IP Library Granted Patent US 12,722,429
Granted Patent B2
US 12,722,429 · App. 18/711,878 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Sound absorbing tool and assembly

Inventors: Yoshihide Kouno (Tokyo, JP); Akira Kobayakawa (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
B60C19/002B60B21/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,722,429
App. No.
18/711,878
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sound absorbing tool according to this disclosure includes: an endless housing body that internally defines a housing space and is stretchable in a circumferential direction; and a shapeless sound absorbing material that is housed in the housing space of the housing body.

Claims (28)

1 . A sound absorbing tool comprising:

an endless housing body that internally defines a housing space and is stretchable in a first circumferential direction; and

a shapeless sound absorbing material that is housed in the housing space of the housing body,

wherein the housing body includes an inner wall that defines a radially inner boundary of the housing space and an outer wall that defines a radially outer boundary of the housing space, and

wherein the inner wall internally includes reinforcing fibers that extend in the first circumferential direction, and the outer wall internally includes no reinforcing fibers that extend in the first circumferential direction, such that the inner wall has lower stretchability in the first circumferential direction than the outer wall.

2 . The sound absorbing tool according to claim 1 , wherein the housing body is stretchable in a second circumferential direction which is a direction around an endless axis extending along the first circumferential direction.

3 . The sound absorbing tool according to claim 2 , wherein the inner wall internally includes reinforcing fibers that extend in the second circumferential direction, and the outer wall internally includes no reinforcing fibers that extend in the second circumferential direction, such that the inner wall has lower stretchability in the second circumferential direction than the outer wall.

4 . The sound absorbing tool according to claim 1 , wherein the housing body is a woven fabric or a knitted fabric.

5 . The sound absorbing tool according to claim 1 , wherein the sound absorbing material is a shapeless stuffing including linear or granular pieces.

6 . The sound absorbing tool according to claim 1 , wherein the housing body includes, in the first circumferential direction:

a plurality of housing portions that define the housing space; and

a plurality of connecting portions that are located between the plurality of housing portions and define no housing space, and

the plurality of connecting portions include a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion that are provided at positions of both ends of a width of the housing body when the housing body is flattened.

7 . An assembly comprising a rim and a tire mounted on the rim, the assembly comprising the sound absorbing tool according to claim 1 that is supported by the rim on an annular outer surface of the rim, inside the tire.

8 . The sound absorbing tool according to claim 2 , wherein the housing body is a woven fabric or a knitted fabric.

9 . The sound absorbing tool according to claim 2 , wherein the sound absorbing material is shapeless stuffing including linear or granular pieces.

10 . The sound absorbing tool according to claim 2 , wherein the housing body includes, in the first circumferential direction:

a plurality of housing portions that define the housing space; and

a plurality of connecting portions that are located between the plurality of housing portions and define no housing space, and

the plurality of connecting portions include a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion that are provided at positions of both ends of a width of the housing body when the housing body is flattened.

11 . An assembly comprising a rim and a tire mounted on the rim, the assembly comprising the sound absorbing tool according to claim 2 that is supported by the rim on an annular outer surface of the rim, inside the tire.

12 . The sound absorbing tool according to claim 3 , wherein the housing body is a woven fabric or a knitted fabric.

13 . The sound absorbing tool according to claim 3 , wherein the sound absorbing material is a shapeless stuffing including linear or granular small pieces.

14 . The sound absorbing tool according to claim 3 , wherein the housing body includes, in the first circumferential direction:

a plurality of housing portions that define the housing space; and

a plurality of connecting portions that are located between the plurality of housing portions and define no housing space, and

the plurality of connecting portions include a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion that are provided at positions of both ends of a width of the housing body when the housing body is flattened.

15 . An assembly comprising a rim and a tire mounted on the rim, the assembly comprising the sound absorbing tool according to claim 3 that is supported by the rim on an annular outer surface of the rim, inside the tire.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2024
From: KOUNO, YOSHIHIDE; KOBAYAKAWA, AKIRA
To: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067470/0638 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-202055 · Dec 13, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250018751A1 · Jan 16, 2025
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