The Goodyear & Tire Rubber Company

Francis Bartholome

Anne-France Gabrielle Jeanne-Marie Cambron

Alain Emile Francois Roesgen

Yacine Ouyahia

Gia-Van Nguyen

Gerard Louis Marie Schmit

Yvan Sac

Guy Jacobs

Peter Phelps Roch

Raymond Marie Joseph Ghislain Houba

Bernard Marie Henin

Gia Van Nguyen

A mold and molding device for forming a sunken groove in a tire is provided. The molding device includes a thin flexible wire having a desired cross-sectional shape. The wire thickness can range from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm. The flexible wire is preferably hyperelastic. An optional molding element may be connected to the flexible wire.

Flexible molding device for manufacturing a sunken groove in a tire tread

A tire mold and a molding device for forming a sunken groove in a tire are provided. The molding device includes one or more rigid elements joined to a flexible member. The flexible member is formed from a flexible material, preferably a superalloy, or hyperelastic material. The molding device may further comprise a magnet. A portion of the flexible member is positioned in contact with a first surface of a relief forming element of a mold and the rigid element has a mating surface in mating contact with a second surface of the relief forming element. The mold further may further comprise a second relief forming element positioned adjacent the first relief forming element, wherein the rigid element further includes an outer surface in mating contact with a surface of said second relief forming element.

Flexible molding device for manufacturing a sunken groove or surface tie bar in a tire tread

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Libramont, Belgium

Francis Bartholome