Sidewall Texture Conceals Tire Deformation Defects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire manufacturing methods often result in deformation defects on the sidewall due to overlapping carcass plies, which are visually unappealing but not detrimental to safety, and previous solutions like moiré patterns are costly and insufficiently effective in concealing these defects.
Innovation Solution
A tire design featuring a texture on the sidewall with adjacent patterns of identical external shape, arranged to have different lightness levels and orientations, creating a contrast that effectively conceals deformation defects while providing a high-end appearance, and can be manufactured using knurling or laser machining to reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a moiré pattern is formed on the sidewall to conceal deformation defects, then the visibility of defects is reduced, but the manufacturing cost increases and the concealing effect is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a textured coating with specific lightness values (L* between 20-40) that creates optical interference patterns on the sidewall. This coating changes the way light reflects from the surface, effectively masking the appearance of deformation defects through controlled optical properties rather than complex geometric patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the optical parameters of the sidewall surface by applying a textured coating with specific surface roughness (Ra between 0.5-5 μm) and lightness characteristics. These parameter changes create a uniform optical appearance that conceals underlying geometric defects caused by carcass ply overlapping.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a complex moiré pattern is formed to conceal defects, then defect visibility is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of complex geometric moiré patterns, the patent uses a textured coating with controlled optical properties (lightness L* between 20-40, surface roughness Ra between 0.5-5 μm). This simpler approach achieves defect concealment through optical properties rather than complex spatial patterns, reducing manufacturing and design complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the texture lightness is made close to the sidewall lightness to reduce contrast, then defect concealment improves, but the texture becomes less visible and aesthetic appeal decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies a lightness range (L* between 20-40) for the textured coating that is darker than the typical sidewall but creates optimal optical interference effects. This intermediate lightness value provides both defect concealment through optical masking and sufficient visual presence for aesthetic appeal, avoiding both extremes of matching or contrasting too strongly with the sidewall.
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 texture effectively conceals sidewall deformations and enhances the tire's appearance by creating a visible contrast, reducing manufacturing costs through the use of repetitive and oriented pattern elements, and is adaptable to various lighting conditions.
Implementation Method 1
These moiré patterns are intended to create interference when the light is reflected by the sidewall of the tire. Thus, these differences in reflection of the light, which previously existed between the distortion/cratering deformation and the rest of the surface of the sidewall, are no longer visible to the naked eye.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire made of rubbery material comprises tread (12) and two sidewalls (14) delimiting the tread, at least one of the sidewalls comprising at least one texture (16) that contrasts with the rest of the sidewall. The texture is divided into a plurality of adjacent patterns (18, 20) of identical external shape. All or some of the patterns comprise a plurality of texture elements arranged to form in the pattern a plurality of rows that extend in the same direction of extension. For a given pattern of the texture, the rows of texture elements in each pattern adjacent to the given pattern have a direction of extension different from the direction of extension of the rows of texture elements of the given pattern. The lightness of the rest of the sidewall, which is not textured, is at least 5 units greater than the lightnesses of the patterns of the texture.