The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 02, 2019
Filed:
Jan. 31, 2012
E. Bruce Colby, Greenville, SC (US);
Dimitri G. Tsihlas, Greer, SC (US);
Zarak E. Cesar, Simpsonville, SC (US);
E. Bruce Colby, Greenville, SC (US);
Dimitri G. Tsihlas, Greer, SC (US);
Zarak E. Cesar, Simpsonville, SC (US);
Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand, FR;
Abstract
The present invention concerns tire treads having projecting features comprising wear indicators, stone ejectors, and/or noise suppressors arranged within voids submerged below the top, outer side of a tread. Particular embodiments of the invention provide a tire tread having a submerged void extending into to the tread thickness from the bottom side of the tread to a terminal location spaced below the tread top side, the top side forming a ground-engaging side of the tread. Such embodiments further include a plurality of projecting features arranged within the submerged void below the terminal location of the submerged void, the plurality of projecting features being further arranged in a spaced arrangement along a length of the submerged void, each of the plurality of projecting features extending partially across a width of the submerged void, which may comprise a groove, for example. The invention includes methods of forming the tread and a treaded tire.