MULTIPLANE INTERLOCKING STRUCTURE FOR A TREAD OF A TIRE

Abstract

A tread for a tire includes a plurality of circumferential ribs, at least one of the ribs having sipes extending in a zigzag manner as the sipes extend axially across the rib and also extending in a zigzag manner as the sipes project radially inward from a radially outer surface of the rib.

Claims

1. A tread for a tire comprising: a plurality of circumferential ribs, at least one of the ribs having sipes extending in a zigzag manner as the sipes extend axially across the rib and also extending in a zigzag manner as the sipes project radially inward from a radially outer surface of the rib.

2. The tread as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sipes further include a curved, cylindrical radially innermost surfaces to mitigate cracking and to increase circumferential flexibility of the tread.

3. The tread as set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of ribs further includes a first circumferential central rib, a second circumferential intermediate rib, a third circumferential intermediate rib, a fourth circumferential shoulder rib and a fifth circumferential shoulder rib.

4. The tread as set forth in claim 3 wherein only the fourth and fifth ribs have the sipes.

5. The tread as set forth in claim 3 wherein only the first rib has the sipes.

6. The tread as set forth in claim 3 wherein only the second and third ribs have the sipes.

7. The tread as set forth in claim 3 wherein only the first and fifth ribs have the sipes.

8. The tread as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth ribs have the sipes.

9. The tread as set forth in claim 3 wherein only the first and second ribs haves the sipes.

10. The tread as set forth in claim 1 wherein sipes of the fourth and fifth ribs terminate in notches.

11. A tire comprising: a tread having a plurality of circumferential ribs, at least one of the ribs having sipes extending in a zigzag manner in both axial and radial directions of the tire.

12. The tire as set forth in claim 11 wherein the sipes further include a curved, cylindrical radially innermost surfaces to mitigate cracking and to increase circumferential flexibility of the tread.

13. The tire as set forth in claim 11 wherein the plurality of ribs further includes a first circumferential central rib, a second circumferential intermediate rib, and a third circumferential shoulder rib.

14. The tire as set forth in claim 13 wherein only the first and second ribs have the sipes.

15. The tire as set forth in claim 13 wherein only the first rib has the sipes.

16. The tire as set forth in claim 13 wherein only the second and third ribs have the sipes.

17. The tire as set forth in claim 13 wherein only the first and third ribs have the sipes.

18. The tire as set forth in claim 13 wherein each of the first, second, and third ribs have the sipes.

19. A tire comprising: a tread having a plurality of circumferential ribs, each of the ribs having doubly corrugated sipes extending in a zigzag manner in both axial and radial directions of the tire.

20. The tire as set forth in claim 19 wherein the sipes further include a cylindrical, radially innermost surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0092] The present invention will be better understood through reference to the following description and the appended drawings, in which:

[0093] FIG. 1 is a schematic orthogonal view of a tire in accordance with the present invention.

[0094] FIG. 2 is a schematic detailed orthogonal view of the tread of the tire of FIG. 1.

[0095] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of part of the tread of FIG. 2.

[0096] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a blade structure for forming part of the tread of FIGS. 1 through 3.

[0097] FIG. 5 is a schematic section view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 3.

[0098] FIG. 6 is a schematic section view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION

[0099] Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the present invention will below be described in more detail. The pneumatic, or non-pneumatic, tire 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 may have a tread 11 with a center circumferential rib 16, two intermediate circumferential ribs 14, and two shoulder ribs 12. The five ribs 12, 14, 16 may be defined by two shoulder grooves 18 and two central circumferential grooves 24. The two central circumferential grooves 24 may each have a jagged, or zigzag, cross-section with radially vertical walls and a flat bottom (FIGS. 2 and 3). The two shoulder grooves 18 may be axially wider than the central circumferential grooves 24 and each have a jagged, or zigzag, cross-section with slanted walls and a flat bottom (FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0100] In accordance with the present invention, any and/or all of the ribs 12, 14, 16 may have laterally and circumferentially extending, or slanted, sipes 100. Each of these sipes 100 may extend in a zigzag manner both as the sipes extend axially across the ribs (FIG. 6) and radially inward from the tread surface (FIG. 5). These multiplanar sipes 100 may have curved, cylindrical radially innermost surfaces 101 to mitigate cracking and to increase circumferential flexibility of the tread 11 (FIGS. 5 and 6). FIG. 4 shows an example blade 200 for molding/shaping one of the sipes 100. The blade 200 demonstrates how the varying zigzag surfaces blend into each other, as well as a corresponding radially innermost cylindrical protrusion 201 for forming the surfaces 101 of the sipes 100.

[0101] The double corrugation or multiplanar configuration created by the zigzag directions in two planes (axially and radially) of the sipes 100 of the present invention may create a locking effect of the side surfaces 103 of the sipes thereby improving stiffness of associated blocks 90 of the ribs 12, 14, 16. This may reduce irregular wear and reduce stress at the radially innermost bottom surfaces 101 of the sipes 100. As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the sipes 100 of the shoulder ribs 12 may terminate at radial notches 121 in outer lateral surfaces of the tread 11.

[0102] While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred example, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to these described examples, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.