Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC

Eaton Intelligent Power Limited

Craig R Balnis

Amy M Randall

David J Zemla

Alex Lee Walls

Bruce Allan Miller

Gregory William Cavill

Aaron Joseph Michaud

James Ledford

Jonathan C Neal

Paul B Wilson

Thomas A Sams

Martin A Yurjevich

Emily Welles

A method of preparing a tire including the steps of providing a cured tire, the tire including a first bead, a second bead, a carcass layer extending from the first bead to the second bead, and an optional innerliner layer disposed interior to the carcass layer; directly or indirectly applying an air barrier composition to at least a portion of the carcass layer or to at least a portion of the optional innerliner layer to thereby form an air barrier layer; and directly or indirectly applying a dampening member to the air barrier layer.

Pneumatic tire having dampening element adhered to air barrier layer

Methods for increasing the read range of an electronic communication module within a tire and methods for improving the read range of an electronic communication module within a tire are provided herein. As discussed further herein, the read range can be improved by applying strain to the tire without circumferentially contacting the outer surface of its tread, resulting in an increase in the same-distance-signal-strength of 5% or more. Also provided are tires made according to the disclosed methods.

Post-cure read range enhancement of RFID tire tags

A method of manufacturing a tire, the method comprising the steps of providing a cured tire subassembly, the subassembly including a first bead and a second bead, a cured carcass layer extending from the first bead to the second bead, and an optional cured innerliner disposed on the carcass layer; and applying an air barrier composition to the cured carcass layer, or to the cured innerliner if present, to form an air barrier layer.

Pneumatic tires with applied air barrier layers

Golf club grip

End cap for golf club grip

A flexible tubular golf club grip is formed of elastomeric material having a substantially closed end with an end cap. The tubular portion is formed of substantially softer material than the end cap and has disposed on opposite sides axially spaced discrete areas of macro-texture having spaced raised portions giving a quilt-like appearance. The discrete areas of macro-texture are disposed peripherally spaced on opposite sides of the grip. The end cap has an extension which closely inter-fits the inner periphery of the tubular portion and provides support therefor proximate the substantially closed end. The cap extension has axially extending protrusions peripherally spaced on the top and bottom of the cap which are flush with the outer surface of the tubular portion.

Golf club grip with quilted texture

Methods for increasing the read range of an electronic communication module within a tire and methods for improving the read range of an electronic communication module within a tire are provided herein. As discussed further herein, the read range can be increased by applying strain to the tire without abrading its tread, resulting in an increase in read range of 20% or more. Similarly, the read range can be improved by applying strain to the tire without circumferentially contacting the outer surface of its tread, resulting in an increase in the same-distance-signal-strength of 5% or more. Also provided are tires made according to the disclosed methods.

A method of preparing a tire including the steps of: providing a cured tire, the tire including a first bead, a second bead, a carcass layer extending from the first bead to the second bead, and an optional innerliner layer disposed interior to the carcass layer; applying a pair of reinforcing members to the carcass layer or to the optional innerliner layer, if present; and applying an air barrier composition to the pair of reinforcing members, and to a portion of the carcass layer or to a portion of the optional innerliner layer to thereby form an air barrier layer.

Pneumatic tire having reinforcing members and air barrier layer

Disclosed herein are tires with a component comprising a cured rubber composition having a high dielectric constant, tire bead fillers comprising a cured rubber composition having a high dielectric constant, and related methods for increasing the dielectric constant of a cured rubber composition for a tire component. According to certain embodiments, the cured rubber composition has a dielectric constant of at least 20 and comprises 100 phr of at least one conjugated diene monomer-containing elastomer, filler comprising at least 25 phr of reinforcing carbon black, a cure package of specified composition, and optionally at least one anti-reversion agent.

Tire with component comprising cured rubber composition having high dielectric constant and related methods

Disclosed herein are a tire comprising at least one component having a surface coated with a liquid release layer, a process for preparing a tire having at least one component with a surface coated with a release layer, and a cured tire comprising a tire body at least one component with a surface coated with a release layer. The release layer comprises at least one silicone rubber and at least one adhesive polymer which may be present in latex form in the liquid release layer.

Tire having component with release coated surface and related processes

A tire sidewall comprising a vulcanized rubber and a high molecular weight wax.

Tire sidewalls including high molecular weight waxes

A golf grip comprising an elastomeric material that has a change in the storage modulus of less than about 0.01 MPa in a range of 1% to 4% strain in a subsequent test cycle after an initial test cycle in a dynamic strain test, or alternatively, a change in storage modulus of less than about 0.007 MPa at 2.5% strain between the initial test cycle and the subsequent test cycle. The elastomeric material has less than about 2.5% change in modulus when strained to 300% under a uniaxial static strain in a subsequent test cycle comparing to an initial test cycle under a static strain cycle test. The elastomeric material may have a storage modulus of less than about 1.5 MPa at 2.5% strain and hardness of less than approximately 35 durometer on shore A scale. The golf grip may be a single or multiple layered, and preferably, a rubber vulcanizate.

Golf grip with stable mechanical properties

Various embodiments of a tire, and other objects, having an aerodynamic and/or hydrodynamic surface treatment are disclosed.

Tires and other objects having an aerodynamic/hydrodynamic surface treatment

Disclosed herein is a liquid pre-blend of starch and oil. The pre-blend comprises starch and oil and can be used (is suitable for use in) a rubber composition. Also disclosed is a process for preparing a starch-filled rubber composition and a starch-filled rubber composition wherein a filler dispersion of at least 90% is achieved.

Starch pre-blend, starch-filled rubber composition, and related processes

A method of manufacturing a tire curing bladder, the method includes the steps of (i) providing a cured tire curing bladder; and (ii) applying an air barrier composition to the cured tire curing bladder to form an air barrier layer. A method of restoring the air retention of a tire curing bladder, the method includes the steps of (i) providing a used tire curing bladder; and (ii) applying an air barrier composition to the used tire curing bladder to form an air barrier layer.

Growing community of inventors

Aberdeen, NC, United States of America

Craig R Balnis