Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC

Adam Karl Nesbitt

Paul B Wilson

John D Rensel

Sharon E Reinhardt

Andrew V Haidet

Douglas B Costlow

Sheel Agarwal

Jon Irvin Stuckey

Robert W Asper

Hans R Dorfi

Andrew T Miklic

Bradley S Plotner

Bradley J Harris

Justin M Gehres

Martin A Yurjevich

Jared J Griebel

Ross W Widenor

Benjamin E Rimai

Jason R Barr

Zachary G Lorenz

Hyeonjae Kim

Brandon P Nelson

Justin E Hayes

Jacob L Walters

John R Lewis

Atsuo Suzuki

James F Donahue

Trevor M Kline

Andrew Vincent Haidet

Douglas Bryan Costlow

Terrence E Wei

Bradley Steven Plotner

Benjamin Emanuel Rimai

Brandon Paul Nelson

Jared James Griebel

A non-pneumatic tire includes a lower ring having a first diameter and an upper ring having a second diameter. The upper ring is substantially coaxial with the lower ring. A support structure connects the lower ring to the upper ring. The support structure is made up of a plurality of spokes. The support structure is arranged and configured so that adjacent spokes of the plurality of spokes contact one another upon the occurrence of a high impact event.

Mounting arrangement of self-supporting spoke structure for non-pneumatic tire

A nonpneumatic tire assembly includes an outer hoop, a plurality of loops extending inward from the outer hoop, and a hub having a plurality of members. Each of the plurality of members is connected to one of the plurality of loops.

Tire with spoke loops

Mold assemblies include a mold section having a mold axis. The mold assembly includes a curing bladder assembly supported on the mold section in radially-offset relation to the mold axis. The curing bladder assembly includes a bladder wall that defines a bladder chamber. The bladder wall includes first and second end wall portions as well as first and second edge wall portions extending longitudinally between the first and second end wall portions. In some cases, the bladder wall further includes first and second side wall portions extending longitudinally between the first and second end wall portions and laterally between the first and second edge wall portions. Methods of manufacturing non-pneumatic tires that includes mold assemblies are also included.

Curing mold assemblies for non-pneumatic tires as well as methods of manufacture

A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation and an outer ring having a plurality of circumferential reinforcements. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending from the inner ring to the outer ring. The non-pneumatic tire also includes a circumferential tread extending about the outer ring. The circumferential tread includes a tread reinforcement layer spaced from a bottom of the circumferential tread.

Non-pneumatic tire having reinforced outer ring

A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation and an outer ring coaxial with the inner ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending from the inner ring to the outer ring. The support structure is constructed of a thermoplastic material and having reinforcement cords embedded therein. The non-pneumatic tire also includes a circumferential tread extending about the outer ring.

Non-pneumatic tire having reinforced support structure

A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation and an outer ring coaxial with the inner ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending from the inner ring to the outer ring and a circumferential tread extending about the outer ring. The circumferential tread includes a band layer constructed of a single material and a tread rubber layer directly attached to the band layer.

Tire tread with a band layer

An assembly for attaching an electronics package to a tire includes a carriage for receiving an electronics package. The assembly also includes a locking clip connected to the carriage and a locking ring having a first side permanently affixed to an interior of the tire. The locking ring is configured to engage the locking clip.

Assembly for attaching an electronics package to a tire

A nonpneumatic tire includes a tread portion, an upper ring, and a plurality of spokes extending radially downward from the upper ring. Each spoke is configured to carry a load while in tension and while in compression. The upper ring and the plurality of spokes are part of a unitary component constructed of a single material. Each spoke terminates at a lower end having a spoke mount with an opening configured to engage a corresponding hub mount. Each spoke is under substantially no tension when the tread portion is not in contact with a ground surface and when each spoke mount is disengaged from its corresponding hub mount. Each spoke is under tension when the tread portion is not in contact with the ground surface and when each spoke mount is engaged with its corresponding hub mount.

Tire with tensioned spokes

A tire includes a circumferential tread, a pair of beads, and a pair of sidewalls. The tire further includes a plurality of circumferential belts disposed below the circumferential tread and extending in an axial direction. The plurality of circumferential belts include a lower belt and an upper belt. The tire also includes at least one gum strip. The at least one gum strip has a first portion in contact with a top surface of the lower belt and a bottom surface of the upper belt. The at least one gum strip has a second portion disposed below the lower belt.

Tire with belt having wrap around gum strip

A nonpneumatic tire includes a tread portion, an upper ring, and a plurality of spokes extending radially downward from the upper ring. Each spoke terminates at a lower end having a spoke mount configured to engage a corresponding hub mount. Each spoke is under substantially no tension when the tread portion is not in contact with a ground surface and when each spoke mount is disengaged from its corresponding hub mount. Each spoke is under tension when the tread portion is not in contact with the ground surface and when each spoke mount is engaged with its corresponding hub mount.

An assembly for mounting an electronics package to an interior of a tire includes a carriage configured to receive an electronics package. The assembly also includes an attaching device having a first side and a second side. The first side of the attaching device is permanently affixed to the interior of the tire. The second side of the attaching device has an attaching structure. The attaching structure is configured to receive the carriage to form a secure and locked connection.

A nonpneumatic tire includes an upper ring and a plurality of spokes extending from the upper ring. At least one reinforcement embedded in each spoke, wherein each reinforcement is constructed of a material that shrinks in length by 0.1% to 10% when subjected to a temperature between 38&#xb0; C. to 260&#xb0; C. and a pressure between 0.10 mPa to 0.70 mPa.

A tire mold has a cavity with a flexible bladder disposed in a central portion of the cavity. The tire mold further includes a first ring connected to a first end of the flexible bladder, and a second ring connected to a second end of the flexible bladder. At least one of the first and second rings is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The flexible bladder is stretched to a maximum axial length when the first and second rings are in a first position. When the first and second rings are in the first position the sum of the first axial length and second axial length is greater than a space between the first ring and the second ring.

Bladder rings for tire vulcanization mold

A tire includes a bead portion with a bead core having a main bead filler and an auxiliary bead filler, and a carcass ply wrapped around a portion of the main bead filler. An end of the carcass ply is located axially outside the main bead filler and radially below an apex of the main bead filler. The auxiliary bead filler is located axially outside the carcass ply end, with an apex of the auxiliary bead filler being located above an apex of the main bead filler.

Tire with bead regions having multiple bead fillers

Various embodiments of a tire and tire tread having a static charge dissipation element are provided.

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Akron, OH, United States of America

Adam Karl Nesbitt