Tire Sidewall Marking with Protruding Texture for Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire sidewall markings suffer from reduced visibility due to mud or dust accumulation, and the manufacturing process for recessed markings is complex and costly.
Innovation Solution
A tire sidewall texture comprising a high-density arrangement of protruding strands or lamellae surrounding the marking, which enhances contrast, durability, and hydrophobic properties, improving visibility and tactile feel while protecting the marking from wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a housing recessed into the sidewall is used to position the marking, then the visibility of the marking is improved, but mud or dust accumulates in the housing reducing contrast and visibility
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of recessing the marking into the sidewall (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by making the marking protrude from the sidewall surface. This inversion prevents mud and dust from accumulating around the marking while maintaining high visibility and contrast.
2Illumination intensity
If a housing recessed into the sidewall is used to position the marking, then the visibility of the marking is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies manufacturing by inverting the conventional recessed marking approach. Instead of requiring complex recessed housings, the marking simply protrudes from the sidewall, eliminating the need for additional machining operations and reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Illumination intensity
If the texture comprises strands with high density, then the contrast and visibility of the marking is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous or fibrous texture comprising strands distributed around the marking. This texture creates light-trapping effects that enhance marking visibility and contrast. The strand-based approach provides effective contrast enhancement while being more tolerant to manufacturing variations compared to requiring precisely spaced lamellae.
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 significantly improves the visibility and durability of markings by trapping light, repelling water and debris, and absorbing rubbing forces, while maintaining manufacturing efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
this texture allows all or some of the incident rays of light that encounter the sidewall to become 'trapped'
Implementation Method 2
the texture used has hydrophobic properties which means that it is easier for water, dust or mud around the marking to be removed
Data Source
AI summary
A tire made of rubber material includes a sidewall and a marking protruding from this sidewall. The tire has a texture, which has a plurality of strands protruding from the sidewall, these strands being distributed at a density at least equal to five strands per square millimeter (mm2), each strand having a mean cross section between 0.0007 mm2 and 0.06 mm2 and/or the texture having a plurality of substantially mutually parallel lamellae protruding from the sidewall, the spacing of the lamellae being less than or equal to 0.5 mm, each lamella having a mean width between 0.03 mm and 0.3 mm. The texture protrudes from the sidewall of the tire, and this texture surrounds all or part of the marking.