US 12,337,564 B2
Mold segment with connected first and second sipe elements for use in forming a tire
Frederic Massis, Clermont-Ferrand (FR); and Damien Bardin, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
Assigned to Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
Appl. No. 17/780,261
Filed by Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
PCT Filed Dec. 12, 2019, PCT No. PCT/IB2019/060733
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 26, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/116738, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0410515 A1, Dec. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. B29D 30/06 (2006.01)
CPC B29D 30/0606 (2013.01) [B29D 2030/0613 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mold segment for forming a tire, comprising:
a first sipe element that has a first sipe element height direction, wherein the first sipe element has a first sipe element side surface that extends in the first sipe element height direction, wherein the first sipe element has a protrusion that extends from the first sipe element side surface, wherein the protrusion has a height that is less than a height of the first sipe element side surface, wherein the first sipe element has a first sipe element top surface;
a second sipe element that has a second sipe element height direction, wherein the second sipe element has a second sipe element side surface that extends in the second sipe element height direction, wherein the second sipe element has a cavity that extends from the second sipe element side surface, wherein the cavity has a height that is less than a height of the second sipe element side surface, wherein the second sipe element has a second sipe element top surface, wherein an area of the second sipe element side surface is less than an area of a second sipe element front face and is less than an area of a second sipe element back face; and
a mold segment base that receives the first sipe element and the second sipe element, wherein the cavity receives the protrusion such that the protrusion is located in the cavity, wherein the first sipe element side surface directly faces the second sipe element side surface;
wherein the first sipe element has a first face and an oppositely disposed second face separated from one another so as to define a thickness in a thickness direction, wherein the protrusion has a protrusion thickness that extends in the thickness direction and that is less than the thickness, wherein the first sipe element side surface has an area that is smaller than that of an area of the first face and is smaller than that of an area of the second face.