Pneumatic tire

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10500900-B2
Application number	US-201715497545-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2017
Priority date	Sep 7, 2016
Publication date	Dec 10, 2019
Grant date	Dec 10, 2019

Abstract

In a pneumatic tire, a sidewall portion includes a plurality of projecting portions projecting in a tire width-direction. The projecting portions are placed such that at least portions of the projecting portions are superposed on one of a plurality of blocks in a tire radial-direction as viewed from a tire width-direction. At least one of the plurality of projecting portions includes at least one opening. A total sum of an opening area of the opening is equal to or smaller than an actual area of the projecting portion in the at least one of the projecting portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pneumatic tire comprising:
a sidewall portion extending in a tire radial-direction; and
a tread portion having a tread surface on an outer side in the tire radial-direction and connected to an outer end of the sidewall portion in the tire radial-direction, wherein
the tread portion includes a plurality of grooves extending to an outer end in a tire width-direction, and a plurality of blocks arranged in a tire circumferential-direction by being defined by the plurality of grooves,
the sidewall portion includes a plurality of projecting portions projecting in the tire width-direction,
the projecting portions are placed such that at least portions of the projecting portions are superposed on one of the plurality of blocks in the tire radial-direction as viewed from the tire width-direction,
at least one of the plurality of projecting portions includes at least one opening, and
a total sum of an opening area of the opening is equal to or smaller than an actual area of the projecting portion in the at least one of the projecting portions,
the at least one opening includes a first side surface placed on a first side in a tire circumferential-direction, and a second side surface placed on a second side opposite the first side in the tire circumferential-direction, and
an angle formed between the second side surface and a surface of the projecting portion is closer to a right angle than an angle formed between the first side surface and the surface of the projecting portion.

2. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the projecting portions is provided with a plurality of openings, and
in at least one of the projecting portions, the openings are placed such that a region of the opening in the tire radial-direction is different from a region of at least another opening in the tire radial-direction.

3. The pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein
a total sum of the opening area of the opening in at least one of the projecting portions is 3/7 or lower of the actual area of the projecting portion, and
a total sum of the opening area of the opening in at least one of the projecting portions is 1/19 or higher of the actual area of the projecting portion.

4. The pneumatic tire according to claim 3 , wherein a total sum of the opening area of the opening in at least one of the projecting portions is 1/9 or higher of the actual area of the projecting portion.

5. The pneumatic tire according to claim 2 , wherein in at least one of the projecting portions, the opening is separated from at least the another opening.

6. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the angle formed between the first side surface and the surface of the projecting portion is an obtuse angle.

7. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the projecting portions is provided with a plurality of openings,
a total sum of the opening area of the opening in at least one of the projecting portions is 3/7 or lower of the actual area of the projecting portion, and
a total sum of the opening area of the opening in at least one of the projecting portions is 1/19 or higher of the actual area of the projecting portion.

8. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein positioned between each adjacent projection portion of the plurality of projecting portions is an annular protrusion portion, the annular protrusion portion extending along the tire circumferential-direction, and
the at least one opening includes a first opening positioned on a more inner side in the tire radial-direction than the annular protrusion portion, and a second opening positioned on a more outer side in the tire radial-direction than the annular protrusion portion.

9. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the projecting portions is provided with first and second openings, and
at least a portion of the first opening in the tire radial-direction is superposed on a region of the second opening in the tire radial-direction.

10. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is asymmetric with respect to a center of the at least one projecting portion in the tire circumferential-direction.

11. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is separated from a center of the at least one projecting portion in the tire circumferential-direction.

12. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1 , wherein the opening area of the at least one opening is different from each other on the first side and the second side of the tire circumferential-direction with respect to a center of the projecting portion in the tire circumferential-direction.

13. A pneumatic tire comprising:
a sidewall portion extending in a tire radial-direction; and
a tread portion having a tread surface on an outer side in the tire radial-direction and connected to an outer end of the sidewall portion in the tire radial-direction, wherein
the tread portion includes a plurality of grooves extending to an outer end in a tire width-direction, and a plurality of blocks arranged in a tire circumferential-direction by being defined by the plurality of grooves,
the sidewall portion includes a plurality of projecting portions projecting in the tire width-direction,
the projecting portions are placed such that at least portions of the projecting portions are superposed on one of the plurality of blocks in the tire radial-direction as viewed from the tire width-direction,
at least one of the plurality of projecting portions includes a plurality of openings, and
a total sum of an opening area of the openings is 3/7 or lower and 1/19 or higher of an actual area of the projecting portion in the at least one of the projecting portions.

14. The pneumatic tire according to claim 13 , wherein in at least one of the projecting portions, the openings are placed such that a region of the opening in the tire radial-direction is different from a region of at least another opening in the tire radial-direction.

15. The pneumatic tire according to claim 13 , wherein positioned between each adjacent projection portion of the plurality of projecting portions is an annular protrusion portion, the annular protrusion portion extending along the tire circumferential-direction, and
the at least one opening includes a first opening positioned on a more inner side in the tire radial-direction than the annular protrusion portion, and a second opening positioned on a more outer side in the tire radial-direction than the annular protrusion portion.

16. The pneumatic tire according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of the projecting portions is provided with first and second openings, and
at least a portion of the first opening in the tire radial-direction is superposed on a region of the second opening in the tire radial-direction.

17. The pneumatic tire according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one opening is asymmetric with respect to a center of the at least one projecting portion in the tire circumferential-direction.

18. The pneumatic tire according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one opening is separated from a center of the at least one projecting portion in the tire circumferential-direction.

19. The pneumatic tire according to claim 13 , wherein the opening area of the at least one opening is different from each other on the first side and the second side of the tire circumferential-direction with respect to a center of the projecting portion in the tire circumferential-direction.

Assignees

• Toyo Tire & Rubber Co
• Toyo Tire Corp

Inventors

• Sakamoto Sachio

Classifications

• B60C2011/013

  provided with a recessed portion · CPC title

• B60C13/00

  Tyre sidewalls; Protecting, decorating, marking, or the like, thereof (B60C17/08 takes precedence; tyre shoulders B60C11/01; removable tyre sidewall trim rings B60B7/01) · CPC title

• B60C11/0306

  Patterns comprising block rows or discontinuous ribs · CPC title

• B60C2011/0358

  Lateral grooves, i.e. having an angle of 45 to 90 degees to the equatorial plane · CPC title

• B60C2200/14

  for off-road use · CPC title