# US 11,110,754 B2 · Tread block arrangement having a sipe > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,110,754 B2 - Document ID: US11110754B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/215,933 - Filed: 2018-12-11 - Published: 2019-07-11 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-05 - Assignees: Nokian Renkaat Oyj - Applicants: Nokian Renkaat Oyj - Inventors: Jorma Tikka; Tomi Korkama; Outi Husso - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110754B2 ## CPC - B60C 11/1281: {different within the same sipe, i.e. enlarged width portion at sipe bottom or along its length} - B60C 11/0302: {directional pattern, i.e. with main rolling direction} - B60C 11/0306: {Patterns comprising block rows or discontinuous ribs} - 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 11/1218: {Three-dimensional shape with regard to depth and extending direction} - B60C 11/1236: {with special arrangements in the tread pattern} - B60C 11/1263: {different within the same sipe} - B60C 2011/0358: {Lateral grooves, i.e. having an angle of 45 to 90 degees to the equatorial plane} - B60C 2011/0388: {provided at the equatorial plane} - B60C 2011/1209: {straight at the tread surface} - B60C 2011/1213: {sinusoidal or zigzag at the tread surface} - B60C 2011/1227: {having different shape within the pattern} - B60C 2011/1268: {being different from sipe to sipe} - B60C 2011/1286: {being different from sipe to sipe} - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES ## Abstract A tread block arrangement suitable for a tire or for a tread band for a tire. The tread block arrangement comprises a tread block that limits a first primary sipe. The first primary sipe comprises at least a first deep part and a second deep part separated from the first deep part by a first shallow part. A depth of the first deep part is at least three times a depth of the first shallow part and a depth of the second deep part is at least three times the depth of the first shallow part. The first deep part is limited in a longitudinal direction of the first primary sipe by a primary first end wall and a secondary first end wall such that a first angle between the primary first end wall and the secondary first end wall is from 1 degree to 30 degrees. The second deep part is limited in a longitudinal direction of the first primary sipe by a primary second end wall and a secondary second end wall such that a second angle between the primary second end wall and the secondary second end wall is from 1 degree to 30 degrees. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tread block arrangement suitable for a tire or for a tread band for a tire, the tread block arrangement comprising: a tread block that limits a first primary sipe, the first primary sipe comprising at least a first deep part and a second deep part separated from the first deep part by a first shallow part, wherein a depth of the first deep part is at least three times a depth of the first shallow part, a depth of the second deep part is at least three times the depth of the first shallow part, the tread block arrangement defines a primary boundary and a central line which is parallel to the primary boundary, a second shallow part of the first primary sipe is located closer to the primary boundary than the first shallow part, the second shallow part is located further away from the central line than the first shallow part, the first shallow part has a first primary length on a level of a bottom of the first shallow part, and the second shallow part has a second primary length on a level of a bottom of the second shallow part, wherein the second primary length is greater than the first primary length, the first deep part is limited in a longitudinal direction of the first primary sipe by a primary first end wall and a secondary first end wall such that a first angle between the primary first end wall and the secondary first end wall is from 1 degree to 30 degrees, and the second deep part is limited in a longitudinal direction of the first primary sipe by a primary second end wall and a secondary second end wall such that a second angle between the primary second end wall and the secondary second end wall is from 1 degree to 30 degrees. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tread block arrangement of the claim 1, wherein the depth of the first deep part is at least five times the depth of the first shallow part, and the depth of the second deep part is at least five times the depth of the first shallow part. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tread block arrangement of the claim 1, wherein the depth of the first shallow part is from 0.1 mm to 2.0 mm, the depth of the first deep part is from 5 mm to 15 mm, and the depth of the second deep part is from 5 mm to 15 mm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tread block arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first deep part has a first secondary length on a level of a bottom of such a shallow part that is next to the first deep part, and the second deep part has a second secondary length on a level of a bottom of such a shallow part that is next to the second deep part, wherein a ratio of the first primary length to the first secondary length is from 1/3 to 3, and/or the first secondary length is greater than the first primary length, and a ratio of the first primary length to the second secondary length is from 1/3 to 3, and/or the second secondary length is greater than the first primary length. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tread block arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first deep part has a first secondary length on a level of a bottom of such a shallow part that is next to the first deep part, the second deep part has a second secondary length on a level of a bottom of such a shallow part that is next to the second deep part, the first deep part has a first tertiary length as measured at a level of a bottom of the first deep part, and the second deep part has a second tertiary length as measured at a level of a bottom of the second deep part, wherein a ratio of the first tertiary to the first secondary length is at most 95%, at most 90% or at most 75% and a ratio of the second tertiary to the second secondary length is at most 95%, at most 90% or at most 75%. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tread block arrangement of claim 1, wherein when viewed from top, the first primary sipe comprises at least two deflection points in such a way that the first primary sipe forms a form of a zig-zag, optionally with rounded corners, as seen from top. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tread block arrangement of claim 1, wherein, when viewed from top, the first primary sipe extends only straight in between the primary first end wall and the secondary first end wall and only straight in between the primary second end wall and the secondary second end wall. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tread block arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first primary sipe comprises: a third deep part separated from the first deep part or the second deep part by a second shallow part, wherein the third deep part is limited in a longitudinal direction of the first primary sipe by a primary third end wall and a secondary third end wall such that a third angle between the primary third end wall and the secondary third end wall is from 1 degree to 30 degrees. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tread block arrangement of claim 1, wherein the depth of the first deep part is different from the depth of the second deep part. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tread block arrangement of claim 1, wherein the tread block that limits the first primary sipe defines a part of the primary boundary of the tread block arrangement. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tread block arrangement of claim 1, wherein the tread block further limits a second primary sipe, wherein only one lamella is left in between the first primary sipe and the second primary sipe. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The tread block arrangement of the claim 11, wherein the tread block further limits a third primary sipe, wherein only one lamella is left in between the first primary sipe and the third primary sipe, and the first primary sipe is left in between the second primary sipe and the third primary sipe. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The tread block arrangement of claim 1, wherein the tread block defines a part of the primary boundary. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The tread block arrangement of claim 1, further comprising: a middle block extending through the tread block arrangement in a direction that is perpendicular to a transversal direction of the tread block arrangement and perpendicular to the thickness of the tread block arrangement and a primary intermediate block, the tread block, the middle block and the primary intermediate blocks of the tread block arrangement defining a groove pattern such that each block of the tread block arrangement is separated from another block of the tread block arrangement by a portion of the groove pattern; wherein [A] the middle block and/or the primary intermediate block, is provided with a sipe or sipes comprising at least four deflection points, of which at least two have an acute deflection angle and/or [B] the middle block and/or the primary intermediate block, is provided with such a sipe or sipes that have a wide part in between two narrow parts. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The tread block arrangement of claim 1, wherein the central line divides the tread block arrangement to a primary part of the tread block arrangement and a secondary part of the tread block arrangement such that the primary part of the tread block arrangement limits a primary portion of a groove pattern and the secondary part of the tread block arrangement limits a secondary portion of the groove pattern, wherein the secondary portion of the groove pattern is a longitudinally transferred mirror image of the primary portion of the groove pattern or a mirror image of the primary portion of the groove pattern. ### Claim 16 (depends on 6) The tread block arrangement of claim 6, wherein at least one of the deflection points is arranged at a location of the first shallow part. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The tread block arrangement of claim 11, wherein the second primary sipe comprises a locking protrusion and a locking depression configured to lock neighbouring lamellas of the second primary sipe to each other. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The tread block arrangement of claim 11, wherein the second primary sipe, when viewed from top, forms a zig-zag.