Patents for June
The editors of Rubber World Magazine have compiled the following patents from the USPTO for June 2026.
Method and system for tire tread pattern image segmentation
U.S. patent: 12,530,883
Issued: January 20, 2026
Inventors: Duc Alexandre Fehr, Frank Petry and Uriel Rodrigo Nava Velazco
Assigned: Goodyear Tire & Rubber and Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology
Key statement: The invention provides a computer implemented method and a system for automatically segmenting thermal images of a tire’s footprint in order to identify components of the tire’s tread pattern. The invention relies on a convolutional neural network model and on digital image pre-filtering. It is capable of accurately segmenting thermal footprint images of tires in either straight rolling or cornering conditions, which allows for the accurate extraction of temperature data for each identified tread pattern component.
Multi-block copolyester ether thermoplastic elastomer foam, preparation method thereof and sports shoe midsole made from the same
U.S. patent: 12,534,588
Issued: January 27, 2026
Inventors: Fu-Wen Ou, Ming-Champ Lin and Jia-Ying Wu
Assigned: Far Eastern New Century
Key statement: Disclosed is a multi-block copolyester ether thermoplastic elastomer foam prepared from an aromatic polyester compound and contains a short-chain structure, a long-chain structure and a residual functional group of a chain extender. The short-chain structure has both an aromatic dicarboxylic acid ethylene glycol ester block structure and an aromatic dicarboxylic acid butylene glycol ester block structure. The long-chain structure has a polyether diol block structure. Based on 100 parts by weight of the multi-block copolyester ether thermoplastic elastomer foam, a content of the polyether diol block structure is 45 parts by weight to 65 parts by weight. The multi-block copolyester ether thermoplastic elastomer foam has a melting point not higher than 170°C and a melt flow index less than 20 g/10 min.
Silicone elastomer and manufacturing method thereof
U.S. patent: 12,528,273
Issued: January 20, 2026
Inventors: Hsiu-pang Yeh, Yen-tu Yang, Hao-yang Yang and Anupam Mukherjee
Assigned: General Silicones
Key statement: A silicone elastomer, comprising: a first layer, being polyurethane; a second layer, being silicone rubber; and an intermediate layer, respectively coated on an end surface of the first layer and the second layer and provided between the first layer and the second layer, the intermediate layer respectively undergoing addition reaction and curing with the first layer and the second layer such that the intermediate layer respectively combines with the first layer and the second layer firmly. An end surface of the first layer is combined with a substrate. The substrate is a textile material or a conductive material. The substrate may be hydrophilic, hydrophobic, anti-bacterial, or conductive and may be suitable for circuit printing, digital printing or film coating.
Conductive liquid silicone rubber and preparation method and use thereof
U.S. patent: 12,522,730
Issued: January 13, 2026
Inventors: Lijuan Lei, Peng Guo, Xingzhi Shi and Zhehui Li
Assigned: Jiangxi Bluestar Xinghuo Silicone
Key statement: A conductive liquid silicone rubber is described, in which the conductive filler used in the conductive liquid silicone rubber includes single-walled carbon nanotubes. Also described, is the use of single-walled carbon nanotubes as a conductive filler to prepare a single-walled carbon nanotube conductive liquid silicone rubber composite material. A two-step pre-mixing method and formulation design is also described that can effectively disperse the single-walled carbon nanotubes at an extremely small addition amount minimizing problems such as agglomeration, sedimentation and precipitation, while reducing viscosity and enhancing processing performance. A resulting conductive liquid silicone rubber can exhibit not only a low conductive filler addition amount and excellent electrical properties, but also excellent physical and mechanical properties and weather resistance, as well as reduced pollutant generation during vulcanization.
Puncture resistant mute explosion proof cushion for tire and wheel thereof
U.S. patent: 12,522,027
Issued: January 13, 2026
Inventors: Yinyin Xiong and Wei Liang
Key statement: A puncture resistant mute explosion proof cushion for a tire and a wheel thereof are provided. The explosion proof cushion is annular, received in the tire and made of composite nano vinyl acetate copolymer. The explosion proof cushion includes an inner ring and an outer ring wrapped on the inner ring; when the explosion proof cushion is installed in the tire, the outer ring is attached to a top surface and a side surface of an inner wall of the tire and a height from the inner ring to the outer ring along a radial direction of the explosion proof cushion is less than a height of the side surface of the inner wall of the tire. The explosion proof cushion of the present disclosure can improve comfort during ordinary driving of the tire and simultaneously can protect an integral structure of the wheel when the tire runs under a condition of a tire burst.
Sealant composition and pneumatic tire using same
U.S. patent: 12,540,233
Issued: February 3, 2026
Inventor: Yuya Konno
Assigned: Toyo Tire
Key statement: Provided is a sealant composition excellent in exothermic performance, rigidity and sealing characteristics and a pneumatic tire using the sealant composition. The sealant composition contains 95 parts by mass to 150 parts by mass of a hydrocarbon resin, 20 parts by mass to 60 parts by mass of a liquid plasticizer and 0.1 parts by mass to 10 parts by mass of a cellulose nanofiber, with respect to 100 parts by mass of a solid rubber component containing a diene rubber.
Photocurable fluoropolyether based elastomer composition and bonding method thereof
U.S. patent: 12,545,761
Issued: February 10, 2026
Inventors: Hiroyuki Yasuda, Mitsuo Muto and Kenichi Fukuda;
Assigned: Shin-Etsu Chemical
Key statement: Provided are a photocurable fluoropolyether based elastomer composition having both a favorable preservation stability and fast curability, being bondable at a low temperature in a short period of time and generating no air bubbles in the resin at the time of curing; and a bonding method thereof. The photocurable fluoropolyether based elastomer composition contains: (A) a linear polyfluoro compound; (B) a fluorine-containing organohydrogenpolysiloxane; (C) a photoactive hydrosilylation reaction catalyst; and (D) a zeolite having an average primary particle size of not larger than 30 μm.
Adhesion preventing agent composition for unvulcanized rubber, adhesion preventing agent composition aqueous dispersion for unvulcanized rubber and unvulcanized rubber
U.S. patent: 12,522,715
Issued: January 13, 2026
Inventors: Shiro Sehata and Daisuke Nagato
Assigned: Lion Specialty Chemicals
Key statement: The disclosure provides an adhesion preventing agent composition for unvulcanized rubber of which the viscosity is not too high and which allows both lubricity and dispersibility to be obtained in addition to excellent adhesion preventing properties. To achieve the above objective, an adhesion preventing agent composition for unvulcanized rubber of the disclosure includes the following components (A) to (C) and water, wherein the component (B) includes the following components (B1) and (B2) and wherein the mass ratio (B1)/(B2) of the following component (B1) and the following component (B2) is in a range of 1 to 20: (A) a water-soluble polymer, (B) a metallic soap, (C) a surfactant, (B1) at least one metallic soap selected from the group consisting of calcium fatty acid and lithium fatty acid and (B2) at least one metallic soap selected from the group consisting of zinc fatty acid, magnesium fatty acid and aluminum fatty acid.
Chloroprene rubber composition
U.S. patent: 12,565,551
Issued: March 3, 2026
Inventor: Shiro Hirose
Assigned: Nok
Key statement: A chloroprene rubber composition comprising 0.8 to 4 parts by weight of 2,4,6-trimercapto-s-triazine and 0.5 to 4.5 parts by weight of tetrabenzylthiuram disulfide based on 100 parts by weight of chloroprene rubber. The chloroprene rubber composition maintains processability (scorch time) and productivity (crosslinking rate) equivalent to those of conventionally used crosslinking systems, without using substances subject to environmental regulations in crosslinking systems, and at the same time, improves physical properties, such as strength, elongation and compression set characteristics.