Patents for January
Patents as compiled by the editors of Rubber World Magazine from the USPTO for January 2026.
Rubber composition for sustainable tire having lignin compounds
U.S. patent: 12,331,191
Issued: June 17, 2025
Inventors: Da Mi Jeong, Jeong Heon Kim and Hak Joo Kim
Assigned: Hankook Tire & Technology
Key statement: The present invention relates to a rubber composition for a tire, which includes 100 parts by weight of raw material rubber, 1 to 20 parts by weight of a lignin based antioxidant and 0.1 to 3 parts by weight of a crosslinking agent.
Temperature stable polymeric blends for use in non-pneumatic tires
U.S. patent: 12,331,188
Issued: June 17, 2025
Inventors: Jared J. Griebel and Hyeonjae Kim
Assigned: Bridgestone Americas
Key statement: Disclosed herein are polymeric blends suitable for use in non-pneumatic tires, processes for preparing the polymeric blends, and non-pneumatic tires and components thereof incorporating the polymeric blend. The polymeric blends include a thermoplastic polyester elastomer, a high temperature thermoplastic polymer, a compatibilizer resin, a delayed crosslinking agent and an activator.
Rubber compositions
U.S. patent: 12,331,178
Issued: June 17, 2025
Inventor: Satoshi Motoda
Assigned: Kuraray
Key statement: The present invention provides a rubber composition capable of giving cured products excellent in durability and vibration insulating properties. The present invention also provides a cured product of the composition and a rubber vibration insulator using the cured product. The rubber composition includes a solid rubber (A), a liquid diene rubber (B), a silane coupling agent (C) and silica (D) having a BET specific surface area of 15 to 250 m2/g.
Modified conjugated diene based polymer, method for preparing the same and rubber composition including the same
U.S. patent: 12,338,308
Issued: June 24, 2025
Inventors: Youk Reol Na, Ro Mi Lee, Suk Joon Yoo, Geun Seung Baek, Hye Jung Shin, You Seok Seo, Hyeon Jong Park and Hye Young Kim
Assigned: LG Chem
Key statement: A modified conjugated diene based polymer, a rubber composition including the same and a method of making the same are disclosed herein. The modified conjugated diene based polymer has excellent processability and good tensile strength and viscoelasticity. In some embodiments, a modified conjugated diene based polymer includes a first chain including a repeating unit derived from a conjugated diene based monomer, a second chain including a repeating unit derived from a compound represented by Formula 1 and a derived unit from an alkoxysilane based modifier, wherein the first chain and the second chain are coupled by the derived unit from the alkoxysilane based modifier.
Method for the treatment of cords for the reinforcing layers of pneumatic tires
U.S. patent: 12,337,628
Issued: June 24, 2025
Inventors: Cristiano Pomposini and Giacomo Andreini
Assigned: Bridgestone Europe
Key statement: Method for the treatment of single-filament polyethylene terephthalate cords for the reinforcing layers of a pneumatic tire comprising (a) an adhesive solution coating step, wherein the single filament cord is immersed in an adhesive solution; (b) a drying step, wherein the cord covered in adhesive resin is held within a drying oven at a temperature of between 12°C and 180°C; and (c) a thermobonding step wherein the cord, proceeding from the drying step, is arranged within an oven at a temperature of between 23°C and 260°C for a period of between 30 and 90 seconds. During the thermobonding step, the single filament cord is subjected to a tension of between 8 and 12 mN/dtex.
Laser marked medical components from elastomers
U.S. patent: 12,336,871
Issued: June 24, 2025
Inventors: Jason Krizan and Silji Abraham
Assigned: West Pharmaceutical Services
Key statement: A medical device component is provided. The medical device component may include a body having a first surface being at least partially formed from a markable material having a first color, the markable material having a characteristic that an area exposed to laser irradiation of a predetermined wavelength of ultraviolet light changes to a second color different from the first color; a film covering at least a portion of the first surface of the body, the film having a transmittance at the predetermined wavelength of ultraviolet light of at least 5%; and a visible mark on the markable material at the first surface of the body covered by the film. The visible mark may include one or more areas of the markable material at the first surface having the second color. Methods of manufacturing the medical device component are also provided.
Systems and methods for offset wheel spare tire covers and accessories
U.S. patent: 12,344,325
Issued: July 1, 2025
Inventors: Christopher Fischer and Jessica Fischer
Assigned: Boomerang Enterprises
Key statement: The inventive technology described herein may be present in many different embodiments that include systems and methods for adjustably protecting a spare tire with a rearward-facing camera. In some embodiments, a spare tire protective system may utilize a hollow base, a camera collar, a retaining element such as a faceplate and a tire cover to easily adjust to varying spare tire sizes and wheel offsets for vehicles that may be equipped with a center or near center-mounted rearview camera. A hollow base and camera collar may slide over a rearview camera stock and partially seat into a wheel center bore. A tire cover may be sandwiched between the hollow base and faceplate. This system may provide improved ease of installation and removal for vehicle models with varying wheel and tire offsets and sizes.
Rubber-metal laminate and gasket
U.S. patent: 12,343,958
Issued: July 1, 2025
Inventors: Isao Watanabe, Ryota Shimura and Daiki Takekawa
Assigned: Nok
Key statement: A rubber-metal laminate that includes a metal member; and a rubber layer provided on the metal member, wherein the rubber layer has a 100% modulus value in accordance with JIS K6251 of 8.5 MPa or more and a thickness of 80 μm or more. A gasket that includes the rubber-metal laminate.
Aircraft tire
U.S. patent: 12,344,038
Issued: July 1, 2025
Inventors: Douglas Paschall, Michael Brendan Rodgers and Adel F. Halasa
Assigned: Akron Polymer Solutions
Key statement: An aircraft tire component is disclosed herein, including natural rubber, a peptizer, carbon black, graphene, wherein the graphene has a thickness of less than about 3.2 nm, a particle size of between about 50 nm and about 10 μm and contains greater than about 95% carbon, aliphatic hydrocarbon resin, treated distillate aromatic extract, N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-1,4-benzenediamine, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline, paraffinic wax, microcrystalline wax, zinc oxide, stearic acid, N-tert-butyl-benzothiazole sulfonamide, sulfur and pre vulcanization inhibitor, wherein the aircraft tire component is chosen from the group consisting of a tread, an inner liner and a sidewall.
Metal web for a non-pneumatic tire and method of making same
U.S. patent: 12,337,627
Issued: June 24, 2025
Inventor: William S. Niaura
Assigned: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations
Key statement: A web structure for a non-pneumatic tire includes a first
corrugated ring having a first plurality
of peaks and a first plurality of valleys.
The first corrugated ring is a metal ring. The web structure further includes a second corrugated ring having a second plurality of peaks and a second plurality of valleys. The second corrugated ring is a metal ring. The second plurality of valleys are affixed to the first plurality of peaks by brazing or welding
Exercise tire
U.S. patent: 12,337,624
Issued: June 24, 2025
Inventor: Jon Lambrinos
Assigned: Maria Katsadas
Key statement: A replacement exercise bike tire that will emulate the ride characteristics and effort of a conventional bike tire that is partially deflated. The increased roll resistance imparted by the exercise tire will enhance the bike rider’s workout by imparting greater pedal effort required to ride. Multiple interconnected compartments within the tire body are filled with a high viscosity material that will displace under load as the tire rotates during use emulating a flat tire.