Patent ID: 7468153
Filing Date: 2008-12-23
Classification: B29C,B29D,B29L,B60C,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A tire curing apparatus comprising a molding body having a negative form of a tread pattern therein for receiving a green tire compound, wherein the negative form of the molding body has recessed surfaces for forming raised tread elements and raised surfaces for forming grooves defining the raised tread elements in a positive form of the tread pattern formed in a cured tire; a temperature source for applying a vulcanization temperature to the green tire compound in the molding body; and a plurality of degradable sipe blades affixed to the recessed surfaces in the negative form of the tread pattern of the molding body and releasable therefrom for incorporation into the raised tread elements of the positive form of a tire tread cured in the molding body from the green tire compound for forming a plurality of sipes within the raised tread elements adjacent a ground-contacting top surface in the positive form of the tread pattern formed in the cured tire tread; wherein