Tire with retractable stud

• US 8,082,961 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Inventors: Collette, Jean Joseph Victor, Cuny, Andre, Severens, Frank Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Daniels, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Minskey, Jacob Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/236,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20090165912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 152/210, D12/535, D12/564, D12/608
• US Class Current: 152/210
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/1612 actuated by fluid, e.g. using fluid pressure difference

Abstract

A retractable stud pin assembly is described for use in a conventional tire. The stud pin assembly includes a housing having an elastomer compartment and a spring in cooperation with the elastomer. A stud pin is mounted to the spring. The assembly may further optionally include a fluid compartment in cooperation with the elastomer compartment and the spring. The assembly may further include a second compression spring, which cooperates with the first spring and stud pin. An optional adjustment nut may be used to manually raise and lower the pin height as desired. An optional adjustment pin may also be used to extend into an optional fluid compartment to fine tune the pin height.

Claims

1. A pneumatic tire comprising:

a tread, the tread having a non-skid depth (NSK), the tread including one or more retractable stud pin assemblies, wherein the one or more stud pin assemblies include a housing having an elastomer compartment in mechanical cooperation with a first spring for movement in a first plane, wherein the stud pin is mounted to the first spring, the housing further including a second compression spring having movement in a second plane different from said first plane, and an adjustable nut assembly in mechanical cooperation with the compression spring.

2. The pneumatic tire of claim 1 wherein the assembly includes a reservoir including a liquid compartment and a elastomer compartment, wherein the first spring is separated from the liquid compartment by the elastomer.

3. The pneumatic tire of claim 2 wherein the elastomer is silicone.

4. The pneumatic tire of claim 2 further comprising an adjustable pin which is positioned to extend into the fluid compartment.

5. The pneumatic tire of claim 1 further including an elastomer compartment.

6. The pneumatic tire of claim 1 wherein the spring further includes a threaded member and the one or more stud pins are threaded onto the threaded member.

7. The pneumatic tire of claim 1 wherein the housing further includes a liquid compartment.

8. The pneumatic tire of claim 1 wherein the housing further includes a liquid compartment and an adjustment screw in communication with the liquid compartment.