# US 2024/0109375 A1 · Noise-reducing tire

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- Number: US 2024/0109375 A1
- Document ID: US20240109375A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/473,865
- Filed: 2023-09-25
- Published: 2024-04-04
- Earliest claimed: 2022-09-29
- Assignees: Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Jong Hoon SEO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240109375A1

## CPC

- B60C 11/0306: {Patterns comprising block rows or discontinuous ribs}
- B60C 11/1369: {Tie bars for linking block elements and bridging the groove}
- B60C 11/0309: {further characterised by the groove cross-section}
- B60C 11/1218: {Three-dimensional shape with regard to depth and extending direction}
- B60C 11/1263: {different within the same sipe}
- B60C 11/1281: {different within the same sipe, i.e. enlarged width portion at sipe bottom or along its length}
- B60C 2011/0341: {Circumferential grooves}
- B60C 2011/0362: {Shallow grooves, i.e. having a depth of less than 50% of other grooves}
- B60C 2011/0365: {characterised by width}
- B60C 2011/0369: {with varying depth of the groove}
- B60C 2011/0388: {provided at the equatorial plane}
- B60C 2011/1231: {being shallow, i.e. sipe depth of less than 3 mm}
- B60C 2011/1338: {comprising protrusions}
- 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

In order to reduce noise energy, an embodiment provides a noise-reducing tire including lateral grooves 30 formed in the lateral direction from the longitudinal grooves 20 towards the sidewall 5, the lateral grooves 30 widening in width towards the sidewall 5.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A noise-reducing tire comprising:
side walls on both sides;
a tread portion connecting outer circumferences of the side walls;
a longitudinal groove formed in the tread portion along a driving direction; and
a lateral groove formed from the longitudinal groove towards the side wall in the lateral direction,
wherein the lateral groove expands in width towards the side wall.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The noise-reducing tire of claim 1, wherein the lateral groove communicates with the longitudinal groove at an end thereof on a side of the longitudinal groove.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The noise-reducing tire of claim 1, wherein the lateral groove comprises a lateral expansion section expanding in width in a stepwise manner, comprising one or more sidewall steps in at least one of both sidewalls thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The noise-reducing tire of claim 3, wherein the sidewall steps formed in the length direction (X-direction) of the lateral groove each widens sequentially in width within a range of 0.01 mm to 0.1 mm, relative to the width of the lateral groove.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The noise-reducing tire of claim 3, wherein the sidewall steps have a tapered profile, narrowing towards the side of the longitudinal grooves and widening towards the side walls.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The noise-reducing tire of claim 1, wherein the lateral groove communicates with the longitudinal groove at the end on the side of the longitudinal groove and comprises a lower surface of which the depth is shallow on the side of the longitudinal groove and deep on the side of the side wall, with respective to the surface of the tread portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The noise-reducing tire of claim 1, wherein the lateral groove communicates with the longitudinal groove at an end thereof on the side of the longitudinal groove, and comprises a lower surface comprising a lower surface step portion comprising one or more lower surface steps gradually deepening towards the side wall.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The noise-reducing tire of claim 1, wherein the lateral groove further comprises one of a non-spaced tie bar connecting the inner walls of the lateral groove without being separated apart from the longitudinal groove and a spaced tie bar connecting the inner walls of the lateral groove while being spaced apart from the longitudinal groove.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The noise-reducing tire of claim 8, wherein the tie bar has a shape deepening in a flat surface or a parabolic shape.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The noise-reducing tire of claim 8, wherein the tie bar has a starting point positioned on the inner lower surface of the lateral groove within a range of 0 to 3 mm away from the longitudinal groove.