Tire Sidewall Dot Pattern for Direction-Independent Contrast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polymer products, such as vehicle tires, face issues with direction-dependent brightness effects and adhesion to vulcanization molds due to linear patterns, leading to unclean tire surfaces and time-consuming mold cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A two-dimensional dot pattern with three-dimensional elements as depressions on the surface, having specific peak heights and distances, reduces directionality and adhesion, enabling direction-independent contrast and reliable demolding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If linear hatching patterns are used on the tire sidewall, then high-contrast monochrome representation is achieved, but the brightness effect becomes strongly direction-dependent and adhesion to mold surfaces occurs during vulcanization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional linear hatching elements to two-dimensional dot pattern elements, fundamentally changing the geometric dimensionality of the surface structure. This dimensional change eliminates the directional bias inherent in linear patterns, as dots are isotropic and respond uniformly to light from any angle, thereby achieving direction-independent brightness effects while maintaining high contrast through controlled light scattering.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies critical parameters including element size (0.05-0.50 mm), spacing (0.10-1.00 mm), depth (0.05-0.50 mm), and pattern density to optimize both the optical properties and demoldability. By adjusting these parameters, the invention achieves high contrast through enhanced light scattering while simultaneously reducing adhesion to mold surfaces during vulcanization.
2Illumination intensity
If linear hatching patterns are used on the tire sidewall, then high-contrast monochrome representation is achieved, but mold cleaning becomes time-consuming and expensive due to adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of surface adhesion during vulcanization into a benefit by using dot patterns that inherently reduce adhesion. The discrete, rounded geometry of dot elements prevents the continuous contact and mechanical interlocking that occur with linear patterns, thereby minimizing elastomeric material adhesion to mold surfaces and eliminating the need for time-consuming mold cleaning while maintaining high visual contrast.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes parameters such as element size, spacing, and depth to balance optical performance with demoldability. By carefully selecting these parameters, the invention achieves high contrast through light scattering while simultaneously minimizing adhesion forces during vulcanization, thereby reducing or eliminating mold cleaning requirements and associated time losses.
3Ease of operation
If dot patterns with small element sizes are used, then direction independence is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes specific parameter ranges for element size (0.05-0.50 mm), spacing (0.10-1.00 mm), and depth (0.05-0.50 mm) that balance direction independence with manufacturing feasibility. These parameter specifications ensure that dots are small enough to provide isotropic light scattering while remaining large enough to be manufactured with conventional precision, thereby reducing the stringency of manufacturing tolerance requirements.
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 solution achieves a higher-contrast, direction-independent display and reduces mold contamination, enhancing the manufacturability and appearance of polymer products like vehicle tires.
Implementation Method 1
The patterns both on the surfaces free of letter design and in the area of the letter design make it possible to influence the achieved brightness effect of the hatched monochrome area by scattering the light on the flanks of the linear elevations
Implementation Method 2
The crest height S from 0.10 mm to 0.4 mm, preferably from 0.20 mm to 0.30 mm, together with a distance to the nearest neighbor from 0.10 mm to 0.50 mm, preferably 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm, have proven to be particularly suitable for absorbing and/or diffusely reflecting incident light
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a polymer product (2), preferably a vehicle tyre (10), with two sidewalls (11), wherein on the outer surface (1) of the polymer product (2) there is disposed at least one representation (3), which has a two-dimensional area (4) that is covered by a pattern. The invention is based on the object of providing by simple means a polymer product that has on its outer surface at least one two-dimensional area with a pattern, by means of which a higher-contrast representation with a directionally independent contrast can be achieved, and which can also be produced more reliably. The object is achieved by the pattern being a two-dimensional dot pattern, in that each dot is a three-dimensional element (5), which is formed as an elevation or depression of the surface (1), in that each element (5) has a base area (6) and a peak height (S), in that the pattern has elements (5) with a peak height (S) of 0.10 mm to 0.4 mm, preferably of 0.20 mm to 0.30 mm, and in that the pattern has elements (5) that are at a distance (B) from the respectively nearest neighbour of 0.10 mm to 0.50 mm, preferably 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm, wherein the distances (B) are measured between the geometric centroids of the base areas (6) of the elements (5).