Patent ID: 7546861
Filing Date: 2009-06-16
Classification: B29D,B60C,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A tire comprising a tread, the tread having a tread surface and a plurality of ground engaging tread elements, the tread elements comprising two continuous circumferential ribs and two tread edge element rows together defining three circumferential grooves, wherein at least one of the tread elements of the two tread edge element rows has a sipe, the sipe having a depth in the radial direction of the tire, the sipe of the tire being characterized by: a crossed configuration comprised of a first lateral sipe portion and a second circumferential sipe portion, the first lateral sipe portion having a continuous non-linear, curved configuration at an upper portion of the first lateral sipe portion, the upper portion having a gradually increasing curvature as the upper portion extends radially inward to a lower portion of the first lateral sipe portion, the lower portion having a continuous linear configuration, the upper portion further having at least one elongated tubular locking feature for preventing shearing movement between opposing sidewalls of the upper portion, the second circumferential sipe portion having an upper portion comprising an uppermost portion of the second circumferential sipe portion and a middle portion of the second circumferencial sipe portion, the uppermost portion having a first constant width, the middle portion having a gradually increasing width as the middle portion extends radially inward to a lower portion of the second circumferential sipe portion, the lower portion having a constant second width greater than the first width, the uppermost portion further having at least one elongated elliptical locking feature for preventing shearing movement between opposing sidewalls of the uppermost portion.