Reflective Tire Lug Insert for Large Vehicle Width Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural vehicles with large tires pose a traffic hazard at night due to inadequate lighting that fails to properly highlight their size and width, especially on unlit public roads in rural areas, making it difficult for other vehicles to pass safely.

Innovation Solution

A reflective tire marking system using a luminous, reflective rubber mold insert securely fitted into the tire lugs, which reflects light to highlight the vehicle's width, created by boring a cylindrical hole in each lug and pressure-fitting a reflective rubber insert, enhancing visibility for oncoming traffic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If existing lighting arrangements are used on agricultural vehicles, then the vehicle can operate normally, but the visibility of the vehicle's width and size is insufficient at night

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of vehicle widthVSAvoidlighting arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces reflective markings as an intermediary element that works with existing lighting sources (vehicle lights or external light) to enhance visibility. The reflective material acts as a mediator that captures light and redirects it toward oncoming traffic, providing passive illumination enhancement without requiring complex active lighting systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs reflective markings with specific luminous colors that change their apparent brightness and visibility based on the angle and intensity of incident light. These markings are designed to reflect light in a manner that highlights the vehicle's width and size, creating a visual effect that enhances perception without requiring additional energy input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Illumination intensity

If reflective tire markings are added to highlight vehicle width, then visibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of vehicle widthVSAvoidtire manufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The reflective markings are incorporated into the tire manufacturing process at an early stage, specifically during the tire molding phase. By preparing the reflective inserts and positioning them before final tire assembly, the patent enables integration of visibility enhancement features without requiring post-manufacturing modifications or complex additional processing steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the reflective marking function with the existing tire structure by integrating the markings into the tire lugs or sidewalls during manufacturing. This merging approach allows the visibility enhancement feature to become part of the tire's overall structure, eliminating the need for separate installation processes and reducing overall manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Illumination intensity

If reflective markings are installed in tire lugs, then visibility is enhanced, but the number of installation steps increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of vehicle widthVSAvoidinstallation process

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reflective markings are positioned and secured within the tire lugs during the tire manufacturing process itself, before the tire is delivered to the end user. This preliminary installation eliminates the need for separate installation steps at the dealership or by the end user, reducing the number of installation steps to zero for the customer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The tire manufacturing process automatically incorporates the reflective markings during standard production operations, making the installation process self-service rather than requiring additional manual intervention. The markings are integrated as part of the normal tire fabrication sequence, utilizing existing manufacturing capabilities without adding specialized installation procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The reflective tire marking system effectively increases visibility of agricultural vehicles' width to oncoming traffic, enhancing safety by providing a clear indication of the vehicle's size and reducing the risk of accidents, especially at night on poorly lit rural roads.

Implementation Method 1

A reflective tire marking system using a luminous, reflective rubber mold insert securely fitted into the tire lugs, which reflects light to highlight the vehicle's width

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS9855713B2Advanced reflective tire marking system for use as a warning indication to highlight the width of large vehicles

Publication Date: 2018.01.02 CASSIDY ANDREW

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a reflective tire marking system for use as a warning indication to highlight the width of large vehicles, the system including a reflective tire marking inserted into an outer edge of a tire lug, wherein the reflective tire marking is made of a reflective rubber.