IP Library Granted Patent US 11,331,957
Granted Patent B2
US 11,331,957 · App. 16/474,532 · Granted May 17, 2022

Pneumatic tire

Inventor: Hiroshi Furusawa (Hiratsuka, JP)
Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
B60C11/13B60C11/01B60C11/0309B60C11/1392B60C2011/0341B60C2011/0365
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 11,331,957
App. No.
16/474,532
Granted
May 17, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pneumatic tire includes lug grooves arranged in a circumferential direction in a tread surface of a land portion defined by two main grooves adjacent in a lateral direction, the lug grooves each crossing the circumferential direction and communicating at both ends with the main grooves, defining the land portion in the circumferential direction. A notch portion is formed on an opening edge of the lug grooves. The notch portion is cutout from the tread surface inward in a radial direction. The lug grooves have a maximum groove width at a position from 30% to 70% of a lateral direction dimension of the land portion from one of the main grooves and a groove width that decreases from the maximum groove width to the main grooves. The notch portion has a notch width that increases from a position of the maximum groove width of the lug grooves to the main grooves.

Claims (41)

1. A pneumatic tire, comprising:

in a tread surface, main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction;

a land portion defined by two of the main grooves adjacent in a tire lateral direction;

lug grooves arranged in the tire circumferential direction in the tread surface of the land portion, the lug grooves each crossing the tire circumferential direction and communicating at both ends with the main grooves, defining the land portion in the tire circumferential direction; and

a notch portion formed on an opening edge of the lug grooves, the notch portion being a cutout from the tread surface cut inward in a tire radial direction;

the lug grooves having a maximum groove width at a position from 30% to 70% of a tire lateral direction dimension of the land portion from one of the main grooves and a groove width that decreases from the maximum groove width to the main grooves; and

the notch portion having a notch width that increases from a position of the maximum groove width of the lug grooves to the main grooves; wherein

at a position 0.50×L, a relationship 0.80×y0<y≤0.98×y0 is satisfied;

at a position 0.80×L, a relationship 0.60×y0<y≤0.90×y0 is satisfied; and

at a position 1.00×L, a relationship 0.30×y0<y≤0.50×y0 is satisfied, where L is a tire lateral direction dimension from a maximum groove width position of the lug grooves to a position where the lug grooves communicate with the main grooves, y0 is a maximum groove width of the lug grooves, and y is a groove width of the lug grooves at a discretionary position located further outward in the tire lateral direction than the maximum groove width position of the lug grooves.

2. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

relationships 0≤x0<x and 0.2(y0−y)+x0≤x≤2.0(y0−y)+x0 are satisfied, where y0 is a maximum groove width of the lug grooves, x0 is the notch width of the notch portion at the maximum groove width position of the lug grooves, y is a groove width of the lug grooves at a discretionary position located further outward in the tire lateral direction than the maximum groove width position of the lug grooves, and x is a notch width of the notch portion at a discretionary position.

3. The pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein the notch portion has a notch depth from the tread surface inward in the tire radial direction of from 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm.

4. The pneumatic tire according to claim 3 , wherein

a rotation direction is designated; and

a relationship xb<xa≤3.0xb is satisfied, where xa is a notch width of the notch portion located on a trailing side of the land portion in the tire circumferential direction with respect to the lug grooves, and xb is a notch width of the notch portion located on a leading side.

5. The pneumatic tire according to claim 4 , wherein the lug grooves have a groove depth G at a position where the lug grooves communicate with the main grooves and a groove depth G0 at a maximum groove width position that satisfies a range 0.2×G0≤G≤0.6×G0.

6. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the notch portion has a notch depth from the tread surface inward in the tire radial direction of from 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm.

7. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

a rotation direction is designated; and

a relationship xb<xa≤3.0xb is satisfied, where xa is a notch width of the notch portion located on a trailing side of the land portion in the tire circumferential direction with respect to the lug grooves, and xb is a notch width of the notch portion located on a leading side.

8. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the lug grooves have a groove depth G at a position where the lug grooves communicate with the main grooves and a groove depth G0 at a maximum groove width position that satisfies a range 0.2×G0≤G≤0.6×G0.

9. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

a vehicle inner/outer side orientation when mounted on a vehicle is designated; and

the lug grooves have a groove width at a position where the lug grooves communicate with the main grooves that is smaller on the vehicle outer side than on the vehicle inner side.

10. A pneumatic tire, comprising:

in a tread surface, main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction;

a land portion defined by two of the main grooves adjacent in a tire lateral direction;

lug grooves arranged in the tire circumferential direction in the tread surface of the land portion, the lug grooves each crossing the tire circumferential direction and communicating at both ends with the main grooves, defining the land portion in the tire circumferential direction; and

a notch portion formed on an opening edge of the lug grooves, the notch portion being a cutout from the tread surface cut inward in a tire radial direction;

the lug grooves having a maximum groove width at a position from 30% to 70% of a tire lateral direction dimension of the land portion from one of the main grooves and a groove width that decreases from the maximum groove width to the main grooves; and the notch portion having a notch width that increases from a position of the maximum groove width of the lug grooves to the main grooves; wherein:

relationships 0≤x0<x and 0.2(y0−y)+x0≤x≤2.0(y0−y)+x0 are satisfied, where y0 is a maximum groove width of the lug grooves, x0 is the notch width of the notch portion at the maximum groove width position of the lug grooves, y is a groove width of the lug grooves at a discretionary position located further outward in the tire lateral direction than the maximum groove width position of the lug grooves, and x is a notch width of the notch portion at a discretionary position;

the notch portion has a notch depth from the tread surface inward in the tire radial direction of from 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm;

a rotation direction is designated;

a relationship xb<xa≤3.0xb is satisfied, where xa is a notch width of the notch portion located on a trailing side of the land portion in the tire circumferential direction with respect to the lug grooves, and xb is a notch width of the notch portion located on a leading side;

the lug grooves have a groove depth G at a position where the lug grooves communicate with the main grooves and a groove depth G0 at a maximum groove width position that satisfies a range 0.2×G0≤G≤0.6×G0;

a vehicle inner/outer side orientation when mounted on a vehicle is designated; and

the lug grooves have a groove width at a position where the lug grooves communicate with the main grooves that is smaller on the vehicle outer side than on the vehicle inner side;

at a position 0.50×L, a relationship 0.80×y0≤y≤0.98×y0 is satisfied;

at a position 0.80×L, a relationship 0.60×y0≤y≤0.90×y0 is satisfied; and

at a position 1.00×L, a relationship 0.30×y0≤y≤0.50×y0 is satisfied, where L is a tire lateral direction dimension from a maximum groove width position of the lug grooves to a position where the lug grooves communicate with the main grooves, y0 is a maximum groove width of the lug grooves, and y is a groove width of the lug grooves at a discretionary position located further outward in the tire lateral direction than the maximum groove width position of the lug grooves.

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 Jun 27, 2019
From: FURUSAWA, HIROSHI
To: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 049617/0506 →