IP Library Granted Patent US 11,040,575
Granted Patent B2
US 11,040,575 · App. 15/580,659 · Granted Jun 22, 2021

Pneumatic tire

Inventor: Naoko Suzuki (Hiratsuka, JP)
B60C11/125B60C11/01B60C11/0304B60C11/0306B60C11/13B60C11/1369B60C11/1392B60C2011/013B60C2011/0351B60C2011/0362B60C2011/0365B60C2011/0369B60C2011/0372B60C2011/0376B60C2011/0381
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,040,575
App. No.
15/580,659
Granted
Jun 22, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a pneumatic tire, a land portion is formed in a tread surface of a tread portion on an outermost side in a tire lateral direction by a circumferential groove extending in a tire circumferential direction, and a ground contact edge is present in the land portion. The land portion includes a plurality of lug grooves provided in the tire circumferential direction and intersecting the ground contact edge, and an intersecting narrow groove provided outward of the ground contact edge in the tire lateral direction and intersecting a lug groove of the plurality of lug grooves.

Claims (25)

1. A pneumatic tire, comprising:

a land portion formed in a tread surface of a tread portion on an outermost side in a tire lateral direction by a circumferential groove extending in a tire circumferential direction;

a ground contact edge in the land portion;

the land portion comprising

a plurality of lug grooves provided in the tire circumferential direction and intersecting the ground contact edge, and

an intersecting narrow groove provided outward of the ground contact edge in the tire lateral direction and intersecting a lug groove of the plurality of lug grooves; and

a branching narrow groove branching from the intersecting narrow groove outward of the ground contact edge in the tire lateral direction, extending inward in the tire lateral direction, and disposed between lug grooves of the plurality of lug grooves, in the land portion; wherein

the intersecting narrow groove and a lug groove of the plurality of lug grooves intersected by the intersecting narrow groove have a groove depth da of the intersecting narrow groove at least at an intersection portion and a groove depth D of the lug groove, respectively, the groove depth da and the groove depth D satisfying a range of da≤0.5D; and

the branching narrow groove and a lug groove of the plurality of lug grooves adjacent to the branching narrow groove in the tire circumferential direction have a groove depth db of the branching narrow groove and a groove depth D of the lug groove, respectively, the groove depth db and the groove depth D satisfying a range of db≤0.5D.

2. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the intersecting narrow groove and the branching narrow groove each comprise an end portion inward in the tire lateral direction that terminates inside the land portion.

3. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein:

given a distance α in the tire circumferential direction between the lug grooves adjacent in the tire circumferential direction, a distance βa in the tire circumferential direction between an end portion inward of the intersecting narrow groove in the tire lateral direction and a lug groove of the plurality of lug grooves intersected by the intersecting narrow groove, and a distance βb in the tire circumferential direction between an end portion inward of the branching narrow groove in the tire lateral direction and a lug groove of the plurality of lug grooves intersected by the intersecting narrow groove from which the branching narrow groove branches, the relationships 0.1α<βa<0.5α and 0.1α<βb<0.5α are satisfied.

4. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein an angle γ formed by the intersecting narrow groove and the branching narrow groove branching from the intersecting narrow groove satisfies a range of γ<80°.

5. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the intersecting narrow groove and the branching narrow groove each have a groove width progressively decreases inward in the tire lateral direction.

6. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the intersecting narrow groove and the branching narrow groove comprises an end portion inward in the tire lateral direction, the end portion being in communication with the circumferential groove via a lateral narrow groove.

7. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein an angle ε formed inward in the tire lateral direction by the intersecting narrow groove and a lug groove of the plurality of lug grooves intersected by the intersecting narrow groove satisfies a range of 10°<ε<90°.

8. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein:

the intersecting narrow groove comprises an end portion inward in the tire lateral direction disposed closer to a lug groove of the plurality of lug grooves intersected by the intersecting narrow groove than a middle of lug grooves of the plurality of lug grooves adjacent in the tire circumferential direction; and

the branching narrow groove comprises an end portion inward in the tire lateral direction disposed closer to a lug groove of the plurality of lug grooves intersected by the intersecting narrow groove from which the branching narrow groove branches than the middle of the lug grooves adjacent in the tire circumferential direction.

9. The pneumatic tire according to claim 8 , wherein:

given a distance α in the tire circumferential direction between the lug grooves adjacent in the tire circumferential direction, a distance βa in the tire circumferential direction between an end portion inward of the intersecting narrow groove in the tire lateral direction and a lug groove of the plurality of lug grooves intersected by the intersecting narrow groove, and a distance βb in the tire circumferential direction between an end portion inward of the branching narrow groove in the tire lateral direction and a lug groove of the plurality of lug grooves intersected by the intersecting narrow groove from which the branching narrow groove branches, the relationships 0.1α<βa<0.5α and 0.1α<βb<0.5α are satisfied.

10. The pneumatic tire according to claim 9 , wherein an angle γ formed by the intersecting narrow groove and the branching narrow groove branching from the intersecting narrow groove satisfies a range of γ<80°.

11. The pneumatic tire according to claim 10 , wherein the intersecting narrow groove and the branching narrow groove each have a groove width progressively decreases inward in the tire lateral direction.

12. The pneumatic tire according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of the intersecting narrow groove and the branching narrow groove comprises an end portion inward in the tire lateral direction, the end portion being in communication with the circumferential groove via a lateral narrow groove.

13. The pneumatic tire according to claim 12 , wherein an angle ε formed inward in the tire lateral direction by the intersecting narrow groove and a lug groove of the plurality of lug grooves intersected by the intersecting narrow groove satisfies a range of 10°<ε<90°.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS FOR ASSIGNEE Recorded Nov 18, 2023
From: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
To: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 065626/0740 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2018
From: SUZUKI, NAOKO
To: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 045478/0293 →