Having Annular Inlay Or Cover On Sidewalls (e.g., White Sidewalls, Etc.) Patents (Class 152/524)
  • Patent number: 7641751
    Abstract: When a sidewall portion is formed with a white line or character having different color from that of a main body rubber, a rubber ribbon is wound along a circumferential direction of the tire a plurality of times, a black sidewall rubber provided with a concave groove extending in the circumferential direction of the tire is formed in a region where the white line or character is to be formed, an integrally extruded white rubber extrudate is fitted into the concave groove, the white rubber extrudate is covered with a black rubber sheet, the rubber sheet is partially cut down to expose the white rubber extrudate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuma Nishitani
  • Publication number: 20090294007
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided having a carcass with at least one carcass ply, an innerliner, a sidewall, a bead comprising a bead core and a bead apex, and a tread disposed radially outward of the carcass, The sidewall has only a single crescent-shaped rubber insert located between the innerliner and the at least one carcass ply. The rubber of the at least one crescent-shaped rubber insert has a hardness (Shore A, 100° C.) in a range of about 68 to about 90, and the maximum thickness of the at least one crescent-shaped rubber insert, as measured parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire, is less than 30% of the thickness of the tire sidewall as measured parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire from the axially inner surface of the innerliner to the axially outer surface of the sidewall at the location of the maximum thickness of the rubber insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventor: Walter Vorreiter
  • Patent number: 7622013
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tire having first color characters or lines on at least one side wall part, includes the steps of stamping a second color side wall rubber and a first color side wall rubber on the side face of a carcass member formed in a toroidal shape by winding, a plurality of turns, a continuous second color rubber ribbon and a continuous first color rubber ribbon thereon, stamping a second color cover rubber on the outsides of the side wall rubbers by winding a rubber sheet whereon one turn in an annular shape, and molding a green tire, whereby the use of a large extrude can be eliminated, different types of tires can be efficiently manufactured since a size switching can be easily performed, the accuracies of the shape and the dimensions of the members thereof can be increased, the uniformity and the tire balance thereof can be increased, and the sharp profile of the first color characters or lines can be assumed, thus eliminating problems associated with the appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7543619
    Abstract: A heavy duty tire with decreased rolling resistance without impairing durability, comprising carcass 6, belt layer 7 disposed radially outward of the carcass in tread portion 2, and sidewall rubber 3g disposed axially outward of the carcass in sidewall portion 3 and extending in the radial direction of the tire, wherein the sidewall rubber includes an axially inner rubber portion 10 disposed axially outward of the carcass and an axially outer rubber portion 11 disposed axially outward of the inner rubber portion to form the tire outer surface, the inner rubber portion 10 has a lower loss tangent “tan ?” than the outer rubber portion 11 by a difference of 0.010 to 0.035, and the inner rubber portion 10 has a lower complex elastic modulus than the outer rubber portion 11 by a difference of 0.5 to 1.4 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuki Numata
  • Publication number: 20090126844
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire that can maintain processability of a rubber and tire performance such as rolling resistance or a wet performance, overcome the problem of non-conductivity by a tread rubber of silica formulation or the like, and sustain conductive performance of a tire over a long period of time is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norihiko Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20090008015
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tire capable of suppressing a crack or cracks possibly occurring from a part of a decorative band and improving a visibility of marks formed on the decorative band. A tire 10 has an endless decorative band 2 on a surface of a sidewall 1. The decorative band 2 has one or more first indicative sector 3 and one or more second indicative sector 4 which are arranged alternately and consecutively in the circumferential direction. The first indicative sector 3 consists of a background portion 5 which continuously leads to the sidewall portion 1 adjacent to the first indicative sector with a uniform surface roughness value, and a foreground portion 6 which is arranged in the background portion 5 and forms marks by having a surface roughness value larger than that of the background portion 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daita Itoi
  • Patent number: 7462391
    Abstract: A multi-layered veneer for a tire sidewall is disclosed wherein one or more layers of the veneer include at least one pigment to provide a desired visual effect for the tire sidewall. In one embodiment, the multi-layered veneer includes a tie layer and a first thermoplastic layer bonded to the tie layer. The tie layer is capable of bonding the veneer to a sidewall compound of a tire sidewall. The first thermoplastic layer includes a thermoplastic material and the tie layer includes no less than about 80% by weight of a synthetic polymer chosen from EPDM, EPR, polyethylene, or combinations thereof. The synthetic polymers have a Mooney Viscosity (ML 1+4 at 125° C.) from about 5 to about 40, and the EPDM and EPR have an ethylene content of about 70% by weight to about 99% by weight of the polymer. One or more pigments are dispersed in the tie layer and/or the first thermoplastic layer so as to provide the visual effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Aaron Scott Puhala, Bruce Raymond Hahn, Junling Zhao, Tarah Pecora Shpargel
  • Publication number: 20080257471
    Abstract: A tire (1) comprising over at least part of its surface at least one applique (8). The applique (8) includes a first layer (9) in contact with the air and constituting the upper layer of the applique, and a second layer (10) in contact with the tire (1) and constituting the lower layer of the applique (8), said lower layer (10) of the applique including a bielastic fabric. The fabric used is preferably a bielastic knitted fabric, that is to say a mesh fabric of which the loops which form the mesh are capable of moving relative to one another in the knit direction and perpendicular to the knit direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Cottin, Georges Peyron
  • Patent number: 7418990
    Abstract: The sidewall of a tire is coated with an acrylic polymer, formed by application of an aqueous solution of the acrylic polymer and a volatile counter ion, which dries to form a non-tacky, glossy and water resistant film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Inventor: Stephan S. Vylasek
  • Patent number: 7387144
    Abstract: A tire is provided with at least one textured marking on an outer surface of a sidewall of the tire. The at least one textured marking includes crumb rubber adhered to the sidewall of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventor: Francis J. Byrne
  • Publication number: 20080073018
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire including an elastomeric veneer disposed on at least one exterior surface of the tire, the elastomeric veneer including at least two partially co-blended colored rubber compositions wherein the at least two colored rubber compositions are of different colors, the elastomeric veneer displaying at least two irregularly variegated colors including a plurality of elongated multicolored striae, the at least two variegated colors having a camouflage effect that reduces or eliminates a viewer's visual perception of the tire relative to an environmental background.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Stephen Theodore Brei, George Frank Balogh, Bernard Matthew Bezilla
  • Publication number: 20080053588
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic tire provided with a temperature-sensitive color-changing rubber part formed through vulcanization of a rubber composition that comprises a rubber component, and temperature-sensitive color-changing microcapsules with, as encapsulated therein, a temperature-sensitive color-changing component of which the color may reversibly change with temperature change, and that is obtained by directly mixing and dispersing the microcapsules in the rubber component. The temperature-sensitive color-changing rubber part may constitute at least a part of the tire body. The rubber part may be a coating film formed by applying a coating composition comprising the rubber composition onto the outer surface of a tire, and shaping it through vulcanization along with the tire body. Further, it may constitute a display layer of a color seal to be stuck to the outer surface of a tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventor: Atsushi Tsuruta
  • Publication number: 20070267118
    Abstract: A multi-layered veneer for a tire sidewall is disclosed wherein one or more layers of the veneer include at least one pigment to provide a desired visual effect for the tire sidewall. In one embodiment, the multi-layered veneer includes a tie layer and a first thermoplastic layer bonded to the tie layer. The tie layer is capable of bonding the veneer to a sidewall compound of a tire sidewall. The first thermoplastic layer includes a thermoplastic material and the tie layer includes no less than about 80% by weight of a synthetic polymer chosen from EPDM, EPR, polyethylene, or combinations thereof. The synthetic polymers have a Mooney Viscosity (ML 1+4 at 125° C.) from about 5 to about 40, and the EPDM and EPR have an ethylene content of about 70% by weight to about 99% by weight of the polymer. One or more pigments are dispersed in the tie layer and/or the first thermoplastic layer so as to provide the visual effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Aaron Scott Puhala, Bruce Raymond Hahn, Junling Zhao, Tarah Pecora Shpargel
  • Patent number: 7261785
    Abstract: A process of depositing at least one uncured colored rubber mix forming a contrasting motif on an outer surface of a tire includes preparing a blank of the uncured tire to be moulded, including all the constituents except for the colored rubber mix(es), depositing the colored rubber(s) in at least one cavity formed on a removable insert, each cavity having the general form of the motif to be moulded and having a total volume V2, the total volume of non-vulcanized colored rubber V1 placed in each cavity being less than the volume V0, mounting the insert in a suitable housing provided on the moulding surface of the mould for the tire, engaging the tire blank within the mould, and moulding and vulcanizing the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Frédéric Pialot
  • Patent number: 7247669
    Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition prepared with reinforcement comprised of a combination of precipitated silica aggregates and pelletized rubber reinforcing carbon black composites of carbon black and organic binder of a controlled hardness and to a tire with at least one component comprised of and derived from such rubber composition in which said carbon black pellet composites are disintegrated (fragmented) in situ within said rubber composition in the presence of particulate precipitated silica and silica coupling agent. In one aspect the invention relates to a tire having a component of a rubber composition comprised of at least one conjugated diene-based elastomer and reinforcing filler comprised of a combination of precipitated silica, silica coupling agent and fragmented rubber reinforcing carbon black pellet composites, said pellets having a controlled hardness value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Paul Harry Sandstrom
  • Patent number: 7232498
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pneumatic tire comprising raised indicia on a sidewall of the tire, the raised indicia comprising a plurality of superposed layers of a curable elastomer composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Rene Jean Zimmer, Claude Ernest Felix Boes, Rene Francois Reuter, Hans-Bernd Fuchs, Wolfgang Albert Lauer, David John Zanzig
  • Patent number: 7156936
    Abstract: A tire 2 having a colored pattern veneered surface 12 formed by one or more layers 46 of distinct colors applied to the outer surface of the tire 2 on the sidewall 5 and possibly the tread 7 is disclosed as well as the method of manufacturing the tire 2. The colored pattern veneer can be used to make a camouflage tire among other patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: David Mark Frantz, Bina Patel Botts, George Frank Balogh, James Robert Herberger, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7128942
    Abstract: A vehicle tire provided with a protective film which covers a surface of the tire is disclosed, wherein the protective film is indicative of at least one of tire data including tire conicity and radial force variation of the tire and can be washed away with water. Also a method of fitting tires on a vehicle is disclosed, wherein the installing positions of the tires are determined according to the data indicated by the protective film, and thereafter the protective film is washed away with water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7118643
    Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, is a method of making a tire with a skin covering at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the tire. In practicing the method, a partially cured tire and a partially cured skin are provided. The partially cured tire and the partially cured skin are installed in a tire mold with the skin engaging and covering at least a part of the outer surface of the tire and with the skin facing an inner surface of the mold. Heat and pressure are applied to the tire to press the skin and the tire against the inner surface of the mold. The heat and pressure are maintained for a predetermined time period to vulcanize and bond together the tire and the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Sweetskinz, Inc.
    Inventors: Yann Mellet, Josh Deetz
  • Patent number: 7112251
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire having a portion thereof such as a sidewall component that glows-in-the-dark due to the presence of a phosphorescent layer thereon. The present invention also relates to a tire having, and to a process for incorporating, a phosphorescent decal on the sidewall component. Very small amounts of phosphorescent material are used, resulting in a low cost safety tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Ramendra Nath Majumdar, Jennifer Leigh Gabor, Susan Lynn Deevers
  • Patent number: 7093629
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a rubber component for a pneumatic tire which comprises a process of overlap-winding at least one rubber tape into a target cross sectional shape for the rubber component, wherein each rubber tape has a thickness of from 0.3 to 3.0 mm and a width of from 5 to 40 mm, and an inner surface and/or an outer surface of the rubber component are defined by a surface layer made of windings of the rubber tape which windings are overlapped by a width WJ less than 75% of the rubber tape width but more than 1.0 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Tanaka, Genichiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6953071
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a tread and an outer-facing sidewall area extending from opposing edges of a belt reinforcing structure to corresponding tire beads, the improvement comprising an outer layer of a coating of a fluorinated silane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Claude Ernest Felix Boes, Rene Jean Zimmer, Georges Marcel Victor Thielen
  • Patent number: 6932132
    Abstract: A pneumatic rubber tire having a sidewall of a rubber composition of elastomers comprised primarily of a combination of a brominated copolymer of isobutylene and para-methylstyrene and high trans 1,4-polybutadiene polymer, of which a minor portion thereof is one or more additional conjugated diene-based elastomers exclusive of any appreciable amount of high cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Paul Harry Sandstrom
  • Patent number: 6834697
    Abstract: A tire having a visible sidewall of a rubber composition containing a combination of: (A) a liquid ethylene/butylene copolymer having a terminal hydroxyl group on one end of the copolymer and either a partially hydrogenated polyisoprene block containing olefinic double bonds, or an epoxidized polyisoprene block containing olefinic double bonds, on the other end of the copolymer, (B) cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber, (C) a brominated copolymer of isobutylene and para-methylstyrene, and (D) a minor amount of at least one conjugated diene-based rubber, preferably cis 1,4-polyisoprene. In such manner, it is considered herein that such liquid polymers are functional liquid polymers via the associated terminal hydroxyl group on one end of the copolymer and the modified polyisoprene blocks on the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Paul Harry Sandstrom
  • Patent number: 6832638
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire, in which a concave portion adjacent to a convex mark is provided on a surface of a sidewall portion, and a ratio of a volume v of the concave portion to a volume V of the convex mark is set as: 0.8V≦v≦1.2V, alternatively, a convex portion adjacent to a concave mark is provided on the surface of the sidewall portion, and a ratio of a volume w of the convex portion to a volume W of the concave mark is set as: 0.8W≦w≦1.2W, thus suppressing a bend of a carcass layer located under a mark spot of the sidewall portion, and making it possible to maintain a carcass line approximately uniformly on a circumference thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiro Oyama
  • Publication number: 20040187997
    Abstract: Tire made of a rubber-based material of black color comprising at least one design on an outer surface of the said tire, the material being a diene elastomer or rubber, the design having on its outer surface at least one light diffraction grating formed of a plurality of ridges or grooves of height H arranged parallel to one another with a period P. The process for obtaining a design of variable color on an article made of a rubber-based material of black color, the design being visible in at least one color different from black.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: Antoine Paturle, Cedric Delbet
  • Publication number: 20040103974
    Abstract: An applique having a vulcanizable adhesive layer is co-cured on a rubber article by precuring the applique of predominantly pale natural rubber optionally imprinted with a bar code; coating the upper surface of the applique with a protective self-supporting film of polyamide less than 0.050 mm (2 mils) thick, or a non-self-supporting film of polyurethane less than 25.4 &mgr;m, 0.0254 mm (1 mil) thick; adhering the applique to the article at a chosen location; curing the article in a curing mold; and, removing a cured article from the mold with the protective film adhering to the surface of the applique, the surface of which is essentially free from visually observable cracks. The hot flow of rubber in the curing mold does not substantially change the location of the applique which is embedded in the article. If the film does not remain adhered to a cured tire and drops into the mold, it is difficult to retrieve and, when a subsequent article is cured in the same mold, results in a scrap tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Ramendra Nath Majumdar, Lewis Timothy Lukich, Marvin Wayne Tipton
  • Publication number: 20040095244
    Abstract: A tire label with an integral barrier layer. The barrier layer is formed of polyester film and is 3 to 15 microns thick. The barrier layer may be for example PET. The label may be formed on printable plastic film stock preferably coated with a thickness of between 0.001 to 0.004 inches of a pressure sensitive rubber based adhesive. The adhesive may be applied in a pattern on the film stock leaving a pull-tab to allow easy removal of the label. When adhered to a tire sidewall the label is oriented with the pull-tab in the tread direction so that the tire mounting and testing procedures do not snare it. Machine-readable data can be printed on the label in a machine-readable 2D data matrix symbology alongside a human readable ascii serial number. The label can also have an integral RFID tag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin Conwell, Thomas Rogers, Karen Perry, Patrick Bush
  • Patent number: 6726012
    Abstract: A weather and wear resistant rubber ID unit for a tire with a selected pattern on the ID unit is made by scanning a outer layer of the rubber unit with a laser beam from a high powered CO2 laser operated at a less than full power output, to ablate the outer layer in the form of the selected pattern to expose an inner layer of the unit which has a contrasting color. Loose and residue particles are removing using a vacuum and a cleaning fluid contain alcohol and a surface active agent such as soap. The fluid is rinsed away and the unit is dried for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Tracking Systems LLC
    Inventors: Thomas M. Bielicki, Mark Stephen Bielicki
  • Publication number: 20040050471
    Abstract: The present invention relates to colored compositions used as coatings for tires. The present invention relates to a tire having an outer rubber surface based at least in part on essentially unsaturated diene elastomers, which is covered with the colored coating. The coating comprises at least one layer in contact with the air and has a composition comprising a majority proportion of polyurethane produced from a polyol selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyethers, aliphatic polyesters, polyethers having a main chain that is semi-aromatic and polyesters having a main chain that is semi-aromatic, and flakes of aluminum in an amount of between 20 and 150 parts of flakes per hundred parts of dry polyurethane, phr, wherein the bond between the elastomer and the polyurethane being produced due to the polar functions. The present invention also relates to methods of producing the composition and the tire comprising the composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Alain Cottin, Georges Peyron
  • Publication number: 20040020575
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a camouflage tire suitable for use in various vehicle use environments wherein it is desirable to reduce or eliminate a viewer's visual perception of the tire against the given environmental background.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: David John Zanzig, David Andrew Benko, James Joseph Nespo, Terry John Waibel, Michael Julian Crawford, Timothy Michael Rooney, Bina Patel Botts, George Frank Balogh
  • Patent number: 6619356
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire comprising a means for indicating the position of a tire among the set of tires of a vehicle. The means is a button, which is fitted in a recess made in the center of a pattern which illustrates the tire positions of the vehicle, so that the position of this particular tire among the set of tires of the vehicle can be indicated unambiguously by turning the button by means of the pattern on the button. The button has a groove and/or an embossment for turning the button by means of a screwdriver with a chisel head, a coin or a pair of pliers, for instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Pentti Eromäki
  • Patent number: 6619355
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has radially outer black sidewall rubber, radially inner black sidewall rubber, white sidewall rubber therebetween and a wing rubber layer contacting carcass, tread rubber layer and radially outer black sidewall rubber and white sidewall rubber. The radially outer black sidewall rubber extends from the tread edge (P1) to a point (P3) on the tire outer surface, contacts the wing rubber layer extending from the tread edge (P1) to a point (P2), and contacts the white sidewall rubber extending from the point (P2) to the point (P3). The white sidewall rubber is provided between the point (P3) and the point (P4) with a protrusion so that the thickness (DP) of the white sidewall rubber from outer surface to cords of carcass is not less than 4 mm. The maximum thickness (DS) of the radially outer black sidewall rubber is not less than 3 mm at the point (P2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Niizato
  • Patent number: 6612352
    Abstract: A tire (1) having sidewalls (3) with an annular strip (8) within which a plurality of ribs (9) is formed. The ribs are disposed in mutual side by side relation and circumferentially distributed. The annular strip (8) is made in the form of a hollow on a sidewall (3) of the tire (1) and is designed to display informative inscriptions (12) the characters of which (13) are defined by projections (19) projecting from the surface of the annular strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Pirelli Coordinamento Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Barrese, Massimo Battaini
  • Publication number: 20030140999
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a motor vehicle tire, preferably a colored motor vehicle tire. The tire is configured so that a significant portion of the external surface of the tire displays colors. Preferably, the chemical composition of the tire is colored so that when the tire is formed the tire is colored throughout its depth and colorfast, and in the case of the tread portion does not change color significantly with wear. In a preferred embodiment, the chemical composition of the tire is provided with a coloring agent or additive such as a pigment or dye that will yield a desired color upon completion of the tire manufacturing process. Such dye or pigment may be enhanced by the use of reflective, luminescent or photochromic agents that will enhance certain effects and appearances of the tire including ease of visibility, other safety concerns including wear, puncture identification, and enhanced aesthetic appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Krag C. Smith, William L. Klima, Walter F. Klima
  • Publication number: 20030127170
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for anti-ozone protection of at least a part of the outer surface of a vulcanized tire, where the composition of the tire is based on essentially unsaturated dienic elastomers. The present method comprises: (1) subjecting the surface of the vulcanized tire to a treatment in order to polarize and functionalize the elastomers of the surface; (2) applying at least one layer comprising an aqueous polyurethane dispersion to this treated surface; and (3) allowing this layer to dry until a protective coating is formed. The present invention further relates to a tire comprising an anti-ozone protective coating, where the protective coating is formed according to the method described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Alain Cottin, Georges Peyron
  • Patent number: 6561243
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire with a colored sidewall joined with a plurality of colored grooves in its tread. In particular, the present invention relates to a tire of a black-colored rubber composition having a non-black colored sidewall portion which is integral with a plurality of non-black colored grooves of a tread of lug and groove configuration. For said tread, at least a portion of the visible surface of a plurality of tread grooves, exclusive of the outer surface portion of said carbon black reinforced rubber lugs intended to be ground-contacting, is of a non-black colored, synthetic amorphous silica reinforced rubber composition exclusive of carbon black. For said colored sidewall and plurality of connecting tread groove combination, said tread groove and sidewall may be of the same or different non-black color(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: David John Zanzig, Brian David Holden
  • Publication number: 20030084979
    Abstract: A tire comprises a sidewall provided with a mark region for displaying at least one mark including at least one of a sold mark and an outline mark, the mark region is provided with serration made up of serration slots and ridges which are drawn up in lines, the mark is formed by discontinuous parts of the serration, wherein the discontinuous parts of the serration are (1) discontinuous parts of serration slots only or (2) discontinuous parts of ridges only or (3) discontinuous parts of serration slots and discontinuous parts of ridges, wherein the discontinuous part of the serration slot is a shallow part formed within the serration slot and having a top face extending across a corresponding part of the mark in substantially parallel with a tire sidewall surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventor: Tadao Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6546982
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for mounting a transponder module (602, 602a, 702, 951, 1000, 1020, 1102, 1102′, 1402) and an antenna (740, 740′, 862, 940, 1140, 1140′, 1200, 1300, 1320, 1360, 1360′, 1440, 1460) in a pneumatic tire (312, 630, 1204, 1350, 1350′), and for coupling or connecting the antenna to the transponder module. A patch (600, 700, 700′, 850, 950, 980, 1100, 1100′, 1210, 1356, 1356′, 1400) has an opening (620, 720, 720′, 856, 956, 986, 1120, 1120′, 1420) extending to a cavity (622, 722, 860, 960, 990, 1122, 1122′, 1422) within the body of the patch. The transponder module is removably retained in the cavity by a resilient annular lip (624, 724, 724′, 858, 958, 988, 1124, 1124′, 1424) extending around the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Robert Walter Brown, Richard Stephen Pollack
  • Publication number: 20030062104
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire constituting part or all of the part members constituting the pneumatic tire by a rubber composition containing, based on a total 100 parts by weight of a rubber containing at least 70 parts by weight of an ethylenic unsaturated nitrile-conjugated diene-based highly saturated rubber having a content of conjugated diene units of not more than 30 percent by weight, 0 to 120 parts by weight of zinc methacrylate and 0 to 60 parts by weight of carbon black and having a total formulations of zinc methacrylate and carbon black of 10 to 120 parts by weight, and providing, between the above part members and the adjoining diene-based rubber layer, a bonding rubber layer comprising of a rubber composition containing, based on a total 100 parts by weight of a predetermined diene-based rubber and acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer rubber, 5 to 80 parts by weight of a predetermined aromatic petroleum resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Kanenari, Yoshiaki Hashimura, Zenichiro Shida, Tadashi Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20030062106
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire constituting part or all of the part members constituting the pneumatic tire by a rubber composition containing, based on a total 100 parts by weight of a rubber containing at least 70 parts by weight of an ethylenic unsaturated nitrile-conjugated diene-based highly saturated rubber having a content of conjugated diene units of not more than 30 percent by weight, 0 to 120 parts by weight of zinc methacrylate and 0 to 60 parts by weight of carbon black and having a total formulations of zinc methacrylate and carbon black of 10 to 120 parts by weight, and providing, between the above part members and the adjoining diene-based rubber layer, a bonding rubber layer comprising of a rubber composition containing, based on a total 100 parts by weight of a predetermined diene-based rubber and acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer rubber, 5 to 80 parts by weight of a predetermined aromatic petroleum resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Kanenari, Yoshiaki Hashimura, Zenichiro Shida, Tadashi Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20030037854
    Abstract: A vehicle tire provided with a protective film which covers a surface of the tire is disclosed, wherein the protective film is indicative of at least one of tire data including tire conicity and radial force variation of the tire and can be washed away with water. Also a method of fitting tires on a vehicle is disclosed, wherein the installing positions of the tires are determined according to the data indicated by the protective film, and thereafter the protective film is washed away with water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: Kazuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6513560
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic tire with a toroidal shaped tire carcass having sidewalls and a tread. The tire carcass terminates at opposite bead regions for mounting on a tire rim. The tire has at least one of the sidewalls having a circumferentially extending continuous groove, and a non-rubber inlay ring secured within the continuous groove of the sidewall(s) to form a rim flange protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
    Inventors: Alain Emile Francois Roesgen, Filomeno Gennaro Corvasce, Laurent Colantonio, Frank Philpott
  • Patent number: 6474382
    Abstract: A tire having a radial carcass reinforcement and a crown reinforcement composed of at least two crown plies and of inextensible reinforcing elements, preferably wire, crossed from one ply to the next by forming an angle with the circumferential direction that can range between 5° and 45°, and radially outside a tread, characterized in that said tread, composed of rubber compounds of different colors, is axially formed by at least three longitudinal parts, two lateral parts of rubber compound of a first color and, axially between said two parts, at least one rubber compound part of a second color other than black, each axial end A—visible outside—of the colored part with the second color being away from the end—situated on the same side relative to the equatorial plane of the tire—of the axially narrowest ply by a distance at least equal to 30 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Compagnie Generales des Establissements Michelin-Michelin & Cie
    Inventor: François Finck
  • Patent number: 6443202
    Abstract: An aqueous coating composition which can be applied to a cured rubber surface, such as the white sidewall, colored sidewall, raised white lettering or raised colored lettering of a tire, to provide a protective coating against staining and scuffing. The composition includes (a) polyvinyl alcohol, (b) ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and (c) one or both of (i) a silicon emulsion in an amount sufficient to provide increased scuff resistance to a coating prepared from the composition, and (ii) a thickening agent of a type and in an amount effective to render the composition shear-thinning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignees: Quality Manufacturing, Inc., The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
    Inventors: James J. Burton, James M. Duchaine, Mortimer J. Huber, Bharat K. Kansupada, Fredrick L. Magnus
  • Patent number: 6431236
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a non-black rubber composition provided at the at least one portion thereof, at least a portion of said non-black rubber composition comprising 100 part by weight of at least one synthetic rubber and 5 to 100 parts by weight of strontium aluminate or calcium aluminate a long afterglow phosphorescent substance having an average particle size of 1 to 100 Am and having no substantial amounts of carbon black and staining antioxidant, and crosslinked with a crosslinking agent other than sulfur or a pneumatic tire having two or more layer structure of a surface layer of the above phosphorescent rubber composition layer and a lower layer of a blight-colored reflecting layer or the transparent or translucent cover layer and the under phosphorescent rubber composition layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Kanenari, Hiroyuki Kaido
  • Patent number: 6427740
    Abstract: Coating composition for forming a protective film of a colored rubber portion of a tire sidewall and a protective film formed thereby are provided whereby contamination of a colored rubber portion is effectively prevented when transporting or storing tires without troublesome operation such as peeling and removing a film. Such coating composition comprises at least one resin with polymerization degree 200 and above selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate resin, specific vinyl acetate copolymer resin and polyvinyl alcohol, and at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of lower alcohol, water and any combination thereof, a solution viscosity being 300 cps-1000 cps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Hiramatsu
  • Publication number: 20020100529
    Abstract: A weight (18) is set into the lower portion of an annular space (34) in a tire (16). The weight (18) may be a precast concrete member shaped to fit into and extend chordwise of the annular space (34). The weight (18) is wider than the distance between the tire sidewalls (24, 26). When inserted into the tire (16), the weight (18) pushes the sidewalls (24, 26) apart and flattens the bottom portion of the tread (32). The weight (18) at the bottom of the tire (16) and an air space (48) at the top of the tire (16) act together to hold the tire (16) in a substantially upright position. Corrodible iron inserts may be added to the tire (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventor: Leo M. Krenzler
  • Publication number: 20020066513
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic tire with a toroidal shaped tire carcass having sidewalls and a tread. The tire carcass terminates at opposite bead regions for mounting on a tire rim. The tire has at least one of the sidewalls having a circumferentially extending continuous groove, and a non-rubber inlay ring secured within the continuous groove of the sidewall(s) to form a rim flange protector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Alain Emile Francois Roesgen, Filomeno Gennaro Corvasce, Laurent Colantonio, Frank Philpott
  • Patent number: 6397912
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having an air permeation preventive layer comprising a low permeability thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising a thermoplastic elastomer having a thermoplastic resin composition as a continuous phase and a rubber composition as a dispersed phase, in which a barrier resin composition is contained, which low permeability thermoplastic elastomer composition has a phase structure in which the barrier resin composition is dispersed in the form of a flat state in the thermoplastic elastomer, is abundant in flexibility, is superior in gas permeation preventive property, and enables the tire to be reduced in weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiro Watanabe, Noriaki Kuroda, Gou Kawaguchi, Tetsuji Kawazura, Hidekazu Takeyama, Yoshihiro Soeda, Kazuo Suga, Yoshiaki Hashimura, Osamu Ozawa