Polymer Anti-Skid Tire Stud with Dual-Color Wear Indicator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional metal anti-skid studs for winter tires are costly and noisy, and polymeric studs lack established design improvements for visual inspection and additional functional capabilities beyond traction.

Innovation Solution

A polymeric anti-skid stud with a top portion and bottom portion made of different colored polymer-based materials, featuring a pin that extends from the top portion into the bottom, allowing for visual wear inspection and indicating when the stud's anti-skid properties are compromised, with optional intermediate portions and projections for enhanced anchoring and grip.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional metal studs are used, then anti-skid performance is improved, but cost and noise generation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanti-skid performanceVSAvoidnoise generation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive metal studs with polymeric studs that have a limited service life. The polymeric material is intentionally designed to wear down over time, providing an economical alternative to metal studs while maintaining anti-skid functionality during the usable period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses polymeric material instead of metal to create the stud body. This material substitution eliminates the noise generation associated with metal while maintaining the essential anti-skid function, directly addressing the harmful noise factor without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If conventional metal studs are used, then anti-skid performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanti-skid performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameter from metal to polymer, fundamentally altering the cost structure. This material substitution reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining the essential anti-skid function, directly addressing the cost issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-generated harmful factors

If polymeric studs are used, then cost and noise are reduced, but visual inspection capability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise generationVSAvoidwear status detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a wear indicator system using different colors in the polymeric material. The first color indicates normal wear conditions while the second color signals excessive wear, providing clear visual feedback to users about the stud's condition without requiring complex inspection equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The wear indicator system provides self-service by automatically displaying the wear status through color changes. Users can visually assess the stud condition without requiring specialized tools or expertise, making the inspection process simple and intuitive.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of manufacture

If polymeric studs are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but functional capabilities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidfunctional capabilities

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enhances the basic anti-skid function by integrating a wear indicator system into the polymeric stud. This multi-functionality allows the same component to serve both traction purposes and condition monitoring, expanding the functional capabilities without adding separate devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the wear indicator function with the structural body of the stud by incorporating colored regions directly into the polymeric material. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate indicator components, maintaining cost-effectiveness while expanding capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3763549B1A polymer stud and a tire comprising a polymer stud

Publication Date: 2022.04.13 THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO

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AI summary

In a first aspect of the invention, an anti-skid tire stud is provided, the stud having a body made of polymer-based material, wherein the stud body comprises a top portion comprising polymer-based material having a first color, a bottom portion comprising polymer-based material having a second color, and wherein the stud further comprises a pin extending out of the top portion for contacting the road. In a second aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a tire comprising such anti-skid tire studs.