Protrusion Bridging Between Walls (e.g., Tie Bar, Etc.) Patents (Class 152/209.22)
  • Patent number: 8469069
    Abstract: A tread 1 having a tread surface 3 onto which there opens at least one cavity 2, this cavity being bounded by a cavity wall 20 comprising a bottom wall 21 extended by a side wall 22 intersecting the tread surface to form at least one edge corner 31, this tread being, over at least part of the wall of the cavity 2, provided with a plurality of supporting strands 4, each supporting strand 4 comprising two ends of which one end 41 is attached to the cavity wall 20, this tread being characterized in that the supporting strands 4 each comprise at least one branching formed by the attachment of at least one branching strand 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Masashi Igarashi, Masayuki Maesaka, Ludovic Greverie, Salvatore Pagano
  • Patent number: 8453689
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic tire, in which a light is prevented from occurring on a wear indicator itself, edge portions and surfaces of a land portion located in the vicinity of the wear indicator, as well as a tire vulcanizing die therefor. In order to achieve the object, the main groove of the pneumatic tire includes on a groove bottom a wear indicator protruding by a predetermined height and in wall portions of the main groove located at both sides of the wear indicator as viewed in a width direction of the groove, at least one of the wall portions of the main groove is formed with at least one concave portion opening to a tread surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshikazu Yasunaga
  • Publication number: 20130098519
    Abstract: A heavy duty tire includes a tread portion with a pair of circumferentially extending crown main grooves and a pair of circumferentially extending shoulder main grooves to form a crown land portion, a pair of middle land portions and a pair of shoulder land portions, wherein crown main grooves have groove widths of 2-5% of a tread half width, shoulder main grooves have groove widths of 6-9% of the tread half width, crown lateral grooves are provided on the crown land portion to form a plurality of crown blocks, middle lateral grooves are provided on middle land portions, shoulder lateral grooves are provided on shoulder land portions, crown and middle lateral grooves have groove widths of 0.4-2.0 mm, and shoulder lateral grooves have groove widths of 6-9% of the tread half width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Atsushi MAEHARA
  • Patent number: 8413695
    Abstract: A heavy duty tire comprises a tread portion provided with a center rib, shoulder ribs and middle ribs therebetween. The middle ribs are provided with closed-end sipes. The sipe comprises: an axially inner segment and axially outer segment inclined at an angle of from 30 to 60 degrees with respect to the tire circumferential direction; and a middle segment therebetween inclined in a direction crosswise to the axially inner and outer segments. The angle ?1 between the axially inner segment and middle segment is from 90 to 110 degrees. The angle ?2 between the axially outer segment and middle segment is from 90 to 110 degrees. The axial length SW of the closed-end sipe measured from the axially inner end to the axially outer end thereof is from 0.50 to 0.90 times the axial width LW of the middle rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Keizo Shibano
  • Publication number: 20130061993
    Abstract: A vehicle tire tread includes a circumferential spaced apart array of discrete tie-bar block elements within a circumferential tread groove, each tie-bar block element having a circumferentially oriented bisecting cut dividing the tie bar into opposed tie-bar components. The opposed tie-bar components operatively flex and converge axially when present within a rolling tire footprint to close the radially outward cut segment and resume a nominal separation dimension when outside a rolling tire footprint. The bisecting cut within each tie-bar block element further forms at a radially inward end a large diameter fluid conducting channel extending through the tie-bar block element to allow the passage of fluid along the circumferential groove, unobstructed by the array of tie-bar block elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Vincent Benoit Mathonet, Philippe Joseph Auguste Muller, Laurent Luigi Domenico Colantonio
  • Patent number: 8382135
    Abstract: An unmotorized sand-rideable bicycle utilizes oversized balloon tires that have an enlarged footprint to permit the bicycle to ride up over even loose sand to provide ease of pedaling as well as enhanced steering and stability over that associated with standard bicycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Inventors: William J Raike, III, Gene Langmesser
  • Patent number: 8381782
    Abstract: It aims to provide a heavy duty pneumatic tire with block patterns and capable of improving deflected wear resisting performances without sacrificing wet grip performances or on-snow performances and that can particularly be favorably used for all seasons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Takahashi, Satoshi Tsuda
  • Patent number: 8371349
    Abstract: The tread band of a tire has two circumferential portions, a central one and an inner intermediate one, respectively, that are subdivided into center and intermediate blocks respectively; an inner-shoulder circumferential portion has first and second inner-shoulder cuts, axially offset from each other and distributed in an alternated sequence, to confine a continuous inner-shoulder rest surface with an undulated course; and an outer intermediate circumferential portion has first and second intermediate cuts, and an outer-shoulder circumferential portion has first and second outer-shoulder cuts. The first and second intermediate cuts and the outer-shoulder cuts, respectively, mutually converge at an angle of about 20° and are axially offset from each other and circumferentially distributed in an alternated sequence, to delimit continuous rest surfaces, an intermediate and outer-shoulder surface respectively, with an undulated course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Stefano Montesello, Roberto Sangalli, Nevio Zani
  • Patent number: 8336590
    Abstract: It aims to provide a heavy duty pneumatic tire with block patterns and capable of improving deflected wear resisting performances without sacrificing wet grip performances or on-snow performances and that can particularly be favorably used for all seasons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Takahashi, Satoshi Tsuda
  • Patent number: 8322388
    Abstract: A tire having a tread wherein a first shoulder region includes a plurality of shoulder blocks that are circumferentially separated by shoulder transverse grooves. A central region includes a plurality of substantially transverse grooves extending from a first circumferential groove toward the equatorial plane, wherein two circumferentially consecutive substantially transverse grooves delimit a central area. The central area includes a first central block; a second central block having one side forming a part of the wall of the first circumferential groove; and a third central block circumferentially shifted with respect to the first central block and positioned at a distance from the first circumferential groove, the third central block being separated from the second central block by a central transverse groove which is inclined with respect to the equatorial plane. The substantially transverse grooves have respective end portions at a distance from the equatorial plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Maurizio Boiocchi, Vito Bello, Giuseppe Matrascia, Stephen Rowe
  • Patent number: 8302644
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a rib sectionalized by main grooves extending along a tire circumferential direction in a center portion of a tread surface. Depressions are arranged in series in a center portion in a width direction of the rib so as to leave a space in the tire circumferential direction. The depressions extend in the tire circumferential direction and become wider from both end portions in a longitudinal direction toward a center portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8281828
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire capable of providing improved lateral sliding resistance on snow, improved traction on snow, and improved uneven-wear resistance. The provided tire includes: at least one circumferential main groove formed in a tread portion and extending in the tire-circumferential direction; and plural columns of land areas defined in the tread portion by the circumferential main groove. Plural lug grooves and plural sipes are formed in at least one of the plural land-area columns. Each of the lug grooves extends in the tire-width direction. At least one end of each lug groove is formed as a dead end located in the corresponding land area. Each of the sipes extends so as to surround the corresponding lug groove. Each sipe intersects with the lug groove in question, and is communicatively connected to the corresponding single one of the circumferential main grooves at the two ends of the sipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kohtaro Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20120247632
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a shoulder land zone provided with lateral grooves arranged at variable pitches in the tire circumferential direction and extending at an angle of not more than 30 degrees with respect to the tire axial direction. The domains defined between the shoulder lateral grooves include a smallest domain having the smallest circumferential length and a largest domain having the largest circumferential length. The domains are each provided with at least one sipe extending at an angle of not more than 30 degrees with respect to the tire axial direction. The number of the sipe(s) in the smallest domain is less than the number of the sipes in the largest domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventor: Koji HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20120241061
    Abstract: A heavy duty pneumatic tire is provided in the tread portion with six land portions (crown, middle and shoulder) divided axially by five main grooves. Each land portion is divided into blocks by axial grooves (crown, middle and shoulder). Each axial groove is provided with a tie bar. The tie bar in the shoulder axial groove is largest in the protruding height. The maximum widths Wcr, Wmi and Wsh of the crown, middle and shoulder land portions satisfy; 0.9=<Wmi/Wcr=<0.98 and 1.1=<Wsh/Wcr=<1.22.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Atsushi MAEHARA
  • Patent number: 8272415
    Abstract: A heavy duty tire (1) comprising at least three rib-like land portions (7) with a block row where blocks (6) defined by circumferential main grooves (3) extending in the circumferential direction and lateral grooves (5) are arranged in the circumferential direction, wherein the lateral grooves (5) are provided, in their bottoms (S), with a sipe-forming region (Sy) having a sipe (20) which extends along the groove center line and has a width of 0.5 to 2.0 mm, and wherein the depth (DY) in the sipe-forming region (Sy) of the lateral grooves (5) is from 0.5 to 0.75 times the depth (H) of the circumferential main grooves (3), and the depth (DS) of the sipe (20) is from 0.75 to 1.0 times the depth (H) of the circumferential main grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuniaki Itou
  • Patent number: 8261791
    Abstract: Provided is a low profile pneumatic tire for an SUV, which is capable of having its enhanced rut performance with its dry and wet performances being reconciled with each other. The pneumatic tire according to the present invention has a nominal width of not less than 255, an outside diameter of not less than 720 mm, and an aspect ratio of not more than 55%. The pneumatic tire has a designated direction of sides thereof for mounting the tire on a vehicle. In its tread portion, the pneumatic tire includes five main grooves extending in the tire's circumferential direction, and six land portions defined by the five main grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kojima
  • Patent number: 8230890
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided for enhancing its driving stability and braking performance on particular road surfaces. The pneumatic tire is provided with five main grooves, first and second lateral grooves, and first and second blocks. The five main grooves include a single first main groove, two second main grooves, and two third main grooves. The single first main groove is disposed on a tire equator. The first main groove is made of a see-through groove extending in the tire circumferential direction. The two second main grooves are disposed on two sides of the first main groove in the tire width direction. The first and the second lateral grooves are extending in the tire width direction. The first and the second blocks are formed in a center area of the tread surface between the two third main grooves. A sub-groove is disposed in each first block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8225832
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes on a tread a plurality of circumferential main grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of land portions formed by being partitioned by the circumferential main grooves. A protrusion is formed on a groove bottom of at least one of the circumferential main grooves. The protrusion continuously extends in a groove-length direction of the circumferential main groove, and a height h1 of the protrusion varies in a wavelike form along the groove-length direction. Moreover, junctions each of which couples the protrusion onto at least one of groove walls of the circumferential main groove are formed on the groove bottom of the circumferential main groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayuki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20120160385
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire tread includes center lateral grooves inclined to the reverse direction of the belt cords of the outermost belt ply of the belt, a groove width Wyc of the center lateral grooves being from 1.0 to 6.0 mm, shoulder lateral grooves being inclined to the same direction of the belt cords of the outermost belt ply, the shoulder lateral grooves having a narrow-width portion having a groove width Wys1 of from 0.4 to 1.5 mm at a position where it connects to a shoulder circumferential main groove, and a wide-width portion having a groove width Wys2 of from 2.0 to 8.0 mm which is connected to the narrow-width portion and extends beyond the tread ground-contact edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventor: Susumu TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20120145295
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion divided into a crown land region, two middle land regions and two shoulder land regions. The crown land region and middle land regions are each divided into triangular blocks by axial grooves arranged in a zigzag fashion. The shoulder land regions are each divided into shoulder blocks by axial grooves extending at an angle of not less than 70 degrees. The shoulder block is subdivided into an axially inner part and an axially outer part by a secondary groove extending at an angle of not more than 10 degrees. The outer part is provided with sipes extending at an angle of not less than 70 degrees, each angle with respect the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: Hiroshi YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20120080130
    Abstract: A tire tread region has a first block element and a second adjacent block element e spaced apart by a groove and a reinforcement bar is situated within the groove. The reinforcement bar extends between the first and second adjacent blocks at a prescribed inclination angle from a deeper surface end within the groove to a radially more shallow opposite surface end. The inclined surface includes a radially outwardly facing concave surface portion at the radially inward, deeper, inclined surface end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventor: Daniel Scheuren
  • Publication number: 20110259494
    Abstract: A heavy duty tire comprises a tread portion provided with a central circumferential groove, a crown circumferential groove on each side thereof and crown axial grooves extending therebetween so as to for crown blocks. The crown block is circumferentially subdivides into two block pieces by a crown narrow groove. The crown axial groove is provided in the groove bottom with a tie bar rising therefrom and connecting the circumferentially adjacent two crown blocks each other. The crown axial grooves are inclined at an angle ? of from 10 to 30 degrees with respect to the tire axial direction. The central circumferential groove and an axially inner part of the crown axial groove which part is axially inside the tie bar, are shallower than the crown circumferential groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Keizo SHIBANO
  • Patent number: 8042584
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided in the tread portion (2) with a circumferential groove (3, 3b, 3c) extending continuously in the tire circumferential direction and having a pair of oppositely opposed groove walls (6). The circumferential groove (3, 3b, 3c) is provided in at least one of the groove walls (6) with radial grooves (9) arranged along the longitudinal direction of the circumferential groove (3). The radially outer end (9o) of the radial groove (9) is positioned in a range (a1) of from 0 to 20% of the depth (GDt) of the circumferential groove. The radially inner end (9i) of the radial groove (9) is positioned in a range (a2) of from 80 to 100% of the depth (GDt) of the circumferential groove. The radial groove has an opening width (g) of not less than 1.0 mm, but not more than 6.0 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shingo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8002005
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire including a plurality of grooves which extend at least in the circumferential direction, and which are formed in a tread portion and sipes which are formed in a plurality of blocks formed by the grooves. In the pneumatic tire, the groove width of the sipe formed in each of the blocks constituting a center region of the tread portion is greater than the groove width of the sipe formed in each of the blocks constituting edge regions of the tread portion. At least the sipes formed in the blocks constituting the center region are three-dimensional sipes each having a zigzag shape extending in the width, circumferential and radial directions of the tire. Each of the three-dimensional sipes is provided with, on the inner side thereof in the tire radial direction, at least one cutout which has a length, in the tire radial direction, of 50 to 90% of the length of the three-dimensional sipe in the tire radial direction, and which has a length, in the tire width direction, of 1 to 5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Sakamaki
  • Patent number: 7992608
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire where the positions of the groove deepest portions (33btm) in the circumferential grooves (33) vary in a predetermined cycle along the circumferential direction in a width direction of the tread within the circumferential grooves (33). Moreover, depth direction positions, where a groove bottom surface of the circumferential groove (33) contacts with each of perpendicular lines (perpendicular line P1, perpendicular line P2) which are perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to a tread surface and which pass respectively through edges (edge portion 11eg, edge portion 12eg) of the land portions on a side of each of the circumferential grooves of ribs, as well as angles which are formed by the perpendicular lines and a section line of a cross-section of the groove bottom surface in the width direction of the tread surface vary in the predetermined cycle along the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Arata Tomita
  • Patent number: 7980281
    Abstract: A groove bottom of a circumferential groove formed in a tread surface is provided with a protruding stripe extending along an extending direction of the circumferential groove. The protruding stripe is provided with a top head portion protruding toward a tire outer circumferential side, and a base portion which is narrower than the top head portion and connects the top head portion and the groove bottom. If a small stone is pinched, the top head portion is inclined around the base portion, and the protruding stripe is deflected as a whole, thereby generating a reaction force on the basis of a deformation restoring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 7975738
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire which employs pitch variation for suppressing pattern noise and has uniformity further improved. Pitches 3a, 3b and 3c with different pitch lengths are formed so that a pitch with a larger pitch length is set to have a smaller groove area ratio, and to have a larger groove wall angle ? on the obtuse angle side that is formed by a groove wall of a lateral groove 2 and the direction tangential to the thread surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukihiko Ohki
  • Patent number: 7954527
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire provided with a tread pattern on which a plurality of blocks are formed with circumferential grooves which extend along a circumferential direction of the tire and lateral grooves which traverse the circumferential grooves, wherein the lateral groove disposed between the blocks on the endmost tread edge region has a depth from 10 to 50% of a depth of the circumferential groove to be traversed and has a groove bottom concave portion whose both ends in a longitudinal direction are disposed inside the groove bottom, and a width of the groove bottom concave portion, which is determined on the basis of the bottom plane of the groove bottom, is from 25 to 45% of a groove width of the lateral groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 7942177
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire that has a directional tread pattern and includes: a rib-shaped first land area extending in the tire-circumferential direction in a center section of a tread portion; paired first main grooves being adjacent respectively to the two sides of the first land area; paired second land areas being adjacent respectively to the outer sides of the first main grooves; paired second main grooves being adjacent respectively to the outer sides of the second land areas; paired third land areas being adjacent respectively to the outer sides of the second main grooves; a fine groove extending at the center of the first land area; plural lug grooves formed in the first land area; and plural sipes formed in the first land area. Each lug groove intersects with a corresponding sipe. An end of the lug groove formed in the first land area is formed as a dead end between the fine groove and a corresponding first main groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daichi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110079333
    Abstract: A tire tread includes at least one tread element and a treadwear indicator. The tread element projects from a base of the tire tread. The tread element has a radially outermost surface for contacting a road surface. The treadwear indicator includes a first step and a second step radially offset from the first step. The first step has a first surface disposed radially inward of the outermost surface of the tread element. The second step is disposed radially inward of the outermost surface of the tread element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Jacques Collette, Daniel Scheuren, Gregory William Camarato, Qingye Yin, Jacques Rene Smeets
  • Patent number: 7882875
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having shoulder blocks defined on a shoulder side of the tread surface by lateral grooves extending in the widthwise direction of the tire beyond a ground contact end of the tire, the shoulder blocks being arranged in the circumferential direction of the tire. A bottom-raising portion is provided only on a bottom of every other lateral groove of the lateral grooves. Two shoulder blocks adjacent in the circumferential direction of the tire are connected by the first bottom-raising portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaharu Sekoguchi, Shinichi Mori
  • Patent number: 7874333
    Abstract: A tread (1) comprising a plurality of grooves of longitudinal and transverse general orientation (2b, 2c, 31, 32), the grooves of longitudinal orientation comprising main grooves (2b, 2c) of depth G and secondary grooves (31, 32) of depth G? less than the depth G of the main grooves, the central part (C) of the tread, defined axially by two grooves of longitudinal orientation, and of a width of between 0.25 and 0.5 times the width W of the tread, being provided with at least one main groove (2c) of longitudinal orientation and of average depth G. The depth G? of the secondary grooves (31, 32) is between 0.4 and 0.6 times the depth G of the main grooves (2b, 2c). The transverse grooves (5c) of the ribs of the central part (C) comprise over at most half of their length a connecting bridge (6c), the surface radially to the outside of which is at a distance Hc from the running surface of between 0.4 and 0.8 times the depth G of the main grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Renaud Durand
  • Patent number: 7849895
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pneumatic tire which can obtain a high wet drainage performance, roadholding ability, and wear-resistant property without sacrificing other capabilities A directional pattern is formed by a circumferential wide major groove, a first narrow circumferential minor groove, a second narrow circumferential minor groove, a first transverse groove, a second transverse groove, and a third transverse groove. The circumferential wide major groove is provided in a center region in a tire width direction of a tread. The first narrow circumferential minor groove is arranged on the outside in a tire axis direction of the circumferential wide major groove. The second narrow circumferential minor groove is arranged on the outside in the tire axis direction of the first narrow circumferential minor groove. The first transverse groove is extended from a tread end and coupled to the circumferential wide major groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7836926
    Abstract: A circumferential sipe extends continuously in the circumferential direction of the tire in the center region of the tread surface section of a rib defined between circumferential grooves. Widthwise sipes are disposed at prescribed intervals in the circumferential direction of the tire in the tread surface section, the widthwise sipes extending in the widthwise direction of the tire in crossing relationship to the circumferential sipe, the widthwise sipes each having opposing terminal ends open to the circumferential grooves. The circumferential sipe changes in depth periodically in such a manner that the circumferential sipe is shallow between adjacent widthwise sipes. The widthwise sipes changes in depth in such a manner that they are greater in depth in the center region and end regions of the tread surface section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7784509
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with axial grooves opened at a tread edge and a circumferential groove adjacent to the tread edge, wherein each of the axial grooves is provided between the circumferential groove and tread edge with a thin partition wall to prevent noise sound emission without deteriorating wet performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Tamura
  • Patent number: 7726369
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with at least two circumferential grooves and lateral grooves extending from the circumferential grooves so as to form blocks which are circumferentially divided by the lateral grooves and arranged in at least three circumferential rows axially divided by said at least two circumferential grooves. Each of the lateral grooves is provided with a tie-bar rising from the groove bottom to a certain height as to connect the opposite groove walls with each other. The tie-bars in the lateral grooves extend towards the adjacent circumferential grooves but terminate before the circumferential grooves so as to provide certain distances therebetween, and the distances are gradually decreased from the axially outside to the axially inside of the tread portion. The inclination angles of the lateral grooves are gradually decreased from the axially outside to the axially inside of the tread portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuniaki Ito
  • Publication number: 20100084063
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire, a difference Gs-Ge falls in a range of Gs-Ge?0.10, where Gs is a groove area ratio for a wear rate 0% and Ge is a groove area ratio for a wear rate 100%. Further, a groove area ratio G for a wear rate 20% falls in a range of (Gs-G)/(Gs-Ge)?0.30, and a groove area ratio G for a wear rate 35% falls in a range of (Gs-G)/(Gs-Ge)?0.50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouichi Koutoku
  • Patent number: 7673663
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with a nonlinear rib having an amplitude having a center in the tire axial direction. In a normally loaded condition of the tire, the tread portion has an outside tread edge and an inside tread edge when the camber angle of the tire is 0 degrees. In the normally loaded condition, when the a camber angle of 4 degrees is given to the tire to inline towards the outside tread edge, a foot print shape of the tire has a maximum circumferential length at an axial position MC which is off the tire equator towards the outside tread edge. The nonlinear rib is positioned off the tire equator towards the outside tread edge such that the axial position MC lies within the amplitude of the nonlinear rib, and one of the edges of the nonlinear rib on the outside tread edge side is chamfered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehiko Murata
  • Patent number: 7647958
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a rotation direction specified in one direction. The tread surface has a main groove extending on the equatorial plane of the tire, right and left first inclination grooves extending in an inclined manner from the main groove toward the reverse rotation direction of the tire, and right and left second inclination grooves disposed on the opposite sides of the main groove. The right and left second inclination grooves are disposed at symmetrical positions with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire. Blocks are formed on the opposite sides of the main groove by the main groove, right and left first inclination grooves and right and left second inclination grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaharu Sekoguchi, Shinichi Mori
  • Patent number: 7637296
    Abstract: A pneumatic drive tire for tracked vehicles is provided having an outer tread surface divided into two zones. The first tread zone has a plurality of lugs and grooves, the grooves may extend across the entire first zone creating soil discharge channels. The soil discharge channels preferably extend into the shoulder. The tire has a second tread zone with no lugs or grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Mark Leonard Bonko, Carl Kenneth Safreed, Jr., Paul John Peterson
  • Patent number: 7562683
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a pneumatic tire capable of securing rigidity of a tip end of a block, and effectively preventing deviated wear of a tread surface. In a tread surface of a pneumatic tire formed with a block 30 having a tip end 31 which is tapered as viewed from above, and a block 20 having a sidewall surface 25 opposed to a sidewall surface 32 of the block 30, the tip end 31 of the block 30 is provided with a taper cut portion 33 whose land portion height is gradually reduced toward its tip end side, and a bridge portion 34 which is connected to the sidewall surface 25 of the block 20 at a substantially constant land portion height from the tip end of the taper cut portion 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuji Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7537033
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire which positively discharges water having flowed into a groove extending in the tire circumferential direction and enhances capability of preventing hydroplaning. The groove is provided in the tread face of the tire and extends in the tire circumferential direction. The wall face of the groove is provided with line portions composed of a plurality of ridges or recesses that are inclined in one direction with respect to the groove longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Yamane
  • Patent number: 7490645
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire which includes a tie bar in a lateral groove disposed in a block array, the tie bar connecting adjacent blocks in a circumferential direction through the lateral groove. The tie bar is formed with a sipeing having a zigzag portion, the zigzag portion extending in a zigzag manner in a direction of a groove centerline of the lateral groove. The sipeing is a three-dimensional sipeing in which a sipeing wall surface is repeatedly recessed and projected, three-dimensionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Shinmura, Hideaki Sugihara
  • Patent number: 7484542
    Abstract: A tire tread has at least three rows of tread elements, each tread element in the at rows has at least one sipe and at least one sipe in each tread element row has a tie bar therein. Each tie bar in the sipes has a volume, and the volume of the sipe tie bar in each tread element in each row is not more than 10% different than the volume of the sipe tie bar in each tread element in any other tread row. Several of the tread rows have transverse grooves having groove tie bars therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Karl Eric Sundkvist, Eddy Dong-Rong Pan, Tooney Raymond Jones, David Allen Griffin, John Russell Shaffer, Charles Kenneth Schmalix, Keith Eric Grabo
  • Patent number: 7461677
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire suitable for competitive sports has a specified tread pattern comprising a central region and both shoulder regions, in which a plurality of bell-shaped wide-width main grooves each extended substantially bell-shapedly into both sides approximately centering on an equator of the tire are disposed in the tread at a given interval in the circumferential direction of the tire wherein the bell-shaped wide-width main groove has specified inclination angles in the central region and the shoulder region and specified groove width and groove depth, and a width of a connecting land portion at a position coming the bells-shaped wide-width main grooves closest to each other is not less than 1.5 mm, and the tire has a given negative ratio at the central region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Youji Noguchi, Akira Yagi
  • Patent number: 7434606
    Abstract: A tread surface 2 is divided by inner and outer longitudinal grooves 3a and 3b located on opposite sides of the tire equator into a central land portion 4i, intermediate land portions 4m and shoulder land portions 4o. The intermediate land portion 4i includes an inclined grooves 9 having an angle ? with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire, and the angle is increased from an inner end (mi) away from the inner longitudinal grooves 3a by a small distance La to an outer end (mo) where the intermediate land portion intersects with the outer longitudinal grooves 3b. An angle ?i in the inner end (mi) is 0 to 25°, and an angle ?o in the outer end (mo) is 60 to 80°. A pitch P1 of the inclined grooves 9 in the circumferential direction is greater than a pitch P2 of lug grooves 5 provided in the shoulder land portion 4o in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Saburo Miyabe, Tadao Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7422043
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided, where the rigidity of the blocks formed on the tread surface is increased and an increase in the level of noise when the tread surface is worn can be prevented. In a pneumatic tire where a number of blocks which are separated by a number of grooves are formed on tread surface, these grooves comprise main grooves that extend along the direction around the tire, or across the direction around the tire, sub-grooves that extend so as to connect to these main grooves, a pair of first raised bottom portions formed in the vicinity of the two ends of each portion of sub-groove which separates blocks, and at least one second raised bottom portion that is formed between each pair of the first raised bottom portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuji Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7380577
    Abstract: A tread of rubber mix provided with a tread pattern formed by a plurality of elements in relief (1) defining grooves or incisions, this tread furthermore comprising at least one inserted element (3) arranged in a groove between two neighboring elements in relief, this inserted element having a contact face (31) intended to be in contact with the roadway and offset towards the inside of the tread relative to the contact faces of the neighboring elements, this inserted element (3) having lateral faces, some of said faces being provided with a plurality of connecting reliefs (6) of rubber mix making the inserted element (3) and at least one neighboring element (1) integral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: José Merino Lopez
  • Publication number: 20080066841
    Abstract: A tire tread (1) includes tie bars (13,14,15,16) in its secondary grooves (9,10,11,12). These tie bars (13,14,15,16) are rounded and taper off on their sides so that the contour of such a tie bar (13,14,15,16) in cross-section along a groove (9,10,11,12) constitutes a continuous curve without edges or straight lines. The profile of the tie bar (13) is essentially a circle segment with sides leveling off toward the bottom of the groove (12). This design allows a gradual change in block stiffness unlike conventional tie bars, which only provide a sudden drop-off in block stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventor: Daniel Stephen Mathews
  • Patent number: 7341082
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire with a shoulder rib and lateral grooves defined in a shoulder rib. A tread and shoulder of the tire are joined along a shoulder edge. The tread includes a circumferential groove defining the shoulder rib, which is adjacent to the tire's shoulder. The lateral grooves, which intersect the shoulder edge, extend laterally across the shoulder rib, but do not intersect the circumferential groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Olivier de Barsy