# US 7,607,908 B2 · Insert for a tire mold vent > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,908 B2 - Document ID: US7607908B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/263,636 - Filed: 2008-11-03 - Published: 2009-03-05 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-08 - Assignees: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC - Inventors: Edward Seroka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607908B2 ## CPC - B29D 30/0606: {Vulcanising moulds not integral with vulcanising presses (for solid tyres B29D30/02)} - B29C 33/10: with incorporated venting means - B29D 2030/0617: {Venting devices, e.g. vent plugs or inserts} - Y10S 425/812: Venting - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract An insert for a tire mold is provided. In one embodiment, the insert has an elongated cylindrical body. The insert includes at least one channel portion with a plurality of channels disposed in a non-axial direction along the surface of the insert. The at least one channel portion extends from a first end of the insert. The insert may further include a reduced diameter portion with at least one axial groove disposed thereon. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An insert for a tire mold comprising: an elongated body having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the elongated body having a plurality of channels extending in a non-axial direction to the second portion of the elongated body, and the second portion of the elongated body having at least one axial groove. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The insert of claim 1, wherein the elongated body of the insert has a chamfer disposed between the first portion and the second portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The insert of claim 1, wherein the at least one axial groove extends into the first portion of the elongated body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The insert of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the elongated body includes a circumferential groove dividing the first portion of the elongated body into a first channel portion and a second channel portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The insert of claim 4, wherein a diameter of the elongated body along the circumferential groove is less than or equal to a diameter of the second portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The insert of claim 4, wherein the at least one axial groove extends to the circumferential groove. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The insert of claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels of the first portion of the elongated body are disposed in a helical configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The insert of claim 7, wherein the plurality of channels of the first portion of the elongated body have a helical offset of about 0.020 inches per one-quarter revolution to about 0.080 inches per one-quarter revolution. ### Claim 9 A tire mold comprising: at least one elongated through hole extending from an interior surface of the tire mold to an exterior surface of the tire mold; and an insert disposed in the at least one elongated through hole, adjacent the interior surface of the tire mold, the insert having: a channel portion disposed adjacent the interior surface of the tire mold and having a plurality of channels disposed in a non-axial direction, and a reduced diameter portion spaced from the interior surface of the tire mold and having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the channel portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The tire mold of claim 9, wherein the insert further includes an axial groove disposed on the reduced diameter portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The tire mold of claim 9, wherein the insert has an outer diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the through hole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The tire mold of claim 11, wherein the through hole has a diameter of about 0.050 inches to about 0.250 inches. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The tire mold of claim 9, wherein the through hole has a diameter of about 0.050 inches to about 0.250 inches and a counter-bore adjacent the interior surface of the mold, the counter-bore having a diameter of about 0.06 inches to about 0.25 inches. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The tire mold of claim 13, wherein the insert is disposed in the counter-bore and wherein an outer diameter of the insert is approximately equal to the diameter of the counter-bore. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The tire mold of claim 9, wherein the insert further includes an auxiliary channel portion having a plurality of channels, and a circumferential groove disposed between the channel portion and the auxiliary channel portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tire mold of claim 15, wherein at least one axial groove extends into the auxiliary channel portion and the circumferential groove. ### Claim 17 An insert for a mold comprising: at least two channel portions including at least a first channel portion and a second channel portion, wherein each of the first and second channel portions includes a plurality of channels disposed in a non-axial direction along the surface of the insert; and a circumferential groove disposed between the first channel portion and the second channel portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The insert of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of channels has a v-shaped cross-section. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The insert of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of channels has a curved cross-section. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The insert of claim 17, further comprising at least one axial groove.