Inner Tube Patents (Class 152/511)
  • Patent number: 11667154
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a light-weight tire inner tube comprising a film tube with a wall thickness of 100 to 400 microns, pneumatic tires containing the light-weight tire inner tube, and related methods for manufacturing the light-weight tire inner tube. The film tube is comprised of a film material comprising at least one thermoplastic engineering resin and optionally at least one saturated elastomer, and the film material of the film tube has an oxygen permeability of 8-15 cm3 O2/m2·per day at 25° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventor: David G. Abdallah, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10723184
    Abstract: A chamber is provided that works as a peristaltic pump for the pressure correction in the tire, which is a part of the tire or of an ancillary structure placed between the rim and the tire bead and is connected with the tire internal space at one end and with the external environment at the other end. The chamber is in the shape of a curved hollow channel, where at least one enclosing wall is at least partially formed by at least a pair of surfaces coplanar with the longitudinal direction of the chamber. When the tire is mounted on the rim, the pair of surfaces are pressed together thus hermetically closing the chamber. When the chamber is closed during rotation of the wheel, the surfaces can slightly slide on one another taking internal wall tensions onto themselves thus decreasing the possibility of wall damage through ripping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: CODA Innovations s.r.o.
    Inventor: Frantisek Hrabal
  • Patent number: 10518583
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tyre (1) for mounting on a running wheel, a rim or a guide which is circular, oval, ellipsoid or rounded in some other way and is not continuous but rather has at least two ends. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a corresponding tyre (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: GAADI BICYCLE TUBE GMBH
    Inventor: Adolf Andreas Jetten
  • Patent number: 9895932
    Abstract: A tire tube includes a tube body and two connectors. The tube body includes an air jet, a first end and a second end. The two connectors are connected to the first end and the second end of the tube body respectively. One of the connectors includes an operating portion corresponding to a tube core of the tube body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Inventor: Chin-Lung Lu
  • Publication number: 20150090387
    Abstract: A quick assembly bicycle inner tube comprising a cylindrical hollow body strip with two distal ends, a valve, and end covers that are formed of round cup shaped bodies and end caps. The air valve is installed on the inner tube. The inner tube has two end covers (head covers), each of which is installed on a distal end of the tube. The end covers are made of the same material as the hollow body. Each end of the tube end covers has a closed end cap. The quick assembly bicycle inner tube and the method of installing the inner tube, eliminates the need for tools to disassemble the wheel set by allowing the user to manually remove and replace the inner tube without removing the wheel set from the bicycle. The inner tube is further easily folded into a flat shape to facilitate easy portability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Shanghai TianMa Vancom Rubber Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xue Yun Yang
  • Publication number: 20150079323
    Abstract: A pneumatic object or inflatable article includes a gastight elastomer layer. The elastomer layer is formed of a material that includes at least one thermoplastic polyisobutylene block elastomer and a platy filler, such that relationships of: EX?/EZ?>1.2 and EY?/EZ?>1.2 apply, with Z being a direction normal to the elastomer layer, X and Y being directions orthogonal to Z, and EX?, EY? and EZ? being dynamic moduli in compression of the elastomer layer in the X, Y, and Z directions, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Vincent Abad, Vincent Lemal, Romain Libert
  • Patent number: 8978724
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire/rim assembly which is improved in the run-flat durability with the mass of the tire being reduced. In a pneumatic tire/rim assembly with a run-flat capability, an air bladder (2) made of a circular ring-shaped film body is inserted inside a pneumatic tire (1) mounted on a rim (R). At least part of the film body is formed of a sealing layer (3) made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending an elastomer in a thermoplastic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Hamanaka
  • Patent number: 8881784
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for inserting inside tires of a vehicle so that it follows its course without stopping after a bursting. The device comprises a cluster of flexible bladders (1) which are made of rubber, have a diameter of one to several inches according to the use, are interconnected by a cord (2.1) with its distribution branches (2.2, 2.3) and an inflating stem (3). The air enters each bladder via the cord by means of a very sensitive mini-check valve (9). During inflation, the air contained inside the space of the tire is purged via a purging system (6, 7, 8). In one variant, the principle of the valves, cord and purge is retained, but there are fewer bladders and they have the shape of sections of the tire. Bladders that are resistant to depression can also be used with the same valves and purge but without a cord. The refilling ensues by an over inflation step followed by a reduction effected by the purge until the operating pressure is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventor: Philippe Biesse
  • Publication number: 20140311645
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a rolled multilayer tire inner liner product and processes or methods for preparing a rolled multilayer tire inner liner product. The product comprises a film layer, two adhesive layers (each directly contacting one outer surface of the film layer) and at least one removable partitioning sheet layer contacting the outer surface of at least one of the adhesive layers. The process includes co-extrusion of a film layer and two adhesive layers, addition of at least one partitioning sheet layer to at least one of the adhesive layers either during the co-extruding step or directly thereafter (and may be a mixture of both if more than one partitioning sheet layer is present) and rolling of the layers together (such that if there is only one partitioning sheet layer it faces inward) to form a rolled multilayer tire inner liner product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventor: Michael S. James
  • Publication number: 20140261945
    Abstract: A puncture-free inner tube has a hollow pipe shape, which is to be inserted in an annular space of an outer tire, which is to be mounted detachably on a tire rim having an annular shape. The tube contains a thermoplastic elastomer molded by injection molding into a transversal cross sectional shape that is similar or substantially similar to and is slightly larger than a transversal cross section of the annular space of the outer tire. The tube has a thickness that is gradually increased from a ground part toward an anti-ground part on a side of the tire rim. The tube is formed in an annular shape, and the tube is to be inserted in the annular space of the outer tire in a compressed state with a tensile stress of the outer tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKIGAISHA KATAZEN
    Inventors: Kumeo KONDO, Nobuji KATO, Yuuichi KONDO, Makane FUKUSHIMA
  • Patent number: 8833416
    Abstract: An inner tube having a closed polymeric envelope with a primary surface comprising means allowing compression of the polymeric envelope when inflated under the normal conditions of use of the assembled unit. A radially outer part has a meridian curvature such that the ratio of the average radius of its meridian curvature to the radius of a circle of perimeter equal to the meridian perimeter of the primary surface of the polymeric envelope is greater than 2.5 and preferably greater than 10, when the inner tube is inflated to a pressure of 2000 pascals and the ratio of the average radius of the meridian curvature of the side parts to the radius of a circle of perimeter equal to the meridian perimeter of the primary surface of the polymeric envelope is greater than 2.5 and preferably greater than 10, when the inner tube is inflated to a pressure of 2000 pascals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Techniques S.A., Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Luc Bestgen, Christian Bidet
  • Patent number: 8679608
    Abstract: A multilayer elastomer laminate that is impermeable to inflation gases, which is capable of adhering to a diene elastomer composition and which can be used in an inflatable article provided with such a diene composition, said laminate comprising at least two superposed elastomer layers (phr signifying parts by weight per hundred parts of elastomer, in each elastomer composition considered): as a gastight first layer, a first elastomer composition comprising more than 50 phr of a copolymer containing polystyrene and polyisobutylene blocks; as an adhesive second layer, a second elastomer composition comprising more than 50 phr of an unsaturated thermoplastic styrene copolymer and optionally a liquid plasticizing agent at a content from 0 to less than 100 phr. This multilayer laminate possesses very good impermeability properties and a reduced hysteresis compared to layers based on butyl rubber, and also a high adhesion to a diene elastomer third layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Pierre Lesage, Vincent Abad, Emmanuel Custodero
  • Patent number: 8656974
    Abstract: An adjustable inner tube for a pneumatic tire includes a valve and a continuous tube. The continuous tube includes a first segment and a second segment, wherein the first segment covers a portion of the second segment and the second segment may slide relative to the first segment to alter the circumference of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventor: Allen C. Young
  • Patent number: 8637599
    Abstract: It is the purpose of the present invention to improve air permeation resistance, low heat build-up property and strength at break. The present invention provides a rubber composition for an inner liner including (B) specific mica, (C) carbon black and/or silica and (D) an alkylphenol-sulfur chloride condensate indicated by the formula (D1): (Wherein R1 to R3 are an alkyl group having 5 to 12 carbons; x and y are an integer of 2 to 4; and n is an integer of 0 to 10), based on (A) specific rubber component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20140014249
    Abstract: Embodiments include inflatable articles that include an interior surface adapted for being in contact with the inflation gas, the interior surface coated with a parylene barrier. The parylene barrier may be formed of parylene N, parylene C, parylene D, another substituted parylene or combinations thereof. In particular embodiments, the inflatable article is a tire. Other embodiments include inflatable articles having composite layers, wherein at least two of the composite layers include surfaces that interface with one another and a parylene coating applied to at least one of the interfacing surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Brian R. Bergman
  • Patent number: 8563098
    Abstract: An inflatable article is provided with a layer impermeable to inflation gases. The layer has an elastomer composition that includes at least, as a predominant elastomer by weight, a thermoplastic styrene (TPS) elastomer and a platy filler. The platy filler has an equivalent diameter (Dv (0.5)) of between 20 and 45 micrometers, and has a shape factor (F) greater than 65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Vincent Abad, Emmanuel Custodero, Vincent Lemal
  • Patent number: 8544516
    Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a tool bar and at least one row unit carried by the tool bar. Each row unit includes a furrow opener arrangement with a gauge wheel. The gauge wheel includes a rim with an outer periphery and a tire mounted to the outer periphery. The tire includes an outer shell formed from a first resilient material and an inner core formed from a softer second resilient material. The outer shell is positioned radially outward from the inner core and axial outward from axial ends of the inner core. The inner core is mounted directly on the outer periphery of the rim and defines an annular hollow core therein. The tire is structured and arranged such that the softer inner core, the annular hollow core and the harder outer shell coact to provide good wear, good shock absorbance, and good mud shedding capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Nathan A. Mariman, Polina Aronova, Scott Cassidy
  • Publication number: 20130209716
    Abstract: An inflatable article is provided with an elastomer layer that is airtight towards inflation gases. The elastomer layer includes at least one rubber composition, and the rubber composition includes at least: as a non-thermoplastic elastomer, a butyl rubber, used alone or as a blend with one or more other non-thermoplastic elastomers (preferably diene elastomers); a crosslinking system; optionally a reinforcing filler at a content within a range from 0 to 120 phr; and a thermoplastic elastomer that includes a polyisobutylene block. A content of the thermoplastic elastomer is within a range from 3 to 80 parts by weight per 100 parts of non-thermoplastic elastomer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Emmanuel Custodero, Marc Greiveldinger, Cyrille Guery
  • Publication number: 20130196086
    Abstract: A pneumatic object is provided with a layer that is airtight to inflation gases. The layer includes an elastomer composition having at least a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), as a sole elastomer or as a predominant elastomer by weight, and a hydrocarbon resin. A glass transition temperature of the hydrocarbon resin is above 0° C. The TPE is a copolymer that includes at least a central polyisobutylene block. Optionally, the elastomer composition includes an extender oil. Also optionally, the elastomer composition includes a platy filler selected from a group that includes graphites and phyllosilicates, such as micas, clays, and talcs. The pneumatic object may be an inner tube or a pneumatic tyre for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Vincent Abad, Marc Greiveldinger
  • Publication number: 20130186541
    Abstract: A barrier layer is provided for impeding the flow of inflation gas through an inflatable article, the barrier layer constructed of a material that is based upon a cross-linkable rubber composition, the cross-linkable rubber composition comprising, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr), between 50 phr and 90 phr of a butyl rubber and between 10 phr and 50 phr of a total amount of a GCO copolymer comprising epichlorohydrin derived units and allyl glycidyl ether derived units and a GECO terpolymer comprising epichlorohydrin derived units, allyl glycidyl ether derived units and ethylene oxide derived units, wherein the GECO terpolymer is between 1 percent by weight and 50 percent by weight of the total and also including a sulfur cure system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ESTABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Brian R Bergman
  • Publication number: 20130168001
    Abstract: An inflatable article is provided with an elastomer layer that is airtight to inflation gases used to inflate the article. The elastomer layer includes at least one blend of a thermoplastic elastomer and a butyl rubber. The thermoplastic elastomer includes a polyisobutylene block. The thermoplastic elastomer is present in a proportion A, and the butyl rubber is present in a proportion B, with a ratio A/B being in a range of 1 and 20, and with A and B being expressed by weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Vincent Abad, Emmanuel Custodero, Marc Greiveldinger
  • Publication number: 20130139941
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire uses a tire vulcanizing bladder including a plurality of vent lines, and is characterized in that the pneumatic tire includes an inner liner on an inner surface thereof, the inner liner has an SIBS layer containing a styrene-isobutylene-styrene triblock copolymer, the SIBS layer has a thickness of more than or equal to 0.05 mm and less than or equal to 0.6 mm, the SIBS layer contains more than or equal to 0.5% by mass and less than or equal to 40% by mass of a polymer obtained by polymerization of a monomer unit having 4 carbon atoms, and the vent lines each include a first vent line at a part corresponding to from a tire bead toe part to a tire buttress part, and a second vent line at a part corresponding to from the tire buttress part to a tire crown part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Mutsuki Sugimoto
  • 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
  • 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: 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: 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: 8281827
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire enabling an easy estimation of the presence or absence of an internal failure of the tire only by the observation of the external appearance of the tire, by interposing a detection layer mainly composed of at least one of a thermoplastic elastomer and a thermoplastic resin, which has a softening point of 50° C. to 150° C., in an interlayer between materials constituting the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norifumi Kameda, Yoshiaki Kirino
  • Patent number: 8267136
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a heavy-duty pneumatic tire that is capable of suppressing deterioration by oxidation at a portion of a high heat generation in a bead portion, and that is excellent in sustainability of inner pressure holding performance as well as in durability. The heavy-duty pneumatic tire of the present invention includes a carcass and an inner liner disposed closer to the center of the tire than the carcass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8261792
    Abstract: An airbag device for a vehicle tire capable of stabilizing the vehicle timely when the tire is exploding or being punctured suddenly to avoid potential accidents and to ensure driving comfort. The airbag device comprises a resilient outer ring installed between the tire and the wheel hub, and an inner ring serving to support the resilient outer ring. The resilient outer ring and the inner ring are compressed between the tire and the wheel hub under normal tire air pressure, and a space serving to increase driving comfortability and keep the outer ring from contacting the inner surface of the tire tread is designed between the resilient outer ring and the inner surface of the tire tread. When the tire is exploding or the air pressure of the tire is lost, the resilient outer ring is capable of bouncing instantly to support the weight of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventor: Liang Fan
  • 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120156400
    Abstract: An inflatable article is provided with a layer impermeable to inflation gases. The layer has an elastomer composition that includes at least, as a predominant elastomer by weight, a thermoplastic styrene (TPS) elastomer and a platy filler. The platy filler has an equivalent diameter (Dv(0.5)) of between 20 and 45 micrometers, and has a shape factor (F) greater than 65.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., SOCIETE DE TECHNOLOGIE MICHELIN
    Inventors: Vincent Abad, Emmanuel Custodero, Vincent Lemal
  • Publication number: 20120141696
    Abstract: Elastomer composition comprising at least, as predominant elastomer, a thermoplastic SIBS elastomer comprising a “polyisobutylene” block and, at least one of the ends of the “polyisobutylene” block, a thermoplastic block of specific structure having a Tg greater than or equal to 100° C. The elastomer composition according to the invention may be used as an elastomer layer impermeable to the inflation gases in an inflatable object. This inflatable object is, in particular, an inner tube or a pneumatic tyre for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: SOCIETE DE TECHNOLOGIE MICHELIN
    Inventors: Vincent Abad, Marc Greiveldinger, Julien Thuilliez
  • Publication number: 20120003409
    Abstract: Inflatable article equipped with an elastomer layer impermeable to the inflation gases comprising at least: as first thermoplastic stirene elastomer, at least 50 phr of a copolymer containing polystirene and polyisobutylene blocks, in particular SIBS; as second thermoplastic stirene elastomer, at most 50 phr of a thermoplastic stirene copolymer of unsaturated type, in particular SIS; and optionally an extender oil, in particular polybutene, at a content preferably between 5 and 100 phr. This gastight elastomer layer has very good impermeability properties and a lower hysteresis compared to layers based on butyl rubber. The inflatable article can be, in particular, an inner tube or a pneumatic tire for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicants: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., SOCIETE DE TECHNOLOGIE MICHELIN
    Inventors: Pierre Lesage, Vincent Abad, Cécile Barbier, Emmanuel Custodero
  • Publication number: 20120003413
    Abstract: A multilayer elastomer laminate that is impermeable to inflation gases, which is capable of adhering to a diene elastomer composition and which can be used in an inflatable article provided with such a diene composition, said laminate comprising at least two superposed elastomer layers (phr signifying parts by weight per hundred parts of elastomer, in each elastomer composition considered): as a gastight first layer, a first elastomer composition comprising more than 50 phr of a copolymer containing polystirene and polyisobutylene blocks; as an adhesive second layer, a second elastomer composition comprising more than 50 phr of an unsaturated thermoplastic stirene copolymer and optionally a liquid plasticizing agent at a content from 0 to less than 100 phr. This multilayer laminate possesses very good impermeability properties and a reduced hysteresis compared to layers based on butyl rubber, and also a high adhesion to a diene elastomer third layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Pierre Lesage, Vincent Abad, Emmanuel Custodero
  • Patent number: 8056595
    Abstract: A low permeability rubber laminate capable of preventing blisters formed when fabricating a pneumatic tire having a low permeability resin composition (A) layer having a air permeation coefficient, determined according to JIS K7126, of 0.5×10?12 cc·cm/cm2·sec·cmHg or less at 30° C., an average thickness d of 0.05 ?m<d<5 ?m and a Young's modulus E of 0.5 MPa<E<300 MPa at 160-200° C., laminated on one surface of a rubber composition (B) layer and superior in air pressure retention performance and durability and a pneumatic tire using the same as an inner liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Morooka
  • Publication number: 20110240196
    Abstract: The invention relates to rubber nanocomposites particularly suitable for innerliners and other tire applications. The uncured nanocomposite comprises an elastomer, tackifier and nanoclay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: Mun Fu Tse
  • Publication number: 20110159778
    Abstract: A system for preventing overinflation of an inner tube is disclosed. In some embodiments, the system may include a wheel; and a tube-bursting region of the wheel, wherein the tube-bursting region is configured to facilitate bursting of an associated inner tube when the associated inner tube is pressurized above a predetermined maximum pressure. A tire system also is disclosed. In some embodiments, the system may include a wheel; and a tube-bursting region of the wheel, wherein the tube-bursting region is configured to facilitate bursting of an associated inner tube when the associated inner tube is pressurized above a predetermined maximum pressure. A children's ride-on vehicle also is disclosed. In some embodiments, the vehicle may include a wheel; and a tube-bursting region of the wheel, wherein the tube-bursting region is configured to facilitate bursting of an associated inner tube when the associated inner tube is pressurized above a predetermined maximum pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald M. Asbach, William R. Howell
  • Publication number: 20110132513
    Abstract: An inner tube having a closed polymeric envelope with a primary surface comprising means allowing compression of the polymeric envelope when inflated under the normal conditions of use of the assembled unit. A radially outer part has a meridian curvature such that the ratio of the average radius of its meridian curvature to the radius of a circle of perimeter equal to the meridian perimeter of the primary surface of the polymeric envelope is greater than 2.5 and preferably greater than 10, when the inner tube is inflated to a pressure of 2000 pascals and the ratio of the average radius of the meridian curvature of the side parts to the radius of a circle of perimeter equal to the meridian perimeter of the primary surface of the polymeric envelope is greater than 2.5 and preferably greater than 10, when the inner tube is inflated to a pressure of 2000 pascals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Luc Bestgen, Christian Bidet
  • Patent number: 7905263
    Abstract: The present invention provides an elastomeric composition processable in a curable, filled rubber formulation. The composition comprises a halogenated interpolymer of a C4 to C7 isoolefin and from 3 to 20 weight percent alkylstyrene and comprising from 0.2 to 2 mole percent haloalkylstyrene, a Mooney viscosity less than 37, a number average molecular weight less than 270,000, a weight average molecular weight less than 470,000, a z-average molecular weight less than 700,000, and a branching index (g?) from 0.4 to 1.1. Also disclosed are a method of making a cured, filled rubber article, comprising compounding the elastomeric composition with filler and curative, processing the compounded composition to form a shape of the article, and curing the composition to obtain the article in the formed shape, as well as a tire comprising an innerliner made by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Mun Fu Tse, Dirk Frans Rouckhout, Donald Sheley Tracey, Walter Harvey Waddell
  • Publication number: 20110041975
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a tire tube which has excellent air impermeability and such excellent durability that the occurrence of cracks in the tube main body is prevented in a contact surface between the tube main body and an inner circumferential surface of the tire. The tire tube of the invention includes a tube main body having a multilayer structure in which at least one rubber layer and at least one thermoplastic resin layer made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending an elastomer in a thermoplastic resin are laminated together. In at least a region where the tube main body is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the tire tread part, the rubber layer is placed as the outermost layer of the multilayer structure, and the thermoplastic resin layer is placed inside the outermost layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Iizuka
  • Publication number: 20100294411
    Abstract: A puncture-resistant multilayer laminate that is impermeable to inflation gases, comprising: a gastight first elastomer layer comprising a polystirene/polyisobutylene block copolymer thermoplastic elastomer, and optionally an extender oil with a content within a range of 0 to less than 100 phr; and a self-sealing second elastomer layer comprising a thermoplastic stirene elastomer, identical to or different from the first elastomer, and an extender oil with a content greater than 200 phr.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicants: SOCIETE DE TECHNOLOGIE MICHELIN, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Emmanuel Custodero, Pierre Lesage, José Merino Lopez
  • Publication number: 20100263778
    Abstract: Inflatable article equipped with a layer impermeable to the inflation gases, of improved hysteresis and impermeability. The layer comprises an elastomer composition comprising at least, as the sole elastomer or as the predominant elastomer by weight, a thermoplastic stirene elastomer (“TPS”) and a platy filler having a volume content greater than 5%. According to one preferred embodiment, the TPS elastomer is a copolymer with polystirene and polyisobutylene blocks such as SIBS (stirene/isobutylene/stirene) and the composition also comprises an extender oil for the elastomer, in particular a PIB (polyisobutylene) oil. The platy filler is especially chosen from graphites and phyllosilicates such as micas, clays or talcs. The inflatable article can be an inner tube or a pneumatic tire for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicants: Societe De Technologie Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Lesage, Emmanuel Custodero
  • Patent number: 7793694
    Abstract: It is to solve problems in a safety tire in which hollow particles also referred to as the foamable compositions are filled in the hollow ring-shaped partition wall and to provide a safety tire having a partition wall structure capable of sufficiently developing the function of the hollow particles. In a safety tire comprising a tire/approved rim assembly constructed by assembling the tire onto the approved rim, a hollow ring-shaped partition wall disposed inside the assembly to define a chamber extending in a circumferential direction along the rim, and thermally expandable hollow particles filled in the chamber and each consisting of a continuous phase of a resin and a closed cell(s), wherein the partition wall is provided with a filter selectively passing only a gas emitted when the hollow particles are thermally expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Otani
  • Patent number: 7772308
    Abstract: According to the invention, a processing aid is used to improve processing in a green (uncured) rubber composition, such as in downstream in-plant processing of an innertube compound, and maintaining, or more preferably, reducing the air permeability of the cured composition, e.g., innertube compound. In embodiments, another of the advantages of the present invention is that the processing aid according to the invention can be used in addition to or as a replacement for the other processing aids and oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Donald S. Tracey, Dirk F. Rouckhout, Walter H. Waddell
  • Patent number: 7770620
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reinforced lightweight air bladder for a safety tire which can effectively suppress a radial growth under the normal running condition even if it is used for a long tire and, on the other hand, to suppress an occurrence of a crack in a tube under the runflat running condition, thereby exhibiting a superior durability. A hollow toric reinforced air bladder 1 is to be accommodated in a tire 2 to form a safety tire. The reinforced air bladder 1 is filled with the air at an internal pressure determined in relation to a given air pressure of the tire 2 to form a cavity S1 in tire 2. When the internal pressure of the cavity S1 of the tire 2 is dropped due to getting punctured or the like, the reinforced air bladder 2 is radially expanded to take over load support from the tire 2. The reinforced air bladder 1 comprises an air-impermeable tube 6 and a reinforcing hoop layer 7 surrounding entirely an outer circumference of a crown portion of the tube 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihide Kouno, Kazumasa Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 7757736
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for repairing a tubeless mounted assembly for a cycle, more particularly for a bicycle, comprising a rim and a tire. According to the invention, the repair device comprises an inner tube, the internal diameter D of which inner tube is greater than the diameter of the rim seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Bernard Moreau
  • Publication number: 20100175804
    Abstract: Inflatable article equipped with an elastomer layer impermeable to the inflation gases, said elastomer layer comprising at least, as the predominant elastomer, a thermoplastic stirene/isobutylene/stirene (SIBS) elastomer. Preferably the SIBS elastomer comprises between 5% and 50% by weight of stirene, its number-average molecular weight is between 30 000 and 500 000 g/mol, and its Tg is below ?20° C. Preferably the airtight elastomer layer also comprises, as a plasticizing agent, an extender oil for the SIBS elastomer with a content preferably between 5 and 100 phr. The inflatable article is, in particular, an inner tube or a pneumatic tire for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Pierre Lesage, Emmanuel Custodero
  • Publication number: 20100147432
    Abstract: A low permeability rubber laminate capable of preventing blisters formed when fabricating a pneumatic tire having a low permeability resin composition (A) layer having a air permeation coefficient, determined according to JIS K7126, of 0.5×10?12 cc·cm/cm2·sec·cmHg or less at 30° C., an average thickness d of 0.05 ?m<d<5 ?m and a Young's modulus E of 0.5 MPa<E<300 MPa at 160-200° C., laminated on one surface of a rubber composition (B) layer and superior in air pressure retention performance and durability and a pneumatic tire using the same as an inner liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Morooka
  • Patent number: 7669627
    Abstract: A tube-type tire to be mounted on the rim of a (e.g., spoke-type) wheel such as that commonly used by a bicycle or a motorcycle, whereby the tube-type tire will operate without a conventional inner tube and as if it were tubeless. The tire includes a main tire section that is seated upon the generally flat shelf of the rim and a pneumatic sealing ring having an inner tube that is seated upon the beadwell of the rim. An air chamber of the inner tube of the sealing ring is inflated to a greater pressure than an air chamber of the main tire section so as to isolate the air chamber of the main tire section from the rim and force the main tire section against the vertical lip of the rim. The sealing ring also has an outer inflatable liner that is located in surrounding engagement with the inner tube to separate the inner tube from the air chamber of the main tire section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Douglas