# US 12,179,516 B2 · Tire > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,516 B2 - Document ID: US12179516B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/593,637 - Filed: 2020-03-18 - Published: 2022-01-20 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-11 - Assignees: Bridgestone Corporation - Applicants: Bridgestone Corporation - Inventors: Kohei Sahashi; Shungo Fujita - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179516B2 ## CPC - B60C 11/0304: {Asymmetric patterns} - B60C 11/0318: {irregular patterns with particular pitch sequence} - B60C 11/032: {Patterns comprising isolated recesses} - B60C 11/12: characterised by the use of narrow slits or incisions, e.g. sipes - B60C 11/1315: {having variable inclination angles, e.g. warped groove walls} - B60C 19/002: {Noise damping elements provided in the tyre structure or attached thereto, e.g. in the tyre interior} - B60C 2011/0341: {Circumferential grooves} - B60C 2011/0353: {characterised by width} - B60C 2011/0374: {Slant grooves, i.e. having an angle of about 5 to 35 degrees to the equatorial plane} - B60C 2011/0388: {provided at 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 In a tire, a plurality of outer resonators (25) are formed in an outer land portion (28) partitioned by two outer main grooves (21, 22) and arranged in a tire circumferential direction, a plurality of inner resonators (26) are formed in an inner land portion (29) partitioned by two inner main grooves (23, 24) and arranged in the tire circumferential direction, the outer resonator includes a first vertical groove (31) which extend in the tire circumferential direction, and a first branch groove (32) and a second branch groove (33) which have an inner volume smaller than that of the first vertical groove, extend in the tire width direction from both end portions of the first vertical groove in the tire circumferential direction such that the first branch groove and the second branch groove extend in directions opposite to each other, and are respectively opened to the two outer main grooves, and the inner resonator includes a second vertical groove (36) which extends in the tire circumferential direction, and a third branch groove (37) and a fourth branch groove (38) which have an inner volume smaller than that of the second vertical groove, extend in the tire width direction from the second vertical groove such that the third branch groove and the fourth branch groove extend in directions opposite to each other, and are respectively opened to the two inner main grooves. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tire comprising a tread portion which is located at an outer end portion in a tire radial direction and includes a tread surface portion facing an outer side in the tire radial direction, wherein two outer main grooves extending continuously in a tire circumferential direction are formed in an outer tread surface portion of the tread surface portion located on an outer side of a vehicle in a tire width direction with respect to a tire equator, two inner main grooves extending continuously in the tire circumferential direction are formed in an inner tread surface portion of the tread surface portion located on an inner side of the vehicle in the tire width direction with respect to the tire equator, a central land portion partitioned by the outer main groove and the inner main groove adjacent to each other in the tire width direction extends continuously in the tire circumferential direction, a plurality of outer resonators are formed in an outer land portion, which is partitioned by the two outer main grooves, and arranged in the tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of inner resonators are formed in an inner land portion, which is partitioned by the two inner main grooves, and arranged in the tire circumferential direction, each outer resonator includes a first vertical groove which extends in the tire circumferential direction, and a first branch groove and a second branch groove which have an inner volume smaller than that of the first vertical groove, extend in the tire width direction from both end portions of the first vertical groove in the tire circumferential direction such that the first branch groove and the second branch groove extend in directions opposite to each other, and are respectively opened to the two outer main grooves, each inner resonator includes a second vertical groove which extends in the tire circumferential direction, and a third branch groove and a fourth branch groove which have an inner volume smaller than that of the second vertical groove, extend in the tire width direction from the second vertical groove such that the third branch groove and the fourth branch groove extend in directions opposite to each other, and are respectively opened to the two inner main grooves, two end portions of the first vertical groove in the tire circumferential direction have widths, the first vertical groove includes a first portion located on one side in the tire circumferential direction and a second portion located on another side in the tire circumferential direction, a width of the first portion is constant on an entire length of the first portion in the tire circumferential direction, a width of the second portion becomes narrower from the one side toward the other side in the tire circumferential direction, and a connecting portion of the second portion with the first portion protrudes outward in the tire width direction with respect to the first portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the number of the outer resonators is larger than the number of the inner resonators. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tire according to claim 2, wherein a size of each outer resonator in the tire circumferential direction is smaller than a size of each inner resonator in the tire circumferential direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tire according to claim 3, wherein the first branch groove and the second branch groove extend, from the first vertical groove toward the outer main grooves, in a direction away from the first vertical groove in the tire circumferential direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The tire according to claim 3, wherein a groove width of a first outer main groove, of the two outer main grooves, located on an outer side in the tire width direction is widest among the two outer main grooves and the two inner main grooves. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The tire according to claim 3, wherein the first vertical groove includes a first portion located on one side in the tire circumferential direction and a second portion located on the other side in the tire circumferential direction, and any one of the first portion and the second portion protrudes in the tire width direction with respect to the other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The tire according to claim 2, wherein the first branch groove and the second branch groove extend, from the first vertical groove toward the outer main grooves, in a direction away from the first vertical groove in the tire circumferential direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tire according to claim 7, wherein a groove width of a first outer main groove, of the two outer main grooves, located on an outer side in the tire width direction is widest among the two outer main grooves and the two inner main grooves. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The tire according to claim 2, wherein a groove width of a first outer main groove, of the two outer main grooves, located on an outer side in the tire width direction is widest among the two outer main grooves and the two inner main grooves. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The tire according to claim 2, wherein the first vertical groove includes a first portion located on one side in the tire circumferential direction and a second portion located on the other side in the tire circumferential direction, and any one of the first portion and the second portion protrudes in the tire width direction with respect to the other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein a size of each outer resonator in the tire circumferential direction is smaller than a size of each inner resonator in the tire circumferential direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The tire according to claim 11, wherein the first branch groove and the second branch groove extend, from the first vertical groove toward the outer main grooves, in a direction away from the first vertical groove in the tire circumferential direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The tire according to claim 11, wherein a groove width of a first outer main groove, of the two outer main grooves, located on an outer side in the tire width direction is widest among the two outer main grooves and the two inner main grooves. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The tire according to claim 11, wherein the first vertical groove includes a first portion located on one side in the tire circumferential direction and a second portion located on the other side in the tire circumferential direction, and any one of the first portion and the second portion protrudes in the tire width direction with respect to the other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the first branch groove and the second branch groove extend, from the first vertical groove toward the outer main grooves, in a direction away from the first vertical groove in the tire circumferential direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tire according to claim 15, wherein a groove width of a first outer main groove, of the two outer main grooves, located on an outer side in the tire width direction is widest among the two outer main grooves and the two inner main grooves. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The tire according to claim 15, wherein the first vertical groove includes a first portion located on one side in the tire circumferential direction and a second portion located on the other side in the tire circumferential direction, and any one of the first portion and the second portion protrudes in the tire width direction with respect to the other. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein a groove width of a first outer main groove, of the two outer main grooves, located on an outer side in the tire width direction is widest among the two outer main grooves and the two inner main grooves. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The tire according to claim 18, wherein the first vertical groove includes a first portion located on one side in the tire circumferential direction and a second portion located on the other side in the tire circumferential direction, and any one of the first portion and the second portion protrudes in the tire width direction with respect to the other. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The tire according to claim 1, wherein the first vertical groove includes a first portion located on one side in the tire circumferential direction and a second portion located on the other side in the tire circumferential direction, and any one of the first portion and the second portion protrudes in the tire width direction with respect to the other.