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US 8,820,373 B2Granted
Tire having ribs, circumferential grooves and sipe pairs
AssigneeContinental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
InventorDaniel S. Mathews
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Tire having a tread pattern with superior performance characteristics. The tread pattern includes ribs and circumferential grooves which are at least one of tapered and/or generally V-shaped. The walls of each circumferential groove have a wavy and/or sinusoidal contour extending in a generally circumferential direction.
Claims20
A tire comprising:
- a tread pattern having ribs;
- circumferential grooves which are at least one of tapered and generally V-shaped, wherein walls of each of the circumferential grooves have inwardly and outwardly curved portions which form a wavy and/or sinusoidal contour extending in a generally circumferential direction, wherein the walls extend to a tread surface and form first and second opening edges, the first opening edge having inwardly curved portions, outwardly curved portions, and spaced-apart straight portions, the second opening edge having inwardly curved portions, outwardly curved portions, and spaced-apart straight portions, and a theoretical center line perpendicular to an axis of rotation running along the circumferential direction completely residing between the first and second opening edges;
- and
- sipe pairs which break up the first and second opening edges of each of the circumferential grooves,
- wherein the sipe pairs define the straight portions;
- and
- each straight portion extends from a sipe to another sipe and each outwardly curved portion extends from a sipe toward another sipe.
4 more elements
A tire comprising:
- a tread pattern having ribs;
- circumferential grooves which are at least one of tapered and generally V-shaped, at least one of the circumferential grooves comprising:
- inwardly and outwardly curved groove wall portions,
- a groove base having a wavy or sinusoidal contour extending in a generally circumferential direction,
- first and second groove opening edges each having at least inwardly curved portions, outwardly curved portions, and straight portions alternating between the inwardly curved portions, and
- a theoretical center line perpendicular to an axis of rotation running along the circumferential direction and completely residing between the opening edges;
- and
- sipe pairs which break up the first and second groove opening edges of each of the circumferential grooves,
- wherein the sipe pairs define the straight portions;
- and
- each straight portion extends from a sipe to another sipe and each outwardly curved portion extends from a sipe toward another sipe.
8 more elements
A tire comprising:
- a tread pattern having ribs;
- circumferential grooves which are at least one of tapered and generally V-shaped, each of the circumferential grooves comprising:
- inwardly and outwardly curved groove wall portions,
- an inwardly curved groove base having a wavy or sinusoidal contour which meanders substantially axially as it travels circumferentially, and
- first and second groove opening edges each having outwardly curved portions arranged between straight portions and inwardly curved portions, wherein the straight portions of the first groove opening edge alternate between the inwardly curved portions of the first groove opening edge, are phase shifted from the straight portions of the second groove opening edge, are oriented parallel to the circumferential direction, and are arranged opposite the inwardly curved portions of the second groove opening edge, and a theoretical center line perpendicular to an axis of rotation running along the circumferential direction and completely residing between the first and second groove opening edges;
- and
- sipe pairs which break up the first and second groove opening edges of each of the circumferential grooves,
- wherein the sipe pairs define the straight portions, and
- each straight portion extends from a sipe to another sipe and each outwardly curved portion extends from a sipe toward another sipe.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.