Tire mold reinforcement

A method of providing reinforced stand alone ribs in the surface of a mold of epoxy mold material for molding an article having recesses in the surface of the article comprising:

• (a) making a model of elastomeric material having recesses in the surface of said model;
• (b) applying a release agent to the surface of said model characterized by;
• (c) spraying said surface of said model with epoxy mold material containing reinforcing material to fill said recesses;
• (d) placing said model in a shoe container chamber having the shape of a complete mold part;
• (e) filling said shoe container with epoxy mold material to form a complete mold part;
• (f) retaining said epoxy mold material in said container while it is cured to form said mold part;
• and
• (g) separating said mold part from said model with said epoxy mold material in said recesses being pulled out of said recesses in said model in the form of reinforced stand alone ribs.

A method of providing reinforced stand alone ribs in the surface of a plastic mold for molding an article having recesses in the surface of the article comprising:

• (a) making a model of elastomeric material having recesses in the surface of said model;
• (b) applying a release agent to the surface of said model characterized by;
• (c) packing plastic mold material containing reinforcing material against said surface and into said recesses of said model;
• (d) placing said model in a shoe container chamber having the shape of a complete mold part;
• (e) filling said shoe container with a plastic mold material to form a complete mold part;
• (f) curing said plastic mold material in said container while it is cured;
• and
• (g) separating said mold part from said model with said plastic mold material containing said reinforcing material in said recesses being pulled out of said recesses in said model in the form of reinforced stand alone ribs.

A method of providing reinforced stand alone ribs in the surface of a mold of epoxy mold material for molding an article having recesses in the surface of the article comprising:

• (a) making a model of elastomeric material having recesses in the surface of said model;
• (b) placing said model in a shoe container;
• (c) applying a release agent to the surface of said model characterized by;
• (d) filling said shoe container with epoxy mold material containing reinforcing material to form a complete mold part;
• (e) applying pressure to said epoxy mold material in said shoe container to fill said recesses with said epoxy mold material and said reinforcing material;
• (f) retaining said epoxy mold material in said container while it is cured;
• and
• (g) separating said mold part from said model with said epoxy mold material containing said reinforcing material in said recesses being pulled out of said recesses in said model in the form of reinforced stand alone ribs.

A tire mold comprising:

• (a) a plurality of mold segments of epoxy resin mold material;
• (b) each of said segments having a radially inner tread molding surface with ribs for molding recesses in said tread surface characterized by;
• (c) said tread molding surface having recess forming stand alone ribs of a mixture of epoxy mold material and reinforcing material;
• and
• (d) each of said mold segments being completely shaped to mold a segment of a tire tread in said tire mold.

A segmental shoe for molding a tire mold with a plurality of other segmental shoes characterized by:

• (a) a center bracket member and two end brackets for supporting a segment of a tire tread model;
• (b) spaced apart radially extending side members;
• (c) a radially outward tread forming member connecting said side members;
• (d) end plate members fastened to said side members, said end brackets and said center bracket member to enclose a tread chamber;
• (e) an inlet in one of said side members for communicating a slurry of plastic material from a source outside of said shoe to said chamber to form a tread mold segment within said side members, characterized by said side members having substantially parallel surfaces so that upon removal of said center bracket and said end brackets said shoe may be mounted in a tire mold for application of said tread to a tire carcass.