# US 2013/0153104 A1 · Snow Performance Peaks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153104 A1 - Document ID: US20130153104A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/325,075 - Filed: 2011-12-14 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14 - Assignees: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC - Inventors: Todd A. Buxton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153104A1 ## CPC - B60C 11/1353: {with special features of the groove bottom} - 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 2011/0358: {Lateral grooves, i.e. having an angle of 45 to 90 degees to the equatorial plane} - B60C 2011/1361: {with protrusions extending from the groove bottom} - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES ## Abstract A tire is disclosed having a tread extending from a first tread edge to a second tread edge and having a plurality of blocks defining a plurality of lateral grooves. The lateral grooves have a groove bottom defining a radial groove depth. A first biting side extends outwardly from the groove bottom to a first biting edge, and a first non-biting side extending outwardly from the groove bottom to a first non-biting edge. At least one peak is disposed in at least one of the lateral grooves. The peak extends outwardly from the groove bottom and terminates radially at an outer end and axially at a distance from the equatorial plane less than or equal to one half of the tread width. The peak has a height between 25 percent and 75 percent of the depth of its lateral groove. Multiple peaks may be disposed within a groove. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tire comprising: a tread extending from a first tread edge to a second tread edge and having a plurality of blocks defining a plurality of lateral grooves; the lateral grooves having a groove bottom defining a radial groove depth, a first biting side extending outwardly from the groove bottom to a first biting edge, and a first non-biting side extending outwardly from the groove bottom to a first non-biting edge; and a first peak disposed in at least one lateral groove extending outwardly from the groove bottom, terminating at a radially outer end and terminating at an axial distance from an equatorial plane less than or equal to one half a tread width, the first peak having a height between 25 percent and 75 percent of a depth of the at least one lateral groove. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tire of claim 1 wherein the radially outer end comprises a tapered edge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tire of claim 2 wherein the first peak comprises: a first substantially flat wall extending from the groove bottom at a first angle with respect to a radial direction and a second substantially flat wall extending from the groove bottom at a second angle with respect to the radial direction; the first wall extending further than the second wall, the first and second wall joined by a third substantially flat wall having a third angle relative to the radial direction; the third wall joining the first wall to form a tapered edge at the radially outer end of the first peak. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The tire of claim 2 wherein the first peak has a height of about 50 percent of the depth of the at least one lateral groove. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tire of claim 1 wherein the radially outer end of the first peak comprises: a substantially flat surface perpendicular to a radial direction and bordered by a second biting edge and a second non-biting edge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tire of claim 5 wherein the first peak further comprises: a first substantially flat wall extending radially from the groove bottom to the second biting edge and a second substantially flat wall extending radially from the groove bottom to the second non-biting edge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tire of claim 1, the first peak further comprising: a first wall and second wall extending outwardly from the groove bottom, wherein the radially outer end comprises a substantially flat surface perpendicular to a radial direction bordered by a first and second curved transition, the first curved transition disposed between the radially outer end and the first wall and the second curved transition disposed between the radially outer end and the second wall. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tire of claim 1 wherein the radially outer end comprises a substantially flat angled surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tire of claim 1 wherein the radially outer end comprises a rounded edge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tire of claim 1 wherein a second peak is disposed in the at least one lateral groove circumferentially adjacent the first peak and extending outwardly from the groove bottom, terminating at a second radially outer end and terminating at an axial distance from the equatorial plane less than or equal to one half a tread width, the second peak having a height between 25 percent and 75 percent of a depth of the at least one lateral groove. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tire of claim 10 wherein a third peak is disposed in the at least one lateral groove circumferentially adjacent the second peak and extending outwardly from the groove bottom, terminating at a third radially outer end and terminating at an axial distance from the equatorial plane less than or equal to one half a tread width, the third peak having a height between 25 percent and 75 percent of a depth of the at least one lateral groove. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The tire of claim 10 wherein the first peak has a radial height greater than the second peak by about 25 percent the depth of the at least one lateral groove. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The tire of claim 10 wherein the first peak has a radial height greater than the second peak by about 15 percent the depth of the at least one lateral groove. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The tire of claim 1 wherein the radially outer end comprises at least one laterally running sipe. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The tire of claim 1 wherein the first biting side is substantially flat and extends at an angle relative to a radial direction from the groove bottom to the first biting edge, and a first non-biting side is substantially flat and extends at an angle relative to a radial direction from the groove bottom to the first non-biting edge. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tire of claim 15 wherein the first peak comprises: a first substantially flat wall extending from the first biting edge at a first angle with respect to a radial direction and a second substantially flat wall extending from the first non-biting edge at a second angle with respect to the radial direction. ### Claim 17 A tire comprising: a tread extending from a first tread edge to a second tread edge and having a plurality of blocks having road contacting surfaces and defining a plurality of lateral grooves; the lateral grooves having a groove bottom defining a radial groove depth relative to the road contacting surface of blocks adjacent the lateral groove, a first biting side extending outwardly from the groove bottom, and a first non-biting side extending outwardly from the groove bottom; and a peak extending radially outwardly from the groove bottom of at least one of the lateral grooves, the peak terminating at a radially outer end recessed relative to the road contacting surface by at least about 25 percent of the groove depth and terminating at an axial distance from an equatorial plane less than or equal to one half a tread width. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The tire of claim 17 wherein the peak terminates at a radially outer end recessed relative to the road contacting surface by at least about 50 percent of the groove depth. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The tire of claim 18 wherein the peak has a circumferential width between about 66 percent and 33 percent of a circumferential width of the at least one of the lateral grooves. ### Claim 20 A tire comprising: a tread extending from a first tread edge to a second tread edge and having a plurality of blocks defining a plurality of lateral grooves; the lateral grooves having a groove bottom depth and defining a radial groove depth, a first biting side extending outwardly from the groove bottom to a first biting edge, and a first non-biting side extending outwardly from the groove bottom to a first non-biting edge; a first peak disposed in the at least one lateral groove extending outwardly from the groove bottom, terminating at a first radially outer end and terminating at an axial distance from an equatorial plane less than or equal to one half a tread width, the first peak having a height between 25 percent and 75 percent of a depth of the at least one lateral groove; and a second peak disposed in the at least one lateral groove circumferentially adjacent the first peak, extending outwardly from the groove bottom, terminating at a second radially outer end and terminating at an axial distance from the equatorial plane less than or equal to one half a tread width, the second peak having a height between 25 percent and 75 percent of a depth of the at least one lateral groove.