Method and apparatus for improved tread splicing
AssigneeBridgestone Bandag, LLC
InventorsRobert G. Otting, Terry A. Westaway
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mold for molding a tire tread comprises a plurality of mold segments. Each of the plurality of mold segments includes an integer number of tread pitch repetitions. The plurality of mold segments are structured to be coupled to each other end-to-end so as to form the mold such that the mold includes an integer number of tread pitches. The mold also includes at least one mold end segment positioned on at least one end of the mold and has a mold end segment length shorter than a length of each of the plurality of mold segments.
Claims13
1-23. (canceled)
A method of forming a mold for molding a tire tread, the method comprising:
- positioning a first mold segment between a first end segment and a second end segment, the first mold segment comprising a first body portion, a third body portion, and a second body portion positioned between the first body portion and the third body portion, the first end segment comprising the second body portion and the third body portion, and the second end segment comprising the first body portion and the second body portion.
A method of forming a mold for forming a tire tread, the method comprising:
- providing a first mold segment having a first integer number of tread pitch repetitions;
- providing a first end segment having a first non-integer number of tread pitch repetitions, the first integer number being greater than the first non-integer number;
- and
- positioning the first mold segment in confronting relation with the first end segment such that a tread pattern of the first mold segment aligns with a tread pattern of the first end segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.