Abstract: An air passageway body resides within a tire body and extends between an outward facing tire body surface and the tire cavity, the air passageway body having an enclosed air passageway extending between a hollow body outlet end facing the tire cavity and a hollow inlet end facing outward from the outward facing tire body surface. A tapping device is affixed over one or both of the ends of the air passageway body, the tapping device having an external vent opening and a protrusion member penetrating through a sidewall of the air passageway body to operatively establish an air flow path extending between the air passageway of the air passageway body through the protrusion member and the tapping device vent opening. The air passageway body is installed pre-cure within a green tire carcass build of the tire body and the tapping device(s) are attached post-cure to the air passageway body.

Abstract: A retractable stud pin assembly is described for use in a conventional tire. The stud pin assembly includes a housing having an elastomer compartment and a spring in cooperation with the elastomer. A stud pin is mounted to the spring. The assembly may further optionally include a fluid compartment in cooperation with the elastomer compartment and the spring. The assembly may further include a second compression spring, which cooperates with the first spring and stud pin. An optional adjustment nut may be used to manually raise and lower the pin height as desired. An optional adjustment pin may also be used to extend into an optional fluid compartment to fine tune the pin height.

Abstract: A tire mold is described that includes a plurality of tread molding segments having an inner surface for molding the tire tread. The mold further includes a plurality of sidewall plates having an inner surface for molding the tire sidewall. The tread mold segments together with the sidewalls cooperate to form a tire molding cavity. The sidewall plate further comprises a slot that extends from the outer surface of the tread segment to the inner mold surface, and has a piston having a head slidably received in the slot. A pin is positioned between the piston head and an end of the slot. The mold further includes actuating means for actuating the piston in the slot when the mold is closed.

Abstract: A structure for a tread pattern of a pneumatic tire includes a radially extending pedestal, a first set of cylindrical voids extending radially through the pedestal, a second set of cylindrical voids extending radially through the pedestal, and a radially extending void ring circumscribing the pedestal.

Abstract: A tire includes a carcass, a tread band having a radially outer tread surface and a plurality of radially extending recesses, and an anti-slip structure disposed in one of the radially extending recesses. The anti-slip structure includes a first circular inner portion, a second outer portion, and a third core portion. The third core portion comprises an assembly of three pin structures for providing traction over ice. Each pin structure has a wedge-shaped base portion secured within the first circular inner portion and a pin extending through the second outer portion to the tread surface. The three wedge-shaped base portions combine to form a circular base portion for the assembly.

Abstract: A tire includes a carcass, a tread band having a radially outer tread surface and a plurality of radially extending recesses, and an anti-slip structure disposed in one of the radially extending recesses. The anti-slip structure includes a first end portion, a second triangular middle portion, and a third triangular end portion. The third end portion includes three radially extending projections for providing traction over ice. The shape of the radially extending recess corresponds to the shape of the anti-slip structure such that the anti-slip structure is both radially and rotationally secured within the recess relative to the tread band of the tire.

Abstract: A tire mold is described that includes a plurality of tread molding segments having an inner surface for molding the tire tread. The mold further includes a plurality of sidewall plates having an inner surface for molding the tire sidewall. The tread mold segments together with the sidewalls cooperate to form a tire molding cavity. The sidewall plate further comprises a slot that extends from the outer surface of the tread segment to the inner mold surface, and has a piston having a head slidably received in the slot. A pin is positioned between the piston head and an end of the slot. The mold further includes actuating means for actuating the piston in the slot when the mold is closed.

Abstract: A retractable stud pin assembly is described for use in a conventional tire. The stud pin assembly includes a housing having an elastomer compartment and a spring in cooperation with the elastomer. A stud pin is mounted to the spring. The assembly may further optionally include a fluid compartment in cooperation with the elastomer compartment and the spring. The assembly may further include a second compression spring, which cooperates with the first spring and stud pin. An optional adjustment nut may be used to manually raise and lower the pin height as desired. An optional adjustment pin may also be used to extend into an optional fluid compartment to fine tune the pin height.