Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A rubber blend which is particularly
suitable for utilization in making tire tread
compounds which is characterized by being comprised
of: (1) from 1 phr to 70 phr of a vinylpyridine
containing rubbery polymer, wherein said vinylpyridine
containing rubbery polymer contains from 0.5 weight
percent to 15 weight percent vinylpyridine and wherein
said vinylpyridine containing rubbery polymer has a
Mooney ML 1+4 viscosity of less than 25, (2) from 30
phr to 99 phr of an additional rubber selected from
the group consisting of styrene-butadiene rubber and
polybutadiene rubber, wherein said additional rubber
has a Mooney ML 1+4 viscosity which is within the
range of 40 to 150, (3) a silica filler and (4) a
silica coupling agent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
A rubber blend as specified in claim 1
characterized in that the additional rubber is a
styrene-butadiene rubber having a bound styrene
content which is within the range of 10 weight percent
to 35 weight percent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
A rubber blend as specified in claim 1 or 2
characterized in that from 5 phr to 55 phr of the
vinylpyridine containing rubbery polymer and from 45
phr to 95 phr of the styrene-butadiene rubber is
present in said rubber blend; characterized in that
the vinylpyridine containing rubbery polymer contains
from 1 weight percent to 12 weight percent
vinylpyridine; and characterized in that said
vinylpyridine containing rubbery polymer has a Mooney
ML 1+4 viscosity which is within the range of 8 to 23.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
A rubber blend as specified in claim 1, 2 or
3 characterized in that the styrene-butadiene rubber
has a Mooney ML 1+4 viscosity which is within the
range of 50 to 130; characterized in that the silica
filler is present in an amount which is within the
range of 10 phr to 250 phr; characterized in that the
silica coupling agent is present in an amount which is
within the range of 0.01 to 1 parts by weight per part
by weight of the silica present in the blend; and
characterized in that the silica has a
dibutylphthalate absorption value which is within the
range of 100 to 400.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tire which is characterized by including a
tread which is comprised of the rubber blend specified
in any of the preceding claims.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
A rubber compound which is particularly
suitable for utilization in making tire treads, said
rubber compound being characterized by being comprised
of: (1) a vinylpyridine containing rubbery polymer
which is comprised of repeat units which are derived
from 48 to 99.75 weight percent 1,3-butadiene, from
0.25 weight percent to 7 weight percent vinylpyridine
and up to 45 weight percent styrene, wherein said
vinylpyridine containing rubbery polymer has a Mooney
ML 1+4 viscosity which is within the range of 35 to
150, (2) a silica filler and (3) a silica coupling
agent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
130 words
A rubber compound as specified in claim 6
characterized in that the vinylpyridine containing
rubbery polymer is comprised of repeat units which are
derived from 48 to 99.75 weight percent 1,3-butadiene,
from 0.5 weight percent to 5 weight percent
vinylpyridine and from 15 weight percent to 30 weight
percent styrene; characterized in that the
vinylpyridine containing rubbery polymer has a Mooney
ML 1+4 viscosity which is within the range of 40 to
100; and characterized in that silica filler is
present in an amount which is within the range of 10
phr to 250 phr and wherein the silica coupling agent
is present in an amount which is within the range of
0.01 to 1 parts by weight per part by weight of the
silica present in the rubber compound.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
A rubber compound as specified in claim 6 or
7 characterized in that the vinylpyridine containing
rubbery polymer is comprised of repeat units which are
derived from 60 to 84.5 weight percent 1,3-butadiene,
from 1 weight percent to 3 weight percent
vinylpyridine and from 20 weight percent to 25 weight
percent styrene; characterized in that the
vinylpyridine containing rubbery polymer has a Mooney
ML 1+4 viscosity which is within the range of 45 to
60; and characterized in that the silica has a
dibutylphthalate absorption value which is within the
range of 100 to 400.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A rubber compound as specified in claim 6, 7
or 8 characterized in that silica filler is present in
an amount which is within the range of 15 phr to 80
phr and wherein the silica coupling agent is present
in an amount which is within the range of 0.02 to 0.04
parts by weight per part by weight of the silica
present in the rubber compound.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A rubber compound as specified in claim 6,
7, 8 or 9 characterized in that the silica coupling
agent is present in an amount which is within the
range of 0.05 to 0.25 parts by weight per part by
weight of the silica present in the rubber compound.