Tire Sidewall Concave Projections for Black Contrast and Moldability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing tire design with micro-protrusions arranged in a lattice-shaped pattern is complex and difficult to mold, leading to potential issues with shape accuracy and appearance degradation.
Innovation Solution
A tire design featuring a pattern region on the sidewall with projections that have a concavity with an inverted conical or pyramid inner surface, a conical barrel portion, and an outer edge portion, where the projections have a height of 0.6 mm to 1.4 mm and a concavity depth of 30% to 70% of the projection height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If micro-protrusions are arranged in a lattice-shaped pattern with rib-shaped protrusions, then the black color intensity and contrast are enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity and difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The pattern region is divided into multiple individual projections arranged in a matrix pattern, where each projection is an independent structural unit. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing compared to continuous lattice structures, while maintaining the light absorption effect through the aggregated projections.
Solution Approach 2:
The projection height is optimized to a specific range (0.6-1.4mm) and the concavity depth is set to 30-70% of the projection height. These parameter changes ensure sufficient light absorption for black color intensity while keeping the structure simple enough for easy molding, resolving the contradiction between visual effect and manufacturing complexity.
2Illumination intensity
If micro-protrusions are arranged in a lattice-shaped pattern with rib-shaped protrusions, then the black color intensity and contrast are enhanced, but the moldability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lattice structure is segmented into discrete projections with defined boundaries. Each projection can be independently formed in the mold, simplifying the molding process compared to continuous lattice structures. The matrix arrangement allows for straightforward mold cavity design.
Solution Approach 2:
By setting the projection height within 0.6-1.4mm and concavity depth at 30-70% of projection height, the structure achieves optimal balance between light absorption performance and moldability. These parameters ensure the projections can be easily formed in molds without excessive complexity while maintaining the desired black color intensity.
3Illumination intensity
If the projection height is increased to enhance light absorption, then the black color intensity improves, but the moldability and shape accuracy may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The projection height is optimized to a specific range (0.6-1.4mm) that balances light absorption effectiveness with manufacturing precision. Heights within this range provide sufficient path length for light absorption to achieve black color intensity, while remaining small enough to be accurately formed in molds without excessive difficulty. The concavity depth parameter (30-70% of projection height) further refines the light absorption path while maintaining moldability.
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 design achieves a higher black color intensity and contrast, while maintaining excellent moldability, resulting in a visually appealing and easily manufacturable tire.
Implementation Method 1
a pattern region in which incident light is repeatedly reflected between the projections, has a light absorption effect
Implementation Method 2
incident light is repeatedly reflected between the projections, has a light absorption effect, and consequently, the pattern region is visually recognized to be blacker
Data Source
AI summary
A tire includes a pattern region at least on a part of an outer surface of a sidewall of the tire, the pattern region being visually recognizable as being different from a perimeter of the part. The pattern region includes a plurality of projections projecting from a reference surface of the pattern region. Each of the plurality of projections includes a concavity that has an inverted conical or inverted pyramid inner surface, a conical barrel portion that forms an outer periphery of the projection and extends in a conical shape in a direction in which the projection projects from the reference surface, and an outer edge portion surrounding a circumference of the concavity. Each of the projections has a height of 0.6 mm or greater and 1.4 mm or less, and the concavity has a depth within a range of 30% to 70% of the projection height.