Bandag Incorporated

Other

Michael J Dundon

Donaldee Brewer

A system, apparatus and method, consisting of firmware, software, oscillating motors, a garment, and peripherals that permit users to interact over the Internet or wireless communications network with games or each other users whereby the sensation of touch is felt by the garment user. The invention consists of an interactive body suit that covers the torso. Peripheral gloves, socks, and adult entertainment attachments for men and women attach to the interactive body suit in appropriate locations. Small oscillating motors embedded in the garment and the peripherals produce a vibrating touch sensation when activated. Each motor has a logic address on the suit or peripheral device that correlates to a logical point on a computer graphic representing the user. Contact with the graphic will generate a command signal that activates a motor in the corresponding area on the suit. In one application, limb covers with embedded oscillating motors are used to provide medical treatment massage therapy.

Interactive body suit and interactive limb covers

An improved method and apparatus is shown for simultaneously retreading all of the tires in a stack of rubber tires that have been placed in an autoclave or the like. Each of the tires is covered respectively with a precured tread and enclosing envelope having a U-shaped cross section that surrounds the periphery of the tire to be retreaded, the inner edges of the respective envelopes being pressed to seal against the rims or shoulders of the tires. Proper sealing of the edges of the U-shaped envelopes against the sides of the tires is effected by compressing the stack against a back-up means adjustably supported on and locked in position on a post that extends centrally through the stack. The improved means for producing compression in the tire stack includes an inflatable tire means that surrounds the post to press the stack against the back-up means. The apparatus here shown is particularly adapted to a procedure for first pressurizing the stack and pulling a vacuum on the space inside each envelope prior to placing the stack in the autoclave and then placing the stack in the autoclave and inflating the pressure tire to maintain the seal between the tires and the envelopes. The curing process is then completed in the autoclave for applying the precured tread strips to the tires to effect the recapping of the tires.

Retreading stacked tires using inflatable pressure member

A plurality of solid tires are retreaded simultaneously in a stacked configuration in an autoclave or the like. Each tire periphery is provided with a U-shaped cover which engages and seals with the rims or shoulders of the tire. The sealing is effected by placing rigid plates between tires and compressing the stack vertically with an internal tension device, the edges of the envelopes being compressed between the plates and the respective tire rims or shoulders.

Growing community of inventors

Muscatine, IA, United States of America

Michael J Dundon