Snowflake Wear Indicator Holes in Tire Tread
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treadwear indicators, such as colored rubber or tie-bar type elements, are difficult to read due to color matching issues, making it hard for operators to determine tire wear levels until the tire is significantly worn.
Innovation Solution
A tire tread with snowflake-shaped holes that disappear at a defined depth, optionally followed by other shaped holes, serving as visible indicators of wear, and a molding device to create these shapes, ensuring compliance with regulatory heights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If colored rubber or tie-bar type elements are used as wear indicators, then the wear indicator is visible in the tread, but it is difficult for operators to determine the level of wear until the tire is significantly worn due to color matching issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using rubber compounds with different colors for the tread material and wear indicator material. The wear indicator material is formulated to have a distinct color contrast with the surrounding tread, making it easily visible when it protrudes from the tread surface. This resolves the color matching issue by intentionally creating color differentiation rather than using matching colors.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the wear indicator blend with the tread (matching colors), the invention inverts the approach by making the wear indicator stand out through color contrast. This inversion of the color relationship makes the wear indicator immediately noticeable when it becomes visible, solving the detection difficulty.
2Loss of information
If tie-bar type elements are used in the tread grooves as wear indicators, then wear indication is provided, but water evacuation is interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing wear indicator elements specifically at the bottom of tread grooves or in localized positions where they will protrude only when tread wear reaches a certain level. This localized placement ensures that the wear indicators do not interfere with water evacuation in the main groove channels while still providing effective wear indication at critical locations.
3Ease of operation
If the wear indicator is made to disappear after a defined depth is worn away, then clear wear indication is provided, but the indicator structure becomes more complex with multiple holes at different depths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the wear indicator system into multiple discrete elements or holes at different depths within the tread. Each segment (hole or indicator element) is positioned at a specific depth and provides information about wear at that level. This segmentation allows the complex multi-depth structure to be broken down into manageable, standardized components that can be systematically arranged to provide comprehensive wear information.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire tread for a vehicle tire is disclosed. The tread has at least one tread element (10) or block projecting from a base or non-skid surface of the tread and having a defined tread depth, the at least one tread element (10) or block comprising a first hole or cutout (16) as a wear indicator, the first hole or cutout (16) having a first outer cross-sectional shape that is constant for a first depth which is less than the treat depth or the non-skid depth. Also, a molding device is disclosed comprising a mold blade (38, 52, 62), the mold blade (38, 52, 62) having a first solid portion having a defined depth, wherein the first solid portion has a cross-sectional shape that is constant for the defined depth and has the shape of a snowflake symbol or a sun symbol.