Patent ID: 8292606

Claim:
A tire curing mold capable of operating between mold open and mold closed positions, the mold comprising: a first plurality of translatable sections arranged annularly about a tire molding cavity to form a tread portion of the tire molding cavity, the sections translatable in a radial direction of the tire molding cavity between the mold open and mold closed positions; one or more first side plates arranged annularly about the tire molding cavity to form a sidewall portion of the tire molding cavity, the one or more first side plates further being positioned for engagement with the first plurality of translatable sections in the mold closed position; a first mold back ring arranged to slidably engage the first plurality of translatable sections, the first mold back ring also being slidably attached to a first base plate, whereby the first plurality of translatable sections radially translate with movement of the first base plate as the mold operates between the mold open and the mold closed positions; and, a first plurality of displacement members extending from the first base plate to the first mold back ring at a plurality of locations around the mold, the first plurality of displacement members generating a closing force directed against the first mold back ring to apply a further force against the first plurality of translatable sections when the mold is in the mold closed position.