US 7,575,424 B2
	Flexible molding device for manufacturing a sunken groove in a tire tread
Gia-Van Nguyen, Blagny (France); Yacine Ouyahia, Bereldange (Luxembourg); Alain Emile Francois Roesgen, Asselborn (Luxembourg); Yvan Sac, Nachtmanderscheid (Luxembourg); Francis Bartholome, Libramont (Belgium); Gerard Louis Marie Schmit, Attert (Belgium); Anne-France Gabrielle Jeanne-Marie Cambron, Mersch (Luxembourg); Joel Andre Ghislain Delogne, Neufchateau (Belgium); Guy Jacobs, Holzthum (Luxembourg); and Andre Domange, Etalle (Belgium)
Assigned to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio (US)
Filed on Aug. 14, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/891,874.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/876326, filed on Dec. 21, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2008/0152744 A1, Jun. 26, 2008
Int. Cl. B29C 33/44 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 425—28.1  [425/37; 425/438; 425/470]

3 Claims

1. A molding device for forming a sunken groove in a tire, the molding device comprising a first and second flexible wire, wherein each wire has a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends are joined together and the second ends are positioned to extend in opposite directions from each other wherein the first and second wires are formed from a material having an elastic limit greater than or equal to 5% elongation.