Protrusion From Wall And Spaced From The Opposite Wall Patents (Class 152/209.21)
  • Patent number: 11766898
    Abstract: A lateral groove provided in a tread portion has: an opening formed in a tread surface; a minimum portion having the smallest groove width, positioned radially inside the opening; and a maximum portion having the largest groove width, positioned radially inside the minimum portion. The width of the opening increases toward the outside in the tire axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11760132
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire, a center land comprises a plurality of center sipes, all of the center sipes are respectively contiguous with a first end and a second end in a tire axial direction of the center land, a first shoulder land comprises a plurality of first shoulder sipes, and all of the first shoulder sipes are contiguous with an outer end in the tire axial direction of the first shoulder land but are separated from an inner end in the tire axial direction of the first shoulder land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaru Tada
  • Patent number: 11702555
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire that rotates about a center axis includes a tread rubber that comprises a contact patch; a groove provided in the tread rubber, the groove having an inner surface that includes a bottom surface and side surfaces that connect the bottom surface to the contact patch; and a coating film disposed covering at least a portion of the inner surface, the coating film reducing exposure of ultraviolet light to the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Tanno
  • Patent number: 11633990
    Abstract: A tire having a circumferential groove having a groove bottom and a pair of groove walls. The groove bottom is provided with groove bottom raised portions protruding radially outwardly from a reference plane 5a. The groove bottom raised portions are a first groove bottom raised portion located on a first side in the width direction of the circumferential groove and a second groove bottom raised portion located on a second side in the width direction. The first and second groove bottom raised portions each has a plurality of repeating units having a first bottom surface extending substantially in the tire radial direction and a second bottom surface inclined with respect to the tire radial direction at a larger angle than the first bottom surface. The inclination direction of the second bottom surfaces of the first groove bottom raised portion is opposite to the inclination direction of the second bottom surfaces of the second groove bottom raised portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11633987
    Abstract: A tire includes a tread portion including a circumferential groove and a land portion defined by the circumferential groove, the land portion including a land sidewall facing the circumferential groove. The land sidewall includes a first surface, a second surface located on a groove centerline side of the circumferential groove with respect to the first surface, and a stair portion formed between the first surface and the second surface. The stair portion varies its radial height stepwise in two or more steps in a longitudinal direction of the circumferential groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinsuke Yukami
  • Patent number: 11584166
    Abstract: A tyre includes a tread portion being provided with at least one main groove extending in a tyre circumferential direction and at least one lateral groove connected to the at least one main groove. The at least one main groove includes an intersection to which the lateral groove is connected. One of groove walls of the at least one main groove or the at least one lateral groove is provided with projections protruding toward the intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadao Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11565553
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic vehicle tire having a tread with profile block rows (1, 2) with profile blocks (5) delimited by channels (3, 4), which channels (3, 4) form T-shaped intersections in plan view and are delimited by a channel base (6, 6?) and by block flanks (5a, 5?a), wherein, in channels (3), there are formed projections (7, 7?) which, in a radial direction, have at their highest point a height (h1, h1?), in relation to the lowest point of the channels (3), of 10% to 80% of the profile depth. The projections (7, 7?) are positioned in intersection regions of T-shaped intersections of the channels (3, 4) and are attached to that block flank (5a) which is situated opposite the opening-in point of the opening-in channel (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Andre Lutz, Florian Kristen
  • Patent number: 11560018
    Abstract: To improve uneven wear resistance performance while maintaining drainage performance. A tyre is provided with a plurality of inclined grooves in a tread portion. Each of the inclined grooves includes a first portion arranged on a crown region side, a second portion arranged on a shoulder region side, and a third portion connecting between the first portion and the second portion. In a ground contacting surface of the tread portion, the third portion has a groove width smaller than the first portion and the second portion. The third portion includes an outer portion arranged on the ground contacting surface side and an inner portion arranged radially inside the outer portion. The inner portion has a groove width larger than the outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiro Hikita
  • Patent number: 11554612
    Abstract: To improve uneven wear resistance performance while maintaining drainage performance. A tyre is provided with a plurality of inclined grooves in a tread portion. Each of the inclined grooves extends from a crown region to a shoulder region. Each of the inclined grooves includes a first portion arranged on the crown region side, a second portion arranged on the shoulder region side, and a third portion connecting between the first portion and the second portion. The third portion has a groove width smaller than the first portion and the second portion. The first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are inclined to the same side with respect to the tyre circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiro Hikita
  • Patent number: 11548322
    Abstract: Heavy goods vehicle tire, having a crown portion covered radially on the outside by a tread, this tread having at least two cut-outs, the central portion of the tread having a width Lc of between 35% and 70%, the crown portion comprising a reinforcement having at least two working layers having reinforcing elements, these reinforcing elements consisting of UHT-grade threads, having a mechanical breaking strength R satisfying the following relation: R?(4180?2130×D), where D is the diameter of the thread expressed in millimetres, this tread being formed of at least two layers of superimposed material, the material forming the first layer with a breaking elongation of more than 600% at a temperature of 60° C., this tread being such that, in the central portion, the cavity ratio per unit volume is not more than 10% and the surface cavity ratio as new is not more than 10%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Eddy Baranger
  • Patent number: 11511568
    Abstract: The tire has, in a tread surface, at least one circumferential groove continuously extending in a tire circumferential direction, and a shoulder land portion partitioned with the circumferential groove and a tread ground contact edge, the shoulder land portion has a first width direction groove that extends in a tire width direction and via which the circumferential groove communicates with the tread ground contact edge, the first width direction groove has, in the first width direction groove, a second width direction groove that communicates with the first width direction groove, and respective groove widths of the circumferential groove, the first width direction groove and the second width direction groove satisfy a relational expression of “the groove width of the circumferential groove>the groove width of the first width direction groove>the groove width of the second width direction groove”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11465450
    Abstract: A tread (1) for a heavy-duty vehicle tyre, having a tread surface (10) and an undulating groove (2) formed therein, having, when new, external cavities (21) open onto the tread surface (10) and internal cavities (22) entirely situated there-beneath when new, these cavities (22) connected to cavities (21) by linking cavities (23), each external cavity (21) intersecting the tread surface (10) along a corner edge contour delimiting an opening (210) having two end regions (A1, A2) and a surface area Se measured on the tread surface (10). In each end region (A1, A2) at least one thin blade (41, 42) of rubbery material is formed which is secured to at least one of the walls delimiting the undulating groove to reduce the surface area of the opening (210) of each external cavity (21) viewed from the tread surface (10) when new.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Tony Zivkovic, Arnaud Larregain
  • Patent number: 11453245
    Abstract: A tire has a lug that forms a contact patch surface, and a recessed region that extends along a prescribed direction and that is recessed relative to the contact patch surface. The recessed region has a first vertical face that that forms a first edge between the first vertical face and the contact patch surface, and a planar base that extends in a width direction of the recessed region which is perpendicular to the prescribed direction. The planar base has at least two planar regions having mutually different heights and arrayed along the prescribed direction. The recessed region further has a second vertical face that connects the two planar regions and that forms a third edge between the second vertical face and a higher one of the planar regions. The third edge is inclined with respect to both a tire width direction and a tire circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuji Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 11446964
    Abstract: A tyre includes a tread portion having a tread surface provided with grooves extending in a tyre axial direction. The grooves each include an opening formed on the tread surface, a minimum portion located inwardly in a tyre radial direction of the opening and having a groove width being locally minimum, and a maximum portion located inwardly in the tyre radial direction of the minimum portion and having a groove width being locally maximum in a region inwardly in the tyre radial direction of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11413906
    Abstract: A tire comprises a tread portion 2. The tread portion 2 includes a tread ground contacting surface (2s) and at least one main groove 3 recessed from the tread ground contacting surface (2s) and extending continuously in a tire circumferential direction. The main groove 3 has a first groove wall 11. The first groove wall is provided with a recessed portion 15 recessed outwardly in a groove width direction from a groove edge of the main groove 3 on the tread ground contacting surface. The recessed portion 15 is formed of groove wall rubber 8 having a complex elastic modulus larger than that of base rubber 7 forming a main portion of the tread ground contacting surface (2s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kajita
  • Patent number: 11400763
    Abstract: A tire tread (10) having one or more grooves (201, 202), one or more split bridges (24) arranged in each groove (201, 202), wherein the one or more split bridges (24) having a narrow gap (26) arranged along the width of the corresponding split bridge (24) and extending fully across the length and height of the corresponding split bridge (24), a top side of the one or more split bridges (24) is arranged closest to an outer side (16) of the tread (10), at least a portion of the top side is spaced apart from the outer side (16) of the tread (10) in a direction of a depth of the groove (201, 202) by a variable distance, and a bottom side of the one or more split bridges (24) is spaced apart from a bottom of the groove (201, 202) to form a void between the corresponding split bridge (24) and the bottom of the groove (201, 202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Sadi Kose, Mark Daurer, Jason Zychiewicz, Robert C. Lawson, David Scott Morgan
  • Patent number: 11376892
    Abstract: A pneumatic vehicle tire having a tread with profile blocks (4) formed by circumferential or diagonal grooves (1) and by transverse grooves (2), said profile blocks (4) each being provided with at least one sipe (5) that is straight or slightly curved in plan view, extends at least substantially parallel to the transverse grooves (2) and has a width of 0.3 mm to 2.0 mm, wherein the sipe (5) is bounded by two sipe walls (6), and wherein at least one protrusion (8) is provided on each of the otherwise unstructured sipe walls (6). The protrusion (8) formed on one sipe wall (6) is offset in the direction of extent of the sipe (5) with respect to the protrusion (8) formed on the other sipe wall (6), without a mutual overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Jackstadt, Matthias Seng, Juergen Dzick, Denise Sperl
  • Patent number: 11331957
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes lug grooves arranged in a circumferential direction in a tread surface of a land portion defined by two main grooves adjacent in a lateral direction, the lug grooves each crossing the circumferential direction and communicating at both ends with the main grooves, defining the land portion in the circumferential direction. A notch portion is formed on an opening edge of the lug grooves. The notch portion is cutout from the tread surface inward in a radial direction. The lug grooves have a maximum groove width at a position from 30% to 70% of a lateral direction dimension of the land portion from one of the main grooves and a groove width that decreases from the maximum groove width to the main grooves. The notch portion has a notch width that increases from a position of the maximum groove width of the lug grooves to the main grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Furusawa
  • Patent number: 11331955
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire. A sipe includes, on each of a leading side edge and a trailing side edge, a chamfered portion and a non-chamfered region in which no other chamfered portion is present. A maximum depth of the chamfered portion is shallower than a maximum depth of the sipe, and a width of the sipe is substantially constant. In a cross-sectional view perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the sipe, at least one chamfered portion has a profile line that projects outwards in the radial direction beyond a chamfer reference line connecting the end portions of the chamfered portion, and a cross-sectional area of a chamfered region that is surrounded by the profile line, the sipe, and a tread contact surface of a tread portion is smaller than a cross-sectional area of a reference region surrounded by the chamfer reference line, the sipe, and the tread contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuro Shinzawa, Takayuki Shiraishi, Hiraku Kouda, Takanori Uemura
  • Patent number: 11292297
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes rib-shaped land parts adjacent to each other with a circumferential groove therebetween, and raised-row-shaped projections projecting toward each other from both mutually opposed side wall surfaces of the adjacent rib-shaped land parts are provided to extend in the tread circumferential direction. As compared to a raised-row-shaped projection in an outermost-side circumferential groove located on a tire width direction outermost side, a raised-row-shaped projection in an inner adjacent circumferential groove located on tire width direction inner side of and adjacent to the outermost-side circumferential groove is formed at a shallower position near a tread surface between the tread surface and the groove bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoto Okazaki
  • Patent number: 11279178
    Abstract: A tread portion has a circumferential groove extending continuously and circumferentially. The circumferential groove has a groove bottom and a pair of groove walls radially extending from the groove bottom to a tread surface. The groove bottom includes groove bottom protruding portions protruding radially outwardly from a groove bottom reference surface parallel to the tread surface at a deepest position of a groove depth of the circumferential groove. Each of the groove bottom protruding portions is formed to be symmetrical about a center line of the circumferential groove in a plan view of the tread portion and has a first groove bottom surface extending radially. The first groove bottom surface includes a first surface portion on one side of the center line and a second surface portion on the other side. An angle between the first surface portion and the second surface portion is from 20° to 170°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11247513
    Abstract: A groove bottom is formed symmetrically about a center line of a circumferential groove in a tread plan view and includes groove bottom protruding portions protruding radially outwardly from a groove bottom reference surface parallel to a tread surface at a deepest position of a groove depth. Groove bottom protruding portions have a first groove bottom surface extending radially and a second groove bottom surface having an angle larger than the first groove bottom surface. Groove walls include groove wall protruding portions protruding toward an inner side of the circumferential groove from a groove wall reference surface as a circumferential surface at a widest position of a groove width. The groove wall protruding portions each has a first groove wall width surface and a second groove wall surface having an angle larger than the first groove wall width surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Ishigaki, Koichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11247511
    Abstract: A circumferential groove has a groove bottom and a pair of groove walls. Groove bottom includes groove bottom protruding portions protruding radially outwardly from a groove bottom reference surface and having a first groove bottom surface extending radially. The first groove bottom surface includes a first surface portion on one side of a center line of the circumferential groove and a second surface portion positioned on the other side, and an angle between them is 20° to 170°. The groove wall includes groove wall protruding portions protruding toward an inside of the circumferential groove from a groove wall reference surface defined as a circumferential surface at a widest groove width position of the circumferential groove and having a first groove wall width surface 12 extending in a tyre width direction and a second groove wall surface having an angle larger than the first groove wall width surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11235624
    Abstract: A tire includes a reinforcing rib formed on a groove to prevent irregular wear of a tread and including an auxiliary hidden groove formed in the groove to enhance capabilities of water absorption and drainage of the tire even when the reinforcing rib is formed on the groove. The tire can include a reinforcing rib coupled to a first sidewall, which is one of both sidewalls forming the groove, and protruding toward the groove from the first sidewall, a hidden groove formed in one portion of a second sidewall which is the other of the sidewalls forming the groove, and a remaining tread part protruding toward the groove from a side surface of the hidden groove, the remaining tread part being the other portion of the second sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Hankook Tire Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hae In Jeon, Eun Chang Chun, Ha Eun Koog
  • Patent number: 11214100
    Abstract: A tire comprises a tread portion 2. The tread portion 2 is provided with at least one main groove 3 extending continuously in a tire circumferential direction. A first groove wall 10, which is one of groove walls of the main groove 3, is provided with at least one first recessed portion 11 recessed outwardly in a groove width direction from a corresponding one of groove edges 6 of the main groove on a ground contacting surface of the tread portion 2. In the first recessed portion 11, a recess amount from the corresponding one of the groove edges 6 gradually decreases toward both sides in the tire circumferential direction from a deepest portion 15 recessed most outwardly in the groove width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11186054
    Abstract: The present invention includes tire treads having a sipe (18) and a void feature (22) in fluid communication with the sipe. Particular embodiments of the present invention also include methods for forming the same. In various embodiments, the sipe has a length, a height, and a thickness that is variable across the length and height of the sipe. The thickness of the sipe includes a thick portion (24) and a thin portion (26), the thick portion at least partially extending around a perimeter of the thin portion. In particular embodiments, the void feature (22) which is in fluid communication with the sipe extends primarily in a direction of the sipe length and has a width extending in the direction of the sipe thickness equal to or greater than substantially 1 millimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Mark Collett, Francois Hottebart, Constantin Lazar, Martin Lipham
  • Patent number: 11117425
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tire configured for reducing noise during running of the tire by forming a predetermined shape in a groove of the tire to reduce a peak of air column resonance sound. The tire with reduced noise includes a first protrusion formed on a sidewall of a groove, protruding in a depth direction of the groove, and dispersing sound waves generated in a tread, and a second protrusion formed on the sidewall of the groove, protruding in a longitudinal direction of the groove, and dispersing sound waves generated in the tread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Hankook Tire Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki Bum Kim, Su Jin Son, Il Sik Kim, Chang Hyo Hong
  • Patent number: 11110752
    Abstract: A winter tyre is described having a tread band wherein a plurality of blocks configured to obtain optimal performance both on snow-covered roads and on dry and wet roads in specific conditions of use (in particular during acceleration, braking or cornering with high power vehicles). Each of the aforementioned blocks has at least one sipe that defines two adjacent block portions in the respective block, each block portion having a respective surface facing the sipe. The surface has a radially outer portion having a profile which is substantially undulating, a radially inner portion also having a profile which is substantially undulating and an intermediate portion arranged between the radially outer portion and the radially inner portion and having a profile which is substantially rectilinear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Bolzoni, Gianfranco Colombo, Alberto Abondio
  • Patent number: 11065918
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes plural land portions that are provided at a tread and that are partitioned by plural circumferential direction grooves that extend along a tire circumferential direction. A lug groove is provided at at least one land portion among the plural land portions and crosses the land portion in a tire width direction. A fine groove is provided at a groove bottom portion of the lug groove, has a narrower groove width than the lug groove, and has a groove bottom face formed with a circular arc shaped profile when viewed in cross-section at right angles to a groove length direction. A coupling curved face joins the groove bottom face and a groove side face at a length direction end portion of the fine groove, to a groove side face of the circumferential direction grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naohiro Ookawa
  • Patent number: 11059328
    Abstract: A tire comprises a tread portion provided with at least one longitudinal groove extending in a tire circumferential direction. The longitudinal groove has a groove bottom surface and a pair of groove wall surfaces extending outwardly in a tire radial direction from the groove bottom surface. The groove bottom surface is provided with a groove bottom protruding portion protruding outwardly in the tire radial direction. At least one of the pair of the groove wall surfaces is provided with a groove wall protruding portion protruding toward a side of a groove center of the longitudinal groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Ishigaki, Koichi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11040578
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises: a first block 71 located on a tire equatorial plane and having a recess 62 that inclines with respect to a tire width direction; and a second block 72 located to face the recess of the first block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shintaro Hayashi, Shungo Fujita
  • Patent number: 11040573
    Abstract: A tire includes a tread portion. The tread portion includes two main grooves extending continuously in a tire circumferential direction and a land region defined between the two main grooves. The two main grooves extend in a zigzag manner with phases thereof aligned with each other. The land region is provided with a longitudinal sipe extending in the tire circumferential direction in a zigzag manner with a phase thereof opposite to the phases of the zigzags of the two main grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Naofumi Kitani
  • Patent number: 11034191
    Abstract: A tire tread including a tread surface adapted to come into contact with a road surface has at least one main groove that, when new, opens onto the tread surface of the tread, this main groove having a maximum depth. The main groove includes a plurality of first groove portions and a plurality of second groove portions, the first and second groove portions being arranged alternately such that a first portion is followed by a second portion. Each first groove portion has a width that decreases with wear, and each second groove portion has a width that increases with wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Brian Keefe, Walid Djabour, Arnaud Larregain
  • Patent number: 11027509
    Abstract: Mould for moulding a tread of a tire, this tread having a thickness of material to be worn away and a tread surface intended to come into contact with the road surface when the tire is running, this mould having a moulding surface intended to mould the tread surface of the tread, and having a moulding element formed of a blade and a bar, the blade being attached to the moulding surface to mould a sipe in the tread, the bar, borne by the blade to form an enlarged part of maximum width D, being intended to mould a channel in the tread, this channel itself being intended to form a new groove when the tread becomes part worn. Each blade is delimited by two lateral faces forming between them a mean angle of between 6° degrees and 18°. The blade width decreasing from the mould surface when new, as far as the connection with the bar, the blade width meets the bar being at least equal to between 0.2 and 0.4 times the maximum width D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Etienne Collet, Fabien Marlier, Ludovic Schmitt, Pierre Godin
  • Patent number: 10850570
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread having adjacent rib-shaped land portions (4) with circumferential grooves (3) therebetween. Annular elongate projection portions (5, 5) project toward each other from adjacent rib-shaped land portions (4). The elongate projection portions (5, 5) confronting each other are disposed with a spacing therebetween such that their mutually confronting tip surfaces (5s, 5s) make contact with each other due to elastic deformation of the rib-shaped land portions (4, 4) at the time of grounding of the tire. An inside groove space (6) is formed on a radially inner side of the confronting elongate projection portions (5, 5) and an outside groove space (7) is formed on a radially outer side of the elongate projection portions (5, 5). The tip surfaces (5s) of the elongate projection portions (5) are formed with a plurality of communication recesses (9) providing communication between the inside and outside groove spaces (6, 7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ooba
  • Patent number: 10850567
    Abstract: This tire improves high traction performance over an extended period of time and/or improves control performance while maintaining traction performance. This tire includes a tread with blocks formed thereon, protrusions (11, 21, 31) extending outward in the tire radial direction and formed on more than one of the blocks, and stepped portions (12, 22) and/or a second concavity (24) formed on a side of the protrusions (11, 21, 31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi Ito
  • Patent number: 10814678
    Abstract: A tire comprises a tread portion 2 comprising a shoulder main groove 5 extending on a side of a tread edge Te and comprising inner and outer groove walls 11 and 12. The inner groove wall 11 has an angle ?1 with respect to a tread normal line in a cross section of the shoulder main groove 5 periodically increasing and decreasing in a tire circumferential direction so as to comprise concave and convex wall portions 16 and 17 arranged alternately in the tire circumferential direction. The outer groove wall 12 has an angle ?2 with respect to a tread normal line in the cross section periodically increasing and decreasing in the tire circumferential direction so as to comprise convex and concave wall portions 22 and 21 arranged alternately in the tire circumferential direction. The angle ?2 is larger than the angle ?1 in any cross section of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Takuya Oji
  • Patent number: 10814675
    Abstract: A tire comprises a tread portion 2 comprising a shoulder main groove 5 extending on a side of a tread edge (Te). The shoulder main groove 5 comprises an inner groove wall 11 having an angle with respect to its tread normal line in a cross section of the shoulder main groove 5 periodically increasing and decreasing in a tire circumferential direction so that the inner groove wall 11 comprises concave wall portions 16 and convex wall portions 17 arranged alternately in the tire circumferential direction. The concave wall portions 16 are provided at inner end portions thereof in a tire axial direction with recess portions 20 locally recessed inwardly in the tire axial direction and having openings at a ground contacting surface of the tread portion 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Takuya Oji
  • Patent number: 10773556
    Abstract: The present invention includes tire treads (10) and a method for forming tire treads (10) having a sipe (18) with a length extending between opposing terminal ends of the sipe and having a height and a thickness which is variable across the length and height of the sipe. The thickness of the sipe (18) includes a sipe portion arranged between the opposing terminal ends defining the sipe length and having a thick portion extending at least partially around a perimeter of a thin portion. The thin portion is substantially 0.2 millimeters or less thick and forms at least 40% of the surface area along each of the opposing sides of the sipe, the opposing sides being arranged on opposing sides of the sipe thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Robert Cecil Lawson, Sadi Kose
  • Patent number: 10752056
    Abstract: A heavy truck tire tread is provided that has at least four longitudinal grooves, at least four longitudinal grooves comprising two open grooves and at least two partially hidden grooves. The longitudinal grooves defining two shoulder ribs, two intermediate ribs and at least one center rib, wherein the shape, size and position of the grooves are for any section of tread of any given section length L between 12 to 40 mm, the percentage difference in rubber mass of a rib section compared to a respective neighboring rib section of the same section length L in the same rib is less than a maximum percentage difference, wherein the maximum percentage difference for a shoulder rib is Ds(%)=50/L(mm), the maximum percentage difference for an intermediate rib is Di(%)=70/L(mm), and the maximum percentage difference for a full tread section is Da(%)=40/L(mm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michellin
    Inventors: Fang Zhu, Terence Wallace
  • Patent number: 10723178
    Abstract: A tire 1 comprises a tread portion 2 comprising a plurality of blocks 5. In a development view of the tread portion 2, the blocks 5 include at least one block 5 comprising a block body 6 arranged between lateral grooves 4 adjacent to each other in a tire circumferential direction and a protruding portion 7 protruding from the block body 6 toward a main groove 3. The protruding portion 7 comprises a first part 8 having a ground contacting surface (8a) extending continuously from the block body 6 and a second part 9 arranged closer to the main groove 3 than the first part 8 and on an inner side of the ground contacting surface (8a) in a tire radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 10576789
    Abstract: There is provided a pneumatic tire, in which a first set of blocks that is partitioned and formed by two first circumferential grooves and a plurality of first lateral grooves is provided in the center region that includes the tire equatorial plane, a second set of blocks that is partitioned and formed by one second circumferential groove and a plurality of second lateral grooves is provided in the outermost portion in the tire width direction on each side in the tire width direction, a rib is provided between the first set of blocks and the second sets of blocks, the rib is divided by at least one third circumferential groove, and a plurality of sipes is formed in the first set of blocks, the second set of blocks, and the rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Furusawa, Masaaki Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 10518589
    Abstract: The interval along the tire circumferential direction between sipes adjacent in the tire circumferential direction is 2 to 10 times the depth of the sipes. In the depth direction of the sipes, the sipes each have at least three sipe portions divided by at least two bent portions, and a bent portion angle formed between adjacent sipe portions with one of the bent portions therebetween is greater at the tread surface side than at the sipe bottom side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumitaka Kobayashi, Hiroaki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 10518588
    Abstract: This pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion, sidewall portions, and bead portions, wherein the tread portion includes five main grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction that partition six rows of ribs, a plurality of first sipes is formed in each edge portion of center ribs, intermediate ribs, and shoulder ribs, a plurality of first narrow grooves is formed in each of the center ribs and the intermediate ribs so as to form a connection between the main grooves, a plurality of second narrow grooves is formed in each of the center ribs and the intermediate ribs so as to connect the first narrow grooves, an interval Pg1 of the first narrow groove is from 20 mm to 60 mm, and an interval Ps1 of the first sipe is from 15% to 45% of the interval Pg1 of the first narrow groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Takanori Itou
  • Patent number: 10464376
    Abstract: On a tread portion, a plurality of blocks are formed by a plurality of main grooves annularly continuously extending in a tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of transverse grooves extending in a tire width direction, intersecting these main grooves. Each block has projections on side surfaces, which form each transverse groove, at corner regions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Fujioka
  • Patent number: 10449808
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire, a tread rubber includes a vehicle inner side region, a vehicle outer side region, first stereoscopic sipes, and second stereoscopic sipes. The first stereoscopic sipe has a sipe wall surface of a shape bent in a sipe width direction as viewed in cross section perpendicular to a sipe length direction, the first stereoscopic sipe having a fixed sipe width over a sipe depth direction. The second stereoscopic sipe has large width portions having a sipe width wider than a sipe width of the second stereoscopic sipe on a surface of the tread rubber in the inside of the tread rubber. Rubber hardness of the tread rubber in the vehicle outer side region is larger than rubber hardness of the tread rubber in the vehicle inner side region. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance dry steering stability performance while suppressing lowering of ice braking performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Aya Satoi
  • Patent number: 10442249
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes: a tread portion; grooves formed on the tread portion; and land portions defined by the grooves, wherein each of the land portions includes: a pair of side walls which opposedly face each other with the groove sandwiched therebetween; a first projecting ridge formed on one of the pair of side walls; and a second projecting ridge formed on the other side wall, the first projecting ridge and the second projecting ridge extend along the groove, at least one of the first projecting ridge and the second projecting ridge is inclined such that a position of the projecting ridge in a groove depth direction changes along the groove, and the first projecting ridge intersects with the second projecting ridge as viewed in a width direction of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi Kaji
  • Patent number: 10427468
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire, in which a sub-groove 31 extending in a tire circumferential direction is provided on a shoulder land portion inside a width direction center of the shoulder land in a tire width direction, and the shoulder land portion is divided into an inner portion 34 inside the sub-groove 31 in the tire width direction and an outer portion 35 outside the sub-groove 31 in the tire width direction, the shoulder land portion protrudes to the outside of a tire reference profile line L in a normal direction of the tire reference profile line on a cross-section in the tire width direction and a protrusion height H2 at an sub-groove 31 side end of the outer portion 35 is higher than a protrusion height H1 at a sub-groove 31 side end of the inner portion 34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Soichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10427372
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizing die comprises a tread molding surface; a sipe blade extending along the tread molding surface; and a cast projecting region extending along the tread molding surface from an end of the sipe blade; wherein width of the cast projecting region is greater than width of the sipe blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Toyo Tire Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Kamada
  • Patent number: 10414212
    Abstract: The aspects disclosed herein relate to a tread for a tire including at least one block of rubbery material of width W and length L with L»W. This block extends in a circumferential direction (X) when the tread is mounted on the tire, the block including a contact surface intended to come into contact with the ground and a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall delimiting this contact surface. The block further includes a plurality of sipes opening onto the contact surface of the block, with each sipe extending over the contact surface in an oblique direction opening onto the first lateral wall and onto the second lateral wall, the sipes of the block being oriented in the same direction. The sipes are distributed over the contact surface of the block in such a way that when one sipe reaches the second lateral wall another sipe starts out from the first lateral wall at the same circumferential level (N) on the block, and each sipe includes at least two parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche Et Technique, S.A.
    Inventors: Matthieu Bonnamour, Benoit Durand-Gasselin, Serge Lefebvre, Mathieu Vandaele, Kazutaka Yokokawa