Dual mold replace center rib

1. An assembly for fabricating one or more molded tire treads, comprising:

at least one dual mold segment selected from a plurality of dual mold segments, each dual mold segment having a predetermined length, a predetermined width and a plurality of tread elements integral therewith, with each dual mold segment including a molding floor surface within which a groove is delineated that is coextensive with the predetermined width and desirably positioned at a midsection along the predetermined length; and

at least one replaceable rib selected from a plurality of replaceable ribs and corresponding to a selected dual mold segment, each replaceable rib having a predetermined length approximating the predetermined width of the selected dual mold segment and coextensive with a pair of opposed extents of the replaceable rib, a predetermined height coextensive with a contact surface of the dual mold segment that accommodates contact with a press platen and a support surface proximate an engagement surface of the groove;

wherein assembly of at least one selected dual mold segment and a corresponding selected replaceable rib is effected by removable securement of the selected replaceable rib upon engagement of the selected replaceable rib within the groove of the selected dual mold segment:

at least one orientation indicia to ensure proper orientation of the selected replaceable rib during assembly with the selected dual mold segment, wherein the at least one orientation indicia includes one or more of:

one or more slotted holes disposed along the engagement surface of the groove;

a rib identifier provided on one of the extents of the selected replaceable rib; and

a mold segment identifier provided on the selected dual mold segment.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein insertion of the selected replaceable rib in the groove of the selected dual mold segment delineates a pair of substantially symmetrical tread molding cavities in the dual mold segment with each tread molding cavity being suitable for molding at least a portion of a molded tread.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one non-selected dual mold segment;

at least one non-selected replaceable rib;

wherein any selected dual mold segment is interchangeable with the at least one non-selected dual mold segment, and any selected replaceable rib corresponding to a selected dual mold segment is interchangeable with the at least one non-selected replaceable rib corresponding to a selected dual mold segment to provide a plurality of assemblies for fabricating one or more molded tire treads.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support surface of the selected replaceable rib includes a threaded aperture that accommodates engagement with a corresponding fastener and a fastener aperture is optionally integrated within the selected dual mold segment to ensure alignment of the fastener with the threaded aperture of the selected replaceable rib and threaded engagement therewith.

5. A method of fabricating one or more molded tire treads, comprising:

providing at least one assembly for fabricating one or more molded tire treads according to claim 1 ;

providing at least one non-selected dual mold segment;

wherein any selected dual mold segment is interchangeable with at the least one non-selected dual mold segment and any selected replaceable rib corresponding to a selected dual mold segment is interchangeable with at least one non-selected replaceable rib corresponding to a selected dual mold segment to provide a plurality of assemblies for fabricating one or more molded tire treads; and

fabricating one or more molded tire treads.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising inserting the selected replaceable rib in the groove of the selected dual mold segment so as to delineate a pair of substantially symmetrical tread molding cavities in the dual mold segment with each tread molding cavity being suitable for molding at least a portion of a molded tread.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the support surface of the selected replaceable rib includes a threaded aperture that accommodates engagement with a corresponding fastener, and a fastener aperture is optionally integrated within the selected dual mold segment to ensure alignment of the fastener with the threaded aperture of the selected replaceable rib and threaded engagement therewith.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising providing at least one of:

one or more orientation indicia provided along the engagement surface of the groove;

a rib identifier provided on one of the extents of the replaceable rib; and

a mold segment identifier provided on the selected dual mold segment;

to ensure proper orientation of the selected replaceable rib during assembly with the selected dual mold segment.

9. A system for manufacturing a plurality of tread mold configurations from interchangeable elements, comprising:

a series of dual mold segments of various configurations, each dual mold segment having a predetermined length, a predetermined width and a plurality of tread elements integral therewith, with each dual mold segment including a molding floor surface within which a groove is delineated that is coextensive with the predetermined width and desirably positioned at a midsection along the predetermined length;

at least one replaceable rib selected from a plurality of replaceable ribs, each replaceable rib having a predetermined length approximating the predetermined width of the at least one dual mold segment and coextensive with a pair of opposed extents of the at least one replaceable rib, and a support surface proximate an engagement surface of the groove; and

a series of molding stations defining a molding sequence wherein each molding station accommodates performance of at least one molding step thereat;

at least one non-selected dual mold segment;

at least one non-selected replaceable rib;

wherein any selected dual mold segment is interchangeable with the at least one non-selected dual mold segment and any selected replaceable rib corresponding to a selected dual mold segment is interchangeable with the at least one non-selected replaceable rib corresponding to a selected dual mold segment to provide a plurality of assemblies for fabricating one or more molded tire treads;

wherein proper orientation of the selected replaceable rib during assembly with the selected dual mold segment is effected by at least one of:

one or more orientation indicia provided along the engagement surface of the groove;

a rib identifier provided on one of the extents of the replaceable rib; and

a mold segment identifier provided on the selected dual mold segment.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein insertion of a selected replaceable rib in the groove of a selected dual mold segment delineates a pair of substantially symmetrical tread molding cavities in the dual mold segment with each tread molding cavity being suitable for molding at least a portion of a molded tread.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the support surface of a selected replaceable rib includes a threaded aperture that accommodates engagement with a corresponding fastener, and a fastener aperture is optionally integrated within the selected dual mold segment to ensure alignment of the fastener with the threaded aperture of the selected replaceable rib and threaded engagement therewith.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein two or more molding stations in the series of molding stations accommodates performance of identical molding steps in the molding sequence.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein each replaceable rib and each dual mold segment is separately cast from aluminum.