Tire mold with vent inlet disposed under mold rib

1. A pneumatic tire mold section and die rib for a pneumatic tire mold, comprising:

a mold section having an inner contour surface;

the mold section defining at least one groove open through the contour surface of the mold section

the mold section defining a portion of a vent passage in fluid communication with the groove;

a die rib at least partially disposed in the groove;

the die rib having an overhang portion disposed above the contour surface of the mold section; the overhang portion of the die rib defining a vent passage inlet in fluid communication with the vent passage; and

wherein the die rib overhang portion defines a pair of feet; the vent passage inlet being entirely disposed intermediate the feet; each of the feet engaging the inner contour surface.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the inlet is 0.0015 inch high.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the die rib has a length; the inlet having a length that is no more than 80 percent of the length of the die rib.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the die rib has a pair of overhang portions; each of the overhang portions defining a vent passage inlet.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein each die rib overhang portion defines a pair of feet; the vent passage inlet being disposed intermediate the feet; each of the feet engaging the inner contour surface.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the die rib has a pair of die rib overhang portions; each of the die rib overhang portions defining a plurality of vent passage inlets.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein each die rib overhang portion defines a plurality of feet; each vent passage inlet being disposed intermediate two feet; each of the feet engaging the inner contour surface.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the die rib has a length; the inlets on either overhang having a combined length that is no more than 80 percent of the length of the die rib.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein each of the inlets is 0.0015 inch high.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein a cross section of the groove shaped like a female dovetail and the portion of the die rib disposed in the groove has the cross sectional shape of a corresponding male dovetail.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein a portion of the male dovetail defines a channel that provides fluid communication between the vent passage inlet and the vent passage.

12. A die rib for use in a pneumatic tire mold section that has an inner contour surface and at least one groove open through the contour surface of the mold section; the die rib comprising:

a first portion adapted to be disposed in the groove;

a second portion adapted to define a portion of the tire to be molded with the die rib;

the second portion having a pair of overhangs adapted to be disposed over the contour surface on opposite sides of the groove; and

at least one of the overhangs defining a vent passage inlet and a pair of feet; the vent passage inlet being entirely disposed intermediate the feet.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the die rib has a length; the inlet having a length that is no more than 80 percent of the length of the die rib.

14. The device of claim 12 , wherein each of the overhangs defines a vent passage inlet and a pair of feet; each vent passage inlet being disposed intermediate a pair of feet.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein each of the overhangs defines a plurality of vent passage inlets and a plurality of feet; each vent passage inlet being disposed intermediate two feet.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the die rib has a length; the inlets on either overhang having a combined length that is no more than 80 percent of the length of the die rib.