Having Directional Two Dimensional Pattern (e.g., "v" Shaped, Etc.) Patents (Class 152/209.28)
  • Patent number: 8393365
    Abstract: A tread is configured to have three rows of tread elements, a center row and a pair of shoulder rows, the center row forming a circumferential rib positioned at an equatorial centerplane of the tread. Each shoulder row has a repeating circumferential array of upwardly extending elongate groove fingers, adjacent groove fingers within the repeating array of each shoulder row of groove fingers being connected by at least one laterally extending channel. An array of serrations line each longitudinal side of the channels, each serration defined by inward tapering serration sidewalls extending to a serration base surface. Each channel is submerged below an outward tread surface such that the submerged channel will emerge as the tread wears down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Janesh, Daniel Abe Alford, Kelly Sue King, Brian David Digman, Richard Mark Wieland, David Michael Howard
  • Patent number: 8333226
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion (2) provided with a wavy circumferential groove (7) and a plurality of axial grooves (4). At the junction (5) of each axial groove (4) with the wavy circumferential groove (7), a acute-angled corner (6) is formed. At the junction (5), the axial groove (4) has a toe-side edge (4r) intersecting a junction-side edge (7a) of the wavy circumferential groove (7) at a first point (P1), and a heel-side edge (4f) intersecting the junction-side edge (7a) at a third point (P3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Ueda
  • Patent number: 8316902
    Abstract: A tire tread includes a circumferential row of blocks disposed between first and second circumferential grooves, wherein each of the blocks is delimited by a section of the first circumferential groove and by first and second transverse grooves that extend from the first circumferential groove and terminate at a common vertex spaced from the second circumferential groove. The common vertex is separated from the second circumferential groove by a continuous circumferential tread rib. The second transverse groove delimits a first one of the blocks and is separated from the first transverse groove that delimits a circumferentially adjacent block by a solid tread portion. The solid tread portion extends from the first circumferential groove to the continuous circumferential tread rib, and the solid tread portion forms a single body with the continuous circumferential tread rib, spacing the first block and the circumferentially adjacent block from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Giancarlo Cucco, Vito Bello
  • Patent number: 8297323
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pneumatic tire having: a circumferential groove continuously extending in the tire circumferential direction in a ground contact surface of a tread portion; and a resonator provided in a land portion and constituted of a resonance cell portion opened to a ground contact region at a position distanced from the circumferential groove and a siping portion making the resonance cell portion communicate with the circumferential groove, wherein change in a tread pattern as time lapses can be alleviated without scarifying an effect of reducing pipe resonance sounds. Specifically, an opening width of the siping portion at the ground contact surface of the tread portion is designed to change in the longitudinal direction thereof such that the opening with is relatively narrow on the side of the circumferential groove and relatively wide on the side of the resonance cell portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Takahashi, Shu Fujiwara, Shu Nagai, Takanari Saguchi, Naoya Ochi, Yukihiro Kiwaki
  • Patent number: 8272413
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a pneumatic tire for a motorcycle capable of improving turning performance on a wet road surface as compared to that of conventional tires. The pneumatic tire for a motorcycle comprises a tread 28 consisting of a tread central portion having a width of 60% of a tread developed width and tread side portions located outside of the tread central portion in the width direction of the tire and a plurality of wide inclined grooves 42 and narrow inclined grooves 44 inclined at an angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire formed in the tread side portion such that the grooves continuously extend over a region of 50% or more of a width of the tread side portion. A groove width of the narrow inclined grooves 44 is set within a range between 0.3 mm and 2.5 mm. A total area of the wide inclined grooves 42 is set to not more than 20% of an area of the tread side portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Ishiyama, Hiroyuki Matsumoto, Shinsaku Katayama
  • Patent number: 8261790
    Abstract: A tread for a pneumatic tire includes central tread elements and shoulder tread elements having leading and trailing tread edges. A pair of circumferentially continuous grooves, one on each half ol the tread, and a plurality of lateral grooves extending from each tread edge toward the center of the tread are provided. The lateral grooves adjacent the central tread elements are curved in shape extending along a line, the line extends toward the center of the tread to form an apex from the center extending outwardly across the tread pattern changing in an opposite direction at an intersection of the circumferential groove along a second line adjacent the shoulder tread element. Shoulder tread elements are arranged in two rows, one row adjacent each lateral edge, the leading edges of the shoulder tread elements being inclined relative to the direction of rotation of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Ben Baicheng Wen, Joel Joseph Lazeration
  • Patent number: 8245744
    Abstract: A tire, the tread of which has an equatorial plane and at least one raised element, which has a longitudinal axis and respective lateral edges substantially parallel to the equatorial plane, and sipes crosswise to the longitudinal axis; and wherein at least one sipe is Z-shaped and defined by three consecutive portions, a first and a third portion of which are end portions originating at respective lateral edges, and a second portion of which is an intermediate portion connected to the first portion at a first point, which is located a first distance from the lateral edge from which the relevant first portion originates, and to the third portion at a second point located a second distance from the lateral edge from which the relevant first portion originates; the intermediate portion sloping with respect to the longitudinal axis, and the second distance being less than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Stefano Ducci
  • Patent number: 8225833
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire capable of improving drainage performance and noise-reduction. The pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion being provided with central longitudinal grooves 3a, shoulder longitudinal grooves 3b, and intermediate land portions 4a each defined between the central longitudinal groove 3a and said shoulder longitudinal groove 3b. The intermediate land portion 4a is provided with a thin groove 5 extending the tire at a position away axially inside from the shoulder longitudinal groove 3b, intermediate slant grooves 6 each extending from the thin groove 5 toward said central longitudinal groove 3a while inclining terminating without being connected to the central longitudinal groove 3a, and connection grooves 7 each extending so as to connect between the adjacent intermediate slant grooves 6 in the circumferential direction of the tire. Each of the connection groove 7 inclines in the same direction as the intermediate slant groove 6 at an angle smaller than that of the intermediate slant groove 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Mukai
  • Patent number: 8210219
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises circumferentially-continuously-extending crown main grooves and shoulder main grooves to divide the tread portion into one crown rib, two middle ribs and two shoulder ribs. The middle rib is provided with a circumferentially-continuously-extending middle sub groove to define an axially inner part and an axially outer part. The axially inner part is provided with inner middle lug grooves comprising an axially outer wide main part and an axially inner narrow part. The axially outer part is provided with outer middle lug grooves comprising an axially outer main part an axially inner sipe-like narrow part . The width and position of the middle sub groove, and the widths of the lug grooves are specifically defined in order to improve the wet performance and noise performance in a well balanced manner while maintaining the steering stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Iwai
  • Patent number: 8170780
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for transporting a payload over a surface is provided. A vehicle supports a payload with a support partially enclosed by an enclosure. Two laterally disposed ground-contacting elements are coupled to at least one of the enclosure or support. A motorized drive is coupled to the ground-contacting elements. A controller coupled to the drive governs the operation of the drive at least in response to the position of the center of gravity of the vehicle to dynamically control balancing of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Segway, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Douglas Field, Michael T. Gansler, John D. Heinzmann, Jon M. Stevens
  • Patent number: 8146631
    Abstract: Provided are a pneumatic tire, a method of producing the pneumatic tire, and a tire curing mold, with which decrease in wet performance of a pneumatic tire in a worn state can be effectively prevented while chipping of land portions such as blocks is prevented in releasing the tire from a mold. The pneumatic tire of the present invention includes: a tread portion provided with groove portions and land portions; and sipes provided in the land portions. Each of the sipes has at least one end, in a longitudinal direction, being terminated within the corresponding land portion. Each sipe is provided with: a first offset portion protruding toward one side in a sipe thickness direction; and a second offset portion protruding toward the other side in the sipe thickness direction at a position on an inner side, in a tire radial direction, of a position at which the first offset portion protrudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Tomatsu
  • Publication number: 20120060990
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with a plurality of v-shaped main oblique grooves extending from one of tread edges to the other, and a plurality of connecting grooves each disposed on one side of the tire equator to connect between the circumferentially adjacent main oblique grooves at a position near the tire equator, whereby the tread portion is divided into a plurality of center blocks arranged on the tire equator, and a plurality of shoulder blocks disposed on each side of the tire equator and each extending from one of the connecting grooves to the tread edge passing between the circumferentially adjacent main oblique grooves. The axially innermost ends of the shoulder blocks are positioned axially inside the axially outermost ends of the center blocks, and the circumferential dimension L2b across the shoulder block is gradually increased towards the tread edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: Hideki Otsuji
  • Patent number: 8091598
    Abstract: A motorcycle tire comprises a tread portion having a tread face curved along a radially outwardly convex arc in the cross section of the tire including the rotational axis of the tire. The tread face is provided in the ground contacting region during straight running with three parallel circumferential grooves which are: a wide circumferential groove having a width Wg1 of from 8 to 16 mm and extending along the tire equator; and a pair of narrow circumferential grooves disposed one on each side of the tire equator and having a width Wg2 less than the width Wg1. Each of the narrow circumferential grooves is positioned such that the distance L1 measured along the tread face from the tire equator to the axially outside edge of the narrow circumferential groove is not more than 35% of the width (tw) of the ground contacting region during straight running measured along the tread face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 8047243
    Abstract: A retreaded pneumatic truck tire includes a used carcass having a uniform annular attachment area and a retread element. The retread element secures to the attachment area of the used carcass. The retread element has a tread pattern comprising a first circumferential groove separating the tread pattern into a first shoulder rib and an intermediate rib and a second circumferential groove separating the tread pattern into the intermediate rib and a second shoulder rib. The tread pattern further comprises a first plurality of identical arcuate notches extending axially and circumferentially across the first circumferential groove and a second plurality of identical arcuate notches extending axially and circumferentially across the second circumferential groove. The first plurality of arcuate notches are offset circumferentially from the second plurality of arcuate notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Audrey Marie Simon, Murat Ahmet Yasar Susutoglu, Vincent Benoit Mathonet, Daniel Roder, Jean-Nicolas Pierre Claude Helt
  • Publication number: 20110259495
    Abstract: A tyre for motorcycles, has a tread band and includes an annular central portion and two annular shoulder portions. The tread band includes at least one first groove extending from one annular shoulder portion to the other annular shoulder portion and having a first vertex at the annular central portion, and at least one pair of second grooves arranged on opposite sides with respect to the equatorial plane, each groove of said at least one pair of second grooves being inclined with respect to the equatorial plane and extending from a respective annular shoulder portion up the annular central portion without intersecting the equatorial plane. The distance in the circumferential direction between an axially inner end of each groove of said at least one pair of second grooves and the first vertex is no greater than 3.5% of the circumferential extension of the tread band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Pierangelo Misani, Mario Mariani, Andrea Schiavolin
  • Patent number: 8020595
    Abstract: A plurality of shallow grooves which are shallower than a sipe are formed on land sections formed on treads of a pneumatic tire. The shallow grooves are configured so that a total sectional area of the shallow grooves per unit area in a cross section in a tire width direction in at least one of tread end areas arranged at end sides of the tread surface in the tire width direction or land end areas arranged at portions adjacent to a drain main groove on the land sections becomes larger than a total sectional area of the shallow grooves per unit on the other areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Kiwaki, Ryoichi Watabe, Kenichi Shibata, Kazuyoshi Tagawa
  • Patent number: 8011403
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire for motorcycle includes a tread portion; a pair of sidewall portions; and bead portions, wherein a ground contact region of the tread portion has five regions including a center region including the tire equatorial plane; a pair of shoulder regions including ground contact ends of the tread; and a pair of intermediate regions located between the center region and the respective shoulder regions. At a room temperature of 25° C., 100% modulus of intermediate tread rubber provided across the entire part of each intermediate region is set larger than each of 100% modulus of center tread rubber and 100% modulus of shoulder tread rubber, and a negative ratio in the ground contact region of the tread is set so as to gradually increase from the respective shoulder regions toward the center region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Hidemitsu Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8006729
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic tire including a plurality of land portions and a plurality of fine grooves. The plurality of land portions are formed of blocks and a rib, and are defined in a tread part of the pneumatic tire. The fine grooves with a depth of 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm, a width of 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm and a pitch of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm are formed in the tread surface of each of the land portions to be inclined at an angle of 42° to 60° relative to the circumferential direction of the tire. The inclined directions of the fine grooves relative to the circumferential direction of the tire are reverse to each other on the left and right sides of the equator of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Ebiko
  • Publication number: 20110168312
    Abstract: A tread for a tire provided with a pattern comprising a plurality of main grooves formed on each half of the tread on each side of a median plane X-X?, each of these main grooves, of mean width L, opening axially to the outside and extending axially inward as far as a distance from the median plane X-X? that is comprised between 2.5 and 10% of the width TW of the tread, these main grooves giving this tread a preferred direction of running, this tread further comprising a plurality of additional grooves comprising a first and a second end, the mean direction connecting the first and second ends forming, with the circumferential direction, a small angle A greater than zero degrees and at most equal to 20 degrees, this tread being characterized in that opening onto each main groove is at least one additional groove and in that the axially innermost end of each additional groove comes into contact with the road surface before the axially outermost end of the same additional groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicants: Societe De Technologie Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Jacky Pineau, Matthieu Bonnamour, Sébastien Fugier
  • Patent number: 7958921
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a designated rotational direction is disclosed, wherein an entire area having a width 85% of a total tire width and a center area having a width 30% of the total tire width are defined in a tread portion. A center main groove is positioned on a tire equatorial line and extends in a tire circumferential direction. Subsidiary main grooves are positioned on two sides of the center main groove and extend in the tire circumferential direction. Angled and lateral grooves extend at an angle, in a direction opposite the rotational direction towards an outside in the tire width direction. Lateral grooves extend from each subsidiary main groove. Sub grooves extend from the lateral grooves towards the rotational direction. A total length of a block edge in the center area is from 40% to 60% of a total length of a block edge in the entire area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadayuki Ishiguro, Kenichirou Endou
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7900668
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire having excellent drainage property and performances on snow, a central main groove 2 and a side main groove 4 and first and second gently slant grooves 5, 6 are arranged in a tread portion 1, and the first and second gently slant grooves 5, 6 are terminated in a central land portion 9 between the central main groove 2 and the side main groove 4, and first and second fine grooves 7, 8 are further arranged so as to extend from terminal ends 11, 12 of the first and second gently slant grooves 5, 6 toward the central main groove 2 and open thereto, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Shungo Fujita
  • 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: 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: 7814951
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire which can enhance performance on snow while assuring performance in wet or dry condition is provided. A plurality of inclined lateral grooves 16 which extend from the tread edge 12E toward the tire equatorial surface CL, being inclined with respect to the tire circumferential direction, are arranged in the tread 12 to establish the rotation directionality, whereby high performance in wet condition is obtained. In traveling on snow, the snow is got into the inclined lateral grooves 16, resulting in a force for shearing the snow column being obtained, thus basic performance in traveling on a snow covered road surface is provided. In the land portion 18 between inclined lateral grooves 16 adjoining in the circumferential direction, convexly curved line fine grooves 20 and sipes 22 are formed on the treading-in side, whereby a great edging effect is obtained in treading in the snow, which can enhance traction performance on snow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Naoya Ochi
  • Patent number: 7770619
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire in which left- and right-side lateral grooves extend between first main grooves and second main grooves, and in which left- and right-side sub grooves extend halfway from the second main grooves toward the first main grooves. The lateral grooves and the sub grooves are disposed alternately with each other at predetermined pitches in tire circumferential directions. The left- and right-side lateral grooves respectively include: first groove portions extending from the first main grooves; and second groove portions extending from the second main grooves while curving inwardly toward tire width directions. The left- and right-side lateral grooves are offset from each other in the tire circumferential directions. Opening portions at both ends of each of the lateral grooves, which are opened to the first main grooves and the second main grooves, are shifted from one another in the tire circumferential directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Miyoshi, Hiroshi Hata
  • Patent number: 7762296
    Abstract: This invention provides a tire for agricultural vehicles that employs a tread design having a flattened contact surface across the width and a plurality of curved lugs that alternately extend from each sidewall to a location nearly adjacent to the opposing side wall. Each lug curves so that a central section at the center of the tire width is located on the surface ahead on the circumference of adjoining sections of the lug that extend toward each of the opposing sidewalls. In this manner, each lug appears to have a curved “banana” shape that extends across the width of the tire contact surface in a generally axial alignment. The grooves between lugs extend generally axially across the width, as a result. They are narrowed, having a circumferential width that is between approximately 20% and 30% of the average circumferential width of a lug. This geometry places more lug surface in contact with the road for better handling and longer tread life and provides less groove space to retain mud and detritus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Alliance Tire Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: David Ganz, Alain Courtemanche, Domenic E. Mazzola, Steven Coetzee, Tian Blomerus
  • Patent number: 7762298
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread pattern wherein a circumferential groove continuously extending in a circumferential direction is formed in at least a first half part of a treading face within a range of 10-30% of a treading face width from an end of the treading face and a plurality of curvedly slant grooves extending from the circumferential groove toward a side of a central part of the treading face so as to make an angle at an acute angle side with respect to the circumferential direction gradually small away from the circumferential groove are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, in which a land row consisting of tapered land portions defined between the circumferentially adjoining curvedly slant grooves and having a width gradually decreased toward the side of the central part of the treading face is formed in the treading face, and sipes linearly extending at two large and small inclination angles with respect to the circumferential direction without crossing with each other are alterna
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Miyasaka, Arata Tomita, Yasuo Osawa
  • 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: 7614435
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having improved noise buffering capability and operation stability while maintaining excellent water discharge capability. A circumferential straight main groove (1) is provided at the center of a tread center region. Arc-like curved main grooves (3) where a plurality of arc-like grooves (3a) are circumferentially formed so as to be continuous in a repeated manner are arranged on both sides of the straight main groove (1). Further, circumferential auxiliary grooves (4) with a width smaller than that of any of the straight main groove (1) and arc-like curved main grooves (3) are provided in each of both tread shoulder regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Ishida
  • Patent number: 7607464
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided with a pair of circumferential grooves (3) arranged in both sides of a tire equator (C), and a plurality of oblique grooves (4) having a steep decline portion (4a) extending to an outer side in a tire axial direction at an angle (q1) between 15 and 45 degree with respect to a tire circumferential direction from a position near the circumferential groove (3), in a tread surface (2). A land portion (B) surrounded by the circumferential groove (3) and the steep decline portion (4a) has an acute corner portion (12) and an obtuse corner portion (13), each being formed between the circumferential groove (3) and the steep decline portion (4a). An outer groove wall surface (6) of the circumferential groove (3) includes a gentle decline wall (6a) in the tread surface side, and a steep decline wall (6b) in the groove bottom side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehiko Murata
  • Patent number: 7527082
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire which has improved drainage property on a wet road surface and improved uneven wear resistance and steering stability on a dry road surface while enhancing drainage property on a wet road surface. The tire has at least a pair of circumferential grooves 2 disposed at a tread portion 1. An inner land portion 3 and an outer land portion 4 are defined by outermost circumferential grooves 2a. A plurality of transverse grooves 5 are disposed on at least the outer land portion 4 and the outer land portion 4 is divided and formed into a large number of blocks by these transverse grooves 5. The width w1 of the groove bottom 6 of the outermost circumferential groove 2a is narrower than the opening width w2. The groove bottom extends with inclination with respect to the tire circumferential direction so that it substantially continues to the transverse groove between the adjacent transverse grooves. The groove bottom forms the zigzag shape as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7506676
    Abstract: A tread surface the tire rotational direction of which is specified in one direction includes a first main see-through groove extending in the circumferential direction of the tire in a region of from 4% to 15% of the tire ground contact width from the tire equatorial plane toward each of left and right sides. Lug grooves obliquely extend from the first main see-through grooves toward the outer sides of the tire in the reverse rotational direction of the tire so as to communicate with the tire ground contact ends, the lug grooves being disposed at prescribed intervals in the circumferential direction of the tire. Blocks are defined by the lug grooves and the first main see-through grooves. V-shaped transverse grooves are disposed between the first main see-through grooves at prescribed intervals in the circumferential direction of the tire, the transverse grooves having vertexes that face to the reverse rotational direction of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: The Yokohama Runner Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Ebiko
  • Patent number: 7484543
    Abstract: A tyre for a motor car includes a tread and two shoulders. The tread includes at least one circumferential row of blocks disposed between first and second circumferential grooves. Each of the blocks is delimited by a section of the first circumferential groove and by first and second transverse grooves that extend from the first circumferential groove and converge at a common vertex spaced from the second circumferential groove. The common vertex is separated from the second circumferential groove by a continuous circumferential tread rib. A second transverse groove that delimits a first block is separated from a first transverse groove that delimits a circumferentially adjacent block by a solid tread portion. The solid tread portion extends from the first circumferential groove to the circumferential tread rib and forms a single body with the circumferential tread rib, spacing the first block and the circumferentially adjacent block from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Giancarlo Cucco, Vito Bello
  • 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: 7416003
    Abstract: A tread surface the tire rotational direction of which is specified in one direction has a center region and shoulder regions on both sides of the center region. Blocks are defined in at least one of the shoulder regions by at least one first circumferential groove which extends in a circumferential direction of the tire, and first lateral grooves which extend in a widthwise direction of the tire and are disposed at predetermined intervals in the tire circumferential direction. Each block includes a tire rotational direction side groove wall surface having an inclination angle ?, and a tire reverse rotation direction side groove wall surface having an inclination angle ?, and the inclination angle ? is greater than the inclination angle ?. Each block has a tire rotational direction side edge portion which is chamfered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Yamane
  • Patent number: 7270163
    Abstract: A tire for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, a belt structure associated coaxially with the carcass structure, and a tread band extending coaxially around the belt structure. The tread band includes a relief pattern including at least one row of blocks separated by transverse grooves intersecting two circumferential grooves. Each block of the at least one row is essentially delimited by two longitudinal sides in a circumferential direction of the tire and two transverse sides with respect to a predetermined rolling direction of the tire. Each block of the at least one row is formed by two axially-adjacent block portions. The transverse sides of each block portion include at least two successive curvilinear portions shaped differently from each other. The transverse grooves include two branches, each branch including a widened cross-section of substantially-curvilinear shape disposed in an area substantially equidistant from ends of a respective branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Mario Isola
  • Patent number: 7270161
    Abstract: To provide a pneumatic tire for a motorcycle in which both wear resistance and wet steering stability can be attained. Since a pair of zigzag circumferential direction grooves 28 are positioned at the center of a tread central region 24C and has an amplitude, even when a certain camber angle is exceeded, an occurrence of a sudden separation of the zigzag circumferential direction groove 28 from a road-contact surface 26 can be prevented, whereby deterioration of wet steering stability can be suppressed. When the camber angle increases, water in a road-contact surface 26 is drained by inclining grooves 32 which are arranged at an external side of the zigzag circumferential direction groove 28. Since sharp inclining groove portions 32A of the inclining grooves 32 are positioned in the tread central region 24C, and no lug groove components are employed, circumferential direction rigidities of land portions in the tread central region 24C are high and exhibits excellent wear resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Miyasaka, Hajime Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7246644
    Abstract: Winter tire for vehicle wheels, provided with a tread comprising three circumferential grooves and a plurality of transverse grooves which jointly delimit four circumferential rows of blocks, namely two axially outer shoulder rows and two center rows at the sides of the equatorial plane. The transverse grooves converge on the equatorial plane in the direction of rolling specified for the tire. In the tread, each transverse groove of the center rows is made to comprise a widening of the cross section with an essentially circular profile, formed at a distance from the ends, for trapping snow. To obtain quieter running on dry roads, the front transverse edge profiles of the adjacent blocks of the center rows are made to comprise at least two successive curvilinear portions. These curvilinear portions are shaped in different ways and with opposite curvatures to each other, to form means of attenuating the noise arising from the impact of the tread pattern on dry roads when the tire is rolling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Colombo, Mario Isola
  • Patent number: 7204281
    Abstract: A studless tire which is provided in the tread portion with one or more circumferential portions provided with V-shaped sipes, the total width of the one or more circumferential portions is in a range of from 10 to 25% of the tread width, each V-shaped sipe is composed of two parts extending from its vertex located in a central region of the circumferential portion, and the V-shaped sipes in each circumferential portion are oriented towards the same direction and arranged at intervals in the tire circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7178570
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided in the tread portion with circumferential grooves, main oblique grooves and auxiliary oblique grooves. The circumferential grooves include: a pair of axially outer grooves disposed one on each side of the tire equator; and at least one axially inner groove between the axially outer grooves, so as to divide the tread portion into at least four circumferential regions including: a pair of axially inner regions between the axially outer grooves and said at least one axially inner groove; and a pair of axially outer regions axially outside the axially outer grooves. The axially inner regions have an axial width L1 of from 0.15 to 0.25 times the critical tread width TW1. The main oblique groove extends across one of the axially inner regions so that the axially outer end is connected with the adjacent axially outer circumferential groove and the axially inner end is connected with the adjacent axially inner groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehiko Murata
  • Patent number: 7163039
    Abstract: A high-performance tire for a motor vehicle includes a carcass and tread band. The tire may be, for example, of the asymmetrical or directional type. The tread band includes a pattern including a central region, first and second shoulder regions, and first and second circumferential grooves. The first circumferential groove divides the first shoulder region from the central region, while the second circumferential groove divides the central region from the second shoulder region. The shoulder regions include shoulder blocks, separated from each other by transverse grooves, but joined to each other along axially inner ends of the shoulder blocks by respective circumferential portions. The central region includes rows of blocks and first and second annular projections or a central annular projection. The blocks of the central region, the shoulder blocks, the circumferential grooves, the transverse grooves, and the one or more annular projections help define the tread pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Maurizio Boiocchi, Gianfranco Colombo
  • Patent number: 7143798
    Abstract: A tire tread for a pneumatic tire has a center rib and a series of steeply slanted grooves in each side region of the tread, the circumferentially adjacent grooves form blocks extending through the tread side regions. The center rib has a serrated configuration along each lateral side and a supporting chamfer extending from each serration point. Adjacent to each rib chamfer is a chamfer extending from the axially innermost point of the rib at the junction of two adjacent steeply slanted grooves. The rib is provided with high density siping. The tread blocks are siped wherein the siping density decreases from the tread center to the tread shoulders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Billy Joe Ratliff, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7140411
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire, wherein at least one peripheral main groove (2) is provided in a tread center area and inclined main grooves (3) inclined diagonal-outward in a direction reverse to the specified rotating direction of the tire and reverse inclined main grooves (4) inclined diagonal-outward in a direction reverse to the inclination direction of the inclined main grooves are disposed on both sides of the peripheral main groove alternately in the circumferential direction of the tire, the inner ends of the inclined main grooves (3) are connected midway to the reverse inclined main grooves (4) in the area of 10 to 20% of a contact width from a tire center and the outer ends thereof are extended to shoulders, and the inner ends of the reverse inclined main grooves (4) are connected to the peripheral main groove (2) and the outer ends thereof are connected midway to the inclined main grooves (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Susumu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7131475
    Abstract: A tire for a wheel of a vehicle includes a casing structure, a belt structure, and a tread band. A tread band pattern includes a central zone, two intermediate zones, and two shoulder zones. Each of the zones extends between planes that are substantially parallel to an equatorial plane of the tire. Each intermediate zone includes first and second sequences of pairs of transversal grooves. The first sequence pairs are alternated with the second sequence pairs. The grooves of the two sequences are inclined relative to each other. The first sequence grooves extend from first ends, at respective axially intermediate planes, to second ends, at predetermined first distances from selected second sequence grooves. The second sequence grooves extend from third ends, at respective axially inner planes, to fourth ends, at predetermined second distances from selected first sequence grooves. Intermediate zones include a zigzag rib. Shoulder zones include additional transversal grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Caretta, Gianfranco Colombo, Stefano Gaiazzi
  • Patent number: 7096904
    Abstract: This invention relates to off-road tires, more specifically off-road tires for use with all-terrain vehicles, agricultural equipment, and construction equipment. A plurality of elongated pads are interposed between circumferentially adjacent lugs, preventing damage to the tire's inner tread without impeding the soil shedding characteristics of the tire's soil discharge channels. The width of the puncture prevention pads may vary to compensate for the greater spacing between circumferentially adjacent lugs at the shoulder region of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Timothy Michael Rooney
  • Patent number: 6983777
    Abstract: A tire has a tread on the outer circumferential surface. The tread has circumferential and lateral grooves defining tread blocks. In at least one tread block, one of the circumferentially extending sides of the block has a multi-planar chamfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Billy Joe Ratliff, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6971425
    Abstract: A tire for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, a belt structure, and a tread band. The tread band pattern includes a central zone and two axially-opposite shoulder zones. The central zone is delimited between axially-inner circumferential grooves and includes at least two intermediate circumferential grooves and a plurality of first transverse recesses inclined relative to a circumferential direction of the tire. The first transverse recesses are connected to at least one of the intermediate circumferential grooves. The shoulder zones are each delimited between axially-inner and axially-outer circumferential grooves. The shoulder zones include a plurality of second transverse recesses inclined relative to the circumferential direction. The at least one of the intermediate circumferential grooves includes a substantially V-shaped cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vito Bello, Gianfranco Colombo, Pierangelo Misani
  • Patent number: 6968881
    Abstract: A tire tread for a pneumatic tire has a center rib and a series of steeply slanted grooves in each side region of the tread, the circumferentially adjacent grooves form blocks extending through the tread side regions. The center rib has a serrated configuration along each lateral side and a supporting chamfer extending from each serration point. Adjacent to each rib chamfer is a chamfer extending from the axially innermost point of the rib at the junction of two adjacent steeply slanted grooves. The rib is provided with high density siping. The tread blocks are siped wherein the siping density decreases from the tread center to the tread shoulders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Billy Joe Ratliff, Jr., Samuel Patrick Landers, David Charles Poling, Charles Kenneth Schmalix, Robert Allen Losey