US 12,226,969 B2
Mold segment for tire having connected first and second sipe elements
Marcin Jaroszewicz, Olsztyn (PL)
Assigned to Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
Appl. No. 17/311,569
Filed by Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
PCT Filed Dec. 16, 2019, PCT No. PCT/IB2019/060867
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 7, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/128798, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 25, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/781,978, filed on Dec. 19, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0024165 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. B29D 30/06 (2006.01)
CPC B29D 30/0606 (2013.01) [B29D 2030/0613 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mold segment for forming a tire, comprising:
a first sipe element that has a first sipe element narrow section and a first sipe element teardrop section, wherein the first sipe element has a female connector;
a second sipe element that has a second sipe element narrow section and a second sipe element teardrop section, wherein the second sipe element has a male connector, wherein the male connector is located at a first terminal end of the second sipe element, wherein the second sipe element teardrop section is offset from the first terminal end of the second sipe element and not located at the first terminal end of the second sipe element; and
a mold segment base that receives the first sipe element and the second sipe element, wherein the female connector of the first sipe element receives the male connector of the second sipe element;
wherein the female connector is a slot defined in the first sipe element teardrop section, and wherein the male connector is a first leg of the second sipe element, wherein when the female connector of the first sipe element receives the male connector of the second sipe element the first leg is located within the slot;
wherein the first sipe element teardrop section is located at a first terminal end of the first sipe element, and wherein the first sipe element narrow section is offset from the first terminal end of the first sipe element and not located at the first terminal end of the first sipe element;
wherein the first leg is located at the first terminal end of the second sipe element, and wherein the second sipe element narrow section is located at the first terminal end of the second sipe element.