# US 9,517,662 B2 · Pneumatic tire

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- Number: US 9,517,662 B2
- Document ID: US9517662B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/644,856
- Filed: 2012-10-04
- Published: 2013-04-25
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2011-10-20
- Assignees: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Kazuki Kawakami
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517662B2

## CPC

- B60C 19/086: {using conductive sidewalls}
- B60C 13/00: Tyre sidewalls; Protecting, decorating, marking, or the like, thereof (B60C17/08 takes precedence; tyre shoulders B60C11/01; removable tyre sidewall trim rings B60B7/01)
- B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES

## Abstract

A diametrical conductive portion extending in a tire diametrical direction in a tire meridian cross section is provided at least in a nonconductive position in a side rubber portion which is constructed by a side wall rubber and a rim strip rubber, a conductive branch portion is provided so as to be branched from the diametrical conductive portion, extend to at least one in a thickness direction of the side rubber portion and pass through an inner portion of the side rubber portion, and the conductive branch portion is arranged at a position which sections at least half position in the thickness direction of the side rubber portion into an outer side in a tire diametrical direction and an inner side in the tire diametrical direction, and is formed by a conductive rubber which has a different hardness from a rubber hardness of the side rubber portion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pneumatic tire comprising:
a nonconductive carcass which runs into a bead portion from a tread portion via a side wall portion;
a side wall rubber which is provided in an outer side of the carcass in the side wall portion;
a rim strip rubber which is provided in an outer side of the carcass in the bead portion; and
a conductive route which electrically connects a ground surface of the tread portion and a rim contact position of the bead portion,
at least one of the side wall rubber and the rim strip rubber being formed by a nonconductive rubber,
wherein a diametrical conductive portion extending in a tire diametrical direction in a tire meridian cross section is provided at least in a nonconductive position in a side rubber portion which is constructed by the side wall rubber and the rim strip rubber, the diametrical conductive portion is formed by a conductive rubber so as to construct a part of the conductive route,
a conductive branch portion is provided so as to be branched from the diametrical conductive portion, extending at least in a thickness direction of the side rubber portion having a dimension in the thickness direction equal to or greater than 0.5 times an axial dimension of the side rubber portion, and is formed by a conductive rubber which has a different hardness from a rubber hardness of the side rubber portion, wherein the conductive branch portion is arranged in a plurality of rows in the tire diametrical direction,
wherein the conductive branch portion is arranged in a plurality of rows in the tire diametrical direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the dimension in the thickness direction of the conductive branch portion is equal to the axial dimension of the side rubber portion forming a plurality of segments in the side rubber portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein a leading end of the conductive branch portion terminates at the inner portion of the side rubber portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the diametrical conductive portion constructed by the conductive rubber is arranged at a position which covers an outer surface of the side rubber portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the diametrical conductive portion constructed by the conductive rubber is arranged in an inner surface of the side rubber portion, and the conductive branch portion is branched from the diametrical conductive portion so as to extend to an outer side in a thickness direction.