US3946782A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pneumatic tire with light reflective elements
Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone Inc
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Filing: 1974-09-18
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Granted: 1976-03-30
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Expires: 1994-09-18
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to a vehicle tire which is provided with light reflective elements. These light reflective elements are so situated on the tire that they give certain, predetermined optical effects when the tire is being operated in certain speed ranges. These effects give the observer a clear optical warning that a vehicle is present and, moreover, an indication of the speed of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Edward Petrasek
- 👤 Charles Steven Cooke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:12
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C11/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T152/00; Y10T152/10; Y10T152/10495
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A vehicle tire comprising a plurality of light reflective elements located on the periphery of said tire to reflect light in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said tire having one of said reflective elements located on each shoulder area of the tire 180° from the corresponding reflective element in the opposite shoulder of the tire, said two elements each define a peak of a sine wave having a length equal to the circumference of said tire, and a plurality of reflective elements located on the tire periphery on said sine wave, defined by said peak elements and said tire circumference, intermediate said peak elements so that said tire gives a sine wave type optical response with the frequency of said sine wave dependent upon the rate of tire rotation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A vehicle tire comprising a plurality of light reflective elements located on the periphery of said tire to reflect light in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said tire having one of said reflective elements located on each shoulder area of the tire 180° from the corresponding reflective element in the opposite shoulder of the tire, said two elements each define a peak of a sine wave having a length equal to the circumference of said tire, and a plurality of reflective elements located on the tire periphery on said sine wave, defined by said peak elements and said tire circumference, intermediate said peak elements so that said tire gives a sine wave type optical response with the frequency of said sine wave dependent upon the rate of tire rotation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
99 words
A pneumatic tire having a plurality of circumferentially discontinuous light reflective elements located on the periphery thereof to reflect light in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said tire, said elements located in at least two separate axial planes, each said plane containing at least one said element with said elements spaced equal distant from each adjacent element within its plane, the amount of said elements varying from at least one of said planes to another so that at least two of said planes yield a different optical response at pre-selected rotational speeds of said tire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
A pneumatic tire having a plurality of circumferentially discontinuous light reflective elements located on the periphery thereof to reflect light in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said tire, said elements located in at least two separate axial planes, each said plane containing at least one said element with said elements spaced equal distant from each adjacent element within its plane, the amount of said elements varying from at least one of said planes to another so that at least two of said planes yield a different optical response at pre-selected rotational speeds of said tire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The tire of claim 2 wherein said planes are the circumferential tread grooves in the tread design of said tire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The tire of claim 3 wherein said tire has at least 4 said tread grooves with one of said groove containing 3 said elements, another of said grooves containing 6 of said elements, another of said grooves containing 12 of said elements and another of said grooves containing 24 of said elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tire of claim 2 wherein each said plane contains a different number of said elements in relation to all other said planes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-30 | 1979-09-29 | 1980-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-30 | 1983-09-29 | 1984-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-30 | 1987-09-29 | 1988-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |