IP Library Granted Patent US 11,535,063
Granted Patent B2
US 11,535,063 · App. 16/634,119 · Granted Dec 27, 2022

Pneumatic tire

Inventor: Hiroyuki Yoshida (Hiratsuka, JP)
Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
B60C11/0309B60C11/13B60C11/1353B60C11/1369B60C11/11B60C2011/0341B60C2011/0372B60C2011/1338B60C2011/1361
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,535,063
App. No.
16/634,119
Granted
Dec 27, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a pneumatic tire. At least three blocks of a plurality of blocks formed on a tread portion, which include an outermost block positioned on an outermost side in a tire lateral direction and are adjacent to each other in the tire lateral direction, and at least two longitudinal grooves positioned between the at least three blocks are arranged on a platform, which is raised from a groove bottom of a lateral groove, has a flat top surface, and has a shape protruding toward both sides in a tire circumferential direction with respect to the at least three blocks. On a groove bottom of a longitudinal groove adjacent to the outermost block, a raised bottom portion raised from the groove bottom of the longitudinal groove is provided. The raised bottom portion connects the outermost block and the block adjacent to the outermost block.

Claims (42)

1. A pneumatic tire, comprising:

a tread portion extending in a tire circumferential direction and having an annular shape;

a pair of sidewall portions arranged on both sides of the tread portion; and

a pair of bead portions arranged inward of the pair of sidewall portions in a tire radial direction, wherein

the tread portion comprises:

a plurality of longitudinal grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction;

a plurality of lateral grooves extending in a tire lateral direction; and

a plurality of blocks defined by the plurality of longitudinal grooves and the plurality of lateral grooves,

at least three blocks of the plurality of blocks, which include an outermost block positioned on an outermost side in the tire lateral direction and are adjacent to each other in the tire lateral direction, and at least two longitudinal grooves positioned between the at least three blocks are present on a platform, which is raised from a groove bottom of each of the plurality of lateral grooves, has a flat top surface, and has a shape protruding toward both sides in the tire circumferential direction with respect to the at least three blocks,

on a groove bottom of a longitudinal groove adjacent to the outermost block, a raised bottom portion raised from the groove bottom of the longitudinal groove is provided,

the raised bottom portion connects the outermost block and the block adjacent to the outermost block, and

only one raised bottom portion is present between the at least three blocks.

2. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

the platform has a height from the groove bottom of each of the plurality of lateral grooves, the height falling within a range from 5% to 25% of a maximum groove depth of each of the plurality of lateral grooves.

3. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

a ratio of a total area of a road contact surface of the blocks present on the platform with respect to a projected area of the platform falls within a range from 55% to 75%.

4. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

at least a part of the platform has a step-like structure including one or more steps between the groove bottom of each of the plurality of lateral grooves and the top surface of the platform.

5. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

a cut portion having a V-shape in which an end enters the longitudinal groove is formed in at least one part of the platform.

6. The pneumatic tire according to claim 5 , wherein

an angle α of the end of the cut portion falls within a range from 5° to 120°.

7. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

the raised bottom portion has a tire circumferential direction length falling within a range from 35% to 75% of a circumferential length of the longitudinal groove in which the raised bottom portion is provided.

8. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

when the raised bottom portion is viewed from a block contact surface side, both end portions of the raised bottom portion in the tire circumferential direction are bent to recess in a V-shape, and have a bend angle β falling within a range from 60° to 170°.

9. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein

the raised bottom portion has a height from the groove bottom of the longitudinal groove, the height falling within a range from 35% to 75% of a maximum groove depth of the longitudinal groove in which the raised bottom portion is formed.

10. The pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein

a ratio of a total area of a road contact surface of the blocks present on the platform with respect to a projected area of the platform falls within a range from 55% to 75%.

11. The pneumatic tire according to claim 10 , wherein

at least a part of the platform has a step-like structure including one or more steps between the groove bottom of each of the plurality of lateral grooves and the top surface of the platform.

12. The pneumatic tire according to claim 11 , wherein

a cut portion having a V-shape in which an end enters the longitudinal groove is formed in at least one part of the platform.

13. The pneumatic tire according to claim 12 , wherein

an angle α of the end of the cut portion falls within a range from 5° to 120°.

14. The pneumatic tire according to claim 12 , wherein

the raised bottom portion has a tire circumferential direction length falling within a range from 35% to 75% of a circumferential length of the longitudinal groove in which the raised bottom portion is provided.

15. The pneumatic tire according to claim 14 , wherein

when the raised bottom portion is viewed from a block contact surface side, both end portions of the raised bottom portion in the tire circumferential direction are bent to recess in a V-shape, and have a bend angle β falling within a range from 60° to 170°.

16. The pneumatic tire according to claim 15 , wherein

the raised bottom portion has a height from the groove bottom of the longitudinal groove, the height falling within a range from 35% to 75% of a maximum groove depth of the longitudinal groove in which the raised bottom portion is formed.

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 Jan 24, 2020
From: YOSHIDA, HIROYUKI
To: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 051618/0073 →