Patent ID: 8632715
Filing Date: 2014-01-21
Classification: B29C,B29D

Abstract:
1. A mold for forming a contoured tire tread, the mold comprising: a first mold member and a second mold member each extending longitudinally between opposing ends and laterally between opposing sides, the first and second mold members being reversibly displaceable from each other from a first, closed position in which the first and second members substantially enclose a mold cavity to a second, open position in which the first and second members are displaced from each other, the mold cavity extending longitudinally and laterally along the first and second mold members and having a thickness bounded by opposing first and second sides of the mold cavity each respectively associated with one of the first and second mold members and each configured to form one of a top side or bottom side of a molded tread, the top and bottom sides being spaced apart to form a total thickness of the molded tread, each of the first and second sides undulating with the total tread thickness of the mold cavity in the longitudinal direction of the mold cavity, where each of the first and second sides includes at least one ridge-forming portion and/or trough-forming portion each configured to form a respective ridge or trough along a corresponding top or bottom side of the molded tread, wherein the first mold member includes a plurality of inner wall members configured to form tread features within a thickness of the molded tire tread, the inner wall members extending into the total thickness of the mold cavity from the first side of the mold cavity.