Tire

Abstract

To make a pattern area darker.SOLUTION: A tire comprises a visible pattern area on a part of an external surface of a side wall as a portion different from circumference of the part. In the pattern area, a plurality of condensing shapes including a curved recess recessed into a curve surface shape and a central projection projecting a midship part of the curved recess are formed. Light reflected on an inner peripheral surface of the curved recess is collected at the central projection. According to this tire, light incident on the pattern area is likely to hit the inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface of the central projection continuously until outgoing. That is, light incident on the pattern area is likely to be reflected a total of two or more times until outgoing. With each of these reflections, a large portion of light before the reflection is absorbed. Therefore, light becomes more likely to be absorbed, and the pattern becomes darker.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tire having a pattern region for displaying, for example, a logo or a pattern on a part of the outer surface of a sidewall, and a tire molding die for molding the tire.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a tire having a pattern region in which a large number of fine protrusions are gathered on a part of the sidewall of a tire has been known (for example, Patent Document 1, etc.). In such a pattern region, the incident light is repeatedly reflected between the protrusions, resulting in a light absorption effect, and thereby it is visually recognized as darker than the outer surface of the surrounding sidewall, improving the contrast. By providing this type of pattern region, the tire can be improved in, for example, design effect and appearance.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] High contrast by a large number of protrusions has an advantage that it is less likely to undergo aging changes than means such as painting, and its effect is exerted over a long period of time. Therefore, there has been a demand for the formation of a pattern region by protrusions in which the black density is further increased and the high contrast is further advanced, and the design effect and appearance are further improved compared to the prior art.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to make the pattern region darker.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The tire according to the present invention is A tire having a pattern area visible as a portion different from the periphery of a part on an outer surface of a sidewall. In the pattern area, a plurality of light-collecting shapes including a curved concave portion recessed in a curved surface shape and a central protrusion protruding from a central portion of the curved concave portion are formed. Light reflected on an inner peripheral surface of the curved concave portion is collected by the central protrusion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the tire of the present invention, light incident on the pattern area is likely to hit successively on the inner peripheral surface of the curved concave portion and the outer peripheral surface of the central protrusion before exiting from the pattern area. That is, light incident on the pattern area is likely to be reflected two or more times in total before exiting from the pattern area. At each of those reflections, most of the light before the reflection is absorbed. Therefore, it becomes easier to absorb light and the pattern area becomes darker.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

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[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and can be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0010] [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a side view of a tire 1 according to an embodiment. The tire 1 is a so-called pneumatic tire filled with a predetermined air pressure in its inner cavity. The tire 1 of the embodiment is a pneumatic tire for passenger cars including light automobiles, SUVs, etc. Note that the configuration of the tire 1 of the embodiment can also be applied to pneumatic tires for other vehicle types such as light trucks, trucks, and buses.

[0011] First, with reference to FIG. 1, an outline of the configuration mainly related to the side surface of the tire 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a side view of the tire 1 viewed from the direction of the tire rotation axis X. In the following description, the "tire axial direction", "tire circumferential direction", and "tire radial direction" are as follows. The "tire axial direction" is the direction in which the tire rotation axis X extends, and in FIG. 1, it refers to the front and back directions of the paper surface. Since the tire axial direction is the left and right direction when viewed from the tire radial direction, the "both sides in the tire axial direction" may be referred to as "left and right". The "tire circumferential direction" is an arc line centered on the tire rotation axis X and is the direction along the rotation direction of the tire 1, which is indicated by an arrow G in FIG. 1. The "tire radial direction" is a direction perpendicular to the tire rotation axis X, which is arbitrarily indicated by an arrow Y in FIG. 1. Hereinafter, the side away from the tire rotation axis X in the tire radial direction is referred to as the "outer side in the tire radial direction", and the side approaching the tire rotation axis X in the tire radial direction is referred to as the "inner side in the tire radial direction".

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the tire 1 includes a bead 2, a sidewall 3, and a tread 4. The outer surface of the tire 1 is black. That is, the outer surface of the bead 2, the outer surface of the sidewall 3, and the outer surface of the tread 4 are black. The sidewall 3 extends radially outward of the tire from the bead 2. Each of the bead 2 and the sidewall 3 has one on the side of one side surface 1s of the tire 1 shown in FIG. 1 and one on the side of the other side surface not shown in FIG. 1 that is axially separated from the tire, that is, a pair on the left and right. The tread 4 connects the radially outer ends of the left and right sidewalls 3. The outer peripheral surface of the tread 4 includes a tread surface that contacts the road surface.

[0013] The tire 1 is mainly composed of a plurality of types of rubber that constitute the bead 2, the sidewall 3, and the tread 4 respectively. A carcass ply that constitutes the skeleton of the tire 1 is disposed on the inner cavity side of the rubber that constitutes the entire tire 1, and an inner liner that holds air pressure is disposed on the inner cavity side of the carcass ply. Further, an annular reinforcing belt is embedded inside the rubber that constitutes the tread 4 (the carcass ply, the inner liner, and the reinforcing belt are not shown). In addition to these members, various members are provided as necessary for the function of the tire 1.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the sidewall 3 has an annular decorative region 5 on its outer surface 3a that extends over the entire circumference in the tire circumferential direction. The decorative region 5 is a region with a certain width sandwiched between a predetermined inner arc line 5a and an outer arc line 5b that is radially outside the tire than the inner arc line 5a. The inner arc line 5a and the outer arc line 5b may be lines formed on the outer surface 3a of the sidewall 3 by concave, convex, or steps, or may be virtual lines that do not actually exist.

[0015] A pattern region 7 is provided in a part of the decorative region 5 in a visible state as a part different from the periphery of the part. The pattern region 7 includes, for example, a logo part 6A and a pattern part 6B. The pattern region 7 is provided on the sidewall rubber, which is a black rubber member that constitutes the outer surface of the sidewall 3.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the emblem portions 6A are provided at two locations facing each other across the tire rotation axis X in the annular decorative region 5. Each emblem portion 6A is formed by a plurality of characters arranged in the tire circumferential direction. At least one of emblems such as a manufacturer name, a product name, and a brand is displayed by these plurality of characters. Each character may be formed by being bordered by a concave or convex line, or the entire character may be formed in a concave or convex shape.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the pattern portions 6B are provided at two locations sandwiched in the tire circumferential direction by the two emblem portions 6A in the annular decorative region 5. Each pattern portion 6B is provided with a pattern such that a parallelogram is curved following the annular decorative region 5.

[0018] Note that the pattern region 7 is not limited to these, and can include various shapes, such as an arbitrary shape, a shape depicting emblems such as the manufacturer name, product name, brand, etc. described above, or a shape depicting other numbers, characters, etc.

[0019] Each pattern region 7 has a reference plane 7a along the profile of the sidewall 3. A plurality of predetermined light condensing shapes 20 are provided in each pattern region 7.

[0020] These plurality of light condensing shapes 20 are arranged in the arrangement state of each cell Ce in the honeycomb shape Hc. That is, the center of each light condensing shape 20 is arranged at the center of the cell Ce corresponding to the light condensing shape 20 in the honeycomb shape Hc. The pattern region 7 is configured to be visually recognizable as a part different from the periphery of the pattern region 7 by these plurality of light condensing shapes 20, specifically, recognizable as being blacker than the periphery.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows an example of a tire molding die 10 for vulcanizing and molding the tire 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a meridian sectional view of such a tire molding die 10 along the axial direction of the tire 1 to be molded.

[0022] The tire molding die 10 shown in FIG. 2 includes a plurality of sectors 11, a pair of side plates 12, and a pair of bead rings (not shown). The plurality of sectors 11 are arranged circumferentially along the outer peripheral side of the tire 1. The side plates 12 are arranged on both axial ends of the annular body formed by the combination of the plurality of sectors 11.

[0023] During vulcanization molding, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2, an unvulcanized tire 1a that is the material of the tire 1 is set inside the tire molding die 10. The combination of the sectors 11, the side plates 12, and the bead rings is a molding die for molding the tire 1, and the outer surface of the entire tire 1 is molded by the inner surfaces of the molding die, that is, the inner surface 11a of the sectors 11, the inner surface 12a of the side plates 12, and the inner surface of the bead rings. Also, during vulcanization molding, a bladder (not shown) that presses the unvulcanized tire 1a against the inner surface of the tire molding die 10 is arranged inside the unvulcanized tire 1a. The plurality of sectors 11 mainly form the tread 4, and the pair of side plates 12 mainly form the sidewall 3. The pair of bead rings form the bead 2, and the bladder forms the entire inner surface of the tire 1.

[0024] The unvulcanized tire 1a is vulcanized by the tire molding die 10 to form the rubber shape of the entire tire 1, and a light condensing shape 20 is formed in the above-described pattern region 7.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the pattern region 7 of the tire. Note that this FIG. 3 shows the state where the pattern region 7 is UV-unrolled. Therefore, in this FIG. 3, the reference plane 7a that is originally curved is unrolled into a planar shape. A plurality of light condensing shapes 20 are provided on the reference plane 7a.

[0026] Hereinafter, the predetermined direction along the reference plane 7a is referred to as the "first direction D1", and the direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 along the reference plane 7a is referred to as the "second direction D2". Note that the "first direction D1" may be read as the "predetermined direction", and the "second direction D2" may be read as the "direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction".

[0027] FIG. 4 is a view showing a cross section taken along line fg4-fg4 in FIG. 3, that is, a cross-sectional view of the pattern region 7 as seen in the first direction D1. FIG. 5 is a view showing a cross section taken along line fg5-fg5 in FIG. 3, that is, a cross-sectional view of the pattern region 7 as seen in the second direction D2. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the light condensing shape 20.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, each light condensing shape 20 includes a curved concave portion 23 and a central protrusion 22. The curved concave portion 23 is recessed in a curved surface shape from the reference plane 7a in the pattern region 7. Therefore, the curved concave portion 23 is recessed in a similar curved shape in both the cross-sectional view as seen in the first direction D1 as shown in FIG. 4 and the cross-sectional view as seen in the second direction D2 as shown in FIG. 5.

[0029] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, each curved concave portion 23 is recessed in a semi-elliptical shape with the major axis directed in the normal direction of the reference plane 7a. Therefore, in both the cross-sectional view as seen in the first direction D1 as shown in FIG. 4 and the cross-sectional view as seen in the second direction D2 as shown in FIG. 5, the curved concave portion 23 is recessed in a semi-elliptical shape with the major axis directed in the normal direction of the reference plane 7a.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the central protrusion 22 protrudes in the normal direction of the reference plane 7a from the central portion of the curved concave portion 23. The central protrusion 22 is a conical protrusion, more specifically, a protrusion in the shape of the proximal end side portion of a cone, and protrudes more than the opening of the curved concave portion 23 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0031] From the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, all or most of the light L that enters the pattern region 7 and is reflected by the inner peripheral surface of the curved concave portion 23 is collected by the central protrusion 22.

[0032] Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 4, the diameter of the opening of the curved concave portion 23 is simply referred to as "the diameter φ of the curved concave portion 23", and the radius of the opening of the curved concave portion 23 is simply referred to as "the radius (φ / 2) of the curved concave portion 23". Also, the diameter of the tip of the central protrusion 22 is simply referred to as "the tip diameter φt of the central protrusion 22", and the diameter of the base end of the central protrusion 22 is simply referred to as "the base end diameter φb of the central protrusion 22".

[0033] Also hereinafter, the depth of the curved concave portion 23 in the normal direction of the reference plane 7a from the opening of the curved concave portion 23 is simply referred to as "the depth d of the curved concave portion 23". Also, the protruding length of the central protrusion 22 in the normal direction of the reference plane 7a from the opening of the curved concave portion 23 is simply referred to as "the reference plane protruding length h of the central protrusion 22".

[0034] Since the cross-sectional shape of the curved concave portion 23 is a semi-elliptical shape with the major axis directed in the normal direction of the reference plane 7a as described above, the depth d of the curved concave portion 23 is larger than the radius (φ / 2) of the curved concave portion 23. Specifically, the depth d of the curved concave portion is 120% or more and 300% or less of the radius (φ / 2) of the curved concave portion 23. The reference plane protruding length h of the central protrusion 22 is 10% or more and 30% or less of the diameter φ of the curved concave portion 23.

[0035] The tip diameter φt of the central protrusion 22 is 10% or more and 20% or less of the diameter φ of the curved concave portion 23. The base end diameter φb of the central protrusion 22 is 15% or more and 30% or less of the diameter φ of the curved concave portion 23.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the portion for forming the pattern region 7 in the side plate 12 of the tire molding die 10. Note that this FIG. 7 shows the state in which the relevant portion in the side plate 12 is UV-unfolded. Therefore, in this FIG. 6, the reference plane 16a of the relevant portion is planar, but actually it is curved.

[0037] A plurality of light condensing shape forming portions 15 are formed on the reference surface 16a. These plurality of light condensing shape forming portions 15 are provided at positions corresponding to the arrangement of the light condensing shapes 20. Each light condensing shape forming portion 15 is a recess corresponding to the shape and size of the light condensing shape 20 formed in the pattern region 7 after vulcanization. Therefore, each light condensing shape forming portion 15 has a curved recess forming portion 15c for forming the curved recess 23 and a central protrusion forming portion 15b for forming the central protrusion 22.

[0038] The method for forming the light condensing shape forming portion 15 is not limited, but laser processing for irradiating the inner surface 12a of the side plate 12 shown in FIG. 2 with laser light to partially remove the inner surface 12a is suitable as the forming method. As the laser processing, for example, removal processing using a pulsed fiber laser can be adopted, and as the conditions for the laser processing, laser processing with a center wavelength of 1080 nm, an average output of 100 W or more and 300 W or less, and a laser spot diameter of about 0.05 mm is suitable.

[0039] The configuration and effects of the present embodiment are summarized below.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of light condensing shapes 20 including a curved recess 23 that is recessed in a curved surface shape and a central protrusion 22 that protrudes from the central portion of the curved recess 23 are formed in the pattern region 7. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the light L that enters the pattern region 7 and is reflected by the inner peripheral surface of the curved recess 23 is collected by the central protrusion 22. From this, the light L that enters the pattern region 7 is likely to hit the inner peripheral surface of the curved recess 23 and the outer peripheral surface of the central protrusion 22 in succession before exiting from the pattern region 7. That is, the light L that enters the pattern region 7 is likely to be reflected two or more times in total before exiting from the pattern region 7. At each of these reflections, most of the light L before the reflection is absorbed. From this, the light L is more likely to be absorbed, and the pattern region 7 becomes darker.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 4, the cross-sectional shape of the curved concave portion 23 is semi-elliptical with its major axis oriented in the normal direction of the reference plane 7a. Therefore, the depth d of the curved concave portion 23 is greater than the radius (φ / 2) of the curved concave portion 23. Thus, the light incident on the curved concave portion 23 can be made more difficult to escape, making the pattern region 7 darker.

[0042] More specifically, the depth d of the curved concave portion 23 is 120% or more and 300% or less of the radius (φ / 2) of the curved concave portion 23. By setting the depth d of the curved concave portion 23 to 120% or more of the radius (φ / 2) of the curved concave portion 23 in this way, the light incident on the curved concave portion 23 can be made more difficult to exit outside the curved concave portion 23. Also, by setting the depth d of the curved concave portion 23 to 300% or less of the radius (φ / 2) of the curved concave portion 23 in this way, it is possible to suppress the difficulty of forming the light condensing shape 20.

[0043] The central protrusion 22 protrudes from at least one of the foci of the ellipse in the aforementioned semi-elliptical shape. Therefore, even the light that is reflected by the inner peripheral surface of the curved concave portion 23 and exits outside the focus can be applied to the central protrusion 22, making the pattern region 7 darker.

[0044] Furthermore, the central protrusion 22 protrudes from the opening of the curved concave portion 23. Therefore, even the light L that is reflected by the inner peripheral surface of the curved concave portion 23 and exits above the opening can be applied to the central protrusion 22, making the pattern region 7 even darker.

[0045] Specifically, the reference plane protrusion length h of the central protrusion 22 is 10% or more and 30% or less of the diameter φ of the curved concave portion 23. In this way, by setting the reference plane protrusion length h of the central protrusion 22 to 10% or more of the diameter φ of the curved concave portion, it is possible to easily make the light L reflected on the inner peripheral surface of the curved concave portion 23 and emitted above the opening sufficiently hit the central protrusion 22. Thereby, the pattern area 7 can be made sufficiently black. Further, by setting the reference plane protrusion length h of the central protrusion 22 to 30% or less of the diameter φ of the curved concave portion 23, it is possible to avoid the central protrusion 22 becoming too long and having insufficient strength.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 1, the light condensing shape 20 is arranged in the pattern area 7 in the arrangement state of each cell Ce in the honeycomb shape Hc. Thereby, a plurality of light condensing shapes 20 can be arranged most densely. Also because of this, the pattern area 7 becomes darker.

[0047] The tip diameter φt of the central protrusion 22 is 10% or more and 20% or less of the diameter φ of the curved concave portion 23. In this way, by setting the tip diameter φt of the central protrusion 22 to 10% or more of the diameter φ of the curved concave portion 23, the surface area of the tip side portion of the central protrusion 22 can be made sufficiently large, and the light reflected by the curved concave portion 23 can be easily made to sufficiently hit the tip side portion of the central protrusion 22. Further, in this way, by setting the tip diameter φt of the central protrusion 22 to 20% or less of the diameter φ of the curved concave portion 23, the ratio of the area of the tip of the central protrusion 22 to the area of the curved concave portion 23 when viewed in the normal direction of the reference plane 7a can be made sufficiently small, so that more light can be made to enter the curved concave portion 23.

[0048] The base diameter φb of the central protrusion 22 is 15% or more and 30% or less of the diameter φ of the curved concave portion 23. In this way, by making the base diameter φb of the central protrusion 22 15% or more of the diameter φ of the curved concave portion 23, the surface area of the base side portion of the central protrusion 22 can be made sufficiently large, and the light reflected by the curved concave portion 23 can be made to easily hit the base side portion of the central protrusion 22. Further, in this way, by making the base diameter φb of the central protrusion 22 30% or less of the diameter φ of the curved concave portion 23, the ratio of the area of the base of the central protrusion 22 to the area of the curved concave portion 23 when viewed in the normal direction of the reference plane 7a can be made sufficiently small, so that more light can enter the curved concave portion 23.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 4, the curved concave portion 23 is recessed in a similar curved shape in both the cross-sectional view seen in the first direction D1 and the cross-sectional view seen in the second direction D2 as shown in FIG. 5. From this, the pattern region 7 shown in FIG. 3 appears black in the same way when viewed closer to the first direction D1 and when viewed closer to the second direction D2. Therefore, this embodiment can be preferably adopted when it is desired to make the pattern region 7 appear black in the same way when viewed from any direction.

[0050] [Second Embodiment] Next, the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. For this embodiment, the description will focus on the points different from the first embodiment, and the description of the same or similar points as the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

[0051] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the pattern region 7 of this embodiment. FIG. 9 is a view showing the cross-section along the line fg9-fg9 of FIG. 8, that is, a cross-sectional view of the pattern region 7 seen in the first direction D1. FIG. 10 is a view showing the cross-section along the line fg10-fg10 of FIG. 8, that is, a cross-sectional view of the pattern region 7 seen in the second direction D2.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 8, the curved concave portion 23 extends in the first direction D1. In a cross-sectional view taken in the first direction D1 as shown in Fig. 9, the curved concave portion 23 is curved, specifically, concave in a semi-elliptical shape with its major axis in the normal direction of the reference plane 7a. As shown in Fig. 8, the central protrusion 22 is a plate shape extending in the first direction D1. In a cross-sectional view taken in the first direction D1 as shown in Fig. 9, the central protrusion 22 protrudes from the central portion of the curved concave portion 23. In this cross-sectional view, the central protrusion 22 has a trapezoidal shape.

[0053] From the above, as shown in Fig. 9, the light L incident closer to the second direction D2 with respect to the pattern region 7 is more likely to hit the inner peripheral surface of the curved concave portion 23 and the outer peripheral surface of the central protrusion 22 in succession. That is, the light L incident closer to the second direction D2 with respect to the pattern region 7 is more likely to be reflected two or more times in total before exiting from the pattern region 7. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 10, the light L incident closer to the first direction D1 with respect to the pattern region 7 is only reflected once and is more likely to exit from the pattern region 7.

[0054] From the above, the pattern region 7 appears darker when viewed from the right side in Fig. 9, that is, when viewed closer to the second direction D2, than when viewed from the right side in Fig. 10, that is, when viewed closer to the first direction D1. Therefore, this embodiment can be suitably adopted when it is desired to make the appearance of the pattern region 7 different depending on the viewing direction.

[0055] [Other Embodiments] The embodiments shown above can be modified as follows, for example. In Fig. 3, the plurality of light condensing shapes 20 are arranged with intervals between the light condensing shapes 20, but these intervals may be eliminated. In this case, the plurality of light condensing shapes 20 can be arranged more densely. Also, as shown in Fig. 3, in each embodiment, the central protrusion 22 is conical, but it may be polygonal pyramidal, cylindrical, polygonal columnar, or the like. Further, as shown in Fig. 4, in each embodiment, the protruding direction of the central protrusion 22 is the normal direction of the reference plane 7a, but it may be a direction inclined with respect to the normal direction.

[0056] In each embodiment, although the semi-elliptical cross-sectional shape of the curved concave portion 23 has its major axis oriented in the normal direction of the reference plane 7a, the major axis may be oriented in a direction oblique to the normal direction. However, even in this case, it is preferable that the depth d of the curved concave portion 23 is greater than the radius (φ / 2) of the opening of the curved concave portion 23.

[0057] In each embodiment, although the cross-sectional shape of the curved concave portion 23 is semi-elliptical, it may be in a shape that is less than 50% of an ellipse. Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape of the curved concave portion 23 may not be a part of an ellipse as described above, but may be a part of an oval such as an oblong or other oval. Here, the oval mentioned here is a superordinate concept that includes ellipses and oblongs.

[0058] According to the above embodiments, the following tires (1) to (8) can be realized.

[0059] (1) A tire having a pattern region visible as a portion different from the surrounding of a part of the outer surface of the sidewall, wherein a plurality of light-collecting shapes including a curved concave portion that is recessed in a curved surface shape and a central protrusion that protrudes from the central portion of the curved concave portion are formed in the pattern region, and light reflected on the inner peripheral surface of the curved concave portion is collected on the central protrusion. Tire.

[0060] (2) The tire according to (1), wherein the cross-sectional shape of the curved concave portion is a part of an oval including shapes such as an ellipse and an oblong. The tire according to (1) above.

[0061] (3) The depth of the curved concave portion is greater than the radius of the opening of the curved concave portion. The tire according to (1) or (2) above.

[0062] (4) The curved concave portion is in an elliptical arc shape in a cross-sectional view when viewed in a predetermined direction along the outer surface, and the central protrusion protrudes more than at least one of the foci of the ellipse. The tire according to any one of (1) to (3) above.

[0063] (5) The central protrusion protrudes more than the opening of the curved concave portion. The tire according to any one of (1) to (4) above.

[0064] (6) The light-collecting shape is arranged in the arrangement state of each cell in the honeycomb shape within the pattern region. The tire according to any one of (1) to (5) above.

[0065] (7) The curved concave portion is recessed in a curved shape in both the cross-sectional view seen in a predetermined direction along the outer surface and the cross-sectional view seen in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction along the outer surface. The pattern region appears black in the same way when viewed closer to the predetermined direction and when viewed closer to the direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The tire according to any one of (1) to (6) above.

[0066] (8) The curved concave portion extends in a predetermined direction along the outer surface and is recessed in a curved shape in the cross-sectional view seen in the predetermined direction. The central protrusion is in a plate shape extending in the predetermined direction. The pattern region appears blacker when viewed closer to the direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction than when viewed closer to the predetermined direction. The tire according to any one of (1) to (6) above.

Explanation of Signs

[0067] 1 Tire 3 Sidewall 3a Outer surface of the sidewall 7 Pattern region 20 Light-collecting shape 22 Central protrusion 23 Curved concave portion D1 First direction (predetermined direction) D2 Second direction (direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction) Diameter of the opening of the Φ curved recess d Depth of the curved recess Hc Honeycomb shape Ce Cells of the honeycomb shape

Claims

1. A tire having a pattern region visible as a portion different from the periphery on a part of the outer surface of the sidewall, A plurality of light-collecting shapes including a curved concave portion that is recessed in a curved surface shape and a central protrusion that protrudes from the central portion of the curved concave portion are formed in the pattern region, The light reflected on the inner peripheral surface of the curved concave portion is collected on the central protrusion, Tire.

2. The cross-sectional shape of the curved concave portion is a part of an oval as a shape including an ellipse and an oblong, The tire according to claim 1.

3. The depth of the curved concave portion is larger than the radius of the opening of the curved concave portion, The tire according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The curved concave portion is in an elliptical arc shape in a cross-sectional view seen in a predetermined direction along the outer surface, The central protrusion protrudes from at least one of the foci in the ellipse, The tire according to claim 1.

5. The central protrusion protrudes from the opening of the curved concave portion, The tire according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The light-collecting shapes are arranged in the pattern region in the arrangement of each cell in a honeycomb shape, The tire according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The curved concave portion is recessed in a curved shape in both a cross-sectional view seen in a predetermined direction along the outer surface and a cross-sectional view seen in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction along the outer surface, The pattern region looks black in the same way in both the case of looking closer to the predetermined direction and the case of looking closer to the direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction, The tire according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The curved concave portion extends in a predetermined direction along the outer surface and is recessed in a curved shape in a cross-sectional view taken in the predetermined direction. The central protrusion is plate-shaped and extends in the predetermined direction. The pattern region appears darker when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction than when viewed closer to the predetermined direction. The tire according to claim 1 or 2.

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