Pneumatic tire having laterally connected lugs
US5353854A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 8, 1991 |
| Grant date | Oct 11, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 8, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S152/03
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A directional pneumatic tire having improved wet traction is provided. The tread is divided into two annular portions, each annular portion comprising a plurality of block elements separated by lateral grooves. The block elements extend continuously from a shoulder area of the tire to a mid portion of the tread. The block elements have substantially circumferentially aligned notches in leading and trailing groove walls, wherein each notch is defined laterally by a narrow bridge of rubber. The tread has curved lateral grooves to direct water from the footprint to the shoulder area of the tire to help prevent hydroplaning. The pitch boundaries between annular portions of block elements may be skewed. The curved lateral grooves and the skewing reduce noise properties of the tire.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.