Hiroaki Sugimoto

Title: Hiroaki Sugimoto: Innovator in Pneumatic Tire Technology

Introduction

Hiroaki Sugimoto is a prominent inventor based in Osaka, Japan. He has made significant contributions to the field of pneumatic tire technology, holding a total of 7 patents. His innovative designs focus on enhancing tire performance and durability.

Latest Patents

Among his latest patents is a pneumatic tire with a tread featuring a narrow groove. This design includes a shoulder land portion and a narrow groove that has a first enlarged portion, which increases the groove width at the groove bottom only on the sacrificed portion side. Additionally, a second enlarged portion is formed adjacent to the tread face side of the first enlarged portion, also enlarging the groove width only on the sacrificed portion side. A projection portion is created between these two enlarged portions, projecting toward the main body land portion from an inner wall on the sacrificed land portion side. Furthermore, a flat face portion is included, which has a depth of 30% or more of the groove depth of the narrow groove.

Another notable patent involves a pneumatic tire that has a wearing region sandwiched by first and second sipes. In this design, the tread features a plurality of grooves, including main grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction. Block formations are present on the shoulder portions of the tread, with first sipes extending in the tire circumferential direction. The depth direction of these sipes is parallel to the tire equatorial plane, and they are designed to be deeper and wider than previous iterations, ensuring a height difference between the surface of the wearing region and the surface of the side portion does not exceed 2.0 mm.

Career Highlights

Hiroaki Sugimoto has worked with notable companies in the tire industry, including Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. and Bird Stopper Co., Ltd. His experience in these organizations has allowed him to refine his expertise in tire design and innovation.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, Sugimoto has collaborated with talented individuals such as Yoshiro Sumiya and Yuichi Nakamura. These partnerships have contributed to the development of his innovative tire technologies.

Conclusion

Hiroaki Sugimoto is a distinguished inventor whose work in pneumatic tire technology has led to several important patents. His innovative designs continue to influence the tire industry, showcasing his commitment to enhancing tire performance