Patent ID: 7862317

Claim:
A mold for vulcanizing a tire, the mold comprising: at least one axial member carrying at least one sidewall molding surface for molding a sidewall of a tire; radial segments each carrying at least one surface for molding a tire tread; means for connecting the axial member with the radial segments, the connection means comprising first radial and axial locking surfaces carried by the axial member and operable to cooperate with second radial and axial locking surfaces carried by each radial segment, the first and second radial and axial locking surfaces being complementary to each other and displaceable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position of the mold; wherein the complementary locking surfaces are separated in the open position of the mold and cooperate with each other in the closed position of the mold; wherein the at least one sidewall molding surface is integral with a fixed portion of the axial member, the first radial and axial locking surfaces being integral with at least one locking member mounted in the axial member and being movable relative to the fixed portion; wherein the locking member is mounted in the axial member to be axially displaceable relative to the fixed portion between the open and closed positions of the mold; wherein the at least one axial member includes at least one wedging member of the locking member for locking the mold in the closed position; and wherein the wedging member is radially displaceably mounted in a housing provided in the fixed portion of the at least one axial member, between: a retracted position in the housing; and a wedged position in which the wedging member is inserted between an axial surface of the fixed portion, extending said housing, and an axial end surface of the locking member.