Abstract: An apparatus for providing a vacuum in a segmented tire mold includes an upper sidewall assembly and lower sidewall assembly, a plurality of radially moveable tread mold segments operable with the upper sidewall assembly and lower sidewall assembly to define a tire mold cavity. A conical actuating ring assembly surrounds the tire mold segments and engages the mold segments to provide radial movement of the mold segments. The apparatus includes a first seal between the conical actuating ring assembly and the lower mold assembly, as well as a second seal between the conical actuating ring and the upper sidewall assembly, thereby sealing the space defined by the tire mold so that a vacuum can be drawn on the tire mold cavity upon the closing of the mold.

Abstract: A tire mold having an upper mold section and a lower mold section with mold segments mounted for sliding movement radially and axially between molding positions and unloading positions of the tire. Springs are provided between the mold segments and the mold sections for urging movement of the mold segments into molding positions and permitting movement of the mold segments into unloading positions for releasing the tread portion of the tire so that it will not be damaged upon opening of the mold.

Abstract: A tire mold having an upper half, a lower half, and a hinged segmented center ring mounted on the lower half. The center ring has an upper register between the ring and the upper mold half and a lower register between the center ring and the lower mold half to support the center ring during molding. The lower register is provided by engagement of an inclined surface on the center ring with a lower register surface on a ring flange positioned between the hinge axis of each center ring segment and the inclined surface of the segment. The hinge axis is positioned below a lower split plane between the lower mold half and center ring. The height of the ring flange and the inclination of the lower register surface is selected to provide for swinging movement of the center ring segments with the least interference between the center ring and the tire tread during opening of the mold and to provide the maximum support of the center ring segments during molding of a tire.

Abstract: A tire mold having two "half" molds each including a side wall and a tread molding portion and a center ring having a tread molding portion for molding one third or less of the total width of the tire tread. The center ring is divided into eight sections each hinged to one of the half molds to swing open and outward of interfering portions of the tread pattern, being opened solely by the movement of the tire as it is lifted from the mold. No auxiliary mechanism for driving the sections is used or needed, and the mold is opened and closed in the same manner as the usual two piece tire mold. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.