Progressive tire mold element with scallops and tire formed by the same

Abstract

Particular embodiments of the present invention include a progressive sipe mold member with scallops and a corresponding sipe formed within a tire tread. In a particular embodiment, the present invention includes a progressive sipe mold member for use in a mold, the mold member comprising: an upper mold member extending downwardly from a top end to a bottom end; and, a first lower projection member and a second lower projection member, each lower member extending downward from the upper mold member and having recesses on their inward and outward facing surfaces. The sipe mold member may also have a sweep axis along which the sipe mold member undulates in a desired path as well as an undulation in the upper mold member. The mold member creates a sipe in the tread of a tire that has the negative image of the shape of the mold member.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.