IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,110,754
Granted Patent B2
US 11,110,754 · App. 16/215,933 · Granted Sep 7, 2021

Tread block arrangement having a sipe

Inventors: Jorma Tikka (Tampere, FI); Tomi Korkama (Tampere, FI); Outi Husso (Sastamala, FI)
Assignee: Nokian Renkaat Oyj
B60C11/1281B60C11/0302B60C11/0306B60C11/11B60C11/12B60C11/1204B60C11/1218B60C11/1236B60C11/1263B60C2011/0358B60C2011/0388B60C2011/1209B60C2011/1213B60C2011/1227B60C2011/1268B60C2011/1286
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,110,754
App. No.
16/215,933
Granted
Sep 7, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tread block arrangement suitable for a tire or for a tread band for a tire. The tread block arrangement comprises a tread block that limits a first primary sipe. The first primary sipe comprises at least a first deep part and a second deep part separated from the first deep part by a first shallow part. A depth of the first deep part is at least three times a depth of the first shallow part and a depth of the second deep part is at least three times the depth of the first shallow part. The first deep part is limited in a longitudinal direction of the first primary sipe by a primary first end wall and a secondary first end wall such that a first angle between the primary first end wall and the secondary first end wall is from 1 degree to 30 degrees. The second deep part is limited in a longitudinal direction of the first primary sipe by a primary second end wall and a secondary second end wall such that a second angle between the primary second end wall and the secondary second end wall is from 1 degree to 30 degrees.

Claims (76)

1. A tread block arrangement suitable for a tire or for a tread band for a tire, the tread block arrangement comprising:

a tread block that limits a first primary sipe, the first primary sipe comprising at least a first deep part and a second deep part separated from the first deep part by a first shallow part,

wherein

a depth of the first deep part is at least three times a depth of the first shallow part,

a depth of the second deep part is at least three times the depth of the first shallow part,

the tread block arrangement defines a primary boundary and a central line which is parallel to the primary boundary,

a second shallow part of the first primary sipe is located closer to the primary boundary than the first shallow part,

the second shallow part is located further away from the central line than the first shallow part,

the first shallow part has a first primary length on a level of a bottom of the first shallow part, and

the second shallow part has a second primary length on a level of a bottom of the second shallow part,

wherein

the second primary length is greater than the first primary length,

the first deep part is limited in a longitudinal direction of the first primary sipe by a primary first end wall and a secondary first end wall such that a first angle between the primary first end wall and the secondary first end wall is from 1 degree to 30 degrees, and

the second deep part is limited in a longitudinal direction of the first primary sipe by a primary second end wall and a secondary second end wall such that a second angle between the primary second end wall and the secondary second end wall is from 1 degree to 30 degrees.

2. The tread block arrangement of the claim 1 , wherein

the depth of the first deep part is at least five times the depth of the first shallow part, and

the depth of the second deep part is at least five times the depth of the first shallow part.

3. The tread block arrangement of the claim 1 , wherein

the depth of the first shallow part is from 0.1 mm to 2.0 mm,

the depth of the first deep part is from 5 mm to 15 mm, and

the depth of the second deep part is from 5 mm to 15 mm.

4. The tread block arrangement of claim 1 , wherein

the first deep part has a first secondary length on a level of a bottom of such a shallow part that is next to the first deep part, and

the second deep part has a second secondary length on a level of a bottom of such a shallow part that is next to the second deep part, wherein

a ratio of the first primary length to the first secondary length is from 1/3 to 3, and/or the first secondary length is greater than the first primary length, and

a ratio of the first primary length to the second secondary length is from 1/3 to 3, and/or the second secondary length is greater than the first primary length.

5. The tread block arrangement of claim 1 , wherein

the first deep part has a first secondary length on a level of a bottom of such a shallow part that is next to the first deep part,

the second deep part has a second secondary length on a level of a bottom of such a shallow part that is next to the second deep part,

the first deep part has a first tertiary length as measured at a level of a bottom of the first deep part, and

the second deep part has a second tertiary length as measured at a level of a bottom of the second deep part, wherein

a ratio of the first tertiary to the first secondary length is at most 95%, at most 90% or at most 75% and

a ratio of the second tertiary to the second secondary length is at most 95%, at most 90% or at most 75%.

6. The tread block arrangement of claim 1 , wherein

when viewed from top, the first primary sipe comprises at least two deflection points in such a way that the first primary sipe forms a form of a zig-zag, optionally with rounded corners, as seen from top.

7. The tread block arrangement of claim 1 , wherein, when viewed from top,

the first primary sipe extends

only straight in between the primary first end wall and the secondary first end wall and

only straight in between the primary second end wall and the secondary second end wall.

8. The tread block arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first primary sipe comprises:

a third deep part separated from the first deep part or the second deep part by a second shallow part, wherein

the third deep part is limited in a longitudinal direction of the first primary sipe by a primary third end wall and a secondary third end wall such that a third angle between the primary third end wall and the secondary third end wall is from 1 degree to 30 degrees.

9. The tread block arrangement of claim 1 , wherein

the depth of the first deep part is different from the depth of the second deep part.

10. The tread block arrangement of claim 1 , wherein

the tread block that limits the first primary sipe defines a part of the primary boundary of the tread block arrangement.

11. The tread block arrangement of claim 1 , wherein

the tread block further limits a second primary sipe, wherein

only one lamella is left in between the first primary sipe and the second primary sipe.

12. The tread block arrangement of the claim 11 , wherein

the tread block further limits a third primary sipe, wherein

only one lamella is left in between the first primary sipe and the third primary sipe, and

the first primary sipe is left in between the second primary sipe and the third primary sipe.

13. The tread block arrangement of claim 1 , wherein

the tread block defines a part of the primary boundary.

14. The tread block arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising:

a middle block extending through the tread block arrangement in a direction that is perpendicular to a transversal direction of the tread block arrangement and perpendicular to the thickness of the tread block arrangement and

a primary intermediate block, the tread block, the middle block and the primary intermediate blocks of the tread block arrangement defining a groove pattern such that

each block of the tread block arrangement is separated from another block of the tread block arrangement by a portion of the groove pattern; wherein

[A]

the middle block and/or the primary intermediate block, is provided with a sipe or sipes comprising at least four deflection points, of which at least two have an acute deflection angle and/or

[B]

the middle block and/or the primary intermediate block, is provided with such a sipe or sipes that have a wide part in between two narrow parts.

15. The tread block arrangement of claim 1 , wherein

the central line divides the tread block arrangement to a primary part of the tread block arrangement and a secondary part of the tread block arrangement such that

the primary part of the tread block arrangement limits a primary portion of a groove pattern and

the secondary part of the tread block arrangement limits a secondary portion of the groove pattern, wherein

the secondary portion of the groove pattern is

a longitudinally transferred mirror image of the primary portion of the groove pattern or

a mirror image of the primary portion of the groove pattern.

16. The tread block arrangement of claim 6 , wherein

at least one of the deflection points is arranged at a location of the first shallow part.

17. The tread block arrangement of claim 11 , wherein

the second primary sipe comprises a locking protrusion and a locking depression configured to lock neighbouring lamellas of the second primary sipe to each other.

18. The tread block arrangement of claim 11 , wherein

the second primary sipe, when viewed from top, forms a zig-zag.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 13, 2018
From: TIKKA, JORMA; KORKAMA, TOMI; HUSSO, OUTI
To: NOKIAN RENKAAT OYJ
Reel/Frame 047761/0057 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 18397502 · Jan 5, 2018 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190210410A1 · Jul 11, 2019