Patents by Inventor William M. Hopkins
William M. Hopkins 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: 5415215Abstract: A radial ply pneumatic tire (30) has as asymmetric tread portion (41) having circumferential grooves (50, 51, 52, 53) and diagonal grooves (55, 56) therein. The tread is divided into three axial regions (A, B, C) of equal width, and in each region the net-to-gross ratio is different. The rate of treadwear in the axially outermost regions (A, B) of the tread are substantially equalized by features including varying groove depths and widths, groove paths, and chamfering the edges of block elements (57, 58, 62, 63) of the tread.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1993Date of Patent: May 16, 1995Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Darrell E. Covert, Paul B. Maxwell, Frederick W. Miller, Richard L. Galante, Michael A. Kolowski, William M. Hopkins, Anthony J. Scarpitti
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Patent number: 5361814Abstract: A radial ply pneumatic tire (30) has as asymmetric tread portion (41) having circumferential grooves (50, 51, 52, 53) and diagonal grooves (55, 56) therein. The tread is divided into three axial regions (A, B, C) of equal width, and in each region the net-to-gross ratio is different. The rate of treadwear in the axially outermost regions (A, B) of the tread are substantially equalized by features including varying groove depths and widths, groove paths, and chamfering the edges of block elements (57, 58, 62, 63) of the tread.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1989Date of Patent: November 8, 1994Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Darrell E. Covert, Paul B. Maxwell, Frederick W. Miller, Richard L. Galante, Michael A. Kolowski, William M. Hopkins, Anthony J. Scarpitti
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Patent number: 5188685Abstract: A multi-layer circumferentially reinforced radial pneumatic light truck tire having a belt structure of at least two layers of 2.degree.2x.30HT cord for both Load Range C and D.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 1989Date of Patent: February 23, 1993Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Mark V. Cherveny, Keith C. Trares, Terry J. Waibel, William M. Hopkins, Italo M. Sinopoli, Ray A. Young
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Patent number: 5002109Abstract: A tread for a unidirectional pneumatic tire has first and second circumferentially extending zones. The edges of the zones are parallel to the equatorial plane of the tire. Each zone has a width between 40% and 60% of the tread width. The first zone has substantially aligned lateral wide groove segments extending across the width of the first zone. The segments form an angle between 70 and 90 degrees with the equatorial plane. The net-to-gross ratio of the first zone is at least 3% more than that of the second zone. The leading edge of the blocks in the first zone are narrower than the trailing edge. The second zone has substantially aligned lateral wide groove segments extending across the width of the second zone. The segments form an angle between 10 and 45 degrees with the equatorial plane.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1989Date of Patent: March 26, 1991Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Peter R. Shepler, William M. Hopkins, James E. Koerner, Charles K. Schmalix, Nathan A. Gammon
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Patent number: 4984616Abstract: An improved tire/vehicle system for an automotive vehicle has two pneumatic front tires and two pneumatic rear tires. The rear tire treads are wider than the front tire treads and are divided circumferentially into first and second portions. The first portion of each rear tire tread has a width between 50% and 90% of the rear tire's tread width and is arranged to longitudinally track at least a majority of one of the front tire treads. The second portion of the rear tire tread does not longitudinally track any portion of such front tire tread. Each rear tire tread has a tread groove pattern that is asymmetric in character, the respective net-to-gross ratios in each of the first portions of the rear tire treads being at least 27% different from the net-to-gross ratios of their second portions.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1989Date of Patent: January 15, 1991Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Peter R. Shepler, Nathan A. Gammon, William M. Hopkins, James E. Koerner, Charles K. Schmaltx
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Patent number: 4953604Abstract: A tread for a unidirectional pneumatic tire has first, second and third circumferentially extending zones. The edges of the zones are parallel to the equatorial plane of the tire. The width of the first zone is between 25% and 50% of the tread width, the width of the second zone is between 15% and 35%, and the width of the third zone is between 25% and 50%. The first zone has substantially aligned lateral wide groove segments extending across the width of the first zone. The segments form an angle between 70 and 90 degrees with a plane in the first zone parallel to the equatorial plane. The second zone has substantially aligned lateral wide groove segments extending across the width of the second zone. The segments form an angle between 10 and 45 degrees with a plane in the second zone parallel to the equatorial plane.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1989Date of Patent: September 4, 1990Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Peter R. Shepler, Nathan A. Gammon, William M. Hopkins, James E. Koerner, Charles K. Schmalix
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Patent number: 4926919Abstract: A vehicle tire (10) has a tread (20) with a plurality of ribs (30,31,32) extending circumferentially about the tread. The ribs each have a pair of lateral edges (48,49;60,61) which comprise edge segments placed end to end to present a zigzag configuration. Each rib has grooves (37,38;39,40) therein which intersect the lateral edges of the respective rib and have varying depths at said lateral edges. Preferably, the tread has an all-season configuration.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1988Date of Patent: May 22, 1990Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: William M. Hopkins, Robert A. Brightwell, Ray A. Young, John K. Clark, Frederick W. Miller, Richard L. Galante, Terry J. Waibel, Michael A. Kolowski
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Patent number: 4823855Abstract: A pneumatic tire (10) has a preferred cross-sectional shape which acts in concert with a preferred tread structure to provide varying performance characteristics under varying operating conditions. The tread (11) has a directional tread pattern, with the net-to-gross ratio being higher in a central portion (CP) of the tread than in the laterally outer portions (OP.sub.1, OP.sub.2). The stiffness of the block elements (64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71) of the tread also varies across the width of the tread.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1987Date of Patent: April 25, 1989Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Rene Goergen, Leo J. Hitzky, Frederick W. Miller, Richard L. Galante, Terry J. Waibel, Michael A. Kolowski, William M. Hopkins
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Patent number: 4722381Abstract: A belt structure of a pneumatic tire with plies (13, 15) consisting of alternating S and Z twist cords and the edges of at least one ply folded.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 1985Date of Patent: February 2, 1988Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: William M. Hopkins, James E. Koerner
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Patent number: D308503Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1987Date of Patent: June 12, 1990Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Rene Goergen, Leo J. Hitzky, Frederick W. Miller, Richard L. Galante, Terry J. Waibel, Michael A. Kolowski, William M. Hopkins
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Patent number: D313775Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1988Date of Patent: January 15, 1991Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Terry J. Waibel, Michael A. Kolowski, William M. Hopkins, Robert A. Brightwell, Frederick W. Miller, Richard L. Galante
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Patent number: D313776Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1988Date of Patent: January 15, 1991Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: William M. Hopkins, Robert A. Brightwell, Frederick W. Miller, Richard L. Galante
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Patent number: D320966Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 1990Date of Patent: October 22, 1991Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Frederick W. Miller, Jay K. Lawrence, William M. Hopkins
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Patent number: D321158Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1989Date of Patent: October 29, 1991Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Darrell E. Covert, Paul B. Maxwell, Frederick W. Miller, Richard L. Galante, Michael A. Kolowski, William M. Hopkins, Anthony J. Scarpitti
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Patent number: D324842Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 1990Date of Patent: March 24, 1992Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Darrell E. Covert, Paul B. Maxwell, Frederick W. Miller, Richard L. Galante, Michael A. Kolowski, William M. Hopkins, Anthony J. Scarpitti, Andrew N. Hoang
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Patent number: D325012Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1989Date of Patent: March 31, 1992Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Darrell E. Covert, Paul B. Maxwell, Frederick W. Miller, Richard L. Galante, Michael A. Kolowski, William M. Hopkins, Anthony J. Scarpitti
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Patent number: D325365Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1989Date of Patent: April 14, 1992Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Darrell E. Covert, Paul B. Maxwell, Frederick W. Miller, Richard L. Galante, Michael A. Kolowski, William M. Hopkins, Anthony J. Scarpitti
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Patent number: D326075Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 1990Date of Patent: May 12, 1992Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Darrell E. Covert, Paul B. Maxwell, Frederick W. Miller, Richard L. Galante, Michael A. Kolowski, William M. Hopkins, Anthony J. Scarpitti, Andrew N. Hoang
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Patent number: D326439Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1989Date of Patent: May 26, 1992Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Darrell E. Covert, Paul B. Maxwell, Frederick W. Miller, Richard L. Galante, Michael A. Kolowski, William M. Hopkins, Anthony J. Scarpitti
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Patent number: D326440Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1990Date of Patent: May 26, 1992Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Michael A. Kolowski, William M. Hopkins, Anthony J. Scarpitti, Andrew N. Hoang, Darrell E. Covert, Paul B. Maxwell, Frederick W. Miller, Richard L. Galante