Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a first land portion that is provided on a sidewall portion, projects to an outer side in a tire width direction, and extends in a tire circumferential direction over the entire tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of second land portions that are provided in a central portion in a tire radial direction of the first land portion, project to an outer side in the tire width direction, extend in the tire circumferential direction, and are disposed apart from each other in the tire circumferential direction.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided with a carcass layer and a sidewall rubber disposed on an outer side in a tire width direction of the carcass layer. Additionally, the pneumatic tire is provided with a resin coating applied on a predetermined region of a sidewall portion. Additionally, a minimum value of a wall thickness t of a rubber of the sidewall portion in the region applied with the resin coating is in a range of 0.05 mm?t?4.0 mm. Additionally, a thickness of the resin coating is in a range of 20 ?m or more and 300 ?m or less.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a recessed portion or a projecting portion formed on a side portion so as to constitute a mark, and a colored portion formed in at least a part of a periphery along an outer edge of the mark.

Abstract: A tire for displaying at least one indicium includes a label affixed to the tire at a mounting location. The label has a first side facing away from the tire and a second side connected to the tire. The label's first side is configured to receive at least one adhesive appliqué having at least one indicium. The mounting location is a location on a sidewall of the tire where the label undergoes a strain equal to or less than a threshold strain under pre-defined conditions.

Abstract: To provide a pneumatic tire that can prevent reflective material from falling off and can maintain visibility and fashionability based on the reflective material over a long period of time when providing a decorative portion decorated with a reflective material in a tire side wall and a method for manufacturing the same. The pneumatic tire of the present technology is a pneumatic tire including a decorative portion in a tire side wall decorated with a reflective material, wherein at least one recess is formed in the decorative portion and the reflective material is adhered within the recess.

Abstract: Simple manufacture for a tire in which color does not come off during running. A tire case 17 that is a carcass member of a tire 10 is injection formed from a colored first thermoplastic material containing colorant. A tire in which color does not come off during running can be manufactured simply.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has an annular bead core, a bead filler, a carcass ply rolled up in such a manner as to pinch the bead core and the bead filler, and a white rubber arranged in an outer side of the carcass ply of the side wall portion. The white rubber has an inner peripheral end positioned in an outer side of the bead filler. The bead filler has a main body rubber portion running into the bead core from a leading end, and a soft rubber portion constructing a part of an outer surface of the bead filler and positioned in an inner side of the inner peripheral end of the white rubber. The soft rubber portion is harder than the white rubber and softer than the main body rubber portion.

Abstract: A tire forming method is disclosed in which letters and lines having different colors are formed in a side wall portion of the tire.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing a tire comprising the steps of: applying a chafer rubber 21 by spirally winding a rubber ribbon onto a base 15; applying a sidewall rubber 22 of a first color by spirally winding a rubber ribbon at a position on the base 15 spaced from the position where the chafer rubber is stuck; applying a sidewall rubber 23 of the second color by spirally winding a rubber ribbon between the chafer rubber sticking position and the first color sidewall rubber sticking position; and applying a cover rubber 24 of the first color over the entire surface of the sidewall rubber of the second color, wherein on the occasion when said chafer rubbers 21 or sidewall rubbers 23 of the second color are stuck, they are applied so that they are adjacent to each other, thereby sticking a rubber member of a colored tire onto the sidewall of the tire without involving defects such as trapped air and a bare as well as severe decrease of the productivity.

Abstract: The invention provides a tire forming mold and a tire forming method such that letters and lines of a formed tire can be clearly displayed in the case of forming the tire in which the letters and the lines having different colors are formed in a side wall portion.

Abstract: A tire structure includes a green base tire and a green inked rubber skin combined with a surface of one of tire walls of the green base tire, combined with a tire surface, or combined with the tire surface and the tire wall to have a ring structure. Thus, decorative patterns and texts can be printed on the green inked rubber skin so that the tire has the higher visibility. Also, a manufacturing method is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a green base tire and a green inked rubber skin; temporarily adhering the green inked rubber skin to a predetermined position of the green base tire to form an assembly; and then placing the assembly into a vulcanizing machine for heating and vulcanizing for a period of time so that the green inked rubber skin can be permanently combined with the green base tire.

Abstract: A double-layer rubber ribbon in which at least one surface of an outer surface is configured by a sheet-like thin rubber ribbon is formed by co-extruding a different color rubber ribbon having a second color different from a side rubber of a first color and the thin rubber ribbon. Further, the double-layer rubber ribbon is wound for one or more turns along a tire circumferential direction in such a manner that the thin rubber ribbon is positioned close to a carcass side. Thereafter, the wound double-layer rubber ribbon is covered by a cover rubber having the first color, and the different color rubber ribbon is exposed by scraping off a portion corresponding to a letter or a line of the cover rubber.

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.

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.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tire with a rubber sidewall having at least one layered rubber composite integral with a portion of its outer surface as a means of visibly identifying the tire. The layered composite is an integral composite in a sense of being comprised of a base rubber layer and a contrastingly colored marking rubber layer being partially pre-cured together prior to application to the outer surface of an uncured rubber sidewall. The integrally layered composite and tire rubber sidewall are integral in a sense of being co-cured together with the surface of the base rubber layer facing the rubber sidewall surface. The base rubber layer is a black colored carbon black reinforced rubber layer. The marking rubber layer is of color which contrasts with the black color of the base rubber layer.

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.

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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a pneumatic tire in which a line, a letter or the like having a different color from a main body rubber is formed in a side wall portion. A manufacturing method of a pneumatic tire in which a portion having a different color from a main body rubber is formed in a side wall portion, is provided with a step of forming a band-like rubber member having a white rubber layer having a different color from a main body rubber, and a cover rubber layer formed in an outer side of the white rubber layer at a fixed thickness and having the same color as the main body rubber, and a step of spirally overlapping and winding a rubber ribbon along a tire peripheral direction so as to bond to both sides in a width direction of the band-like rubber member.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 ?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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A tire label is 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 is printed on the label in a machine readable 2D data matrix symbology alongside a human readable ascii serial number.

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).

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.

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.

Abstract: A cured tire having an integral adhered applique both cured in the same cure step in a mold to form spaced apart scuff resistant ribs under the applique on the sidewall of the tire, said applique a thin gauge non-staining compatible rubber backing adhered to said sidewall, a highly stable rubberized ink design adhered to said backing and covered with a removable film before and at the time of removal of the tire from the mold.

Abstract: An in-line skate wheel and a applying indicia to a part thereof so that the indicia does not wear off before the wheel needs to be replaced. The skate wheel includes a hub having an internal bearing surface and an outer surface, a see-through tire formed about a portion of the hub and an element, such as a bladder, including indicia on an outer side thereof being positioned within the see-through tire. The method according to the present invention includes applying indicia to an element adapted to be located within a see-through material. The method comprises the steps of providing a bladder for locating within the see-through material and applying a first set of indicia on a first side surface of the bladder such that the indicia is visible when the bladder is viewed from a first side. The method also includes applying a second set of indicia on a second side surface of the bladder such that the second indicia set is visible when the bladder is viewed from the first side.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vulcanized rubber substrate such as, for example, a tire and a colored, crosslinked, non-black, non-staining, opaque, rubber composition layer therein such as, for example, a colored sidewall. In one preferred embodiment, the invention relates to such a tire wherein said white sidewall is partially colored with a contrasting color prior to vulcanization. The color is desirably applied after mixing with a plasticizer for the white sidewall composition. During vulcanization the color penetrates and colors the visible portion of the white sidewall composition.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a tire comprising a colored motif and a decal inted to be applied to the outer surface of a vulcanized rubber tire. The decal is made of a thin sheet serving as temporary support for a motif made with one or more vulcanizable colored inks. The support has at least one cutout having a shape adapted to permit the fitting therein of at least one element in relief protruding from the surface of a tire at the place selected for the colored motif.

Abstract: A process for applying indicia onto an elastomeric component that will transfer by heat a coating of metallic foil onto raised surfaces on the elastomeric component, which can be letters on a motor vehicle tire. The process will also transfer by heat, a design of colored metallic foil onto a surface of the elastomeric component.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a tire comprising a colored motif and a decal inted to be applied to the outer surface of a vulcanized rubber tire. The decal is made of a thin sheet serving as temporary support for a motif made with one or more vulcanizable colored inks. The support has at least one cutout having a shape adapted to permit the fitting therein of at least one element in relief protruding from the surface of a tire at the place selected for the colored motif.

Abstract: Poly(vinyl alcohol) used in combination with a marking composition including a fluorescent pigment or dye can be used to identify the location of variations, e.g. radial variations, in a pneumatic tire so the tire can be precisely mixed and matched with other components such as tire rims which may have compensating radial variations. The fluorescent marking can include poly(vinyl alcohol) or alternatively be applied as another layer over a poly(vinyl alcohol) based protective coating in which case the fluorescent marking composition need not contain poly(vinyl alcohol).

Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl acetate-based composition which can be applied to a cured rubber surface, such as the white sidewall of a tire, to provide a protective coating against staining and scuffing. Preferably, the aqueous composition includes a polysiloxane agent for increasing the scuff resistance and high humidity resistance.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a strip of white rubber which is added to the otherwise black tire sidewall. The strip is molded separately from the other tire components and is added to the unvulcanized tire at the tire curing press. The strip is pressed into a recess in the sidewall forming surface of the upper tire mold half by a carrier ring which swings into the tire press with the green tire loader. The strip of white rubber is then affixed to the tire during molding of the tire.

Abstract: A device for producing raised lettering on the sidewall of an elastomeric line includes a mechanism for mounting the tire in position to expose its outer sidewall. A mold member is provided having front and rear surfaces, an outer boundary, and an axial opening defining a radially inner boundary. The mold member is sized and shaped to cover the exposed outer sidewall of the tire with the front surface thereof when the tire is disposed on the mounting mechanism. A plurality of annular channels are defined in the mold member front surface radially spaced between the inner and outer boundaries of the mold member. A plurality of support members are each adapted for holding an alphanumeric elastomeric member in the form of the mirror image of a preselected alphanumeric symbol. The support members include an arrangement for selectively interlocking the support members with each other to form a series of symbols into a preselected legend for producing the raised lettering.

Abstract: A cured rubber tire has adhered thereto a layer of heated and mixed, productive urethane composition fluid sidewall material which has been flowed from a nozzle into a groove in the sidewall of a shaped tire. The tire is rotated under the nozzle a distance equal to the circumferential length of the groove so that the ends of the layer may be joined after which the flow of productive urethane composition sidewall material is terminated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supplying a graphic label that is readable with a light scanning device with such label placed on a rubber article. The graphic bar code label is optically interpreted with a bar code reader.Thus, the cured substrate with the label with the graphic message is produced by using thermal transfer techniques. For this purpose, the ribbon in contact with the substrate passes by a print head and the ink can be selectively heated with this operation being synchronized by computer operation. When the ribbon is stripped away, the ink is left where heating occurred on the substrate material. The printed substrate exits and is cut to produce labels of desired length. The label is placed on a curable article and the label and substrate are subjected to curing conditions to effect transfer of the label to the cured substrate which may now contain the message in solely, alphanumeric, bar codes, human readable characters, and logos or mixtures of them.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for ablating selected surfaces of an elastomeric product or an attached work piece. A tire is positioned beneath a laser system such that a laser beam is cast upon the tire sidewall or applied work piece. A microprocessor controls the directing of the laser beam and the position of the tire with respect thereto such that various informational and/or decorative designs and configurations may be ablated into the surface impinged by the laser beam. The dwell time of the laser beam upon the surface and other factors control the depth of ablation. In certain embodiments of the invention, a multi layered work piece is employed such that the depth of ablation will correlate to contrasting or complimentary colors or will effect a desired relief appearance.

Abstract: A product and process for imparting decorative appliques to the sidewalls of tires during the curing operation are presented. A spool of applique composite material is maintained for feeding into a tire mold or onto a transfer device, thereby defining a ring for vulcanization to a tire. The applique consists of a laminate received upon a carrier, the laminate having a first barrier layer and a congruent second decorative layer. The laminate is received by a tire sidewall between two grooves which serve to isolate the decorative layer from the tire itself.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a strip of white rubber which is added to the otherwise black tire sidewall. The strip is molded separately from the other tire components and is added to the unvulcanized tire at the tire curing press. The strip is pressed into a recess in the sidewall forming surface of the upper tire mold half by a carrier ring which swings into the tire press with the green tire loader. The strip of white rubber is then affixed to the tire during molding of the tire.

Abstract: A product and process for imparting decorative appliques to the sidewalls of tires during the curing operation are presented. In one embodiment, a spool of applique composite material is maintained for feeding into a tire mold or onto a transfer device, thereby defining a ring for vulcanization to a tire. The applique consists of a laminate received upon a carrier, the laminate having a first barrier layer and a congruent second decorative layer. The laminate is received by a tire sidewall between two grooves which serve to isolate the decorative layer from the tire itself. In another embodiment a laminate of white and barrier rubber stock is formed and then configured into a cylinder. A plurality of bands are cut from the cylinder then transferred to a fixture by reorienting the bands to conform to the angle of the sidewall of the tire at the point with which the band is to be adhered.