The invention relates to a matrix for a tire mold for vulcanizing tire blanks, the matrix forming a negative mold of a profiled tread of a tire, the matrix having a mold shell and at least one fin plate disposed thereon, the mold shell forming a mold inside and the fin plate forming a web of the negative mold, a slit being formed in the mold shell, the fin plate being inserted into the slit and attached to the mold shell. The slit penetrates a mold wall of the mold shell and extends from the mold inside to a mold back side of the mold shell, the fin plate being bonded to the mold shell from the mold back side.

A removably attached coupling assembly can be used to be attached to a laser focus optic assembly of a liquid jet guided laser system. The coupling assembly can include a coupling body, a window assembly, and a nozzle assembly. The coupling assembly thus can allow the independent and separate servicing of the window and the nozzle. For example, to service the window, the coupling assembly can be first detached from the laser focus optic assembly, exposing the top portion of the coupling assembly. The window assembly then can be detached from the coupling assembly. The window can be removed from the window assembly for servicing, such as being repaired or replaced.

Provided is a sipe blade for molding a cavity in a tire tread. The sipe blade may comprise an elongated bulb core having an axis of elongation and a peripheral surface and an elongated thin strap. The elongated thin strap may have a first end fixedly mounted to an associated tire tread mold surface, a second end opposite the first end, and may extending substantially normally to the associated tire tread mold surface. The first end and the second end may be connected by a first face. A bulb may be formed from the first face wrapped over the peripheral surface starting from the second end.

The present invention relates to a set of mould elements comprising main blades and secondary blades, intended to be added to a mould for vulcanizing a tread of a tyre, said mould elements being capable of moulding cuts in the tread, characterized in that a main blade comprises at least one assembly means for assembling a secondary blade, said assembly means comprising two series of at least one protrusion arranged facing one another. It is thus possible to ensure a relative positioning and an assembly that can withstand mechanical stresses over the entire height of the blade during moulding/demoulding, while minimizing the volume of material added. This assembly is barely visible on the tyre.

A tire mold comprising a tread mold portion divided into mold segments having transverse edges which are movable between (i) an opened position, wherein the mold segments are spaced apart, and (ii) a closed position, wherein neighboring mold segments are in contact with each other, each of the mold segments comprising blades; wherein at least a first one of the mold segments has laterally extending blades located at a first transverse edge, wherein at least a second neighboring one of the mold segments has laterally extending blades located at a second transverse edge adjacent to the first transverse edge of the first one of said the mold segments, and when in the closed position said the laterally extending blades of the first one of the mold segments interlock between the laterally extending blades of the second one of said the mold segments.

A pneumatic tire is provided with sipes, at least some of which have an open top end to the surface of the tread block. An intersection of the sipe with a surface that is geometrically congruent and parallel with the surface of the tread block and arranged a depth apart from the surface of the tread block into the tread block forms a curved line. A first sipe is shaped in such a way, that at all depths (d) within a range from the open top of the first sipe to a first transition depth, the curved line includes at least one deflection point having an inner corner that has a radius of curvature under 0.3 mm. A lamella plate for manufacturing the pneumatic tire, the tread band, or the tread block. Use of the lamella plate for manufacturing a tread block, a tread band, or a pneumatic tire.

An assembly (1) of moulding elements for moulding cuts in a tread of a tire comprises a first sipe blade (2), a second sipe blade (3) and means for assembling the first sipe blade (2) with the second sipe blade (3), The assembly means comprise at least one slot (20) in the thickness of the first sipe blade (2), said first sipe blade (2) having no additional thickness at said slot (20) and a protuberance (30) in the continuation of the second sipe blade (3), said protuberance (30) being able to be inserted into the slot (20). This assembly system is both simple to produce and allows a multitude of configurations of the sipe blades relative to one another.

Rib- or fin-shaped element (1, 10) comprising an anchoring part (1b.sub.1, 10b.sub.1) and a molding part (1b.sub.2, 10b.sub.2), wherein the anchoring part (1b.sub.1, 10b.sub.1) can be anchored in a profile ring segment of a profile ring of a vulcanizing mold that molds the tread of a vehicle tire and the molding part (1b.sub.2, 10b.sub.2) is provided for molding a sipe or a groove in the tread.

The element (1, 10) has at least one elongate projection (1a, 11), which forms a bevel at the periphery of the tread and is produced by means of selective laser melting.

Embodiments of the invention include methods for reducing deformation of a sipe-molding member (10) arising during manufacturing operations, and sipe-molding members (10) comprising a sipe-forming portion (12) and a plurality of stiffening members (20) spaced along the sipe-forming portion. The sipe-forming portion (12) has a length extending in a lengthwise direction of the sipe-molding member (10), a height configured to extend into a depth of a molding cavity, and a thickness extending perpendicular to both the length and height. The sipe-molding member (10) is configured to form a sipe having a thickness commensurate with the thickness of the sipe-forming portion, a length formed by at least a portion of the length of the sipe-forming portion, and a depth formed by at least a portion of the height of the sipe-forming portion. Each of the plurality of stiffening members (20) extend outwardly from the thickness of the sipe-forming element. Further embodiments include methods of forming a molded tire tread.

A set (1) of moulding elements intended to be added to a mould comprise a main moulding element (10) and a secondary moulding element (20) comprising an edge (21), said main moulding element (10) comprising a contact zone (11) adapted to be in contact with all or part of the edge (21) of the secondary element, said contact zone (11) not being flat, and the edge (21) of said secondary moulding element (20) comprising at least one recessed portion (22) complementary to the non-flat contact zone (11) of the main element.