Tire mold and method for making a tire mold
US7114546B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 4, 2005 |
| Grant date | Oct 3, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 4, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29D2030/063
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A tire mold according to the invention includes a plurality of tread sectors for forming a tread portion of a tire and two shell inserts for molding the sidewalls of a tire wherein the tread sectors and the shell inserts are castings formed from the same model. A method for manufacturing a mold in accordance with the invention includes the steps of providing a casting model having the tread and sidewall features of a tire, the casting model having parting zones between the tread and sidewall, casting an element from the model, the cast element accordingly having parting zones between the tread and sidewall portions, and separating the cast element into a plurality of tread sectors and opposing sidewall shells. An advantage of casting the molding parts, the tread sectors and sidewall shells from a single casting model is that deeper and more complex features can be formed in the sidewall shells, and the features extending from the tread onto the sidewall can be better aligned and better conformed in size, shape and appearance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.