US 11,872,726 B2
Tire segment model and a method of making a tire mold segment
David Charles Jacques Robert Laurent, Tilff (BE); Jean-Philippe Aloyse Henri Sander, Entrange (FR); and Antoine Francois Regnier, Attert (BE)
Assigned to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, OH (US)
Filed by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, OH (US)
Filed on Oct. 26, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/079,650.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/932,081, filed on Nov. 7, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0138691 A1, May 13, 2021
Int. Cl. B29D 30/06 (2006.01); B29C 33/38 (2006.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 33/3842 (2013.01) [B29D 30/0606 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); B29D 2030/0613 (2013.01); B29K 2905/02 (2013.01); B29K 2905/12 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A 3D-printed tire segment model comprising (1) a supporting structure; and (2) a tread portion having a plurality of grooves; ribs and/or tread blocks; and a plurality of blades extending between 3 mm and 10 mm radially out of the radially outermost surface of one or more of the ribs and/or the tread blocks; wherein the ribs and/or the tread blocks, as well as the blades are comprised of a polymer, wherein the tire segment model can be connected with additional tire segment models to form a closed ring, wherein the supporting structure is comprised of a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of polylactic acids, polycarbonates, polystyrenes, high impact polystyrenes, and polycaprolactones.