Rubber Article Camouflage Surface Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rubber articles, such as tires, face challenges in creating visual effects with sufficient contrast and material efficiency due to stress risers caused by protrusions and indentations, leading to heavier and more material-intensive designs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of surface features with varying angles, depths, widths, and spacings of linear elements creates a camouflage-like appearance, reducing the need for additional material and minimizing stress risers by using shallow relief techniques in the molding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If additional or thicker material is used to overcome stress risers, then strength is improved, but weight increases and material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of surface features by using multiple orientations (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°) and varying depths of linear elements to create visual contrast without increasing material thickness. This resolves the contradiction by achieving the visual effect function with minimal material addition, thereby maintaining strength while reducing weight compared to conventional thicker designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the surface features into multiple distinct linear elements with different orientations and depths rather than using a single thick protrusion or indentation. This segmentation allows the creation of a mottled visual appearance through multiple shallow features, reducing the need for additional thick material while maintaining structural integrity.
2Strength
If additional or thicker material is used to overcome stress risers, then strength is improved, but material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent varies parameters such as depth, width, and orientation of linear elements to create visual contrast without increasing material quantity. By using shallow relief features with different geometric parameters rather than thick material additions, the patent achieves both visual effect and structural requirements with minimal material consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the visual effect into multiple segmented linear elements with varying orientations and depths. This segmentation eliminates the need for continuous thick material usage, reducing overall material quantity while maintaining strength through the distributed pattern of shallow features.
3Illumination intensity
If depth or height of indentation or protrusion is increased to emphasize article, then visual contrast is improved, but stress risers increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes multiple parameters simultaneously - using varying depths, widths, and orientations of linear elements - to create visual contrast without relying on increased depth alone. This multi-parameter approach achieves emphasis and visual interest while keeping individual feature depths shallow, thereby avoiding stress risers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric arrangements of linear elements with different orientations (0°, 45°, 90°) and varying depths within distinct areas. This asymmetric segmentation creates visual contrast and emphasis through directional patterns rather than through increased depth, reducing stress concentration while maintaining visual impact.
4Illumination intensity
If multiple surface features with varying orientations are used to create camouflage appearance, then visual contrast is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses systematic parameter changes - specific orientations (0°, 45°, 90°) and depth variations - that can be efficiently implemented through computer-controlled molding processes. While multiple parameters are varied, the regularity and predictability of the parameter sets allow for automated manufacturing, reducing the practical complexity increase despite the enhanced visual contrast.
Data Source
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AI summary
Various methods and apparatuses for creating a visual effect on a rubber article are disclosed. In one embodiment, a rubber article having a visual effect is provided, the rubber article comprising: a surface having at least one surface feature; and wherein the at least one surface feature comprises a plurality of linear elements creating a camouflage-shaped appearance.