Tread kerf of snow tire

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9931892-B2
Application number	US-201514827458-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2015
Priority date	Aug 19, 2014
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

A tread kerf of a snow tire is capable of securing the performance of the tire on a dry road, a wet road, a snowy road, and an icy road, maintaining uniform rigidity of the block, and improving wear resistance. The tread kerf is formed in the outer surface of a tread block of the snow tire in a depth direction of the block in a shape of a polygonal wave extending along the outer surface of the block, wherein the entrance distance of the polygonal wave is less than the bottom distance of the polygonal wave such that side surfaces between the entrance and the bottom of the polygonal wave are formed as inclined surfaces, the distance between which decreases toward the entrance. The polygonal wave is moved in an advancing direction of the polygonal wave while being twisted in the depth direction of the block.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tread kerf formed in an outer surface of a tread block of a snow tire in a depth direction of the block in a shape of a polygonal wave extending along the outer surface of the block, wherein
an entrance distance of the polygonal wave is less than a bottom distance of the polygonal wave such that side surfaces between an entrance and a bottom of the polygonal wave are formed as inclined surfaces, a distance between which decreases toward the entrance,
wherein the polygonal wave is twisted in the depth direction of the block, and
wherein an amplitude of the twisted polygonal wave at the outer surface of the block is less than an amplitude of the twisted polygonal wave at an end surface of the block in the depth direction of the block.

2. The tread kerf according to claim 1 , wherein a wave twisting angle, which is generated as the polygonal wave is twisted, is 60 degrees or less.

3. The tread kerf according to claim 1 , wherein inclined surface twisting angles, which are angles of inclined surface with respect to the depth direction of the block generated as the polygonal wave is twisted, are 45 degrees or less.

4. The tread kerf according to claim 1 , wherein the amplitude of the twisted polygonal wave at the outer surface of the block is 0.5 to 4.0 mm, and the amplitude of the twisted polygonal wave at the end surface of the block is 0.5 to 8.0 mm.

5. The tread kerf according to claim 1 , wherein the polygonal wave is moved in an advancing direction of the polygonal wave while being twisted in the depth direction of the block.

6. The tread kerf according to claim 5 , wherein a wave twisting angle, which is generated as the polygonal wave is twisted, is 60 degrees or less.

7. The tread kerf according to claim 5 , wherein inclined surface twisting angles, which are angles of inclined surface with respect to the depth direction of the block generated as the polygonal wave is twisted, are 45 degrees or less.

8. The tread kerf according to claim 5 , wherein the amplitude of the twisted polygonal wave at the outer surface of the block is 0.5 to 4.0 mm, and the amplitude of the twisted polygonal wave at the end surface of the block is 0.5 to 8.0 mm.

9. A tread kerf member fitted in a tread block of a snow tire in a depth direction of the block in a shape of a polygonal wave extending along an outer surface of the block, wherein
an entrance distance of the polygonal wave is less than a bottom distance of the polygonal wave such that side surfaces between an entrance and a bottom of the polygonal wave are formed as inclined surfaces, a distance between which decreases toward the entrance,
wherein the tread kerf member is used as a kerf structure in the snow tire,
wherein the polygonal wave is twisted in the depth direction of the block, and
wherein an amplitude of the twisted polygonal wave at the outer surface of the block is less than an amplitude of the twisted polygonal wave at an end surface of the block in the depth direction of the block.

Assignees

• Hankook Tire Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jang Min Su
• Joo Sang Tak
• Youn Sung Hee

Classifications

• B60C2011/1213

  sinusoidal or zigzag at the tread surface · CPC title

• B60C2011/1227

  having different shape within the pattern · CPC title

• B60C11/1222 Primary

  Twisted or warped shape in the sipe plane · CPC title

• B60C11/01 Primary

  Shape of the shoulders between tread and sidewall, e.g. rounded, stepped or cantilevered · CPC title

• B60C11/14

  Anti-skid inserts, e.g. vulcanised into the tread band · CPC title