# US 10,308,077 B2 · Pneumatic tire > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,077 B2 - Document ID: US10308077B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/504,756 - Filed: 2015-08-07 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-29 - Assignees: Bridgestone Corporation - Applicants: Bridgestone Corporation - Inventors: Shintaro Hayashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308077B2 ## CPC - B60C 11/042: {further characterised by the groove cross-section} - B60C 11/01: Shape of the shoulders between tread and sidewall, e.g. rounded, stepped or cantilevered - B60C 11/03: Tread patterns - B60C 11/0306: {Patterns comprising block rows or discontinuous ribs} - B60C 11/12: characterised by the use of narrow slits or incisions, e.g. sipes - B60C 11/1204: {with special shape of the sipe} - B60C 11/1236: {with special arrangements in the tread pattern} - B60C 11/124: {inclined with regard to a plane normal to the tread surface} - B60C 11/1272: {Width of the sipe} - B60C 11/13: characterised by the groove cross-section, e.g. for buttressing or preventing stone-trapping - B60C 11/1384: {with chamfered block corners} - B60C 2011/0341: {Circumferential grooves} - B60C 2011/0388: {provided at the equatorial plane} - B60C 2011/1295: {variable} - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES ## Abstract This pneumatic tire includes, on a tread surface, land portions defined by tread edges and by circumferential main grooves extending continuously in the tread circumferential direction; central sipes, in a central land portion on a tire equatorial plane, extending in the tread width direction and formed at a predetermined pitch length, the central land portion being continuous in the tread circumferential direction between adjacent central sipes; and intermediate sipes, in intermediate land portions adjacent to the central land portion on both sides in the tread width direction with the circumferential main grooves therebetween, extending in the tread width direction and being formed at a predetermined pitch length, each intermediate land portion being continuous in the tread circumferential direction between adjacent intermediate sipes. The pitch length of the intermediate sipes is longer than that of the central sipes, and both ends of the central sipes open into the circumferential main grooves. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pneumatic tire comprising: on a tread surface, a plurality of circumferential main grooves extending continuously in a tread circumferential direction and a plurality of land portions defined by the circumferential main grooves and tread edges; central sipes, in a central land portion formed on a tire equatorial plane, extending in a tread width direction and being formed at a predetermined pitch length, the central land portion being continuous in the tread circumferential direction between adjacent central sipes; and intermediate sipes, in intermediate land portions adjacent to the central land portion on both sides in the tread width direction with the circumferential main grooves therebetween, extending in the tread width direction and being formed at a predetermined pitch length, each intermediate land portion being continuous in the tread circumferential direction between adjacent intermediate sipes; wherein the pitch length of the intermediate sipes is longer than the pitch length of the central sipes; wherein both ends of the central sipes open into the circumferential main grooves; wherein the central sipes have a chamfered portion at an opening position to the tread surface; wherein the intermediate sipes have a chamfered portion at an opening position to the tread surface; and wherein an amount of chamfering of the chamfered portion of the central sipes in the central land portion is greater than an amount of chamfering of the chamfered portion of the intermediate sipes in one intermediate land portion adjacent to the central land portion and is less than an amount of chamfering of the chamfered portion of the intermediate sipes in another intermediate land portion adjacent to the central land portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire of claim 1, wherein both ends of the intermediate sipes are in communication with the circumferential main grooves. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire of claim 1, wherein the intermediate sipes of the one intermediate land portion and the intermediate sipes of the other intermediate land portion are formed to be continuous smoothly and alternately with the central sipes via the circumferential main grooves. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire of claim 1, wherein in at least one of the intermediate land portions adjacent to the central land portion, lug grooves are formed between the intermediate sipes adjacent in the tread circumferential direction, with one end opening into the circumferential main groove and another end terminating within the intermediate land portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pneumatic tire of claim 4, wherein the lug grooves comprise a first lug groove opening into the circumferential main groove adjacent on the tire equatorial plane side of the intermediate land portion and a second lug groove opening into the circumferential main groove adjacent on the tread edge side of the intermediate land portion; and wherein the first lug groove and the second lug groove are formed to be separated in the tread circumferential direction and so as not to overlap in the tread width direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pneumatic tire of claim 1, wherein lug grooves on the tread edge side are formed in an outermost land portion in the tread width direction defined by the circumferential main groove and the tread edge, with one end of each lug groove on the tread edge side opening to the tread edge and another end terminating within the outermost land portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pneumatic tire of claim 6, wherein lug grooves on the tire equatorial plane side are formed in the outermost land portion, with one end opening into the circumferential main groove and another end terminating within the outermost land portion; and wherein the lug grooves on the tire equatorial plane side and the lug grooves on the tread edge side are formed so as not to overlap in a tire width direction.