tire

Abstract

To provide a tire configured so that a range of expression of a decorative part on an outer surface of the tire can be broadened.SOLUTION: A tire 10 comprises first pattern regions 20 arranged at a tire side part 12 (a tire outer surface), which are respectively formed with irregularities and second pattern regions 22 which are higher in brightness than the first pattern regions 20. The first pattern regions 20 and the second pattern regions 22 are arranged in plural number in a tire circumferential direction, and areas of the first pattern regions 20 and areas of the second pattern regions 22 increase toward a clockwise direction in the tire circumferential direction. The first pattern regions 20 comprise asterisk protrusions 34 and 36 comprising a plurality of extending parts 34E and 36E, and the second pattern regions 22 comprise asterisk protrusions 34 and 36 comprising a plurality of extending parts 34E and 36E.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tire. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART A decoration in which minute projections and depressions are formed on the smooth surface of the side of a tire has been provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-099094 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a tire that can broaden the range of expression of decorative portions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A tire according to a first aspect is arranged on the outer surface of the tire and comprises a first pattern region, each formed by concave and convex portions, and a second pattern region having a higher brightness than the first pattern region, wherein the first pattern region and the second pattern region are arranged in multiple locations in the circumferential direction of the tire, and the area of ​​the first pattern region and the area of ​​the second pattern region increase toward one side in the circumferential direction of the tire.

[0006] In this tire, a first pattern area and a second pattern area that is adjacent to the first pattern area and has a higher brightness than the first pattern area are arranged on the outer surface of the tire, each of which is formed by concave and convex portions, and multiple first pattern areas and second pattern areas are arranged around the tire, with the area of ​​the first pattern area and the area of ​​the second pattern area increasing toward one side around the tire. This allows for a wider range of expression for the decorative portion compared to when the outer surface of the tire is not decorated in this way.

[0007] In a second aspect, in the tire according to the first aspect, at least a portion of the plurality of first pattern regions and the plurality of second pattern regions are defined by smooth surfaces.

[0008] By dividing at least a portion of the multiple first pattern areas and the multiple second pattern areas with smooth surfaces, the range of expression of the decorative parts can be further expanded compared to when at least a portion of the multiple first pattern areas and the multiple second pattern areas are not divided with smooth surfaces.

[0009] In a third aspect, in a tire according to the first or second aspect, at least one of the plurality of first pattern regions and the plurality of second pattern regions has the same shape and increases in area toward one side in the tire circumferential direction.

[0010] By making at least one of the multiple first pattern areas and the multiple second pattern areas the same shape and increasing the area toward one side in the tire circumferential direction, the range of expression of the decorative portion can be further expanded compared to when at least one of the multiple first pattern areas and the multiple second pattern areas are not the same shape and do not increase the area toward one side in the tire circumferential direction. Furthermore, by making at least one of the multiple first pattern regions and the multiple second pattern regions the same shape and increasing the area toward one side in the tire circumferential direction, when looking at the decorative portion, the line of sight can be guided toward one side in the tire circumferential direction.

[0011] In a fourth aspect, in the tire according to the first aspect, the first pattern region and the second pattern region have the same contour shape in a plan view. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] As described above, the tire of the present invention has the excellent effect of being able to widen the range of expression of the decorative portion on the outer surface of the tire. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing a decorative portion formed on a tire side portion of a tire according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing the shape of a first pattern region in a plan view. [Figure 3] 1A is an enlarged plan view showing a part of the first pattern region, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged plan view showing a part of the second pattern region. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a first asterisk protrusion. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a decorative portion formed on a tire side portion of a tire according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view showing a first pattern region and a second pattern region of a tire according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view showing a first pattern region and a second pattern region according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] [First embodiment] A tire 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Note that, in the drawings, arrow C indicates the tire circumferential direction, arrow CW indicates the clockwise direction, arrow CCW indicates the counterclockwise direction, and arrow R indicates the tire radial direction.

[0015] 1, a decorative portion 14 extending in the tire circumferential direction (the direction of arrow C) is provided on a tire side portion 12, which is an example of the outer surface of a tire 10. The decorative portion 14 is arc-shaped when viewed from the axial direction of the tire 10, and is arranged at an arbitrary position in the tire circumferential direction.

[0016] The tire side portion 12 other than the decorative portion 14 is a smooth surface like a normal tire. The smooth surface portion of the tire side portion 12 is referred to as a base surface 16 as appropriate.

[0017] The decorative part 14 is configured to include a plurality of first pattern regions 20 and second pattern regions 22 of different sizes and orientations. The first pattern regions 20 and the second pattern regions 22 are partitioned by a base surface (smooth surface) 16 over substantially the entire decorative part 14.

[0018] The first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22 have the same contour shape in a plan view, and only differ in orientation, so the shape of the first pattern region 20 will be described as a representative. As shown in Figure 2, the first pattern region 20 has a shape composed of a pair of opposing arc recesses (inwardly protruding) 24 and a pair of opposing arc protrusions (outwardly protruding) 26 formed on both sides of the pair of arc recesses 24.

[0019] 1, first pattern regions 20 and second pattern regions 22 of the same size are alternately arranged at intervals on a line TL in the tire circumferential direction, with their orientations changed by 90° from each other. The line TL is inclined at an angle θ with respect to the tire radial direction (the direction of arrow R).

[0020] Furthermore, the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22 are larger in size as they are disposed closer to the clockwise side (the direction of the arrow CW) in the tire circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22 disposed on another line TL' disposed on the clockwise side are larger in size than the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22 disposed on the line TL.

[0021] In this embodiment, on the clockwise side of the decorative portion 14, exceptionally, some of the first pattern regions 20 and second pattern regions 22 are in contact with each other without the base surface (smooth surface) 16 interposed therebetween.

[0022] The first pattern region 20 has a lower lightness (L*) than the base surface 16, and appears black compared to the base surface 16. The second pattern region 22 has a higher lightness than the first pattern region 20, but a lower lightness than the base surface 16. That is, the lightness decreases in the order of the base surface 16, the second pattern region 22, and the first pattern region 20, and the second pattern region 22 appears black compared to the base surface 16, and the first pattern region 20 appears black compared to the second pattern region 22, with the first pattern region 20 appearing the blackest.

[0023] In addition, by providing minute irregularities in the parts corresponding to the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22 in the mold (metal mold) for forming the tire 10, the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22 can be formed on the surface of the tire side portion 12.

[0024] In the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22, minute protrusions are formed that protrude from the base surface 16, which makes the surfaces of the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22 uneven.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3, in the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22, a first asterisk protrusion 34 and a second asterisk protrusion 36, which are examples of protrusions, are formed similarly to each other. The shapes of the first asterisk protrusion 34 and the second asterisk protrusion 36 are similar in their respective regions. The distance P between the adjacent first asterisk protrusion 34 and second asterisk protrusion 36 varies according to the similarity ratio.

[0026] As described above, the shapes of the first asterisk protrusion 34 and the second asterisk protrusion 36 are similar in each region. Therefore, the shapes of the first asterisk protrusion 34 and the second asterisk protrusion 36 will be described below using the first pattern region 20 as an example.

[0027] (First pattern area 20) 3(A), the first pattern region 20 has a plurality of first asterisk protrusions 34 and a plurality of second asterisk protrusions 36 protruding from the base surface 16. The first asterisk protrusions 34 and the second asterisk protrusions 36 are arranged alternately in the tire circumferential direction and the tire radial direction.

[0028] (First asterisk protrusion 34) As shown in FIG. 3(A), the first asterisk protrusion 34 has a plurality of extension portions 34E, six in this embodiment, extending in different directions from a center O1 as a base point when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the base surface 16 (the direction of the rotational axis of the tire 10).

[0029] The six extending portions 34E form an angle of 60° with the adjacent extending portions 34E. In other words, the first asterisk protrusion 34 has six extending portions 34E extending radially from the center O1.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 4, the cross section of the extending portion 34E of the first asterisk protrusion 34 perpendicular to the extending direction is a substantially isosceles triangle having a flat top surface 34C. That is, the first asterisk protrusion 34 has the top surface 34C and a pair of side surfaces 34D. In this embodiment, the width of the top surface 34C (W1 in the figure) is 0.02 mm, and the apex angle of the first asterisk protrusion 34 (D in the figure) is 26 degrees. The height of the first asterisk protrusion 34 (H in the figure) is a predetermined value between 0.05 mm and 1.0 mm. If the protrusion height (protrusion height) is less than 0.05 mm, it may be difficult to form the protrusion and may not be able to attenuate incident light and reduce the brightness to a level that appears black. Furthermore, by making the height of the protrusion 1.0 mm or less, the difference in rigidity between the protrusion and the area surrounding the protrusion is reduced, thereby suppressing localized stress concentration.

[0031] In this embodiment, the height of the protrusions and the dimensions of the spacing (pitch) between the protrusions, which will be described later, can be measured using, for example, a one-shot 3D shape measuring instrument, VR-3000 series, manufactured by Keyence Corporation.

[0032] (Second asterisk protrusion 36) 3(A), the second asterisk protrusion 36 has the same shape as the first asterisk protrusion 34. Specifically, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the base surface 16, the second asterisk protrusion 36 has a shape obtained by rotating the first asterisk protrusion 34 clockwise by 90 degrees about the center O1 and then rotating it another 90 degrees about the center O1 and then inverting the first asterisk protrusion 34. That is, the second asterisk protrusion 36 has six extension portions 36E extending in different directions from the center O2 serving as a base point, and each extension portion 36E has a top surface 36C and a side surface 36D.

[0033] The first asterisk projections 34 and the second asterisk projections 36 are arranged alternately in the tire circumferential direction and the tire radial direction, filling each entire region.

[0034] Furthermore, the distance between the centers O1 and O2 of the first asterisk protrusion 34 and the second asterisk protrusion 36 that are adjacent in the tire radial direction and the tire circumferential direction (hereinafter referred to as "distance P") is a predetermined value of 0.1 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less. If the distance P is less than 0.1 mm, it becomes difficult to form the protrusions. Furthermore, if the distance P is greater than 1.0 mm, it may not be possible to attenuate the incident light and reduce the brightness to a level that makes the color appear black.

[0035] (Second pattern area 22) Next, the second pattern region 22 will be described. 3(B), the second pattern region 22 has first asterisk protrusions 34 and second asterisk protrusions 36 formed therein that are similar in shape to those in the first pattern region 20, but the density of the protrusions formed therein is lower than the density of the protrusions formed in the first pattern region 20. This makes the second pattern region 22 appear brighter than the first pattern region 20.

[0036] Preferably, three or more first pattern regions 20 and second pattern regions 22 are arranged in the tire circumferential direction, and more preferably five or more.

[0037] (Action, effect) Next, the effects of the tire according to this embodiment will be described.

[0038] In other areas of the tire side portion 12 where no protrusions are formed, that is, in the base surface 16 , the incident light is reflected outward by the smooth outer surface that constitutes the base surface 16 . In contrast, in the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22, light incident on the first asterisk protrusion 34 and the second asterisk protrusion 36 hits the side surfaces 34D and 36D shown in FIG. 4. The incident light is then attenuated and reflected outward while repeatedly reflecting between the opposing side surfaces 34D and 36D. Therefore, the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22 appear black compared to the base surface 16.

[0039] Furthermore, since the apex angles of the respective protrusions are similar, the area occupied per unit area by the base surface 16 of the second pattern region 22 is larger than the area occupied per unit area by the base surface 16 of the first pattern region 20.

[0040] As a result, the amount of light reflected outward in the second pattern region 22 is greater than the amount of light reflected outward in the first pattern region 20. That is, the brightness of the second pattern region 22 is higher than that of the first pattern region 20. In other words, the second pattern region 22 appears relatively brighter than the first pattern region 20, and the first pattern region 20 appears relatively darker than the second pattern region 22.

[0041] As described above, the decorative part 14 of this embodiment is provided with a plurality of first pattern regions 20 and a plurality of second patterns 22 that are arranged adjacent to the first pattern regions 20 and have higher brightness than the first pattern regions 20, and the areas of the first pattern regions 20 and the second pattern regions 22 increase in the clockwise direction. Therefore, compared to decorative parts that are not configured in this way, the decorative part 14 of this embodiment can greatly expand the range of expression, and can also guide the gaze in a clockwise direction when looking at the decorative part 14.

[0042] [Second embodiment] Next, a tire 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22 provided in the tire side portion 12 of the tire 10 of this embodiment have contour shapes similar to those of the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22 of the first embodiment, but the shapes of the protrusions are different.

[0043] In this embodiment, the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22 are provided with a plurality of linearly extending rib-like protrusions 38 as an example of protrusions. The rib-like protrusions 38 can also be referred to as ridges (mountain-like protrusions). The outer periphery of each region in this embodiment is formed by rib-like protrusions 40.

[0044] The height of the rib-like protrusion 38 is, for example, 0.15 mm, and the apex angle is, for example, 35 degrees. The height of the rib-like protrusion 40 is, for example, 0.3 mm, and the apex angle is, for example, 35 degrees. These heights and apex angles can be changed as appropriate.

[0045] The rib-like protrusions 38 are arranged in parallel in one direction, and the distance P between the center of one rib-like protrusion 38 and the center of the other adjacent rib-like protrusion 38 is the same as the distance between the first asterisk protrusion 34 and the second asterisk protrusion 36 shown in Figure 3.

[0046] In this embodiment, the spacing P of the rib-like protrusions 38 in the second pattern region 22 is wider than the spacing P of the rib-like protrusions 38 in the first pattern region 20, making the second pattern region 22 appear relatively brighter than the first pattern region 20. The decorative part 14 having the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22 of this embodiment also provides the same effects and advantages as the decorative part 14 of the first embodiment.

[0047] [Other embodiments] The above describes one embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modified forms within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0048] For example, in the first embodiment, the first asterisk protrusion 34 and the second asterisk protrusion 36 are connected to each other, but they may not be connected to each other.

[0049] The apex angle (for example, D in FIG. 4) of the protrusions such as the first asterisk protrusion 34 and the second asterisk protrusion 36 is set to 26 degrees, but may be other angles. As the apex angle D increases, the proportion of light reflected by the side surfaces 34D and 36D that returns in the direction of incidence increases, resulting in a relatively higher brightness.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the first asterisk protrusion 34 and the second asterisk protrusion 36 each having a plurality of radially extending extensions 34E, and the linearly extending rib-like protrusion 38 are given as examples of protrusions, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the planar shape of the protrusion is not limited to a radial or linear shape, and may also have a so-called grained pattern. The grained pattern refers to patterns including, for example, leather patterns, matte patterns, wood grain patterns, fabric patterns, and geometric patterns.

[0051] Furthermore, the first pattern region 20 and the second pattern region 22 are not limited to having the same shape as in the above embodiment, but may have different shapes, and the shapes of each region are arbitrary. For example, as shown in Figure 7, the first pattern region 20 may be circular and the second pattern region 22 may be rectangular.

[0052] In the above embodiment, one side in the tire circumferential direction is the clockwise side (arrow CW direction side), but the one side in the tire circumferential direction may be the counterclockwise side.

[0053] The decorative portion 14 in the above embodiment has two pattern areas with different brightness levels, but may have three or more pattern areas with different brightness levels. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 10... Tire, 12... Tire side portion (outer surface of tire), 14... Decorative portion, 16... Base surface (smooth surface), 20... First pattern region, 22... Second pattern region, 34... First asterisk protrusion (uneven), 34E... Extension portion, 36... Second asterisk protrusion (uneven), 36E... Extension portion, 38... Rib-shaped protrusion (uneven)

Claims

1. a first pattern area disposed on a tire outer surface, each of the first pattern area being formed by projections and recesses; a second pattern area having a higher lightness than the first pattern area, each of the second pattern area being formed by projections and recesses; and a base surface that partitions the first pattern area and the second pattern area, a plurality of the first pattern regions and a plurality of the second pattern regions are arranged in the tire circumferential direction, The area of ​​the first pattern region and the area of ​​the second pattern region increase toward one side in the tire circumferential direction, and the area of ​​the base surface decreases with the increase in the areas, the first pattern region includes an asterisk protrusion having a plurality of extensions; the second pattern region includes an asterisk protrusion having a plurality of extensions; tire.

2. At least some of the first pattern regions and the second pattern regions are defined by the base surface.

2. The tire of claim 1.

3. At least one of the plurality of first pattern regions and the plurality of second pattern regions has the same shape and an area that increases toward one side in the tire circumferential direction. The tire according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The first pattern region and the second pattern region have the same contour shape in a plan view.

2. The tire of claim 1.

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