US4456046A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-speed tires
Assignee: GOOYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY AN OH CORP
•
Filing: 1981-05-11
•
Granted: 1984-06-26
•
Expires: 2001-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A high-speed tire for use during both wet and drying road surface conditions is disclosed. The tread groove depth increases from a minimum depth near each tread edge to a maximum depth near the mid-circumferential plane. Each of an outer group of tread elements has a ground-contacting surface area equal to at least about two square inches, and the net-to-gross ratio of the tread central zone is not greater than about 65 percent. Transverse grooves extend from the mid-circumferential plane to a tread edge at an angle relative to the mid-circumferential plane which is greater than about 75 degrees at the respective tread edge and which is less than about 40 degrees at the mid-circumferential plane. The widths of circumferential grooves progressively decrease as their respective distances from the mid-circumferential plane increase.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy I. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:27
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C11/00; B60C11/03; B60C11/11; B60C11/0302; B60C11/0327; B60C11/033; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T152/00; Y10T152/10; Y10T152/10495; Y10T152/10765
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A tire comprising a tread having a plurality of tread elements separated by a network of grooves, said groove network having a maximum depth within a distance from both sides of the mid-circumferential plane of the tire of 10 percent of the tread width, said maximum depth being equal to at least the lesser of 0.20 inch and 2.5 percent of tread width, said groove network further having a minimum depth within a distance from each tread edge of 20 percent of the tread width, said minimum depth being equal to less than about 0.15 inch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A tire comprising a tread having a plurality of tread elements separated by a network of grooves, said groove network having a maximum depth within a distance from both sides of the mid-circumferential plane of the tire of 10 percent of the tread width, said maximum depth being equal to at least the lesser of 0.20 inch and 2.5 percent of tread width, said groove network further having a minimum depth within a distance from each tread edge of 20 percent of the tread width, said minimum depth being equal to less than about 0.15 inch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
A tire comprising a tread having a plurality of tread elements separated by a network of grooves, said groove network having a depth which is less than about 0.15 inch within a distance from each tread edge of 20 percent of tread width, and said network depth progressively increases as said groove network extends in a direction across the tread from each tread edge to the mid-circumferential plane of the tire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
A tire comprising a tread having a plurality of tread elements separated by a network of grooves, said groove network having a depth which is less than about 0.15 inch within a distance from each tread edge of 20 percent of tread width, and said network depth progressively increases as said groove network extends in a direction across the tread from each tread edge to the mid-circumferential plane of the tire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A tire according to claim 2, wherein said groove network depth is less than 0.10 inch within a distance from each tread edge of 20 percent of tread width.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
A tire according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of tread elements includes an outer group of tread elements, each of said outer group of tread elements is disposed at least partially within a distance equal to 20 percent of the tread width from a respective tread edge and has a ground-contacting surface area equal to at least about two square inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A tire according to claim 3, wherein said groove network depth is equal to at least the lesser of 0.20 inch and 2.5 percent of tread width within a distance from both sides of the mid-circumferential plane of the tire of 10 percent of tread width.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
A tire according to claim 5, wherein said groove network includes circumferential and transverse grooves, said transverse grooves extending from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire to a tread edge at an angle relative to the mid-circumferential plane at the respective tread edge which is at least about 75 degrees, said transverse grooves further extending at an angle relative to and at the mid-circumferential plane which is less than about 40 degrees.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tire according to claim 5, wherein said groove network includes circumferential and transverse grooves, the width of said circumferential grooves generally progressively decreasing as their respective distances from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire increase.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A tire according to claim 5, wherein said tread further has a circumferentially extending central zone which extends over the width of the tread from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire toward each tread edge a distance of 10 percent of tread width, said central zone having a net-to-gross ratio which is less than about 65 percent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
A tire according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of tread elements includes an outer group of tread elements, each of said outer group of tread elements being disposed at least partially within a distance equal to 20 percent of the tread width from a respective tread edge and having a ground-contacting surface area equal to at least about two square inches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tire according to claim 9, wherein said groove network includes circumferential and transverse grooves, the widths of said circumferential grooves progressively decreasing as their respective distances from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire increase.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
A racing tire comprising a tread having a plurality of tread elements separated by a network of circumferential and transverse grooves, said transverse grooves extending from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire to a tread edge at an angle relative to the mid-circumferential plane at the respective tread edge which is greater than about 75 degrees, said transverse grooves further extending at an angle relative to and at the mid-circumferential plane which is less than about 40 degrees.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
A racing tire comprising a tread having a plurality of tread elements separated by a network of circumferential and transverse grooves, said transverse grooves extending from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire to a tread edge at an angle relative to the mid-circumferential plane at the respective tread edge which is greater than about 75 degrees, said transverse grooves further extending at an angle relative to and at the mid-circumferential plane which is less than about 40 degrees.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
A tire according to claim 11, wherein said groove network has a maximum depth within a distance from both sides of the mid-circumferential plane of 10 percent of the tread width, said maximum depth being equal to at least the lesser of 0.20 inch and 2.5 percent of tread width, and said groove network further has a minimum depth within a distance from each tread edge of 20 percent of the tread width, said minimum depth being less than about 0.15 inch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A tire according to claim 11, wherein the widths of said circumferential grooves progressively decrease as their respective distances from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire increase.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
116 words
A tire comprising a tread having a plurality of tread elements separated by a network of grooves and including an outer group of tread elements each of which is disposed at least partially within a distance equal to 20 percent of the tread width from a respective tread edge and each of which has a ground-contacting surface area equal to at least about two square inches, said tread further having a circumferentially extending central zone which extends over the width of the tread from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire toward each tread edge a distance of 10 percent of tread width, said central zone having a net-to-gross ratio which is less than about 65 percent.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
116 words
A tire comprising a tread having a plurality of tread elements separated by a network of grooves and including an outer group of tread elements each of which is disposed at least partially within a distance equal to 20 percent of the tread width from a respective tread edge and each of which has a ground-contacting surface area equal to at least about two square inches, said tread further having a circumferentially extending central zone which extends over the width of the tread from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire toward each tread edge a distance of 10 percent of tread width, said central zone having a net-to-gross ratio which is less than about 65 percent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
A tire according to claim 14, wherein said network of grooves includes circumferential and transverse grooves, said transverse grooves extending from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire to a tread edge at an angle relative to the mid-circumferential plane at the respective tread edge which is greater than about 75 degrees, said transverse grooves further extending at an angle relative to and at the mid-circumferential plane which is less than about 40 degrees.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tire according to claim 14, wherein said groove network includes circumferential and transverse grooves, the widths of said circumferential grooves progressively decreases as their respective distances from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire increase.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
84 words
A tire according to claim 14, wherein said groove network has a maximum depth within a distance from both sides of the mid-circumferential plane of the tire of 10 percent of the tread width, said maximum depth being equal to at least the lesser of 0.20 inch and 2.5 percent of tread width, said groove network further having a minimum depth within a distance from each tread edge of 20 percent of the tread width, said minimum depth being less than about 0.15 inch.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
73 words
A tire according to claim 17, wherein said network of grooves includes circumferential and transverse grooves, said transverse grooves extending from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire to a tread edge at an angle relative to the mid-circumferential plane at the respective tread edge which is greater than about 75 degrees, said transverse grooves further extending at an angle relative to and at the mid-circumferential plane which is less than about 40 degrees.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tire according to claim 17, wherein said groove network includes circumferential and transverse grooves, the widths of said circumferential grooves progressively decrease as their respective distances from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire increase.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
A tire comprising a tread having a plurality of tread elements separated by a network of circumferential and transverse grooves, the widths of said circumferential grooves progressively decrease as their respective distances from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire increase.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
A tire comprising a tread having a plurality of tread elements separated by a network of circumferential and transverse grooves, the widths of said circumferential grooves progressively decrease as their respective distances from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire increase.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
A tire according to claim 20, wherein the width of said circumferential groove nearest the mid-circumferential plane of the tire is at least about 40 percent greater than the width of said circumferential groove nearest each tread edge.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
64 words
A tire according to any one of claims 6, 11, 12,13,15, or 18, wherein some of said transverse grooves extend from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire toward one tread edge and the rest of said transverse grooves extend from the mid-circumferential plane toward the other tread edge, and all of said transverse grooves extend from the mid-circumferential plane in the same circumferential direction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
A tire according to any one of claims 4, 9, 10, or 14 through 19, wherein each of said outer group of tread elements has a width which is at least 90 percent of the length thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tire according to claim 23, wherein the ground-contacting surface of each of said outer group of tread elements is substantially rectangular.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
A tire according to any one of claims 4,9,10 or 14 through 19, wherein the ground-contacting surface of each of said outer group of tread elements is substantially rectangular.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tire according to any one of claims 1 through 10, or 14 through 21, wherein the tire is a racing tire.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
A tire according to any one of claims 1,2, 8, or 14, wherein the tread is devoid of grooves within a distance of 20 percent of tread width of each tread edge.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
A tire according to claim 27, wherein the tire is a racing tire.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the depths of the grooves comprising the groove network generally progressively decrease as their respective distances from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire increase.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tire according to claim 1 wherein the tread thickness generally progressively decreases from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire to the tread edge.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tire according to claim 2 wherein the tread thickness generally progressively decreases from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire to the tread edge.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
103 words
A tire comprising a tread having a plurality of tread elements separated by a network of grooves, the widths of the grooves comprising the groove network, generally progressively decreasing as their respective distances from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire increase, wherein the groove network includes transverse grooves, said transverse grooves extending from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire to a tread edge at an angle relative to the mid-circumferential plane at the respective tread edge which is at least about 75°, said transverse grooves further extending at an angle relative to and at the mid-circumferential plane which is less than about 40°.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
103 words
A tire comprising a tread having a plurality of tread elements separated by a network of grooves, the widths of the grooves comprising the groove network, generally progressively decreasing as their respective distances from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire increase, wherein the groove network includes transverse grooves, said transverse grooves extending from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire to a tread edge at an angle relative to the mid-circumferential plane at the respective tread edge which is at least about 75°, said transverse grooves further extending at an angle relative to and at the mid-circumferential plane which is less than about 40°.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
100 words
A tire comprising a tread having a plurality of tread elements separated by a network of grooves, the depths of the grooves comprising the groove network, generally progressively decreasing as their respective distances from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire increase, wherein the groove network includes transverse grooves extending from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire to a tread edge at an angle relative to the mid-circumferential plane at the respective tread edge which is at least about 75°, said transverse grooves further extending at an angle relative to and at the mid-circumferential plane which is less than about 40°.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
100 words
A tire comprising a tread having a plurality of tread elements separated by a network of grooves, the depths of the grooves comprising the groove network, generally progressively decreasing as their respective distances from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire increase, wherein the groove network includes transverse grooves extending from the mid-circumferential plane of the tire to a tread edge at an angle relative to the mid-circumferential plane at the respective tread edge which is at least about 75°, said transverse grooves further extending at an angle relative to and at the mid-circumferential plane which is less than about 40°.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2014255A
Cited
US3584670A
Cited
US4057089A
Cited
US4254811A
Cited
US4299264A
Cited
US4282915A
Cited
US4356985A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-06-26 | 1987-12-26 | 1988-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-06-26 | 1991-12-26 | 1992-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-06-26 | 1995-12-26 | 1996-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |