Appeal No. 2004-0459
Serial No. 09/652,997
THE INVENTION
The appellants claim a process for forming a controlled
extension and retraction tire tread segment which, when extended,
improves the tire’s traction. Claims 1 and 5 are illustrative:
1. A process for creating controlled extension and
retraction of a tire tread segment in a vehicle tire which
comprises:
providing a tire casing of steel and rubber which includes
an outer peripheral wall bounded by side walls, the outer
peripheral wall defining an outer peripheral surface;
designating a continuous peripheral strip of said peripheral
surface for provision of an expandable chamber;
applying a non-adhering film over the designated continuous
strip;
applying uncured rubber material suitable for a tire tread
over the entire peripheral surface of the casing;
forming an indentation in the uncured rubber superimposed
over the designated strip;
curing the uncured rubber to cause adhesion of the rubber to
the casing and providing thereby a tire tread having a peripheral
outer tread surface and an indentation inset from the tread
surface, said film preventing adhesion between the rubber and the
casing in said designated strip and defining thereby a non-
adhering interface between said casing and said tread which
defines an expandable chamber; and
providing a controlled air inlet to the chamber for
expansion and retraction of the overlying tread segment for
selective extension and retraction of said tread segment relative
to said tread surface.
5. A process for creating controlled extension and
retraction of a tire tread segment in a vehicle tire which
comprises:
2
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