Non-symmetrical tread ring parting line mold
AssigneeBridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
InventorsDale R. Harrigle, Michael J. Kubiak, Neal G. Sehm, Chad J. Saylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mold design having a non-symmetric tread ring parting line is described that forms a tread pattern that extends onto the off-shoulder area of a tire on one side. The mold has a single tread segment that forms the entire tread pattern on the tire. The tread segment of the mold is non-symmetric in that one end, a first end, extends farther downward than the opposite end, a second end. The first end of the tread segment contains a tread pattern design capable of imparting a tread design on the off-shoulder or sidewall of one side of the tire to form a non-symmetric tread pattern.
Claims20
A tire mold for forming a tire comprising:
- a plurality of tread mold segments, the tread mold segments each comprising an inner surface that contacts a tread portion of a green tire for forming a non-symmetrical tread pattern on the tire;
- a pair of side molds, the side molds being in direct contact with the plurality of tread mold segments when the tire mold is closed, the side molds comprising an inner surface that contacts a sidewall portion of the tire;
- wherein when the plurality of tread mold segments and the pair of side molds are closed, a compartment in the tire mold is created for forming the tread portion and a pair of sidewalls of the tire.
A tire mold comprising:
- a plurality of tread mold segments, the plurality of tread mold segments each comprising a first end face, a second end face, and an inner surface for forming a tread pattern on a tire;
- a pair of side molds comprising a first side mold and a second side mold, the pair of side molds each comprising a sidewall inner surface for forming a sidewall on the tire;
- the first side mold comprising a first side mold end face in direct contact with the first end face of the plurality of tread mold segments at a first level;
- the second side mold comprising a second side mold end face in direct contact with the second end face of the plurality of tread mold segments at a second level;
- wherein the first level is offset to the second level.
A tread mold segment of a tire mold, the tread mold segment comprising:
- a first end face for contacting a first side mold, a second end face for contacting a second side mold, and an inner surface extending between the first end face and the second end face;
- the first end face of the tread mold segment being vertically displaced lower than the second end face of the tread mold segment in the radial direction;
- and
- the inner surface comprising a tread-forming surface for forming a non-symmetrical tread pattern on a tire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.