# US 12,600,175 B2 · Tire tread with three sipe levels and tire

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,600,175 B2
- Document ID: US12600175B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/013,473
- Filed: 2021-07-28
- Published: 2023-09-28
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2020-07-31
- Assignees: Bridgestone Europe NV/SA
- Applicants: Bridgestone Europe NV/SA [BE/BE]
- Inventors: Antonio Tirone; Guido Piscopo; Giuseppe Delli Castelli
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12600175B2

## CPC

- B60C 11/1218: {Three-dimensional shape with regard to depth and extending direction}
- B60C 11/1281: {different within the same sipe, i.e. enlarged width portion at sipe bottom or along its length}
- B60C 11/1259: {Depth of the sipe}
- B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a tread for tires. In particular, it refers to a tread that has a sipe geometry with 3 levels.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tread for a tire, the tread comprising:
a plurality of tread components each having a respective contact surface, wherein at least one of the plurality of tread components comprises a sipe defining a first and a second opposing faces of the at least one component;
wherein the sipe has a sipe depth along a wear direction substantially orthogonal to the respective contact surface;
wherein the sipe depth comprises in sequence, from a radially external position to a radially internal position, a first and a second section, wherein an intermediate section links said first and second section; and
wherein the first and second opposing faces:
define first profiles along the first section with a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal extension direction of the sipe, the first profiles presenting a pattern to intersect a straight line lying in the orthogonal plane in at least two distinct points;
define second profiles along the second section with the orthogonal plane, said second profiles presenting a rectilinear pattern; and
are continuously and increasingly spaced apart between a minimum depth and a maximum depth of the intermediate section,
wherein the width of the sipe in the second section is substantially constant along the depth of the second section and less than the width of the sipe at the maximum depth of the intermediate section.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tread of claim 1, wherein a ratio between a mutual distance of the first and second faces at the minimum depth and at the maximum depth is between 0.3 and 0.9.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The tread of claim 1, wherein the first and second opposing faces each defines a respective angle comprised between 60° and 90° with respect to a surface parallel to the contact surface at the intermediate section.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The tread of claim 1, wherein the first section has an extension comprised between 40% and 60% of the sipe depth.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The tread of claim 1, wherein the intermediate section has an extension comprised between 40% and 60% of the sipe depth.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The tread of claim 1, wherein the second section has an extension up to 25% of the sipe depth.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The tread of claim 1, wherein the first and second opposing sides have a planar conformation at the intermediate section.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The tread of claim 1, wherein the first and second opposing faces define respective third profiles with a surface parallel to the contact surface, the respective third profiles having a pattern to intersect a straight line lying in the parallel surface in at least two distinct points.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The tread of claim 1, wherein the sipe has a longitudinal extension comprised between opposite ends of the at least one component.

### Claim 10

A tire comprising a tread, wherein the tread comprises:
a plurality of tread components each having a respective contact surface, wherein at least one of the plurality of tread components comprises a sipe defining a first and a second opposing faces of the at least one component;
wherein the sipe has a sipe depth along a wear direction substantially orthogonal to the respective contact surface;
wherein the sipe depth comprises in sequence, from a radially external position to a radially internal position, a first and a second section, wherein an intermediate section links said first and second section; and
wherein the first and second opposing faces:
define first profiles along the first section with a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal extension direction of the sipe, the first profiles presenting a pattern to intersect a straight line lying in the orthogonal plane in at least two distinct points;
define second profiles along the second section with the orthogonal plane, said second profiles presenting a rectilinear pattern; and
are continuously and increasingly spaced apart between a minimum depth and a maximum depth of the intermediate section,
wherein the width of the sipe in the second section is substantially constant along the depth of the second section and less than the width of the sipe at the maximum depth of the intermediate section.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The tire of claim 10, wherein a ratio between a mutual distance of the first and second faces at the minimum depth and at the maximum depth is between 0.3 and 0.9.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The tire of claim 10, wherein the first and second opposing faces each defines a respective angle comprised between 60° and 90° with respect to a surface parallel to the contact surface at the intermediate section.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The tire of claim 10, wherein the first section has an extension comprised between 40% and 60% of the sipe depth.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The tire of claim 10, wherein the intermediate section has an extension comprised between 40% and 60% of the sipe depth.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The tire of claim 10, wherein the second section has an extension up to 25% of the sipe depth.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The tire of claim 10, wherein the first and second opposing sides have a planar conformation at the intermediate section.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The tire of claim 10, wherein the first and second opposing faces define respective third profiles with a surface parallel to the contact surface, the respective third profiles having a pattern to intersect a straight line lying in the parallel surface in at least two distinct points.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The tire of claim 10, wherein the sipe has a longitudinal extension comprised between opposite ends of the at least one component.