# US 11,077,716 B2 · Tire > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,716 B2 - Document ID: US11077716B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/933,022 - Filed: 2018-03-22 - Published: 2018-10-11 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-06 - Assignees: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. - Applicants: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. - Inventors: Yutaro Inada - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077716B2 ## CPC - B60C 11/0309: {further characterised by the groove cross-section} - B60C 11/11: in which the raised area of the pattern consists only of isolated elements, e.g. blocks (B60C11/12, B60C11/13 take precedence) - 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 11/125: {arranged at the groove bottom} - B60C 11/1307: {with special features of the groove walls} - B60C 11/24: Wear-indicating arrangements - B60C 2011/0346: {with zigzag shape} - B60C 2011/0355: {characterised by depth} - B60C 2011/0381: {Blind or isolated grooves} - B60C 2011/0383: {at the centre of the tread} - B60C 2011/1209: {straight at the tread surface} - B60C 2011/1213: {sinusoidal or zigzag at the tread surface} - B60C 2011/133: {comprising recesses} - B60C 2011/1338: {comprising protrusions} - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES ## Abstract A tire includes a tread portion including a main groove, a first block and a second block which are adjacent to one another in a tire axial direction through the main groove. The main groove includes first groove elements and second groove elements having groove widths smaller than that of the first groove elements. The first block includes a first ground contact surface, a first sidewall facing one of the second groove elements, a first corner portion between the first ground contact surface and the first sidewall, and a first recess being cut out the first corner portion locally. The second block includes a second ground contact surface, a second sidewall facing said one of the second groove elements, a second corner portion between the second ground contact surface and the second sidewall, and a second recess being cut out the second corner portion locally. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tire comprising: a tread portion comprising a circumferentially extending main groove, a first block and a second block which are adjacent to one another in a tire axial direction through the main groove; the main groove comprising first groove elements and second groove elements having groove widths smaller than groove widths of the first groove elements, the first groove elements and second groove elements being arranged alternately in a tire circumferential direction; the first block comprising a first ground contact surface, a first sidewall facing one of the second groove elements, a first corner portion between the first ground contact surface and the first sidewall, and a first recess being cut out the first corner portion locally; and the second block comprising a second ground contact surface, a second sidewall facing said one of the second groove elements, a second corner portion between the second ground contact surface and the second sidewall, and a second recess being cut out the second corner portion locally, wherein the first block is arranged on a side of a tire equator with respect to the second block, the first block is provided with a first sipe in communication with the first recess, and the second block is provided with a second sipe in communication with the second recess, the first recess has a trapezoidal-shaped opening edge on the first ground contact surface, an opening length of the opening edge measured along a longitudinal direction of said one of the second groove elements increases gradually toward said one of the second groove elements, the first sipe extends from a circumferential first end edge of the first recess, the first sipe comprising a first sipe edge being aligned with the circumferential first end edge of the first recess to form a single straight edge together, and the second sipe extends from a circumferential first end edge of the second recess, the second sipe comprising a first sipe edge being aligned with the circumferential first end edge of the second recess to form a single straight edge together. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the groove widths of the first groove elements are in a range of from 1.5 to 3.0 times the groove widths of the second groove elements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tire according to claim 2, wherein circumferential lengths of the second groove elements are in a range of from 0.5 to 1.5 times circumferential lengths of the first groove elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein circumferential lengths of the second groove elements are in a range of from 0.5 to 1.5 times circumferential lengths of the first groove elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein in a plan view of the tread portion, a maximum axial width of the first recess is in a range of from 5% to 25% a maximum axial width of the first block. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein a depth of the first recess is in a range of from 50% to 85% of a depth of the main groove. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the first block is arranged on a tire equator, and a second block is arranged on axially each side of the first block. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein a maximum axial width of the first recess is in a range of from 5% to 25% a maximum axial width of the first block, and a depth of the first recess is in a range of from 50% to 85% of a depth of the main groove. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tire according to claim 8, wherein a maximum axial width of the second recess is in a range of from 5% to 20% a maximum axial width of the second block, and a depth of the second recess is in a range of from 50% to 85% of a depth of the main groove. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the second block is further provided with another second sipe that is in communication with the second recess, and the another second sipe extends from a circumferential second end edge of the second recess, the another second sipe comprising a second sipe edge being aligned with the circumferential second end edge of the second recess to form a single straight edge together. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tire according to claim 10, the second block further comprising a third sidewall arranged axially outside the second block, a third corner portion between the third sidewall and the second ground contact surface, and an outer recess being cut out on the third corner portion locally, wherein the second sipe is connected to a circumferential first end edge of the outer recess, the second sipe comprising a first outer sipe edge being aligned with the circumferential first end edge of the outer recess to form a single straight edge together, and the another second sipe is connected to a circumferential second end edge of the outer recess, the another second sipe comprising a second outer sipe edge being aligned to the circumferential second end edge of the outer recess to form a single straight edge together. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, the first block further comprising a block main body having the first ground contact surface and at least one protrusion protruding from the block main body toward either one of lateral grooves adjacent to the first block in the tire circumferential direction, wherein the at least one protrusion has a top surface located radially inwardly from the first ground contact surface, the at least one protrusion, in a cross-sectional view along a groove-width direction of the lateral groove, has a step-shaped portion that includes two step elements extending along the first ground contact surface and two riser elements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tire according to claim 12, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a pair of protrusions each protruding toward a respective one of the lateral grooves, and the tread portion includes a block row of a plurality of first blocks arranged in the tire circumferential direction such that two protrusions are facing in the tire circumferential direction in each lateral groove.