Contrasting Tire Sidewall Structure with Crossing Hatching Ribs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle tire designs with contrasting structure areas, such as hatched ribs, face limitations in design options and ventability during manufacturing, and require improvement in contrast effect and mold production ease.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating crossing areas in the contrasting structure where a second hatching rib overlaps a first hatching rib, creating a local maximum in the height profile, which enhances light scattering, reflection, and absorption, and stabilizes the ribs for improved abrasion resistance, while allowing for easier mold production using a vulcanization mold with a negative complementary structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If hatched ribs are arranged parallel to one another on the tire sidewall for high-contrast surface design, then the contrast effect is improved, but the design options are limited and ventability during manufacturing is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrast effectVSAvoiddesign options
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the hatching structure into multiple sets of ribs with different orientations (first hatching ribs in one direction, second hatching ribs in another direction). This segmentation allows for more complex light interaction patterns and improved design flexibility while maintaining high contrast effect through the segmented rib arrangements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from simple parallel rib arrangements to multi-directional crossing rib patterns. By adding ribs in multiple dimensions/directions that cross each other, the design achieves enhanced contrast through increased light scattering in multiple directions while opening up new design possibilities for markings and patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Illumination intensity

If hatched ribs are arranged parallel to one another on the tire sidewall for high-contratst surface design, then the contrast effect is improved, but ventability during manufacturing is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontratst effectVSAvoidventability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The crossing rib patterns are segmented into discrete first and second hatching ribs that can be independently controlled during manufacturing. This segmentation allows the mold design to incorporate venting channels between the crossing ribs, improving ventability while maintaining the high-contrast visual effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different rib orientations and densities in different local areas of the tire surface. This local variation in rib quality allows optimized venting pathways in certain regions while maintaining high contrast effects in other regions, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing ease and visual impact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Illumination intensity

If crossing areas with overlapping hatching ribs are created to enhance contrast effect, then light scattering and reflection are improved, but the structural complexity of the mold increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight scatteringVSAvoidmold structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple simple rib structures into crossing patterns where first and second hatching ribs intersect. This merging of simple geometric elements creates complex light scattering effects without requiring complex mold components, as the complexity emerges from the arrangement rather than the individual elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent controls the contrast effect by adjusting parameters such as rib spacing, rib height, and crossing angles rather than changing the fundamental mold structure. These parameter modifications allow enhanced light scattering and reflection while keeping the mold design relatively simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This approach significantly enhances the contrast effect, improves visibility of markings, and facilitates better ventability and resistance to abrasion, while simplifying the production of the contrasting structure surface on vehicle tires.

Implementation Method 1

The crossed arrangement of the ridges and the mutually angled arrangement of flanks of the first and second hatching ribs increases the scattering, multiple reflection and absorption of light falling on the hatching ribs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

The crossed arrangement of the ridges and the mutually angled arrangement of flanks of the first and second hatching ribs increases the scattering, multiple reflection and absorption of light falling on the hatching ribs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

The crossed arrangement of the ridges and the mutually angled arrangement of flanks of the first and second hatching ribs increases the scattering, multiple reflection and absorption of light falling on the hatching ribs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 4

Such local maxima in the height profile of the contrast structure enable a particularly strong influencing and improvement of the contrast effect via additional shading, reflection and/or scattering

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShading: Shadow

Data Source

PatentEP3808549B1Vehicle tyre with a contrasting structure surface and method of making a mould
Publication Date: 2022.11.09 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP3808549B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3808549B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3808549B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Vehicle tires (1) with sidewalls (2) and a tread (3) and with at least one contrasting structure surface (4) on an outer surface (2, 3), in particular on one of the sidewalls (2) and/or the tread (3), wherein a contrasting structure (5) with hatched ribs (6, 7) each having a burr (8, 9) is formed on the contrasting structure surface (4). The objective is to influence and further improve the contrast effect in a more targeted manner and to ensure the simple manufacturability of a corresponding mold.This is achieved by the contrast structure (5) having intersection areas (11), wherein an intersection area (11) is precisely the area in which a second hatching rib (7) of the hatching ribs (6, 7) is arranged in a superimposed, intersecting manner with a first hatching rib (6) of the hatching ribs (6, 7) such that the ridge (9) of the second hatching rib (7) and the ridge (8) of the first hatching rib (6) intersect in the top view and that a contour of the second hatching rib (7) has a local maximum (12) within the intersection area (11). The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a mold.