Tire mold with improved durability
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tire mold movable between a closed position and an open position, the tire mold comprising:
- a mold body; and
a plurality of discrete tread mold segments positioned circumferentially about the mold body;
wherein each tread mold segment comprises;
a pair of opposing shoulders configured to abut with opposing shoulders of circumferentially adjacent tread mold segments when the tire mold is in the closed position, each pair of shoulders comprising a first shoulder defining a first opening and a second shoulder defining a second opening;
wherein the first shoulder comprises a first contact surface configured for contact with a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment and a first recessed portion that is positioned radially outward of the first contact surface;
wherein the second shoulder comprises a second contact surface configured for contact with the first contact surface of a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment and a second recessed portion that is positioned radially outward of the second contact surface;
at least one impact absorber supported by the first shoulder, the impact absorber configured for movement in and out of the first shoulder, the impact absorber biased towards a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment;
a synchronization pin extending from the first shoulder along a circumferential direction of the tire mold;
at least one contact element received within the second opening, the contact element positioned in contact with the impact absorber of a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment in both the open position and the closed position of the tire mold;
a slot defined by the second shoulder and configured for receipt of the synchronization pin of a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment andwherein the at least one impact absorber extends along the circumferential direction at least partly past the first contact surface and into the second recessed portion of the circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment when the mold is in the closed position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tire mold equipped with features for protecting the tread mold segments from damage is described. One or more impact absorbers are positioned between tread mold segments and operate to preclude contact between the shoulders of the tread mold segments when such are biased back into their original position as a tire is removed from the tire mold. By precluding such contact, the tread mold segments are protected from damage that can affect the appearance of the cured tire.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A tire mold movable between a closed position and an open position, the tire mold comprising:
-
a mold body; and a plurality of discrete tread mold segments positioned circumferentially about the mold body; wherein each tread mold segment comprises; a pair of opposing shoulders configured to abut with opposing shoulders of circumferentially adjacent tread mold segments when the tire mold is in the closed position, each pair of shoulders comprising a first shoulder defining a first opening and a second shoulder defining a second opening;
wherein the first shoulder comprises a first contact surface configured for contact with a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment and a first recessed portion that is positioned radially outward of the first contact surface;
wherein the second shoulder comprises a second contact surface configured for contact with the first contact surface of a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment and a second recessed portion that is positioned radially outward of the second contact surface;at least one impact absorber supported by the first shoulder, the impact absorber configured for movement in and out of the first shoulder, the impact absorber biased towards a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment; a synchronization pin extending from the first shoulder along a circumferential direction of the tire mold; at least one contact element received within the second opening, the contact element positioned in contact with the impact absorber of a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment in both the open position and the closed position of the tire mold; a slot defined by the second shoulder and configured for receipt of the synchronization pin of a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment and wherein the at least one impact absorber extends along the circumferential direction at least partly past the first contact surface and into the second recessed portion of the circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment when the mold is in the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A tire mold movable between a closed position and an open position, the tire mold comprising:
-
a mold body; a plurality of discrete tread mold segments positioned circumferentially about the mold body; wherein each tread mold segment comprises a pair of opposing shoulders configured to abut with opposing shoulders of circumferentially adjacent tread mold segments when the tire mold is in the closed position, each pair of shoulders comprising a first shoulder and a second shoulder; the first shoulder comprising a first contact surface positioned for contact with a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment, the first shoulder comprising a first recessed portion that is positioned radially outward of the first contact surface; the second shoulder comprising a second contact surface positioned for contact with a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment, the second shoulder comprising a second recessed portion that is positioned radially outward of the second contact surface; at least one impact absorber positioned in a first opening defined in the first recessed portion, the impact absorber configured for movement in and out of the first shoulder, the impact absorber biased towards a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment and extending along the circumferential direction at least partly past the first contact surface and into a second recessed portion of the circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment when the mold is in the closed position; and at least one contact element supported by the second shoulder, the contact element positioned in contact with the impact absorber of a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment in both the open position and the closed position of the tire mold. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
Specification