Tires

Abstract

A tire comprising a plurality of large pattern areas arranged along a tire circumferential direction (C) on a tire outer surface, each formed by depressions and projections and divided by smooth surfaces (S), wherein: each of the large pattern areas includes a first pattern area and a second pattern area arranged adjacent to the first pattern area and having a higher luminance than the first pattern area, the first pattern area comprises a plurality of regions having different sizes and shapes from one another, and the second pattern area comprises a plurality of regions having different sizes and shapes from one another.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a tire. GENERAL STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Sometimes, a decoration formed by fine depressions and projections on a smooth surface is provided on a side surface of a tire (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2019-099094). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0003] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a tire capable of expanding an expression range of a decorative section. SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

[0004] A tire of a first aspect includes a plurality of large pattern areas arranged along a tire circumferential direction on a tire outer surface, each formed by recesses and protrusions and divided by smooth surfaces. The large pattern areas are each configured to include a first pattern area and a second pattern area adjacent to the first pattern area and having a higher luminance than the first pattern area.

[0005] In the tire according to the first embodiment, the tire outer surface is decorated by providing the plurality of large pattern regions on the tire outer surface, the large pattern regions each configured to include the first pattern region and the second pattern region adjacent to the first pattern region and having a higher luminance than the first pattern region, formed by recesses and protrusions, and the large pattern regions are divided by smooth surfaces. This thereby enables the expression width to be expanded at the portion provided with the large pattern regions, in other words, at the decorated portion decorated on the tire outer surface.

[0006] A tire according to a second aspect is the tire according to a first aspect, wherein there are a plurality of the large pattern areas arranged in a tire radial direction on a tire side section.

[0007] In the tire according to the second embodiment, the large pattern areas are provided on the tire side section, thereby enabling the expression width to be expanded at the portion of the tire side section provided with the large pattern areas, in other words, at the decorated portion of the tire side section.

[0008] In addition, there are a plurality of the large pattern areas arranged in the tire radial direction, thereby enabling the expression width to be expanded compared with cases where there are not a plurality of the large pattern areas arranged in the tire radial direction.

[0009] A tire according to a third aspect is the tire according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein a plurality of at least one of the first pattern area or the second pattern area is provided in a single one of the large pattern areas.

[0010] In the tire according to the third aspect, there are a plurality of the at least one of the first pattern area or the second pattern area provided in a single one of the large pattern areas, thereby enabling the expression width to be expanded compared with cases where there are not a plurality of the at least one of the first pattern area or the second pattern area provided in a single one of the large pattern areas. BENEFICIAL EFFECTS

[0011] The tire of the present disclosure as described above exhibits the excellent advantageous effect of enabling the expression width of a decorative section of a tire outer surface to be expanded. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. is a plan view illustrating a decorative section formed on a tire side section of a tire according to a first embodiment. Fig. is an enlarged plan view illustrating a decorative section. Fig. is an enlarged plan view illustrating a portion of a first sample area. Fig. is an enlarged plan view illustrating part of a second sample area. Fig. is a cross-section illustrating a first asterisk protrusion. Fig. is a plan view illustrating a decorative section formed on a tire side section of a tire according to a second embodiment. Fig. is an enlarged plan view illustrating a large pattern area of ​​a tire according to the second embodiment. Fig. is an enlarged plan view illustrating a large pattern area according to another embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS FIRST EMBODIMENT

[0012] A description will now be given of a tire 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, with reference to Fig. until Fig. . It should be noted that an arrow C illustrated in the drawings indicates a tire circumferential direction and an arrow R indicates a tire radial direction.

[0013] As in Fig. As illustrated, a decorative section 14 is provided extending in the tire circumferential direction (direction of arrow C) on a tire side section 12 serving as an example of an outer surface of the tire 10. The decorative section 14 has a circular arc shape when viewed along an axial direction of the tire 10 and is arranged at a freely selected position in the tire circumferential direction.

[0014] Unlike the decorative section 14, the tire side section 12 has a smooth surface, similar to a normal tire. Note that, as applicable, a portion of the tire side section 12 configured by the smooth surface is called a base surface 16.

[0015] The decorative section 14 includes a plurality of large pattern areas 18. A plurality of the large pattern areas 18 are arranged along the tire radial direction (arrow R direction), and a plurality of them are arranged along the tire circumferential direction (arrow C direction). The large pattern areas 18 of the present embodiment are formed into substantially arrow-feather shapes in a plan view of the tire side section 12, and large pattern areas 18 adjacent to each other in the tire radial direction are arranged to face in opposite directions.

[0016] A space S configured by a smooth surface is provided between a large pattern area 18 and an adjacent large pattern area 18 so as to be connected to the base surface 16. In other words, the large pattern areas 18 are divided by smooth surfaces.

[0017] Note that there are preferably three or more of the large pattern areas 18 arranged in the tire circumferential direction, and more preferably five or more of the same.

[0018] The large pattern areas 18 are each configured to include a first pattern area 20 and a second pattern area 22 disposed adjacent to the first pattern area 20 and having a higher luminance than the first pattern area 20.

[0019] The first pattern area 20 is configured to include a region 20a, a region 20b, a region 20c, a region 20d, a region 20e, and the like having different sizes and shapes from each other.

[0020] The second pattern area 22 is configured to include a region 22a, a region 22b, a region 22c, a region 22d, a region 22e, and the like having different sizes and shapes from each other.

[0021] It should be noted that the region 20a, the region 20b, the region 20c, the region 20d and the region 20e of the first pattern area 20 have shapes that are symmetrical about a symmetry axis CL to the region 22a, the region 22b, the region 22c, the region 22d and the region 22e of the second pattern area 22.

[0022] Next, the first pattern area 20 has a lower luminance than the base area 16 and appears blacker than the base area 16. The second pattern area 22 has a higher luminance than the first pattern area 20 and a lower luminance than the base area 16.

[0023] Namely, the luminance decreases in a sequence from the base area 16, then the second pattern area 22 and then the first pattern area 20, and furthermore, the second pattern area 22 appears blacker than the base area 16, the first pattern area 20 appears blacker than the second pattern area 22, and the first pattern area 20 appears blackest.

[0024] Note that the first pattern area 20 and the second pattern area 22 may be formed on the surface of the tire side section 12 by providing a mold for molding the tire 10 with fine recesses and projections at portions corresponding to the first pattern area 20 and the second pattern area 22.

[0025] Fine protrusions projecting from the base surface 16 are formed on the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22, resulting in depressions and protrusions on the surface of both the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22.

[0026] First star protrusions 34 and second star protrusions 36, which serve as examples of protrusions, are formed similarly to each other on the first pattern area 20 and the second pattern area 22.

[0027] The shapes of the first star projections 34 and the second star projections 36 are similar to each other in each of these regions. Furthermore, a pitch P between mutually adjacent first star projections 34 and mutually adjacent second star projections 36 is varied according to a homothetic relationship.

[0028] As described above, the shapes of the first star protrusions 34 and the second star protrusions 36 in each of these regions are similar to each other. In the following description, the first pattern region 20 will be given as an example of the shape of the first star protrusions 34 and the second star protrusions 36. FIRST SAMPLE AREA 20

[0029] As in Fig. As illustrated, the first pattern region 20 includes the plurality of first star protrusions 34 and the plurality of second star protrusions 36 protruding from the base surface. The first star protrusions 34 and the second star protrusions 36 are arranged alternately with each other in the tire circumferential direction and the tire radial direction. FIRST STAR PROJECTS 34

[0030] As in Fig. As illustrated, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the base surface 16 (a rotational axis direction of the tire 10), the first star projections 34 include a plurality of, in the present embodiment, six, extension portions 34E extending in mutually different respective directions from a center O1 serving as a starting point.

[0031] A 60° angle is formed between adjacent extension portions 34E of the six extension portions 34E. In other words, the six extension portions 34E extend from the center point O1 in a radial shape to form each of the first star projections 34.

[0032] As in Fig. As illustrated, each of the extension portions 34E of the first star projection 34 has a substantially isosceles triangular cross-sectional profile including a flat apex surface 34C, as cut along a direction perpendicular to its extension direction. Namely, each of the first star projections 34 includes the apex surface 34C and a pair of side surfaces 34D. In the present embodiment, a width (W1 in the drawings) of the apex surface 34C is 0.02 mm, and apex angle (D1 in the drawings) of the first star projection 34 is 26°. A height (H in the drawings) of the first star projection 34 is a predetermined single value from 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm.Forming the protrusions is difficult in cases where the protrusion height (protrusion height) is less than 0.05 mm, and there is a concern that it may not be possible to attenuate incident light sufficiently to reduce the luminance to a level that appears black. Making the protrusion height 1.0 mm or less means reducing any difference between the rigidity of the portions enclosing the protrusions and the rigidity of the portions surrounding the protrusions, thereby suppressing localized stress concentration.

[0033] Note that dimensions such as the height of the protrusions and the pitch (distance) of the protrusions, described later, can be measured in the present embodiment, for example, by using the One-Shot 3D Measuring Macroscope, R-3000 Series, manufactured by Keyence Corporation. SECOND STAR ADVANCE 36

[0034] As in Fig. As illustrated, the second star projections 36 have shapes similar to the first star projections 34. Specifically, viewed along a direction perpendicular to the base surface 16, each of the second star projections 36 has a shape obtained by rotating a first star projection 34 clockwise by 90° about its center point O1 and then further performing a top-to-bottom inversion of the first star projection 34 rotated by 90° about its center point O1. Namely, the second star projections 36 each include six extension portions 36E extending in different directions from a center point O2 serving as a starting point, each extension portion 36E including a vertex surface 36C and side surfaces 36D.

[0035] The first star protrusions 34 and the second star protrusions 36 are arranged alternately with each other in the tire circumferential direction and in the tire radial direction so as to fill the entirety of each region.

[0036] A pitch (hereinafter referred to as a pitch P) between the center point O1 and the center point O2 of the first star protrusions 34 and the adjacent second star protrusions 36 adjacent in the tire radial direction and in the tire circumferential direction is a predetermined single value of 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm. Molding of the protrusions becomes difficult in cases where the pitch P is less than 0.1 mm. In cases where the pitch P is greater than 1.0 mm, there is a concern that it may not be possible to attenuate incident light sufficiently to reduce the luminance to an extent that appears black. SECOND SAMPLE AREA 22

[0037] Next, a description of the second pattern area 22 follows.

[0038] As in Fig. As illustrated, first star protrusions 34 and second star protrusions 36, similar in shape to those of the first pattern area 20, are formed in the second pattern area 22, but the density of the formed protrusions is lower than the density of the protrusions formed in the first pattern area 20. The second pattern area 22 appears relatively brighter than the first pattern area 20.

[0039] The first pattern area 20 and the second pattern area 22 of the present embodiment are areas having, as an example, a luminance value L* of less than 20 as measured using a handy spectrophotometer (NF333) manufactured by Nippon Denshoku Industries Co., Ltd. The luminance value L* ranges from 0 to 100, with values ​​close to 0 appearing black and values ​​close to 100 appearing white.

[0040] In the present embodiment, the luminance value L* of the base area 16 is set to 23, as an example, the luminance value L* of the second pattern region 22 is set to 15, as an example, and the luminance value L* of the first pattern region 20 is set to 5, as an example. Note that the luminance value L* of each region can be appropriately modified as needed.

[0041] It should be noted that in a single decorative section 14, a total surface area occupied by the first pattern area 20 and the second pattern area 22 may, for example, be in a range of 50% to 95%. HOW IT WORKS AND BENEFICIAL EFFECTS

[0042] Next, a description will be given regarding the operation and advantageous effects of the tire 10 of the present embodiment.

[0043] In other areas of the tire side section 12 that are not formed with the protrusions, namely at the base surface 16, incident light is reflected outwardly by the smooth outer surface that configures the base surface 16.

[0044] In contrast, in the first pattern area 20 and the second pattern area 22, the light incident on the first star projections 34 and the second star projections 36 hits the Fig. illustrated side surfaces 34D, 36D. The incident light is then attenuated as it is repeatedly reflected by the opposite side surfaces 34D, 36D before being reflected outward. This means that the first pattern area 20 and the second pattern area 22 appear blacker than the base surface 16.

[0045] Moreover, since the vertex angles of each of the protrusions are similar to each other, the region occupied by the base area 16 per unit surface area of ​​the second pattern area 22 is larger than the region occupied by the base area 16 per unit surface area of ​​the first pattern area 20.

[0046] This means that the amount of light reflected outward from the second pattern area 22 is greater than the amount of light reflected outward from the first pattern area 20. Specifically, the luminance L* of the second pattern area 22 is higher than that of the first pattern area 20. In other words, the second pattern area 22 appears relatively brighter than the first pattern area 20, and the first pattern area 20 appears relatively blacker than the second pattern area 22.

[0047] In this way, the decorative section 14 is provided with the plurality of large pattern areas 18, each configured to include the first pattern areas 20 and the second pattern areas 22 arranged adjacent to the first pattern areas 20 and having a higher luminance than the first pattern areas 20, and the large pattern areas 18 are divided by the spaces S having a smooth surface. This allows the decorative section 14 of the present embodiment to have a wider range of expression than a decorative section not having such a configuration.

[0048] It should be noted that the visibility of the large pattern areas 18 can be increased by setting a width of the spaces S such that the total surface area in a single decorative section 14 occupied by the first pattern areas 20 and the second pattern areas 22 is in a range of 50% to 95%. SECOND EXAMPLE

[0049] Next, a description will be given regarding the tire 10 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The same reference numerals are added to the same configuration as those of the first embodiment, and explanation thereof will be omitted.

[0050] As in Fig. and Fig. As illustrated, the tire 10 of the present embodiment includes large pattern areas 18 provided on a tire side section 12 and having a similar outline as in the first embodiment.

[0051] As in Fig. As illustrated, the large pattern areas 18 of the present embodiment each include a region 20a, a region 20b, a region 20c, a region 20d, a region 20e, a region 22a, a region 22b, a region 22c, a region 22d, and a region 22e, which are shaped with outlines similar to the large pattern areas 18 of the first embodiment, but the shape of the protrusions in each of these regions is different from that in the first embodiment.

[0052] As an example of the protrusions, a plurality of rib-shaped protrusions 38 are provided, which extend in a rectilinear shape in the region 20a, the region 20b, the region 20c, the region 22a, the region 22b, and the region 22c. In other words, the rib-shaped protrusions 38 may be ridges (protrusions having a mountain ridge shape, see Fig. ). Note that in the large pattern areas 18 of the present embodiment, the region 20d, the region 20e, the region 22d, and the region 22e are configured by smooth surfaces. Note that boundary portions on the outer periphery of each region of the present embodiment are formed with rib-shaped protrusions 40, similar to the rib-shaped protrusions 38.

[0053] The height of the rib-shaped protrusions 38 is, for example, 0.15 mm, and their apex angle is, for example, 35°. The height of the rib-shaped protrusions 40 is, for example, 0.2 mm, and their apex angle is, for example, 35°. These heights and apex angles can be modified as required.

[0054] The rib-shaped projections 38 are parallel to one direction, with a pitch P between a center point of one rib-shaped projection 38 and a center point of an adjacent other rib-shaped projection 38, similar to the pitch between the Fig. and Fig. illustrated first asterisk projections 34 and second asterisk projections 36.

[0055] In the present embodiment, the pitch P of the rib-shaped projections 38 in the second pattern regions 22 is also wider than the pitch P of the rib-shaped projections 38 in the first pattern regions 20, so that the second pattern regions 22 are configured to appear relatively brighter than the first pattern regions 20. OTHER EXAMPLES

[0056] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, the present disclosure is not limited to the above, and obviously various modifications other than the above can be implemented within a scope that does not deviate from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0057] For example, although in the first embodiment described above, the first star protrusions 34 and the second star protrusions 36 were linked to each other, they may be configured so as not to be linked to each other.

[0058] Although the apex angle of the projections such as the first star projections 34, the second star projections 36 and the like is 26° (for example, D1 in Fig. ), a different apex angle can be used. The larger the apex angle D1, the greater the proportion of reflected light that is reflected at the side surfaces 34D, 36D, returning in the direction of incidence, resulting in a relatively high luminance L*.

[0059] In the above-described embodiments, as examples of the protrusions, examples of the first star-shaped protrusions 34 and the second star-shaped protrusions 36 provided with the plurality of extension portions 34E extending in a radial shape, and the rib-shaped protrusions 38 extending in a rectilinear shape are given. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and a plan view shape of the protrusions is not limited to a radial shape or a rectilinear shape, and may be a so-called embossed pattern. Such an embossed pattern is a pattern including, for example, a leather pattern, a satin pattern, a wood grain pattern, a textile pattern, and a geometric pattern.

[0060] Furthermore, the first pattern areas 20 and the second pattern areas 22 are not limited to the shapes described in the above-described embodiments and may, for example, have any freely selected shape such as a rectangular shape or the like, as shown in Fig. illustrated.

[0061] Although large pattern areas 18 of the above-described embodiments include two pattern areas with different luminance, three or more pattern areas with different luminance may be provided instead.

[0062] The entire contents of the disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-042926, filed on March 16, 2021, are incorporated into the present specification by reference.

[0063] All publications, patent applications, and technical standards mentioned in this specification are incorporated by reference into this specification to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent application, or technical standard were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2019-099094

[0002] JP 2021-042926

[0062]

Claims

[1] A tire comprising a plurality of large pattern areas arranged along a tire circumferential direction (C) on a tire outer surface, each formed by recesses and projections and divided by smooth surfaces (S), wherein: each of the large pattern areas includes a first pattern area and a second pattern area arranged adjacent to the first pattern area and having a higher luminance than the first pattern area, the first pattern area comprises a plurality of regions having different sizes and shapes from one another, and the second pattern area comprises a plurality of regions having different sizes and shapes from one another. [2] A tire according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of said large pattern areas arranged in a tire radial direction (R) on a tire side section. [3] A tire according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a plurality of at least one of the first pattern area or the second pattern area is arranged in a single one of the large pattern areas.

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