Abstract: Described herein are casting and molding methods useful for making microstructured objects. By including a plurality of microfeatures on the surface of an object, other characteristics may be imparted to the object, such as increased hydrophobicity. Some of the casting and molding methods described herein further allow for manufacture of objects having both microfeatures and macro features, for example microfeatures on or within macro features or selected macro feature regions.

Abstract: An improved system for changing sipe blade configurations on equipment for the manufacture of tires is provided. This system allows the replacement of damaged sipe blades, the replacement of sipe blades of one configuration with those of another configuration, and the elimination of a sipe blade altogether. Certain embodiments allow sipe blades to be changed by providing a sipe blade that is held by a blade holder with a slit in its heel that allows a compact assembly of the sipe blade and blade holder that is easy to manufacture. Other embodiments allow sipe blades that have an undercut in the direction of draw in, their midportion and side portions without undercuts to be easily made and installed. Finally, other embodiments allow for the effective replacement and fabrication of sipe blades that have undercuts in the direction of draw that blend into other projections found on a curing member.

Abstract: An apparatus for retreading a heavy duty tire with a polyurethane tread where a tire carcass that is suitable for retreading receives a tube fitted therein and is installed on its side in a mold cavity, between top and bottom rings, that each include spaced segments extending from opposing top and bottom ring surface that inter-digitate to form the equal spaced tread voids in a finished recapped tire, with bottom ring inner edge including a continuous sealing lug, and the top ring is open to pass a flow of polyurethane materials from a lower edge of a cone shaped spreader that is positioned onto the tire carcass top side wall and directs a flow of polyurethane materials from the cone surface into the mold, filling the mold cavity from bottom to top to form a recapped tire tread.

Abstract: The present invention provides for proper air bleed without using air wicking fabric strips and/or the perforated polyethylene material or the like. Instead, an inside surface of a curing envelope is molded with a unique embossed pattern which is designed to channel to a vacuum valve, expeditiously, all the air being evacuated from between the outer surface of a tire and an inner surface of the envelope. Additionally, a valve base area is recessed so as to allow the air channels to open directly into the valve base area during evacuation. The envelope is also designed to accept various styles and designs of air valves. Another unique feature is the creation of a decorative pattern on the inside shoulder area of a tire by transfer of a surface feature from the envelope interior. This pattern provides a significant improvement in the appearance of the finished tire.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for treading a vulcanized tire carcass using an uncured tread comprising a rim (6) for mounting the carcass, an elastic annular mold (7) whose circumferential outer surface is covered with an elastic sleeve (16), the mold being intended to mold the uncured tread (3), the device comprising two disc-shaped elastic flanges (8, 9) intended to cover, respectively, one sidewall of the assembly composed of the constituted tire covered with the mold (7), the larger-diameter peripheral end (82, 92) of each flange (8, 9) bearing a rigid annular member (33) for connection with the sleeve (16) covering the mold (7).

Abstract: A gaming device that provides a player with an opportunity to maximize a gaming device award. The gaming device presents the player with a display having a plurality of symbols and enables the player to choose one or more of the symbols. The game reveals the award(s) associated with the selected symbols but does not reveal which awards are associated with which symbols. The game then provides the player with one or more opportunities to upgrade the total award by deselecting one or more of the selected symbols and re-selecting another symbol for each deselected symbol.

Abstract: A mold cavity-defining die assembly includes lower and upper molds adapted to be disposed against one another. The lower mold has an inner surface defining an outer side of a mold cavity and forming an outside wall of a formed millwork product produced in the mold cavity. The upper mold supports an array of core members such that the core members protrude into the mold cavity so as to define an inner side of the mold cavity and form an inside wall and interior ribs of the product such that the inside wall and interior ribs together provide sufficient surface area to ensure that the product clings to the upper mold and core members and releases from the lower mold upon separation of the molds from one another.

Abstract: A resilient annular or ring-shaped mold for molding a crude rubber tread covering a vulcanized tire carcass, the mold being made of a resilient material, characterized in that it has provision for limiting its diameter in compression.

Abstract: A resilient annular or ring-shaped mold for molding a crude rubber tread covering a vulcanized tire carcass, the mold being made of a resilient material, characterized in that it has provision for limiting its diameter in compression.

Abstract: Tire recapping or retreading apparatus and method including the use of a tread mold with a plurality of mold segments. A tread mold loading machine is used to position a prepared tire carcass or built tire relative to the mold segments and to install the mold segments on the exterior of the built tire. The mold segments are retained in place on the exterior of the tire carcass by a pair of tension springs. The tension springs hold the mold segments on the tire carcass after the mold segments have been released from the tread mold loading machine. The use of the tread mold loading machine and the mold segments eliminates distortion of the tire carcass during installation of the tread mold on the exterior of the built tire.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a tread pattern on a retread tire casing includes a plurality of rigid matrix segments each having a contoured tread pattern thereon. Each matrix segment is removably secured to a respective matrix segment holder. Each matrix segment holder includes guide blocks at the ends thereof, and the matrix segments are arranged in circumferential side-by-side relation. Guide shafts extend through aligned guide bores in adjacent guide blocks of adjacent matrix segment holders for guiding movement of matrix segment between a closed position wherein the matrix segments are in side-by-side abutting relation, and an open position wherein adjacent matrix segments are separated. A spring is received over each end of each guide shaft and captured between a recessed shoulder in the guide block and a threaded nut received over the end of the guide shaft. The springs normally bias the matrix segment into the closed position.

Abstract: Tire recapping or retreading apparatus and method including the use of a tread mold with a plurality of mold segments. A tread mold loading machine is used to position the prepared tire carcass relative to the mold segments and to install the mold segments on the exterior of the tire carcass. The mold segments are retained in place on the exterior of the tire carcass by a tension band. Resilient elastic tension bands or pre-stressed metal tension springs hold the mold segments on the tire carcass after the mold segments have been released from the tread mold loading machine. The use of the tread mold loading machine and the mold segments eliminates distortion of the tire carcass during installation of the tread mold.

Abstract: A tire recapping and retreading method and apparatus that includes a rigid, segmented tread mold. The mold is retained in place over the tire carcass and uncured tread material by a resilient elastic tension band or prestressed metal tension springs. Further retaining force is provided by a resilient envelope to complete the formation of the retread when the tire and apparatus is placed in a hot air oven. The use of the rigid segmented mold described eliminates the distortion of the tire carcass by the mold.

Abstract: An improved curing envelope is provided for use in a retreading or recapping process. The improved curing envelope includes integrally formed gas passageways in the inner circumferential wall thereof which permits the ingress and egress of gas into the interior of the curing envelope and retains pre-cured tread material in position for properly forming or securing the new tread to the carcass during the bonding process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for retreading a tire includes a mold segment (14) having open ends (16) and (18). A tire carcass (10) has a layer of uncured rubber (12) built up on the surface thereof. The mold (14) is disposed therearound with ribs (20) resting on the surface thereof. A semi-flexible cap (24) is disposed over the ends (16) and (18) which are separated by a gap (20). An elastic strap (26) is then wrapped about the assembly to secure the mold (14) to the built up tire carcass (10). An envelope (28) is then wrapped about the assembled tire carcass (10) to provide a radially inward force thereto. The whole assembly is then cured in a curing oven.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for retreading a tire includes a mold segment (14) having open ends (16) and (18). A tire carcass (10) has a layer of uncured rubber (12) built up on the surface thereof. The mold (14) is disposed therearound with ribs (20) resting on the surface thereof. A semi-flexible cap (24) is disposed over the ends (16) and (18) which are separated by a gap (20). An elastic strap (26) is then wrapped about the assembly to secure the mold (14) to the built up tire carcass (10). An envelope (28) is then wrapped about the assembled tire carcass (10) to provide a radially inward force thereto. The whole assembly is then cured in a curing oven.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for retreading a tire includes a mold segment (14) having open ends (16) and (18). A tire carcass (10) has a layer of uncured rubber (12) built up on the surface thereof. The mold (14) is disposed therearound with ribs (20) resting on the surface thereof. A semi-flexible cap (24) is disposed over the ends (16) and (18) which are separated by a gap (20). An elastic strap (26) is then wrapped about the assembly to secure the mold (14) to the built up tire carcass (10). An envelope (28) is then wrapped about the assembled tire carcass (10) to provide a radially inward force thereto. The whole assembly is then cured in a curing oven.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cold retreading or recapping of the running surface of a vehicle tire. A rubber, rope and cloth mold larger in diameter than the recap tires produced in it is produced utilizing a new tire male mold covered with perforated polypropylene film, uncured rubber with nylon rope at its edges and highly stretchable cloth enclosed in an envelope and cured by application of pressure and heat. A larger male mold is used to make the final female mold directly, or a like-size male mold is used to make an intermediate mold which is used to produce a tread ring that is stretched to form a larger diameter male mold from which a final mold is prepared. The somewhat flexible, compressible final female mold thus produced is then utilized in recapping tires by positioning it around a prepared tire carcass coated with cement, a layer of uncured rubber, and a sheet of perforated polypropylene film.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cold retreading of the running surface of a vehicle tire. A rubber and cloth mold is produced utilizing a new tire male mold covered with perforated polyethylene film, uncured rubber and highly stretchable cloth enclosed in an envelope and cured by application of pressure and heat. The somewhat flexible female mold thus produced is then utilized in recapping tires by positioning it around a prepared tire carcass coated with cement, a layer of uncured rubber, and a sheet of perforated polyethylene film. The mold and tire assembly is then enclosed in an envelope, and like assemblies are placed in a chamber where curing of the rubber layer is accomplished by inflation of the tire carcass, evacuation of the envelope, pressurization of the chamber and application of heat.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a novel molding machine which includes the usual matrices and bead aligner wheels but additionally includes an expandable chamber adapted to receive a pressurized medium therewithin and thereby to expand and urge the matrices into intimate face-to-face engagement, together with locking means in the form of a plurality of locking slides for locking the matrices in intimate engagement.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a heating device particularly adapted for tire treading and/or retreading matrices and includes a body having a continuously unending channel formed in an exterior peripheral surface of the matrix body in which is disposed an electric or steam heating element having opposite end portions in lapping relationship with the heating element being generally encased in a body of cast metallic material, and means in the form of a generally Z-shaped spacer traversing the channel and separating the solid material encasing the end portions on each other to permit the heating element to expand and/or contract.

Abstract: The production of a very large tire by expanding the uncured unrestrained carcass of the tire to engage its crown region with the radially inward surface of a rigid circumferentially continuous centering ring. The ring and the uncured carcass together are transported from the carcass expanding location to the tire curing mold which is adapted to receive and locate the ring and carcass together so as to prevent the mid-circumferential region of the carcass from shifting out of symmetry with the mold. The ring forms a part of the mold for molding and curing the tire carcass. The inward surface of the ring is provided with a pattern of grooves and ridges; the method and apparatus disclosed are particularly useful in the manufacture of a cured tire carcass adapted to combine with an endless tread assembly cured apart from and independently of the tire carcass to make the complete tire.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an apparatus for erecting structures from flowable and settable material and includes a lifting unit having an open ended shell supported by a carrier pivotally attached to a medial portion of an arm disposed generally radially to the structure which is to be formed, a first pair of relatively telescopically movable inner and outer members connected to an outboard end of the arm in generally tangential relationship to the structure, first means for moving the inner and outer members telescopically relative to each other, and second means for moving the inner and outer members along the arm in a synchronous manner to that of the relative telescopic motion.

Abstract: A resilient mold and a method for retreading tires using such mold which has an inner face of a normal, unstretched diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of a tire tread. The mold is in the shape of a ring and has, on its inner side or face, an embossing pattern which applies a tread design to a vulcanizable rubber band previously applied to a tire body. The ring mold is first expanded and then fitted over the tire body and the so-applied vulcanizable band and, thereafter, the ring mold is allowed to contract responsive to its inherent tension. The ring mold, thus fitted over the tread band, is centered on the body while the tire is rotated. This whole unit is then heated to a temperature which converts the tread band into a plastic form and embosses the tread design from the ring mold onto the tread band, which is vulcanized and bonded to the tire body.

Abstract: A tire mold having two "half" molds each including a side wall and a tread molding portion and a center ring having a tread molding portion for molding one third or less of the total width of the tire tread. The center ring is divided into eight sections each hinged to one of the half molds to swing open and outward of interfering portions of the tread pattern, being opened solely by the movement of the tire as it is lifted from the mold. No auxiliary mechanism for driving the sections is used or needed, and the mold is opened and closed in the same manner as the usual two piece tire mold. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a retread mold assembly which includes a base and a plurality of matrix segments which are movable relative to the base and in the closed position thereof define a generally annular cavity, spring-biased guide means normally urge the matrix segments away from the base, and pin means are provided and secured to the base for quick-disconnect coupling and uncoupling of the matrix segments to the base.

Abstract: An adjustable tire curing mold or matrix suitable for retreading tires of varying diameter. A plurality of rigid mold segments with adjacent segments joined to form a continuous annular mold of variable diameter, and means for compressing the mold segments inwardly about a tire positioned within the mold.

Abstract: A tire tread moldin apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus, which produces an endless and seamless toroidal tire tread for use in retreading of tire carcasses, utilizes a central mandrel and a sectional retractable outer portion, defining the inner and outer sides of a mold. The mandrel and the outer mold sections are heated to cure the rubber stock as it is formed into a tire tread, and curing pressure is provided by the manner in which the outer mold sections converge upon the mandrel and by thermo-expansion.