IP Library Granted Patent US 11,833,860
Granted Patent B2
US 11,833,860 · App. 17/596,010 · Granted Dec 5, 2023

Pneumatic tire

Inventors: Hiraku Koda (Kanagawa, JP); Ryohei Takemori (Kanagawa, JP); Yuki Sasaya (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
B60C11/1281B60C11/0302B60C11/032B60C11/0306B60C11/1236B60C11/1259B60C11/1263B60C11/1272B60C2011/1231B60C2011/1268B60C2011/1286
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,833,860
App. No.
17/596,010
Granted
Dec 5, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a pneumatic tire. At least one land portion is defined and formed by a plurality of circumferential main grooves provided in a tread surface. A main sipe including a body portion and a chamfered portion is formed in at least one side of the body portion. A branch sipe branching from the chamfered portion is provided. The depth of the body portion is equal to or greater than the depth of the branch sipe.

Claims (25)

1. A pneumatic tire, comprising:

at least one land portion defined and formed by a plurality of circumferential main grooves provided in a tread surface; and

a main sipe provided in the land portion, the main sipe comprising a body portion and a chamfered portion formed in at least one side of the body portion,

the pneumatic tire comprising a branch sipe branching from the chamfered portion, and

a depth Dm of the body portion and a depth Db of the branch sipe satisfying Dm≥Db, wherein

a depth Dc of the chamfered portion and the depth Db of the branch sipe satisfy 0≤Dc−Db≤Db×0.5, and

the branch sipe extends from the main sipe only on one side in the circumferential direction and terminates within the land portion.

2. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the main sipe communicates with at least one of the circumferential main grooves.

3. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a width Wb of the branch sipe and a width Wm of the body portion of the main sipe satisfy Wb>Wm.

4. The pneumatic tire according to claim 3 , wherein the width Wb of the branch sipe and the width Wm of the body portion of the main sipe satisfy Wm×1.5≤Wb≤Wm×4.0.

5. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a width Wc of the chamfered portion and a width Wb of the branch sipe satisfy Wb×1.3≤Wc≤Wb×3.0.

6. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a width Wb of the branch sipe satisfies 0.5 mm≤Wb≤3.0 mm.

7. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the depth Db of the branch sipe and a depth Dc of the chamfered portion satisfy Dc×0.5≤Db≤Dc.

8. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the depth Dm of the body portion of the main sipe and the depth Db of the branch sipe satisfy Dm×0.2≤Db≤Dm×0.9.

9. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the depth Db of the branch sipe satisfies 0.8 mm≤Db≤2.5 mm.

10. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein an absolute value |θb| of an inclination angle of the branch sipe with respect to a tire circumferential direction is 5° or less.

11. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a one-sided main sipe communicating only with a circumferential main groove on one side and a two-sided main sipe communicating with circumferential main grooves on both sides are alternately provided in a tire circumferential direction.

12. The pneumatic tire according to claim 11 , wherein at least one subsidiary sipe is provided between the one-sided main sipe and the two-sided main sipe in the tire circumferential direction.

13. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein, a ground contact region is divided into four regions in a tire width direction and two regions among the four regions at a center in the tire width direction are regarded as a center region, and the main sipe and the branch sipe are provided in the center region.

14. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein an inclined groove or a lug groove is provided between the circumferential main groove and the main sipe, and a width Wl of the inclined groove or the lug groove and a width (Wm+2Wc) of the main sipe satisfy Wl×0.8≤(Wm+2Wc)≤Wl×1.2.

15. The pneumatic tire according to claim 14 , wherein a dimension of the inclined groove or the lug groove in a tire width direction is 20% or more and 40% or less of a dimension of the land portion in the tire width direction.

16. The pneumatic tire according to claim 14 , wherein a depth Dl of the inclined groove or the lug groove and the depth Dm of the body portion of the main sipe satisfy Dl×0.2≤Dm≤Dl×0.8.

17. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein, in a state where a load of 70% of a maximum load capacity is applied, a ground contact region is divided into four regions in a tire width direction and two regions among the four regions on both outer sides in the tire width direction are regarded as shoulder regions, and the branch sipe is provided in both of the shoulder regions.

18. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a rotation direction is designated, an end portion of the branch sipe on an opposite side of the chamfered portion is provided on a leading side, and an end portion of the branch sipe on a side of the chamfered portion is provided on a trailing side.

19. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein a dimple is provided in at least a center region.

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 Dec 1, 2021
From: KODA, HIRAKU; TAKEMORI, RYOHEI; SASAYA, YUKI
To: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 058260/0235 →