Stiffeners for sipe-molding members

A method of reducing deformation of a sipe-molding member arising during manufacturing operations, the method comprising:

• forming a sipe-molding member configured to form a sipe in a tire tread, the sipe-molding member comprising:
• a sipe-forming portion having a length extending in a lengthwise direction of the sipe-molding member, a height configured to extend into a depth of a molding cavity, and a thickness extending perpendicular to both the length and height, the sipe-forming portion extending along an undulating, non-linear path having a plurality of undulations, where each undulation forms a valley arranged opposite a peak relative the thickness of the sipe-forming portion, the sipe-molding member configured to form a sipe having a thickness commensurate with the thickness of the sipe-forming portion, a length formed by at least a portion of the length of the sipe-forming portion, and a depth formed by at least a portion of the height of the sipe-forming portion;
• and,
• a plurality of stiffening members spaced along the sipe-forming portion, where each of the plurality of stiffening members extends outwardly from the thickness of the sipe-forming portion and extends from and between adjacent undulations of the plurality of undulations of the sipe-forming portion such that each stiffener extends across the valley associated with one of the undulations,
• where each of the plurality of stiffening members extend only a partial distance along the sipe-forming portion height.

A method of forming a molded tire tread, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a sipe-molding member configured to form a sipe in a tire tread, the sipe-molding member comprising:
• a sipe-forming portion having a length extending in a lengthwise direction of the sipe-molding member, a height configured to extend into a depth of a molding cavity, and a thickness extending perpendicular to both the length and height, the sipe-forming portion extending along an undulating, non-linear path having a plurality of undulations, where each undulation forms a valley arranged opposite a peak relative the thickness of the sipe-forming portion, the sipe-molding member configured to form a sipe having a thickness commensurate with the thickness of the sipe-forming portion, a length formed by at least a portion of the length of the sipe-forming portion, and a depth formed by at least a portion of the height of the sipe-forming portion;
• and,
• a plurality of stiffening members spaced along the sipe-forming portion, where each of the plurality of stiffening members extends outwardly from the thickness of the sipe-forming portion and extends from and between adjacent undulations of the plurality of undulations of the sipe-forming portion such that each stiffener extends across the valley associated with one of the undulations,
• where each of the plurality of stiffening members extend only a partial distance along the sipe-forming portion height;
• arranging the sipe-molding member within a mold and molding at least a tire tread, the tire tread including a sipe formed by the sipe-molding member.