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:
Dec. 15, 1998
Filed:
May. 22, 1996
The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
Two or three main grooves, which extend in the circumferential direction of a tire, are provided in the central ground contacting region alone of a tread surface of the tire the rotational direction of which is designated to one direction, and at least one rib extending in the circumferential direction of the tire is formed between the main grooves. A plurality of sub-grooves respectively extending from the both sides of the main grooves outward in the widthwise direction of the tire up to at least the ground contacting ends of the tire are arranged at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction of the tire in such a manner that the sub-grooves formed in zigzag lines are inclined with the inner end portions thereof positioned on the forward side with respect to the rotational direction of the tire. The sub-grooves do not communicate with the main grooves but communicate with land portions separated by the sub-grooves. This enables pattern noise to be reduced without spoiling the drainage performance.