MOLDING ELEMENT COMPRISING A SPECIAL FASTENING MEANS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a molding element for molding a cut in a tread of a tire. The molding element includes an assembly means, this assembly means being able to connect this molding element to another molding element to form a set of molding elements. This set of molding elements is intended to be attached inside a mold.

Claims

1. A plurality of molding elements inside a mold, comprising: an assembly of the plurality of molding elements, each of the plurality of the molding elements being able to mold a cut in a tread of a tire, wherein each of the plurality of molding elements include an assembly means the assembly means being able to connect the plurality of the molding elements to another molding element to form part of the set of the plurality of the molding elements, and the assembly means is arranged at a lateral wall of the molding element, the assembly means including a receiving slot being configured to receive the other molding element, and in that the molding element is a blade.

2. The plurality of molding elements according to claim 1, wherein the receiving slot is arranged in a part that protrudes from the lateral wall of one of the plurality of molding elements.

3. The plurality of molding elements according to claim 1, wherein the receiving slot is inclined with respect to the lateral wall of one of the plurality of the molding elements.

4. The plurality of molding elements according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of molding elements includes a transverse wall substantially perpendicular to a lateral wall of the one molding element, the one molding element includes a stud and on the transverse wall.

5. The plurality of molding elements according to claim 1, wherein the blade has an additional thickness and in that the assembly means is arranged in this additional thickness.

6. The plurality of molding elements according to claim 1, wherein all or some of the plurality of molding elements of the set are blades of a teardrop type each including an additional thickness at one of their ends, this additional thickness including an assembly means, and in that the set of elements includes an assembly of at least two teardrop type blades.

7. The plurality of molding elements according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of molding elements includes a transverse wall substantially perpendicular to a lateral wall of the one molding element, the one molding element includes a hollow on its transverse wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings in which:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a moulding element according to the invention,

[0029] FIG. 2 is a side view of the moulding element of FIG. 1, according to a second embodiment of the invention,

[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a set of moulding elements according to the invention,

[0031] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a set of moulding elements according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0032] In the description that follows, elements that are substantially identical or similar will be denoted by identical references.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a moulding element 1 for moulding a cut in a tread of a tyre. This moulding element 1 here has the shape of a teardrop type blade comprising an additional thickness at one of its ends. This moulding element 1 also comprises a second additional thickness 16, not as wide as the first additional thickness, at its base. The first additional thickness and the second additional thickness 16 here accommodate receiving slots 3, 7 for receiving another moulding element. More specifically, the receiving slot 7 associated with the second additional thickness 16 extends into a part 5 that protrudes from a lateral wall 9 of the moulding element 1. The two receiving slots 3 and 7 are aligned.

[0034] The moulding element 1 also comprises a hollow 13 on one lateral wall 11. This hollow 13 is intended to receive a stud of another moulding element in order to assemble the two moulding elements.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows an alternative form of embodiment in which the slot 3 is inclined by an angle with respect to a vertical direction Z. This angle is between 5 and 45. Provision may also be made for the slot 3 to be inclined with respect to a direction normal to the lateral wall 9 of the moulding element 1. This inclination may, for example, be between 5 and 75. In that case, the receiving slot 7 of the protruding part 5 will also be inclined by the same inclination and will be aligned with the slot 3, but the protruding part 5 will be offset from the slot 3.

[0036] It will be noted that the width L of the slot 3 may be slightly greater than the thickness of the moulding element that will be housed in this slot 3, so as to allow an assembly clearance for assembling the two moulding elements.

[0037] FIG. 3 depicts the moulding element 1 of FIG. 1 assembled into a set of moulding elements 17. More specifically, the set of moulding elements 17 here comprises several moulding elements 1, 19, 21, 25, 27, each moulding element being able to mould a cut in the tread of a tyre.

[0038] FIG. 4 depicts a more complex set of moulding elements comprising a plurality of teardrop type blades 35, 37, 39, each one comprising an additional thickness 41 at one of their ends. This additional thickness 41 is designed to accommodate means of assembling blades of teardrop type.

[0039] The invention is not limited to the examples described and depicted and various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.

[0040] Thus, in one alternative form of embodiment, the moulding element 1 of FIG. 1 is a bar.

[0041] The moulding elements are manufactured by laser sintering. As an alternative, these moulding elements are manufactured by any other manufacturing method, such as casting, machining, etc.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows slots located on widened parts of the moulding element. As an alternative, a slot may extend over a tall height of this moulding element. This is notably beneficial when the moulding element does not have widened parts but is thick enough to support the assembly means within its height.