Tire Sidewall Hatching with Varying Recess Depths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polymer products, such as vehicle tires, face challenges in achieving high-quality, visually appealing representations on their outer surfaces without the complexity and expense of separate work steps or materials, particularly in concealing construction-related defects.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of alternating image effects on the outer surface using ribs and recesses of the same design but varying depths, oriented at different angles, which creates varying brightness levels when light incidence changes, effectively masking undesired bumps and enhancing the product's appearance without additional foils or work steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If foils (Vulcanettes) are applied to the side walls of vehicle tires to create representations, then the visual quality and appearance are improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to complicated application processes and additional work steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the representation creation process with the tire vulcanization process itself. The mold surface integrates both the tire shaping function and the representation embossing function, allowing both the tire and its decorative representations to be produced in a single operation without separate foil application steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The tire sidewall itself serves as the substrate for the representation, eliminating the need for separate foils. The representation is created directly on the tire surface through embossing during vulcanization, making the tire self-sufficient for both structural and decorative functions.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional hatching patterns are used on tire sidewalls, then manufacturing is simplified, but construction-related defects such as side wall constrictions remain visible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different hatching depths in different areas: shallower recesses in overlapping areas where hatchings intersect and deeper recesses in non-overlapping areas. This local variation in depth creates brightness differences that effectively mask construction defects while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses brightness variations created by different recess depths to achieve visual masking effects. The alternating bright and dark areas formed by the hatching pattern with varying depths conceal construction defects through optical illusion rather than requiring additional materials or complex processes.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple hatchings with different densities and heights are used to create representations, then visual quality is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent varies only one parameter - the depth of recesses - while keeping all other hatching parameters (rib dimensions, spacing, orientation) consistent. This single parameter change is sufficient to create the alternating image effect and mask defects without requiring complex variations in multiple parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite surface structure by combining hatching patterns with varying recess depths within a single uniform hatching type. This composite approach achieves visual complexity while maintaining manufacturing simplicity by using the same basic hatching design throughout.
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 results in a cost-effective, high-quality appearance for polymer products, such as vehicle tires, by creating an alternating image effect that enhances visual appeal and conceals construction-related defects, achieved through embossing the design into the tire sidewall during vulcanization without separate materials or steps.
Implementation Method 1
At least one color other than the black of the elastomer or rubber constituting the sidewall is visible to the human eye by the effect of light diffraction at the light diffraction grating
Implementation Method 2
If the angle of incidence of light changes, the brightness changes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
The invention relates to a polymer product (1), preferably a vehicle tire, having an outer surface (2), on which at least one design (3) is arranged, wherein said design (3) has at least two hatching areas (7, 8) arranged adjacent to each other, made of ribs (9) arranged parallel to each other and having recesses (10) arranged between said ribs (9), and wherein said at least two hatching areas (7, 8) are oriented in different directions. In order to give the polymer product a high-quality appeal and high production quality and also to conceal visual flaws on the outer surface, such as side wall constrictions in vehicle tires, the recesses (10), in an overlapping region (11) that comprises at least sub-regions of two hatching areas (7, 8) that are arranged adjacent to each other and oriented in different directions, have a defined depth (t) different from the depth of the recesses (10) outside of said overlapping region (11) in order to produce a changing-image effect.