# US 11,298,980 B2 · Tire with a directional tread comprising curved blocks with chamfers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,980 B2 - Document ID: US11298980B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/553,686 - Filed: 2016-02-12 - Published: 2018-02-01 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-27 - Assignees: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin - Applicants: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin - Inventors: David Mosnier; Michel Montarras; Yann Hye - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298980B2 ## CPC - B60C 11/0302: {directional pattern, i.e. with main rolling direction} - B60C 11/0306: {Patterns comprising block rows or discontinuous ribs} - 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 11/1204: {with special shape of the sipe} - B60C 2011/0374: {Slant grooves, i.e. having an angle of about 5 to 35 degrees to the equatorial plane} - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES ## Abstract Tire (1) comprising a directional tread (2) comprising a plurality of blocks (5) extending continuously along an overall curvature C from one of the edges (3) towards the centre (4) of said tread, all or some of the blocks (5) of the tread comprising a median sipe (10) of length S extending along a curvature C′ substantially identical to the curvature C of the block, each block (5) comprising a central zone at an angle β1 such that 35°≤β1≤65°, an edge zone at an angle β3 such that 0°≤β3≤10°, and an intermediate zone between the central zone and the edge zone at an angle β2 allowing continuity between the three zones, at least some of the blocks (5) being designed with a block chamfer (15) provided at the trailing edge in the intermediate zone and/or the edge zone. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tire comprising: a directional tread, said tread comprising: two edges; a centre; a plurality of blocks, each said block extending continuously along an overall curvature C from one of the edges towards the centre of said tread, forming a block central end, each said block having a width WB and a length LB, said width increasing from the block central end in the direction of the edge, all or some of the blocks of the tread comprising a median sipe of length S, said median sipe extending along a curvature C′ substantially identical to the curvature C of the block, wherein each said block comprises: a central zone at an angle β1 with respect to the transverse direction such that 35°≤β1≤65°, an edge zone at an angle β3 such that 0°≤β3≤10°, and an intermediate zone between the central zone and the edge zone at an angle β2, and wherein at least one block comprises a block chamfer provided at the leading edge and/or the trailing edge of the block in said intermediate zone and/or said edge zone, and wherein said central zone does not have a chamfer, wherein at least some of the median sipes comprise a sipe chamfer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the block chamfers are arranged on a trailing edge of the block. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the sipe chamfer is located in the intermediate zone. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the median sipes comprise stiffening means which connect, for each sipe, the opposite faces of this sipe. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tire according to claim 4, wherein the stiffening means are arranged in the sipe at spacings of 5 to 20 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The tire according to claim 4, wherein, in at least one sipe, the spacing between the stiffening means is variable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The tire according to claim 4, wherein the stiffening means are integral with the tread. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the block chamfer provided at the leading edge and/or the trailing edge of the block in said intermediate zone and/or said edge zone forms a wall inclined at approximately 45° with respect to the tread surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the block chamfer provided at the leading edge and/or the trailing edge of the block in said intermediate zone and/or said edge zone is curved. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the blocks are made up of an elastomer composition based on a diene elastomer, a plasticizing system and an interlinking system, wherein the elastomer composition has a glass transition temperature of between −40° C. and −15° C. and a shear modulus G* measured at 60° C. of between 0.5 MPa and 1.1 MPa. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tire according to claim 10, wherein the glass transition temperature of the elastomer composition is between −20° C. and −30° C. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The tire according to claim 11, wherein the shear modulus G* is between 0.9 MPa and 1 MPa. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein each of the central zone, the edge zone, and the intermediate zone is substantially linear. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the overall curvature C is formed by linear segments. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1 further comprising a lateral sipe, wherein the lateral sipe comprises a droplet-shaped widening that opens in a shoulder of the tire. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1 further comprising a lateral sipe, wherein the lateral sipe comprises a droplet-shaped widening that is arranged axially beyond a tread width. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein at least one generally circumferential sipe arranged at the end of the median sipe is V-shaped and wherein an angle between the sides of the V-shape is between 100° and 170°. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1 further comprising a lateral sipe, wherein the lateral sipe that is offset from the median sipe between 2 and 6 mm. ### Claim 19 A tire comprising: a directional tread, said tread comprising: two edges; a centre; a plurality of blocks, each said block extending continuously along an overall curvature C from one of the edges towards the centre of said tread, forming a block central end, each said block having a width WB and a length LB, said width increasing from the block central end in the direction of the edge, all or some of the blocks of the tread comprising a median sipe of length S, said median sipe extending along a curvature C′ substantially identical to the curvature C of the block, wherein each said block comprises: a central zone at an angle β1 with respect to the transverse direction such that 35°≤β1≤65°, an edge zone at an angle β3 such that 0°≤β3≤10°, and an intermediate zone between the central zone and the edge zone at an angle β2, and wherein at least one block comprises a block chamfer provided at the leading edge and/or the trailing edge of the block in said intermediate zone and/or said edge zone, and wherein said central zone does not have a chamfer, wherein the at least one block comprises a block chamfer provided at the leading edge and/or the trailing edge of the block in said intermediate zone.