer surface of the annular inner ring. The inner member has a radially outer surface facing a radially inner surface of the annular outer ring. The bump stop includes an outer member radially extending from a radially inner surface of the annular outer ring. The outer member has a radially inner surface facing a radially outer surface of the annular inner ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2020Publication date: February 23, 2023Inventors: Brandon P. Nelson, Robert W. Asper, Steven J. Jenkins, Anthony B. Duncan
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Publication number: 20220388352Abstract: A noise damper, annulus for reducing tire noise, and tire and noise damper assembly are disclosed. The noise damper, annulus for reducing tire noise, and tire and noise damper assembly mitigate sound produced by a moving tire. The noise damper and annulus for reducing tire noise may move within a tire cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2022Publication date: December 8, 2022Inventors: Christopher R. Baker, Paul Zakelj, Robert W. Asper
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Patent number: 11440357Abstract: A noise damper, annulus for reducing tire noise, and tire and noise damper assembly are disclosed. The noise damper, annulus for reducing tire noise, and tire and noise damper assembly mitigate sound produced by a moving tire. The noise damper and annulus for reducing tire noise may move within a tire cavity.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS TIRE OPERATIONS, LLCInventors: Christopher R. Baker, Paul Zakelj, Robert W. Asper
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Patent number: 11376897Abstract: A pneumatic tire is described as having one or more electrical conductive strips for discharging electrical build up in the tire. The electrical conductive strips provide a static electricity conductive path from the tire rim to a ground-contacting surface. The strips are arranged around the outer surface of the tire from a first bead portion to a second bead portion. The strips can lay over the outer surface of the sidewalls and the tire tread. As positioned over the tire tread, a portion of the electrical conductive strip remains in contact with the ground as the tread wears during use to provide continued dissipation of static electricity away from the tire.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2017Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLCInventors: Timothy F. Robinson, Robert W. Asper
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Publication number: 20220040943Abstract: A tire includes a central region configured to be mounted to a wheel and a crown region including a circumferential tread and a shear element disposed below the circumferential tread. The shear element includes an upper reinforcement layer, a lower reinforcement layer, and an elastic region disposed between the upper reinforcement layer and the lower reinforcement layer. A radial distance between the upper reinforcement layer and the lower reinforcement layer varies along an axial width of the tire. The tire also includes an intermediate region extending from the central region to the crown region.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2021Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventors: Andrew V. HAIDET, Douglas B. COSTLOW, Robert W. ASPER
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Publication number: 20220016857Abstract: A green tire includes a plurality of sheets of green rubber having a substantially circular shape, with each sheet having a tread region disposed along a circumference. A plurality of objects are sandwiched between adjacent sheets of green rubber in the tread region. Each object is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, polyester, nylon, carbon fiber, aramid, fiber glass, cotton, hemp, polyurethane and other plastic, other synthetic or natural fibers and other metal materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Andrew V. HAIDET, Douglas B. COSTLOW, Robert W. ASPER
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Publication number: 20210387481Abstract: A non-pneumatic or pneumatic tire includes an area for tire indicia or markings. The tire includes a hub region and a tread layer. The tread layer of the tire has a shoulder with a cut out extending either partially or entirely around the shoulder of the tire tread layer. The angle of the notched or beveled portion is 45-135° with respect to an axial direction along the tread layer shoulder, and at least one indicia disposed on the at least one flat surface. The placement of the markings may be radially along the surface of the cut out portion or axially along the surface of the cut out portion. The markings may be recessed, stamped, molded, painted or applied with ink to the cut out portion. Alternatively, the indicia or marking may be applied to a decal and applied to the cut out portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2019Publication date: December 16, 2021Inventors: Martin A. Yurjevich, Robert W. Asper, Keith A. Dumigan
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Patent number: 11186053Abstract: A tire includes a central region configured to be mounted to a wheel and a crown region including a circumferential tread and a shear element disposed below the circumferential tread. The shear element includes an upper reinforcement layer, a lower reinforcement layer, and an elastic region disposed between the upper reinforcement layer and the lower reinforcement layer. A radial distance between the upper reinforcement layer and the lower reinforcement layer varies along an axial width of the tire. The tire also includes an intermediate region extending from the central region to the crown region.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2016Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS TIRE OPERATIONS, LLCInventors: Andrew V. Haidet, Douglas B. Costlow, Robert W. Asper
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Patent number: 11155050Abstract: A method of making a tire includes placing substantially circular sheets of polymeric material on top of each other until a tire is built to a predetermined width. A predetermined tread shape is formed along a circumference of the substantially circular sheets of polymeric material.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2016Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS TIRE OPERATIONS, LLCInventors: Andrew V. Haidet, Douglas B. Costlow, Robert W. Asper
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Publication number: 20210323351Abstract: A nonpneumatic tire includes an annular outer surface, an annular inner surface, and a webbing extending from the annular outer surface to the annular inner surface. The nonpneumatic, tire also includes a plurality of shear elements extending circumferentially around the annular outer surface and spaced laterally apart from each other. Each shear element includes a substanially inelastic lower region, a substantially inelastic upper region, and an elastic region disposed between the substantially inelastic lower region and the substantially inelastic upper region. The nonpneumatic tire further includes a tread layer extending circumferentially around the plurality of shear elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2019Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventor: Robert W. Asper
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Publication number: 20210316573Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a pair of sidewalls, a pair of bead portions, and a circumferential tread having a plurality of circumferential ribs and a plurality of circumferential grooves. A reinforcing layer is disposed in at least one of the plurality of circumferential ribs. No part of the reinforcing layer extends directly below a bottom surface of any of the plurality of circumferential grooves. The reinforcing layer has a consistent gauge along its entire lateral width. A top surface of the reinforcing layer is located radially higher than the bottom surface of each of the plurality of circumferential grooves.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2019Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventor: Robert W. Asper
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Patent number: 10632699Abstract: A tire mold has a cavity with a flexible bladder disposed in a central portion of the cavity. The tire mold further includes a first ring connected to a first end of the flexible bladder, and a second ring connected to a second end of the flexible bladder. At least one of the first and second rings is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The flexible bladder is stretched to a maximum axial length when the first and second rings are in a first position. When the first and second rings are in the first position the sum of the first axial length and second axial length is greater than a space between the first ring and the second ring.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2016Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLCInventors: Robert W. Asper, Adam K. Nesbitt, Jason R. Barr, Hans R. Dorfi, John R. Lewis, Hyeonjae Kim
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Publication number: 20190375251Abstract: A toroidal tire structure has a circumferential tread portion, a pair of bead portions, opposite sidewall portions, and a target resonant frequency of vibration. A tuned mass-damper is operatively coupled to the tire structure. The tuned mass-damper has a counteracting resonant frequency of vibration that is predetermined with reference to the target resonant frequency of vibration.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2017Publication date: December 12, 2019Inventors: Yousof Azizi, Robert W. Asper, Brian D. Steenwyk
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Patent number: 10384492Abstract: A tire includes a circumferential tread having a tread element disposed thereon, wherein the tread element includes a top surface that defines a first plane. The tire further includes at least one substantially helicoid-shaped sipe disposed in the tread element. The substantially helicoid-shaped sipe is defined by an opening in the top surface extending in a first direction in the first plane when the tire is new, and is further defined by a base extending in a second direction in a second plane parallel to the first plane. The second direction is disposed at an angle between 45° and 135° with respect to the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2013Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLCInventors: Hans R. Dorfi, Jacob R. Kidney, Robert W. Asper
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Publication number: 20190248192Abstract: A noise damper, annulus for reducing tire noise, and tire and noise damper assembly are disclosed. The noise damper, annulus for reducing tire noise, and tire and noise damper assembly mitigate sound produced by a moving tire. The noise damper and annulus for reducing tire noise may move within a tire cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2017Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Christopher R. Baker, Paul Zakelj, Robert W. Asper
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Publication number: 20190184770Abstract: A pneumatic tire is described as having one or more electrical conductive strips for discharging electrical build up in the tire. The electrical conductive strips provide a static electricity conductive path from the tire rim to a ground-contacting surface. The strips are arranged around the outer surface of the tire from a first bead portion to a second bead portion. The strips can lay over the outer surface of the sidewalls and the tire tread. As positioned over the tire tread, a portion of the electrical conductive strip remains in contact with the ground as the tread wears during use to provide continued dissipation of static electricity away from the tire.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2017Publication date: June 20, 2019Applicant: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLCInventors: Timothy F. Robinson, Robert W. Asper
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Publication number: 20190001599Abstract: A tire mold has a cavity with a flexible bladder disposed in a central portion of the cavity. The tire mold further includes a first ring connected to a first end of the flexible bladder, and a second ring connected to a second end of the flexible bladder. At least one of the first and second rings is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The flexible bladder is stretched to a maximum axial length when the first and second rings are in a first position. When the first and second rings are in the first position the sum of the first axial length and second axial length is greater than a space between the first ring and the second ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2016Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: Robert W. Asper, Adam K. Nesbitt, Jason R. Barr, Hans R. Dorfi, John R. Lewis, Hyeonjae Kim
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Publication number: 20180361692Abstract: A tire includes a central region configured to be mounted to a wheel and a crown region including a circumferential tread and a shear element disposed below the circumferential tread. The shear element includes an upper reinforcement layer, a lower reinforcement layer, and an elastic region disposed between the upper reinforcement layer and the lower reinforcement layer. A radial distance between the upper reinforcement layer and the lower reinforcement layer varies along an axial width of the tire. The tire also includes an intermediate region extending from the central region to the crown region.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2016Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Andrew V. HAIDET, Douglas B. COSTLOW, Robert W. ASPER