Having Continuous Circumferential Narrow Width Groove (i.e., Less Than 5mm.) Patents (Class 152/209.27)
  • Patent number: 12083830
    Abstract: A tire includes a tread portion including a first land region defined by main grooves. The first land region includes a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, and a ground contacting surface defined between the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge. The first land region is provided with two first grooves and a second groove. Each of the first grooves extends so as to connect the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge. The second groove extends so as to connect the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge while intersecting with each of the two first grooves. The second groove is not connected with other grooves than the first grooves in the ground contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koki Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 12054009
    Abstract: A tread block arrangement is for a tire or for a tread band for a tire. The tread block arrangement includes a tread block having at least a first sipe delimited by a first sipe wall, a second sipe wall and a bottom of the sipe. The first sipe wall and the second sipe wall are arranged parallel to each other and define a width (w) of the sipe. At least the first sipe wall has at least one inclined section in which a width of a surface of the first sipe wall in a longitudinal direction of the sipe and the width of the sipe increases towards the bottom of the sipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: NOKIAN RENKAAT OYJ
    Inventor: Mikko Jokinen
  • Patent number: 12030346
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes circumferential main grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction and arranged side by side in the tire width direction and a land portion defined by the circumferential main grooves. The land portion includes notch portions extending in the tire width direction and connected to the circumferential main grooves and shallow groove portions connected to the notch portions, respectively, and terminating in the land portion. The height of the notch portions decreases continuously toward the circumferential main grooves connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Shun Sato
  • Patent number: 12017483
    Abstract: A tread (12) for a heavy truck tire is provided that has a bottom surface (14), a shoulder rib (16), and a sacrificial rib (20) located outboard from the shoulder rib (16) in a width direction. A decoupling void (30) is located between the shoulder rib (16) and the sacrificial rib (20). A decoupling void sipe (32) is in the shoulder rib (16) and opens at the shoulder rib upper surface (18) and at the decoupling void (30). The decoupling void sipe (32) extends in the thickness direction and is closer to the bottom surface (14) than the decoupling void (30) in the thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Stefan Voss, Brian P. Gannon, Victor Abarotin, David C. Lung
  • Patent number: 11975570
    Abstract: A tire includes a pair of shoulder main grooves and one or more center main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction and four or more rows of land portions defined by the pair of shoulder main grooves and the one or more center main grooves. Each of the pair of shoulder main grooves includes a groove opening portion having a wave-like shape with an amplitude in a tire width direction. Each of the pair of shoulder main grooves includes a groove bottom portion having a zigzag shape with an amplitude in the tire width direction. The groove opening portion in each of the pair of shoulder main grooves has an amplitude A1_sh having a relationship A1_sh<A2_sh with respect to an amplitude A2_sh of the groove bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahide Ishizaka, Hiroto Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11772426
    Abstract: A heavy-duty tire comprises a tread reinforcing belt comprising first to fourth belt plies each composed of belt cords inclined with respect to the tire equatorial plane. The first radial distance L1 between the belt cords of the third belt ply and the belt cords of the fourth belt ply is not more than the second radial distance L2 between the belt cords of the second belt ply and the belt cords of the third belt ply. The cord count E4 of the fourth belt ply is smaller than the cord count E3 of the third belt ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Yoshino
  • Patent number: 11752804
    Abstract: There is provided a pneumatic tire with a reinforcing part which is mounted on a tire wheel, the pneumatic tire including: a tread having a groove that is formed in a circumferential direction of the tire wheel as being recessed toward a central axis of the tire wheel, a kerf that is formed to intersect the groove as being recessed toward the central axis of the tire wheel, and one or more blocks that are formed between the groove and the kerf and come into contact with a road surface; a shoulder formed at a side of the tread; and a reinforcing part inserted into the groove formed between the one or more blocks. The reinforcing part reduces noise produced due to contact with the road surface by being bent one or more times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: HANKOOK TIRE & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Joo Bae Park, Il Sik Kim, Seung Hwan Rhee
  • Patent number: 11667155
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire for heavy duty having an aspect ratio of 65% or less includes a carcass and a belt layer. A tread portion includes circumferential grooves. The circumferential grooves include a pair of shoulder circumferential grooves and a crown circumferential groove. The crown circumferential groove 11 is a narrow groove and each of the shoulder circumferential grooves is a wide groove. The belt layer includes metal belt cords inclined with respect to a tire circumferential direction. The belt layer has outer ends each positioned outside a respective one of the shoulder circumferential grooves in a tire axial direction. A belt half width is 55% or more and 85% or less of a carcass half width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Qingmao Li
  • Patent number: 11654720
    Abstract: A tire comprises a tread portion whose shoulder land part is provided with a narrow circumferential groove having an axially inner wall surface, an axially outer wall surface and a groove bottom including a deepest point. The axially inner wall surface has a radially inner curved portion concaved toward the axially inside, and the axially outer wall surface has a radially inner curved portion concaved toward the axially outside. the radially outer end of the radially inner curved portion of the axially inner wall surface is positioned radially inside the radially outer end of the radially inner curved portion of the axially outer wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11548323
    Abstract: Steering stability performance on dry road surfaces and steering stability performance on wet road surfaces are improved. A land portion width Wcc of a center land portion (31) and a land portion width Wco of an outer side middle land portion (32) satisfy a relationship of Wcc<Wco. In addition, a ground contact surface (10) of each of the outer side middle land portion (32) and an outer side shoulder land portion (34) is formed to protrude toward an outer side in a tire radial direction with respect to a reference profile PRco, PRso, and a protruding amount Hco of the outer side middle land portion (32) and a protruding amount Hso of the outer side shoulder land portion (34) satisfy a relationship of Hco<Hso.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryouichi Tomomatsu
  • Patent number: 11498367
    Abstract: A tire has a tread portion 2 including a first land portion 11. The first land portion 11 includes a first circumferential edge 11a, a second circumferential edge 11b, and a tread surface between the first circumferential edge 11a and the second circumferential edge 11b. On the tread surface, a first inclined groove 21 extending from the second circumferential edge 11b to the first circumferential edge 11a side, a second inclined groove 22 extending from the second circumferential edge 11b to the first circumferential edge 11a side so as to be inclined in a direction opposite to that of the first inclined groove 21, and a triangular block 35 demarcated by the first inclined groove 21 and the second inclined groove 22, are formed. A curved groove 15 curved so as to be convex on the second circumferential edge 11b is formed on the triangular block 35.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukako Kobayashi, Yoshifumi Kawagoe
  • Patent number: 11491824
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes lug grooves having alternating first and second groove portions. The first groove portion intersects an equator, extends in a width direction, and communicates with an adjacent second groove portion. The second groove portion inclines from the first groove portion at a smaller angle relative to a circumferential direction smaller than that of the first groove portion and extends to a tread edge on one side. The first groove portion is on a stepping side with respect to an end on the tread edge side. The second groove portions curve or bend and have an average angle in an inner region smaller than that of the second groove portions in an outer region. A maximum length in the width direction of center blocks defined by narrow grooves connecting adjacent second groove portions and the lug grooves is 25%-35% of a development width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Honda
  • Patent number: 11465451
    Abstract: A tyre includes a tread portion including a first land portion having a circumferentially extending first edge and a circumferentially extending second edge on its ground contacting surface. The first land portion is provided with sipes each extending from the first edge to the second edge. The sipes include bent sipes each including two or more sipe elements joined with each other to form a bent portion. The bent sipes include first sipes and second sipes. Each first sipe, as the sipes elements, includes at least one first sipe element inclined in a first direction with respect to a tyre axial direction and at least one second sipe element inclined in a second direction opposite to the first direction with respect to the tyre axial direction. All sipe elements of each second sipe are inclined in the first direction with respect to the tyre axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuzo Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 11433714
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire in the present invention has a narrow groove extending in the tire circumferential direction on a portion closer to a tire equator than a ground contact end, and dividing a shoulder land into a main land close to the tire equator and a sub land close to the ground contact end. An outer sidewall of the narrow groove has: a straight line extending inward in a tire radial direction from an outer circumferential surface of the sub land; a first circular arc smoothly connected to the straight line; and a second circular arc smoothly connected to a groove bottom of the narrow groove. The first circular arc has a center of a circular arc closer to the equator than the outer sidewall. The second circular arc has a center of a circular arc closer to an outside in a tire width direction than the outer sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Harunobu Suita
  • Patent number: 10639938
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a shoulder land portion and a narrow groove in a tread surface. The narrow groove extends in the tire circumferential direction and sections the shoulder land portion into a main land portion and a sub land portion. A first groove portion extends in parallel to the tire equator surface from the tread surface toward an inner side in a tire radial direction. A second groove portion is provided closer to the inner side in the tire radial direction and the tire equator surface side than the first groove portion, and extends in parallel to the tire equator surface. A connection portion is connected to the first groove portion and the second groove portion. A groove bottom portion is provided in an end portion of the second groove portion and has a widened groove width by depressing a groove wall of the second groove portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuji Izuhara
  • Patent number: 10518582
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises: a carcass layer; a belt layer which is positioned to the outer side of the carcass layer in the tire radial direction; and a rubber tread which is positioned on the outer side of the belt layer in the tire radial direction. The belt layer is formed by laminating a pair of intersecting belts having belt angle with absolute values of 10 to 45° and mutually opposite-signed belt angles, and a circumferential reinforcing layer having a belt angle which is within a range of ±5° with respect to the tire circumferential direction. A distance (Gcc) from the tread profile to the tire inner circumferential surface along the tire equatorial plane, and a distance (Gsh) from a tread end to the tire inner circumferential surface have a relationship satisfying 1.10?Gsh/Gcc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Hironori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10471778
    Abstract: To provide a pneumatic tire capable of improving the rolling performance, low noise performance and wear resistance performance while maintaining the wet performance. It is a pneumatic tire (1) provided in the tread portion (2) with a plurality of main grooves (3). The main groove (3) has, in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the groove, a first groove bottom (3A) and a pair of first groove walls (3B, 3B) extending smoothly from the first groove bottom (3A) to the tread surface (S). In the main groove (3), the width (W1) between the first groove walls (3B) is 2.0 to 20.0 mm at a tread surface (S), and the depth (D) from the tread surface (S) to the first groove bottom (3A) is 10.0 mm or more. In the first wall (3B), the ratio (W1/?) of the angle (?) [degree] with respect to a normal direction to the tread surface (S) and the width (W1) [mm] is in a range of 1.0 to 2.0 [mm/degree].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Maehara
  • Patent number: 10363779
    Abstract: A heavy duty pneumatic tire includes a tread portion provided with a plurality of circumferentially extending main grooves and a plurality of land portions separated by the main grooves. The land portions include a shoulder land portion with a tread edge, a first middle land portion adjacent to the shoulder land portion, and a second middle land portion adjacent to the first middle land portion. The shoulder land portion is formed into a circumferentially continuous rib. The first middle land portion is formed into a row of first middle blocks separated by a plurality of first middle lateral grooves. The second middle land portion is formed into a row of second middle blocks separated by a plurality of second middle lateral grooves. Each first middle block has a circumferential length greater than that of each second middle block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Kaori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10202007
    Abstract: To provide a pneumatic tire which is improved in on-snow performance, while maintaining steering stability on dry road surface. The pneumatic tire is provided in a tread portion 2 with a pair of shoulder main grooves 3, a center main groove 4, shoulder land portions 6, and middle land portions 5. The middle land portions 5 are provided with middle lateral grooves 10 extending from the shoulder main grooves 3 toward the inside in the tire axial direction, while gradually decreasing the angle with respect to tire circumferential direction. The middle lateral groove 10 is provided with a groove bottom sipe 15 opened in the groove bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Ryo Oba
  • Patent number: 10179481
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion, carcass, inclined belt, and circumferential belt. The inclined belt is formed by inclined belt layer(s) including cords inclined relative to the tire circumferential direction. A circumferential main groove is provided in the tread portion. The inclined belt includes a high-angle inclined belt layer in which the cords are at an inclination angle of 35° to 90° relative to the tire circumferential direction. In at least one tread half portion, an edge of the high-angle inclined belt layer in the tire width direction is positioned further outward in the tire width direction than the circumferential main groove disposed furthest outward in the tire width direction. The interval in the tire width direction from the edge to the center of the circumferential main groove is 0.2W1 to 0.35W1, where W1 is the width of the high-angle inclined belt layer in the tire width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shintaro Hatanaka, Isao Kuwayama
  • Patent number: 10005322
    Abstract: This pneumatic tire is provided with a center land section demarcated between a pair of center primary grooves extending in a zig-zag shape at a tread section. The center land section is provided with: one center narrow groove extending contiguously in a zig-zag manner in the peripheral direction of the tire at the tire equator; and a plurality of center lug grooves that traverse the center narrow groove from the center primary groove and have a terminus positioned within the center land section. The center lug grooves have: a primary groove section extending from the center primary groove to an apex of the zig-zag of the center narrow groove, and is inclined to one side with respect to the axial direction of the tire; and a sub-groove section extending from an apex of the zig-zag to the terminus and inclined in the reverse direction from the primary groove section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yukishi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9764596
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided in a tread portion 2 with shoulder main grooves 3 and 4 and a center main groove 5 and divided into shoulder land portions 6 and 7 and crown land portions 8 and 9. The total width of the shoulder main grooves 3 and 4 and the center main groove 5 is 24% to 28% of the tread width TW. The crown land portions 8 and 9 are not provided with a groove having a width of not less than 2 mm and extending across the entire width of the crown land portion, but provided with a plurality of crown sipes 10 having a width of less than 2 mm. The crown sipes 10 include first sipes 11 comprising a lateral direction part 11a extending parallel with the tire axial direction and an oblique part 11b inclined with respect to the lateral direction part 11a. The ratio ?Ly/?Ls of the sum ?Ly of the lengths Ly of the lateral direction parts 11a and the sum ?Ls of the lengths Ls of the crown sipes 10 is not more than 0.15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Ryuhei Sanae
  • Patent number: 9616714
    Abstract: A heavy duty pneumatic tire includes a tread portion provided with at least three circumferential main grooves, and a plurality of lateral grooves extending between adjacent main grooves or between one main groove and a tread edge, to form at least one block row comprising a plurality of blocks. The block row comprises a plurality of pitch elements each of which consists of circumferentially adjacent one lateral groove and one block. The tread portion has a land ratio in a range of from 70% to 80%. The block row comprises a number of pitch elements in a range of from 40 to 50, and each lateral groove has a groove width in a range of from 5% to 15% in relation to a circumferential length of the block in each pitch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Taro Okabe
  • Patent number: 9278583
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided on the tread portion (2) with a pair of crown circumferential grooves (3) that extending on either side of the tire equator (C); a pair of shoulder circumferential grooves (4) each extending between the crown circumferential groove (3) and a ground-contacting end (2t); a crown rib (5) extending between the crown circumferential grooves (3); middle ribs (6) each extending between the crown circumferential grooves (3) and the shoulder circumferential grooves (4); and shoulder ribs (7) each extending between the shoulder circumferential groove (4) and the ground-contacting end (2t). The groove volume ratio Rc of the crown rib, which is a ratio of the total volume of the grooves and sipes provided on the crown rib to the rib volume of the crown rib (5), the groove volume ratio Rm of the middle rib (6), and the groove volume ratio Rs of the shoulder rib (7) satisfy the relationship, Rc<=Rm<Rs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Takehiko Murata
  • Patent number: 9254720
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic tire for a construction vehicle capable of suppressing deterioration in heat release property while maintaining high wear resistance especially when used as driving wheels. A central area 20 is provided with a central narrow groove 21 continuously extending along a tire circumferential direction in a zigzag form. Each side area 30 is provided with a side narrow groove 32. A width direction narrow groove 22 is provided The central narrow groove 21, the side narrow grooves 32 and the width direction narrow grooves 22 define plural polygonal block land portions 23 having five or more straight sides in the tread portion 10. The block land portions are lined in the tire circumferential direction to form two block arrays arranged next to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jyunya Asari
  • Patent number: 9073391
    Abstract: Provided is a tire exhibiting both improved partial wear resistance and improved quietness. The tire has block land portion arrays 5 defined on a tread portion 1. Between adjacent two block land portion arrays 5 sandwiching a circumferential groove 2, block land portions 4 constituting the block land portions 5 are arranged so as to be positionally displaced from each other in the tire circumferential direction, and a groove portion 6 between the block land portions adjacent in the tire width direction extends obliquely with respect to the tire width direction and the tire circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Nakamizo, Akiyoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9016338
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire including at least four circumferential main grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction and a plurality of rib-like land portions partitioned by the circumferential main grooves in the tread portion. Additionally, an outer side second land portion includes a zigzag narrow groove having a zigzag shape, extending in the tire circumferential direction, and dividing the outer side second land portion in the tire width direction; and a plurality of first sipes disposed at a predetermined pitch in the tire circumferential direction, extending from an edge portion on the outer side in the tire width direction of the outer side second land portion toward the inner side in the tire width direction, and terminating prior to the zigzag narrow groove, leaving a gap for ventilation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Ishida
  • Patent number: 9010392
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire in which a plurality of land portion rows 2 are formed by a plurality of main grooves that extend in the circumferential direction on a tread portion of a tire, and a thin groove 3 that extends in the tire circumferential direction is formed in at least one shoulder land portion row 2A that is positioned on the tread end among the plurality of land portion rows. A land portion 5 that is positioned between, the thin groove 3 and the tread end 4 is partitioned into a plurality of blocks 5a by a lug groove 6 that extends in the tire width direction and whose maximum groove depth is set deeper than the groove depth of the thin groove, and the groove depth of the lug groove continuously changes so as to become a maximum at an intermediate position between the thin groove and the tread end. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pneumatic radial tire that can achieve improved drainage performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kiwaki
  • Patent number: 9010391
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire, center land portions include a circumferential narrow groove extending in the tire circumferential direction so as to partition the center land portions in a tire width direction; a plurality of lug grooves disposed in each region of each of the center land portions partitioned by the circumferential narrow groove, extending in the tire width direction, so as to partition each of the regions of the center land portions in the tire circumferential direction; and a plurality of blocks partitioned by the circumferential narrow groove and the plurality of lug grooves. Blocks of the center land portions include one open sipe extending in the tire width direction so as to partition the blocks in the tire circumferential direction, and three or more closed sipes disposed in each of the regions of each of the blocks partitioned by the open sipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Hamanaka
  • Patent number: 8991452
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread having a center main groove and a pair of shoulder main grooves, a pair of center portions between the center main groove and the shoulder main grooves, and a pair of shoulder portions between the shoulder main groove and tread edges. Each center portion includes: center lateral grooves extending from the shoulder main groove toward the axially inside of the tire without reaching the center main groove so as to have an axially inner end thereof on the center portion with an angle of 35 to 65 degrees with respect to an axial direction of the tire; center lateral sipes extending from axially inner ends of the center lateral grooves to the center main groove in the same inclination direction as the center lateral groove at an angle of 35 to 65 degrees with respect to an axial direction of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryo Oda
  • Patent number: 8978722
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprising a tread portion, side wall portions, and bead portions. The tread portion of said pneumatic tire includes at least one groove unit including a main groove extending in a tire circumferential direction and an auxiliary groove extending in the tire circumferential direction that has a smaller width than that of the main groove. The main groove and/or the auxiliary groove meanders in a wave or zigzag manner, and the main groove and the auxiliary groove intersect so as to intertwine with each other. Additionally, a rib portion extending in the tire circumferential direction is disposed adjacent along the groove unit including the main groove and the auxiliary groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8967211
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire, center land portions include a circumferential narrow groove extending in the tire circumferential direction so as to partition the center land portions in a tire width direction; a plurality of lug grooves disposed in each region of each of the center land portions partitioned by the circumferential narrow groove, extending in the tire width direction, so as to partition each of the regions of the center land portions in the tire circumferential direction; and a plurality of blocks partitioned by the circumferential narrow groove and the plurality of lug grooves. Blocks of the center land portions include one open sipe extending in the tire width direction so as to partition the blocks in the tire circumferential direction, and three or more closed sipes disposed in each of the regions of each of the blocks partitioned by the open sipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Hamanaka
  • Patent number: 8955568
    Abstract: A tire for a construction vehicle according to the present invention provides a tire for a construction vehicle having a belt formed by plural layers on the radially outer side of a crown portion of a carcass toroidally extending between a pair of bead portions, in which an outermost belt layer located on the radially outermost side of the belt has a width of 50% or more of a tread width, and a narrow groove is provided such that a distance between an end portion of the outermost belt layer and a bottom portion of the narrow groove is in the range of 15% to 100% of a tread thickness T, where T is a tread thickness at the end portion of the outermost belt layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Kazutaka Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 8939183
    Abstract: Tire tread band having a tread surface having at least two wearing layers, a first wearing layer formed by raised elements each having a contact surface, having at least grooves of circumferential orientation, and intended to contact the road surface when new, and at least one wearing layer in contact with the road surface after the first layer has entirely worn away, and containing at least one channel extending in the circumferential direction, and opening onto the tread surface when the wearing layer that precedes it has completely worn away, each wearing layer distinct from the first wearing layer, having transverse incisions distributed in the circumferential direction, extending from a channel of the layer in a direction which is not circumferential, opening fully or partially into at least one other circumferentially oriented channel or groove, irrespective of the level of wear of the other wearing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Techniques S.A.
    Inventors: Jacques Barraud, Agnès Poulbot
  • Patent number: 8925602
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has an asymmetric tread pattern and an outboard tread edge and an inboard tread edge to be located outside and inside of a vehicle respectively. Inboard shoulder blocks have an axial width and outboard shoulder blocks have an axial width more than the axial width of the inboard shoulder blocks. The inboard and outboard shoulder blocks are each provided with a plurality of sipes. The sipes of each outboard shoulder block include a circumferential sipe as the axially outermost sipe. The circumferential sipe extends at an angle of not more than 10 degrees with respect to the tire circumferential direction. The outboard shoulder block has an axially outer sidewall of which surface is provided with a plurality of narrow buttress grooves extending radially inwardly from the outboard tread edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Kageyama
  • Patent number: 8925599
    Abstract: A heavy duty tire comprises a tread portion provided with belt plies and circumferentially-extending main grooves, wherein a shoulder rib area between the axially outermost shoulder main groove and a tread edge is subdivided by a sub groove into an axially inner main rib zone and an axially outer sub rib zone. The main rib zone is provided with a high elastic modulus rubber layer extending along the axially outer edge of the main rib zone to form a part of the tread face and made of rubber having an elastic-modulus higher than that of rubber forming the tread face except for said part of the tread face. The axial width (W1a) of the high elastic modulus rubber layer is 0.3 to 0.6 times the axial width (W1) of the main rib zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Taro Okabe
  • Patent number: 8881781
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire capable of reducing air column resonance arising from circumferential grooves without changing the shape of unilaterally open-ended lug grooves. Lug grooves 20 are formed in land portions 15, which are defined by the circumferential grooves, and each of the lug grooves 20 consists of a lateral groove portion 21, which extends axially to open at one end into the circumferential groove and communicate at the other end with a sub-groove 12 provided in the land portion 15, and an oblique groove portion 22, which extends in a direction intersecting with the tire axial and circumferential directions to communicate at one end with the sub-groove 12 and terminate at the other end within the land portion 15. Also, the lateral groove portion 21 of the lug groove 20 is provided with a projection 23 protruding toward the tread surface from the bottom of the lug groove 20 and having a height smaller than the height H of the land portion 15 as measured from the bottom of the lug groove 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Bridgestone
    Inventors: Takashi Ookawara, Kenichi Shibata
  • Patent number: 8881780
    Abstract: A tire with sufficient braking performance on dry and wet roads, reduced rolling resistance and abrasion resistance. Tread 12 has first circumferential direction groove 14 and first fine grooves 18 with wall faces that contact each other when the tread 12 contacts the ground, the grooves 14 and 18 partitioning center ribs 16. Center blocks 24 are partitioned by second circumferential direction grooves 20 outside the grooves 18 and center lug grooves 22 extending from respective groove 18 to respective groove 20. First sipes 40 are formed in the center blocks 24 extending circumferentially from wall face 24B toward wall face 24C and terminating within the block. Second sipes 42 are formed in the surface of center blocks 24 extending circumferentially from wall face 24C toward wall face 24B, and curving around before reaching wall face 24B, being open to wall face 24A, and not intersecting first sipes 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Takamitsu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8875756
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire including a plurality of circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction, a plurality of land portions partitioned by the circumferential main grooves, a narrow groove extending in the tire circumferential direction and disposed in an edge portion of a road contact surface side and an outer side in the tire width direction of the shoulder land portion on an outermost side in a tire width direction, and a narrow rib that is partitioned by the narrow groove. The narrow rib includes an offset portion having a road contact surface offset inward in a tire radial direction from the road contact surface of the shoulder land portion, and a protrusion protruding in the tire radial direction from the offset portion, extending in the tire circumferential direction, and having a top surface that is substantially flush with a profile line of the shoulder land portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Okabe
  • Patent number: 8857483
    Abstract: A studless tire improved in on-ice performance as well as on-snow performance is disclosed. The tread portion is provided with tread grooves to have a land ratio in a range of from 0.65 to 0.75. The tread grooves including an axially inner circumferential groove, an axially outer circumferential groove and a plurality of sipes disposed on each side of the tire equator. The land ratio of a crown region and the land ratio of a shoulder region are each larger than the land ratio of a middle region, wherein the crown region is defined between the widthwise center lines of the inner circumferential grooves, the middle region is defined between the widthwise center line of the axially inner circumferential groove and the widthwise center line of the axially outer circumferential groove, and the shoulder region is defined between the widthwise center line of the outer circumferential groove and a tread edge of the tread portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8851128
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire having a thin groove continuous in a tire circumferential direction at a buttress formed between a shoulder of a tread and a sidewall includes a tire contour portion that is formed between an end portion of the shoulder and a groove floor of the thin groove. A tire transverse direction outermost portion at a shoulder side curved portion is disposed further toward a tire radial direction inner side than a sidewall side end portion of a sidewall side groove wall surface of the thin groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Gojo
  • Patent number: 8851130
    Abstract: An object the present invention is to provide a tire, in which wear resistance has been enhanced by optimizing the shape and location of block land portions. The tire has plural rows 5 of block land portions 4 formed by demarcation by providing plural circumferential grooves 2 extending along tire circumferential direction and plural lateral grooves 3 for communicating adjacent two circumferential grooves 2,2 with each other; in at least two rows 5 of block land portions adjacent to each other with a circumferential groove therebetween, among the rows 5 of block land portions 4, the respective rows 5 of block land portions 4 are disposed to be offset with respect to each other in the tire circumferential direction. The extending direction of the groove portion 6 between the block land portions adjacent to each other in the tire widthwise direction is inclined with respect to the tire widthwise direction and tire circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Akiyoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8813799
    Abstract: A heavy duty radial tire comprises a tread portion divided into four or five circumferential ribs and a tread reinforcing belt including a maximum width belt ply. The width Bw of the maximum width belt ply is 0.90 to 0.98 times the tread width Tw. The contour shape of the tire footprint has a ground contacting length CB at a 70% width position and a ground contacting length CC at a 97% width position, wherein the ratio CB/CC is 1.00 to 1.06. In a tread edge near region J, (1) the axially outermost shoulder rib is provided with no circumferential groove having a width of less than 5 mm, and a ratio Rs/Rc of an axial width Rs of the shoulder rib to an axial width Rc of a center rib is 1.25 to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoto Maruoka
  • Patent number: 8800616
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouichi Koutoku
  • Patent number: 8794279
    Abstract: A thin groove 4 that continuously extends in the tread circumferential direction is provided in a shoulder rib 3. An annular groove 8 continuous in the circumferential direction is provided in a groove wall 4a on the tread equatorial surface side of the thin groove 4 to be contiguous to the groove bottom, in a cross section taken in the width direction of the tread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Shuji Andou
  • Patent number: 8783312
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8763659
    Abstract: Five land portions on tread surface are demarcated by four main grooves that extend in a tire circumferential direction TC. The five land portions include a center land portion between the first main grooves, two middle land portions between the first main grooves and the second main grooves, and two shoulder land portions located toward the outside of the second main grooves in the tire width direction, and sub-grooves and sipes are formed on the land portions. The total groove surface area ratios of the sub-grooves and the sipes in the land portions are different in the center land portion and the shoulder land portion as compared to the middle land portion, with the total groove surface area ratio being lower in the center land portion and the shoulder land portion and being higher in the middle land portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Ishiguro, Yoshifumi Koishikawa
  • Patent number: 8746304
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has two circumferential-direction main grooves (13) and lug grooves (15). The circumferential-direction main grooves are disposed outside quarter point sections of a tread contact width (TW) in a tread width direction, respectively, the two circumferential-direction main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction, each of the quarter point sections of the tread contact width (TW) being a midpoint between a tire equator line and a corresponding tread end portion. The lug grooves are extended outwardly from the circumferential-direction main grooves in the tread width direction. Each quarter point section of the tread contact width (TW) has a rib-like shape continuously extending in the tire circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Tomonori Aoki
  • Patent number: 8714218
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is configured such that: paired first main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction are provided on the two sides of a tire equator line in a tread portion, respectively; a distance between a center position of each first main groove and the tire equator line is set at 8% to 20% of a ground contact width W; a first land portion is defined between these first main grooves; multiple sub-grooves each having a curved shape are formed in each of both edge portions of the first land portion at intervals in the tire circumferential direction; one end of each sub-groove is opened to the corresponding first main groove, and the other end of the sub-groove is terminated inside the first land portion; a rib portion continuously extending in the tire circumferential direction is formed in an area of the first land portion on the tire equator line; and a relation between a length (L) of a center line of each sub-groove and a pitch length (P) of the sub-grooves in the tire circumferential dire
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Ebiko
  • Patent number: 8695657
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion; three or more circumferential direction grooves; width direction grooves; and lines of land portions. When a tread center area and tread shoulder areas are sectioned at centerlines of the circumferential direction grooves in outermost sides in the tire width direction, a ratio G=(A+B)/X of a sum A+B of a groove area A of the circumferential direction grooves and a groove area B of the width direction grooves to a contact area X of the tread portion is in a range of G?0.25, a ratio S=B/(A+B) of the groove area B to the sum A+B is in a range of 0.25<S<0.45, a ratio Gs=C/Y of a groove area C of the tread shoulder areas to a contact area Y of the tread shoulder areas is in a range of Gs<0.20, and the ratio G and the ratio Gs have a relation of Gs<G.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoya Nakano