Patent News.

Adhesive compositions and pneumatic tire U.S. patent: 5,863,987 Issued: January 26, 1999 Inventors: Masaaki Nakamura and Kozo Sasaki Assigned: Bridgestone

Longitudinal continuous kiln for drying and vulcanizing rubber profiles U.S. patent: 5,864,964 Issued: February 2, 1999 Inventor: Amelia Gomez Barragan

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Recreational surface block locking system U.S. patent: 5,864,004 Issued: February 2, 1999 Inventor: Steven Mitchell Assigned: SpectraTurf

Tire noise treatment U.S. patent: 5,865,921 Issued: February 2, 1999 Inventors: Paul Zakelj and John Turner Assigned: Bridgestone/Firestone

Rubber modified asphalt type of water-proofing compositions U.S. patent: 5,866,211 Issued: February 2, 1999 Inventors: Tsuyoshi Aoyama, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Tadashi Nouchi, Kazuhiko Shichiku, Akira Ito, Hiroyuki Ishii, Haruka Ogawa, Hitofusa Mitani and Kiyoshige Nishibayashi Assigned: Obayashi Corp. and Toho Natural Gas and Nichireki

Tire press U.S. patent: 5,866,170 Issued: February 2, 1999 Inventors: Yasuhiko Fujieda and Kashiro Ureshino Assigned: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho and Kobelco Stewart Bolling

Apparatus for loading a tread mold on a built tire U.S. patent: 5,866,178 Issued: February 2, 1999 Inventors: Michael King, Robert Flynn and Andrew Clayton Assigned: Oliver Rubber

Pulsation dampener diaphragm U.S. patent: 5,868,168 Issued: February 9, 1999 Inventors: Keith Mott and Clifton Pursell Assigned: Hydril

Run-flat tire with an improved bead-to-rim interface U.S. patent: 5,868,190 Issued: February 9, 1999 Inventors: Walter Lee Willard, Jr., James Milo Endicott and Jeffrey Scott Craddock Assigned: Michelin Recherche et Techniques

Composition of cyclic amine-initiated elastomers and amorphous silica and process for the production thereof U.S. patent: 5,866,650 Issued: February 2, 1999 Inventors: David Lawson, Hideo Takeichi, William Hergenrother, Thomas Lynch and James Oziomek Assigned: Bridgestone

Pressure-sensitive adhesive based on partially oriented and partially crystallized elastomer U.S. patent: 5,866,249 Issued: February 2, 1999 Inventors: David Yarusso and Patrick Hyde Assigned: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing

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Mold for tire vulcanization and manufacturing method thereof U.S. patent: 5,866,171 Issued: February 2, 1999 Inventor: Takehiro Kata Assigned: Bridgestone

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Rubber article having a surface design for high abrasion resistance U.S. patent: 5,866,265 Issued: February 2, 1999 Inventors: Patrick Reilly, Ram Murphy Krishnan and George Fielding-Russell Assigned: Goodyear Tire & Rubber

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Prevulcanized tire tread strip for retreading U.S. patent: 5,868,880 Issued: February 9, 1999 Inventors: Guy Pouille, Bernard Ravel and Renaud Rivaton Assigned: Compagnie Generale des Establissements Michelin-Michelin & Cie

Curable silicone rubber composition and manufacturing method thereof U.S. patent: 5,866,653 Issued: February 2, 1999 Inventors: Takao Matsushita and Osamu Takuman Assigned: Dow Coming Toray Silicone

Heat curing silicone rubber composition U.S. patent: 5,866,640 Issued: February 2, 1999 Inventors: Hiroshi Honma, Takao Matsushita and Kenji Ota Assigned: Dow Coming Toray Silicone

Orthotic shoe with torsion sole U.S. patent: 5,867,923 Issued: February 9, 1999 Inventor: Hans Richard Lehneis

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Process for making reinforcing fabric used in automotive radiator hoses U.S. patent: 5,868,009 Issued: February 9, 1999 Inventor: Ricky Walker Assigned: Aberdeen Fabrics

Method to improve traction using silicon-treated carbon blacks U.S. patent: 5,869,550 Issued: February 9, 1999 Inventors: Khaled Mahmud and Meng-Jiao Wang Assigned: Cabot

Vibration insulating pad U.S. patent: 5,871,199 Issued: February 16, 1999 Inventors: Masayuki Koike and Keiko Furukawa Assigned: Nissan Motor

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Optically clear reinforced silicone elastomers of high optical refractive index and improved mechanical properties for use in intraocular lenses U.S. patent: 5,869,549 Issued: February 9, 1999 Inventors: Richard Christ, Brian Allen Nash and Del Joseph Petraitis Assigned: Allergan

Hose with a protector U.S. patent: 5,871,240 Issued: February 16, 1999 Inventors: Atsuo Miyajima, Minoru Kawasaki and Tsutoma Kodama Assigned: Tokai Rubber Industries

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Ethylene/[Alpha]-olefin/nonconjugated polyene copolymer rubber composition U.S. patent: 5,869,563 Issued: February 9, 1999 Inventors: Masaaki Kawasaki, Hidenari Nakahama, Tetsuo Tojo, Toshiyuki Tsutsui, Kyoko Kobayashi and Toshihiro Sagane Assigned: Mitsui Petrochemical.

Flourine-containing elastic copolymer excellent in molding processability, preparation process thereof and vulcanizable composition excellent in molding processability U.S. patent: 5,869,577 Issued: February 9, 1999 Inventors: Hiroshi Aihara, Tatsuya Morikawa, Hiroyuki Tanaka and Mitsuru Kishine Assigned: Daikin Industries

Rubber baler with extended service life U.S. patent: 5,870,951 Issued: February 16, 1999 Inventor: Karl Fragstein Assigned: Karltex Machine

Tire whose crown reinforcement rubber includes silica U.S. patent: 5,871,597 Issued: February 16, 1999 Inventor: Didier Vasseur Assigned: Compagnie Generale des Establissements Michelin-Michelin & Cie

Process for the preparation of crosslinkable thermoplastics and/or elastomeric polymer compositions with extension of scorch time U.S. patent: 5,869,580 Issued: February 9, 1999 Inventors: Chester Joseph Kmiec, Michael Fred Novits and Edward Phillip Hibbard Assigned: Elf Atochem N.A.

Pneumatic tire including block having sipe U.S. patent: 5,871,586 Issued: February 16, 1999 Inventor: Arata Tomita Assigned: Bridgestone