Pneumatic Tire Or Inner Tube Patents (Class 152/450)
  • Publication number: 20130032262
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making a pneumatic tire having a foam noise damper, the pneumatic tire comprising two spaced inextensible beads; a ground contacting tread portion; a pair of individual sidewalls extending radially inward from the axial outer edges of said tread portion to join the respective beads, the axial outer edges of the tread portion defining a tread width; a supporting carcass for the tread portion and sidewalls; an innerliner disposed radially inward of the carcass, the innerliner having a innerliner surface facing an interior cavity of the tire; the method comprising the steps of: applying a silicone adhesive to the innerliner surface to form an adhesive prepared surface; applying a solid foam noise reducer to the adhesive prepared surface; and curing the adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: René Louis Bormann, Eddy Dong-Rong Pan, Jason Mark Middelberg, Karl Eric Sundkvist, Xianwei Meng, Paul Harry Sandstrom, David Andrew Benko, Bruce Raymond Hahn, Rebecca Lee Dando
  • Publication number: 20130032263
    Abstract: A diaphragm pump for use in a self-inflating tire assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a tire mounted to a rim tire mounting surface. The tire has an internal cavity. The invention further includes a pump device mounted to the rim, and the pump device has a first end and a second end, the first end being mounted within the tire cavity and the second end located outside the rim and in fluid communication with the outside air. The first end of the pump device has a flexible member having an outer rim and an inner rim, wherein the outer rim is connected to a backing plate and an inner rim is connected to a piston, wherein the piston is slidably mounted within a chamber of the backing plate. The piston has an inner passageway for fluid communication with the tire cavity and the chamber, and the second end of the pump device has an internal bore in fluid communication with the outside air and the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
    Inventor: René Louis Bormann
  • Publication number: 20130032268
    Abstract: A tire containing a pair of beads, at least one carcass ply extending from one bead to the other bead forming a pair of sidewall areas of the tire and a tread area of the tire, and at least one layer of a knit fabric in the sidewall area of the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Dominique Cinget, Purushothama Kini Ullal, Johann Peschek, Franck Catteau
  • Publication number: 20130025757
    Abstract: Provided is a thermoplastic elastomer composition that can be suitably used for the inner liners of pneumatic tires and exhibits high air barrier properties and high fatigue durability. The present invention is a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising a thermoplastic resin composition and a rubber composition dispersed in the thermoplastic resin composition, wherein the thermoplastic resin composition comprises a polyamide and an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer or a poly(vinyl alcohol), the rubber composition comprises a halogenated isoolefin-p-alkylstyrene copolymer and is cross inked. The thermoplastic resin composition preferably comprises 1 to 25% by weight of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer or the poly(vinyl alcohol). The thermoplastic elastomer composition preferably comprises 100 parts by weight of the thermoplastic resin composition and 80 to 200 parts by weight of the halogenated isoolefin-p-alkylstyrene copolymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shusaku Tomoi, Koichi Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20130030124
    Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer composition having a continuous phase and a dispersed phase, wherein the continuous phase comprising (A) an epoxy-modified polyamide resin, and the dispersed phase comprising (B) a halogenated isoolefin-paraalkylstyrene copolymer rubber, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer composition is obtained by melt-kneading (B) halogenated isoolefin-paraalkylstyrene copolymer rubber, (C) a polyamide resin, and (D) a polyfunctional epoxy compound having two or more epoxy groups per molecule in an amount of 0.05 parts by weight or more and less than 3 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of polyamide resin (C), at a temperature which is equal to or more than the melting point of polyamide resin (C), and epoxy-modified polyamide resin (A) is produced by the reaction of polyamide resin (C) with polyfunctional epoxy compound (D) during the melt-kneading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shusaku Tomoi
  • Patent number: 8356647
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire in which the average peel strength between the surface of (A) a layer of a single-layered or multi-layered film of a thermoplastic resin and (B) a rubbery elastic layer, which are used as the inner liner layer, is 6 kN/m or greater at ?20° C., i.e., a pneumatic tire exhibiting excellent average peel strength between the surface of layer (A) and layer (B), which are used in combination as the inner liner layer exhibiting excellent gas barrier property and flexibility, at a low temperature and at the room temperature, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Kato, Daisuke Nohara, Yuwa Takahashi, Daisuke Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20130008578
    Abstract: A tire for a vehicle may include a cavity, and the cavity may be filled with a lighter than air gas. The gas may be hot air. The gas may be neon. The gas may be ammonia. The gas may be methane. The tire may include an interior surface having a reflective surface. The tire may include a tire tube having an exterior surface having a reflective surface. The tire may include a tire tube having an interior surface having a reflective surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventor: Robbie K. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20130009452
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire of the semi-hollow type includes a casing having an uninflated inner volume and including an inner wall provided with a retaining bead and a convex outer wall forming the tread of the tire, the inner wall and the outer wall of the tire being connected by two annular borders. The inner wall of the tire is concave so as to surmount a convex outer wall of the peripheral seat of a rim of a wheel, this outer wall being provided with a peripheral slot adapted to accommodate the retaining bead of the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: OTICO
    Inventors: Olivier PHELY, Denis PIOU
  • Patent number: 8344066
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing monomer with a coordination catalyst to form a reactive polymer; and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a nitrile compound containing a protected amino group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Eiju Suzuki, Dennis R. Brumbaugh
  • Patent number: 8342289
    Abstract: Provided are: a noise reduction device with an improved adhesion of a noise absorbing member formed of a porous material and with a reduced processing time; a method of manufacturing the noise reduction device; and a pneumatic tire including the noise reduction device. The noise reduction device of the present invention includes: a noise absorbing member formed of a porous material; a band member for attaching the noise absorbing member to the inner surface of a tire; and locking members formed of a thermoplastic resin. The band member is formed of a thermoplastic resin. The noise absorbing member is disposed between the band member and the locking members. The locking members are bonded to the band member through the noise absorbing member by thermal fusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Tanno
  • Patent number: 8336592
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire in which, in employing as an air-impermeable layer a film formed of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer component obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer, separation of the film during tire production is prevented; and a process for producing the same. The pneumatic tire is obtained by disposing a film closer to a tire cavity than a carcass layer, disposing a first rubber layer closer to the tire cavity than the film so as to cover the film, and disposing ends, in the width direction, of the first rubber layer outward of ends, in the width direction, of the film, the film being formed of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiko Sawada, Yoshiaki Hashimura, Norifumi Kameda
  • Patent number: 8336591
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: at least one diene based elastomer; and a reinforcing amount of at least two fillers comprising carboxymethylcellulose and at least one of silica and carbon black.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Klaus Unseld, Annette Lechtenboehmer, Hans-Bernd Fuchs, Claude Ernest Felix Boes, Ralf Mruk
  • Patent number: 8336588
    Abstract: A patch and method for mounting an electronic monitoring device to the innerliner of a pneumatic tire is provided wherein the monitoring device is potted directly to an attachment patch. A frame is built on an attachment patch and the electronic monitoring device is disposed inside the frame. An encapsulation material is poured into the frame and cured to encapsulate the monitoring device directly against the patch. The patch may then be connected to the innerliner of a pneumatic tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Russell W. Koch
  • Publication number: 20120312290
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, articles, methods, and tires for throwing machines are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: JUGS SPORTS, INC.
    Inventor: Kerry K. Paulson
  • Patent number: 8327896
    Abstract: A tire has a first and second beads mounted on a rim. A first sidewall extends upward from the first bead to a first edge of a horizontal tread face located substantially directly above the first bead. A second sidewall extends upward from the second bead and curves toward a second edge of the tread face such that a curved tire surface is provided between the second bead and the second edge of the narrow tread face. Two tires are mounted on a rear motorcycle axle such that a gap is defined between first sidewalls of the right and left tires, and a drive extends through the gap to the axle. When the motorcycle is leaned in a curve, one of the wheels is above the ground surface, and the motorcycle is supported on the curved tire surface of the other tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventor: Rod Hunter
  • Patent number: 8329297
    Abstract: The invention provides vulcanizable rubber compound having improved tensile mechanical and dynamic viscoelastic properties. The compounds are formed by mixing an elastomer, containing unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds in its molecular structure, with a reinforcing inorganic filler silica in the presence of an alkyl alkoxysilane and a non-sulfur coupling agent that binds to the rubber backbone with an “ene” linkage or a 1,3 dipolar addition linkage. In particular, the coupling agent and the alkyl alkoxysilane are present in the compound in a weight ratio of about 0.0001:1 to about 1:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Hergenrother, Chenchy Jeffrey Lin, Yaohong Chen
  • Publication number: 20120305156
    Abstract: Tire (10) comprising a tread (40) having a mean radial height HB, an outer edge (45) and an inner edge (46), the axial distance between the outer edge (45) and the inner edge (46) defining the axial width L of the tread, the tread comprising a first portion (411) made of a first rubber compound, extending from the outer edge (45) to a first axial position at an axial distance from the outer edge of between 20% and 40% of the axial width; a second portion (412) made of a second rubber compound, extending from said first axial position to a second axial position at an axial distance from the outer edge of between 50% and 60% of the axial width L; a third portion (413) made of a third rubber compound extending from said second axial position to a third axial position at an axial distance from the outer edge of between 80% and 90% of the axial width L; and a fourth portion (414) made of a fourth rubber compound, extending from said third axial position to the inner edge (46) of the tread, wherein said first and t
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicants: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Faure, Emmanuel Igier, Jean-Luc Mangeret
  • Publication number: 20120298272
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire that is provided with a first fastener of a separatable pair of mechanical fasteners on a tire inner surface, wherein, even in cases where a desired object is engaged/fixed using only one fastener, the object does not rotate having the fastener as a central axis when the tire is in use. A first fastener of the pair of mechanical fasteners is provided on a tire inner surface, and the mechanical fasteners are provided with a rotation preventing mechanism for preventing the fasteners from mutually rotating when the pair of mechanical fasteners are engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanno, Daisuke Kanenari
  • Publication number: 20120291537
    Abstract: A system for measuring physical parameters of a tire, according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a sensor layer and a circuit layer. The sensor layer is communicatively coupled to the circuit layer. The sensor layer is configured as a first thin film and embedded in the tire. The sensor layer provides a signal related to a physical parameter of the tire. The circuit layer is configured as a second thin film and embedded in the tire. The circuit layer processes the signal provided by the sensor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, TOYOTA INFOTECHNOLOGY CENTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Honda, Takeshi Bessho
  • Publication number: 20120291933
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire including a resin layer on at least a portion of the tire inside surface, the resin layer being formed from a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition in which an elastomer is dispersed in a thermoplastic resin. The pneumatic tire is provided with a fastener including a base material formed from a thermoplastic resin and engaging elements formed on the base material. Additionally, the base material of the fastener is fixed to the resin layer via fusion bonding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanno, Ayako Jyouza
  • Patent number: 8312905
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a tread comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, expressed as parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), (A) 30 to 70 phr of a first styrene-butadiene rubber, (B) 20 to 60 phr of a second styrene-butadiene rubber, (C) 5 to 20 phr of cis-1,4 polybutadiene having a Tg of from ?110° C. to ?90° C.; (D) 30 to 60 phr of processing oil; (E) 5 to 20 phr of carbon black having an Iodine absorption ranging from 130 to 210 g/kg according to ASTM D-1510 and an oil absorption ranging from 110 to 140 cc/100 g according to ASTM D-2414; (F) 80 to 130 phr of silica; (G) 0.5 to 20 phr of a sulfur containing organosilicon compound; and (H) 5 to 20 phr of resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Pascal Patrick Steiner, Marc Weydert, Christian Jean-Marie Kaes
  • Publication number: 20120285596
    Abstract: A device for transport of air in the tire P or close to it consisting of a chamber K in the shape of a hollow compressible channel, placed along at least a part of the tire perimeter, characterized by the fact that a ring OK is placed at the inner side of the chamber K with the distance of its outer side from the tire axis of rotation equal to 1 to 1.1 multiple of the distance of the bottom side of the chamber K from the axis of rotation of the tire P.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: SITHOLD, S.R.O.
    Inventor: Frantisek Hrabal
  • Publication number: 20120285597
    Abstract: Inflatable article provided with an elastomer layer which is airtight to the inflation gases, the said airtight elastomer layer comprising at least one styrene thermoplastic elastomer comprising a polyisobutylene block, characterized in that the said airtight elastomer layer additionally comprises a polyphenylene ether (“PPE”).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Vincent Abad, Emmanuel Custodero, Marc Greiveldinger
  • Patent number: 8302648
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising an air permeation preventive layer comprising a film of a thermoplastic resin composition containing a polyvinyl alcohol or ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, to which a protective film of a rubber composition containing an ethylene propylene rubber (EPM) or ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) is, directly or via an adhesive, placed adjacent thereto, as one layer in at least one side thereof, whereby both a further reduction in the air leakage rate of the pneumatic tire and a good durability can be achieved and furthermore a reduction in the weight of the tire can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shusaku Tomoi
  • Patent number: 8299184
    Abstract: A rubber composition for tire sidewall which comprises a rubber component, which comprises polybutadiene rubber having a content of the cis-1,4-bond of 92% or greater and a content of the vinyl bond of 1.5% or smaller and natural rubber and/or at least one other diene-based synthetic rubber, and 10 to 70 parts by mass of carbon black having a specific surface area by nitrogen adsorption of 20 to 100 m2/g per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component and does not comprise a softener having an aniline point of 50° C. or lower and a tire using the rubber composition for sidewall. Excellent resistance to cut growth is obtained while sufficient workability is surely exhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Junko Kurazumi, Kouji Masaki
  • Patent number: 8297326
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite ball-bouncing tire, comprising a subtire and an inner tube inside it, wherein the subtire includes a space between a ring-shaped base and its side walls, and the space includes a plurality of rails and fastening grooves that are arranged at intervals on its inner walls. A slope part that converges against the rolling-forward direction is established atop on both sides of the plurality of the rails, and at the bottom of the fastening grooves, there is a plurality of fixing grooves. One or more resilient balls are established in each rail and the inner tube includes a plurality of fixing parts on top of outer walls of a base component. When the subtire and inner tube rolls, the resilient balls will be pushed into the rails along the slope part and be pressed to bounce, thus producing supplementary force to drive the tire to move forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventor: Chin-Jung Chiu
  • Patent number: 8299152
    Abstract: A tire for vehicle wheels, includes at least one structural element obtained by crosslinking a crosslinkable elastomeric composition including at least one vulcanized rubber in a subdivided form surface treated with at least one oxidizing agent; at least one diene elastomeric polymer, and at least one sulfur-based vulcanizing agent. A surface treatment process of vulcanized rubber and crosslinkable elastomeric composition is obtained with the vulcanized rubber in a subdivided form surface treated with at least one oxidizing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Emiliano Resmini, Luigia Rossiello, Diego Tirelli, Franco Peruzzotti
  • Patent number: 8287674
    Abstract: An improved tire provides an air-flow restrictor that may be installed inside a tire. The air-flow restrictor may restrict or prevent the flow of air in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the tire. Also, a method for saving fuel by inserting or retrofitting tires with air movement restricting inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: Garry L. Rumbaugh
  • Publication number: 20120255661
    Abstract: A process for preparing a copolymer of an acyclic conjugated diene and a cyclic conjugated diene using a polymerization catalyst system comprising a transition metal compound or a lanthanide metal compound, an alkylating agent, and an inorganic halide alcoholate, and rubber compositions and tires comprising the same. The copolymer contains at least 90% acyclic conjugated diene monomer, has a number average molecular weight of between 40,000 and 300,000, and has a cis-bond content of at least 92%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Zengquan Qin, Eiju Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8281834
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire and rim assembly is provided in the cavity with a noise damper in which a sponge material extending in a circumferential direction of the tire and having a volume V2 of 0.4 to 20% of entire volume V1 of the cavity, wherein the noise damper comprises a fixing surface fixed to a surface which surrounds the tire cavity, and a free surface directed to the tire cavity, a maximum value of thickness from the fixing surface to the free surface is in a range of 5 to 50 mm, including a thick mountain portion and a thin valley portion; and at least one of outer ends of the noise damper in the circumferential direction of the tire is formed into an inclined surface portion comprising a first inclined surface rising from the fixing surface and a second inclined surface extending from the first inclined surface to the free surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Yukawa
  • Patent number: 8281833
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire assembly is disclosed. The tire assembly includes a tire body having an interior surface covered with a low-friction material and a tire rim having an interior surface. The tire body is attached to the tire rim such that the interior surface of the tire body and the interior surface of the tire rim define an inner space of the pneumatic tire assembly. The inner space is filled with a gas and the covering of the low-friction material reduces friction between the gas and the interior surface of the tire body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Gary L. Rumbaugh
  • Patent number: 8281832
    Abstract: To provide a pneumatic tire which can reduce fuel consumption without causing reduction in grip performance and after use of which can be degraded by microorganisms. The present invention relates to a rubber composition including 100 parts by mass of a rubber component including a natural rubber and/or a diene rubber and 0.5 to 80 parts by mass of a biodegradable aliphatic polyester. The biodegradable aliphatic polyester is preferably one or more species selected from polylactic acid, polycaprolactone and polyalkylene succinate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriko Yagi, Kiyoshige Muraoka, Katsumi Terakawa, Tetsuo Mizoguchi
  • Publication number: 20120247637
    Abstract: A heat-expandable rubber layer is provided to an inner all of a pneumatic tyre when the tyre is in an uncured state. The rubber layer is expanded when the tyre is in a vulcanized state. Once expanded, the rubber layer is capable of reducing rolling noises of the tyre. The rubber layer includes an elastomer composition based on at least an elastomer, e.g., natural rubber or butyl rubber; a reinforcing filler, e.g., silica and/or carbon black; between 10 and 80 phr of a blowing agent, e.g., an azodicarbonamide compound; and between 10 and 50 phr of a hot-melt compound with a melting point between 70° C. and 150° C., e.g., urea. The combination of the blowing agent and the hot-melt compound, at recommended high contents, makes it possible to very greatly reduce an expansion ratio and therefore a thickness of the rubber layer once the pneumatic tyre is vulcanized, without affecting noise absorption properties provided by the blowing agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Mitsue Tanaka, Salvatore Pagano
  • Patent number: 8278385
    Abstract: The invention is to provide a rubber composite and tire using the rubber composite, which, when the rubber composite is used as the tread rubber of a tire, enables the tire to have high wear resistance and hence have a long life while presenting a low rolling resistance and enables an automobile that uses the tires to reduce fuel consumption during traveling. The rubber composite of the invention comprises 100 parts by weight of a rubber component composed of at least one kind of rubber, selected from a group of natural rubber, synthetic isoprene rubber and synthetic diene rubber and 10 to 100 parts by weight of a carbon black blended therein, the carbon black is specified to satisfy the relation X/Y?0.84, where X is the mercury intrusion specific surface area (m2/g), measured by mercury porosimetry and Y is the CTAB specific surface area (m2/g). The tire of the invention is one that uses the above rubber composite as its tread portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Hidetada Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8276631
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a noise damper, a method for manufacturing the same, and a method for fixing the damper to the tire are disclosed. The inner surface of the tread portion of the vulcanized tire is buffed, and the noise damper is fixed to the buffed inner surface, using a double-sided adhesive tape which has specific characteristics such as adhesive force, tensile strength, thickness, cold-resistant property, heat-resistant property and water-resistant property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Yukawa
  • Publication number: 20120241065
    Abstract: A process for building tyres for vehicle wheels, includes forming a plurality of strip-like elements in such a manner that the opposite end edges of each strip-like element are cut according to at least one cutting angle; and forming at least one first reinforcing layer and one second reinforcing layer which radially overlap each other on a laying surface radially external to a forming drum. Each reinforcing layer includes a succession of strip-like elements disposed circumferentially in a mutually approached relationship, wherein the opposite end edges of each strip-like element form, in succession with each other, axially opposite respective edges of the first reinforcing layer and second reinforcing layer, wherein at least one of the axially opposite edges of at least one of the first reinforcing layer and the second reinforcing layer is at least partly indented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: AMT FOR MITTEL-UND HOCHSCHULEN
    Inventors: Gianni Mancini, Gaetano Lo Presti
  • Publication number: 20120234448
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a nonconductive tread rubber constructing an outer surface of a tread portion, a nonconductive side wall rubber constructing an outer surface of a side wall portion, and a rim strip rubber constructing an outer surface of a bead portion. The pneumatic tire has a conductive sheet formed by a conductive rubber. The conductive sheet reaches the rim strip rubber from the tread rubber while passing between a carcass and the side wall rubber, and terminates without being exposed to the outer surface of the bead portion. The rim strip rubber is partitioned into a nonconductive rubber portion and a conductive rubber portion, and the conductive rubber portion is connected to the conductive sheet and is exposed to a bead bottom surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Asayama
  • Patent number: 8268436
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising one or more indicia formed from an elastomeric coating composition comprising a diene based elastomer and from 1 to 100 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer, of a nanoparticle comprising an inner core of an inorganic magnetic material at least partially covered by an outer layer of silica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Rene Jean Zimmer, Claude Ernest Felix Boes, Georges Koster, Hans-Bernd Fuchs, Klaus Unseld, Wolfgang Albert Lauer
  • Publication number: 20120222789
    Abstract: A tire and methods of manufacture thereof comprising a tire body and a metal reinforcing strip comprising at least one metal alloy foil layer to provide puncture resistance, wherein the at least one metal alloy foil layer comprises a spinodal glass matrix microconstituent structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Charles D. TUFFILE, David P. PARATORE, Daniel James BRANAGAN
  • Publication number: 20120216934
    Abstract: A tire 2 includes a tread 4 having an outer surface that forms a tread surface 20. The tread 4 includes a body 28 formed of a first rubber composition, and a plurality of support portions 30 that are formed of a second rubber composition, and that are aligned with each other in an axial direction. Each of the plurality of support portions 30 extends from an inner side of the tread 4 toward the tread surface 20. The support portion 30 is formed so as to be buried in the body 28. The support portion 30 has a complex elastic modulus E2* that is greater than a complex elastic modulus E1* of the body 28. The tread 4 is formed by a first strip and a second strip being alternately wound helically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventor: Kengo HARA
  • Publication number: 20120216933
    Abstract: A method of repairing a tire includes providing a tire for repair having an exterior with a tread, a mounting bead, and a sidewall therebetween, an interior including an inner layer having a desired inner layer thickness, and an elastomeric underlying tire layer beneath the inner layer, the inner layer comprising a plurality of ridges extending outwardly a desired height from the inner layer surface generally defining a plurality of inner layer segments, a portion of the underlying tire layer extending outwardly along the ridges, and may extend at least to the depth of the inner layer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicants: Societe de Technologie Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Metodi L. Ikonomov, Cesar E. Zarak
  • Patent number: 8251114
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire having an improved driving stability with reduced weight by use of an inner liner layer including a film made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer. A pneumatic tire of the present invention includes: a pair of bead portions; a carcass layer bridged between the pair of bead portions; a belt layer disposed on an outer circumferential side of the carcass layer; an inner liner layer disposed along an inner surface of the carcass layer, the inner liner layer including a film made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition that is obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer; and bead cores buried in the bead portions, respectively. The inner liner layer is wound up around the bead cores from an inner side of the tire to an outer side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20120205022
    Abstract: A rubber material is described, modified with a barrier material in the form of a copolymer which can be produced via ring-opening metathesis polymerization of a) at least one olefin monomer selected from the group consisting of monocyclic olefin monomers having one or two endocyclic C—C double bonds and bicyclic olefin monomers having one endocyclic C—C double bond and b) at least one polycyclic olefin monomer having at least two C—C double bonds. The barrier material can be used to reduce the gas permeability of the rubber material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Kevin Müller, Stefan Dahmen
  • Patent number: 8240350
    Abstract: A tire includes at least one structural element including a crosslinked elastomeric material obtained by crosslinking a crosslinkable elastomeric composition including: (a) an amount higher than or equal to 30 phr, preferably 40 phr to 100 phr, of at least one polyisoprene rubber; (b) an amount lower than or equal to 70 phr, preferably 0 phr to 60 phr, of at least one diene elastomeric polymer other than the polyisoprene rubber (a); (c) an amount higher than or equal to 30 phr, preferably 40 phr to 120 phr, of at least one carbon black reinforcing filler; (d) 0.2 phr to 10 phr, preferably 1 phr to 5 phr, of at least one copolymer of at least one ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof with at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing at least one polyoxyalkylene side chain. Preferably, the structural element is a tire's sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Emiliano Resmini, Francesca Baione, Diego Tirelli, Luigi Fino, Maurizio Galimberti, Attilio Citterio
  • Patent number: 8240351
    Abstract: A pneumatic rubber tire having an integral rubber innerliner containing anchored hollow glass microspheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Roger Neil Beers, Aaron Scott Puhala, David John Zanzig, Paul Harry Sandstrom, Ping Zhang, George Frank Balogh, Joseph Kevin Hubbell
  • Patent number: 8232352
    Abstract: There are provided a rubber composition simultaneously improving low loss factor and wear resistance as compared with the conventional ones as well as a tire using such a rubber composition. The invention lies in a rubber composition using a modified conjugated diene rubber and being excellent in the low loss factor and wear resistance as well as a tire. The rubber composition of the invention is formed by compounding a filler to a rubber component containing (A) a modified conjugated diene rubber having a cis-bond content in conjugated diene portion of not less than 87% and a vinyl bond content of not more than 2% and containing a functional group reactive with a filler and (B) a modified polymer having a modifying functional group number per 1 molecule of an unmodified polymer of not less than 0.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Junko Matsushita, Yoichi Ozawa, Ryuji Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8225834
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire for heavy load including a circumferentially-formed groove running in a tire circumferential direction on a surface of a tread part, when a pneumatic pressure equivalent to a normal inner pressure is applied with reference to a case where a pneumatic pressure equivalent to an inner pressure of kPa is applied, a radius growth in a tire radial direction at a crown center of the tread part and in the circumferentially-formed groove located at the most lateral side in a tire width direction is made to be less than 0.3%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoru Isobe
  • Patent number: 8226783
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire (20) on which a transponder (1) is mounted, a securing member (3) for securing the transponder (1) is fixed to an inner surface of the tire in an area (S) between a tire maximum-width position (A) and a bead toe (B). Thereby, a large centrifugal force and a large impact force do not act on the transponder (1) storing various pieces of information, and the transponder can be mounted quickly and securely. Also, the weight of the transponder is remarkably reduced, and thus uniformity of the tire (20) is enhanced. Additionally, dynamic balance correction is made easier. Even in a large tire, reduction in durability is minimized through suppressing heat generation and heat accumulation of the tire (20) due to the transponder (1) and the securing member (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Shimura
  • Publication number: 20120180922
    Abstract: An inner tube of tire includes a stick-shaped hollow tube body. For installing the inner tube of tire, the tube body is wound into a ring-shaped body having an adjustable size by crossing two lateral ends through each other, so that the tube body is applied to at least two wheel rims of different diameters. Since the user or the manufacture does not need to prepare many kinds of inner tube of tires with different lengths and the inner tube of tire could be easily replaced without the need of disassembling the wheel axle component, the process of replacing or repairing the inner tube of tire is time-saving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Ho-Ching Huang, Nobu Ishizuka, Bo-Chien Chen
  • Publication number: 20120180921
    Abstract: Composite reinforcement (R-2) capable of adhering directly to a diene rubber matrix, which can be used as reinforcing element for a tire, comprising: one or more reinforcing thread(s) (20), for example a carbon steel cord; a first layer (21) of a thermoplastic polymer, the glass transition temperature of which is positive, for example 6,6 polyamide, covering said thread or said threads; a second layer (22) of a composition comprising an unsaturated thermoplastic stirene (“TPS”) elastomer, the glass transition temperature of which is negative, for example an SB (stirene/butadiene) or SBS (stirene/butadiene/stirene) block copolymer, as well as a poly(p-phenylene ether) (“PPE”), covering the first layer (21). Process for manufacturing such a composite reinforcement and rubber article or semi-finished product, especially a tire, incorporating such a composite reinforcement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Vincent Abad, Sebastien Rigo, Christophe Chouvel