Tire Sidewall Micro Projections for Mark Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire designs struggle to enhance the visibility of decorative markings on the sidewall by increasing contrast, as the current tufted textures do not provide sufficient differentiation between the decorative and non-decorative portions.
Innovation Solution
A tire with micro projections on its decorative portion, featuring recesses and varying outer wall thickness, which diffuses light and suppresses reflection, creating a darker appearance and increased contrast with adjacent non-decorative areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional tufted textures are used on the tire sidewall, then the black color of the side wall is enhanced, but the visibility of marks such as tire names is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The decorative portion is segmented into multiple micro projections (2-10 per 1mm²), each with recesses and outer wall portions. This segmentation creates a textured surface that diffuses light effectively while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, resolving the contradiction between visibility enhancement and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The micro projections are provided locally on the decorative portion of the sidewall rather than uniformly across the entire tire. This localized application enhances visibility where needed (on the decorative portion) while keeping the rest of the tire structure simple, addressing the contradiction between mark visibility and overall device complexity.
2Illumination intensity
If the decorative portion is made darker to increase contrast, then the visibility of markings is improved, but the structural complexity of the micro projections increases
Solution Approach 1:
The micro projections feature asymmetric structures with recesses and outer wall portions of varying thicknesses. This asymmetry creates multiple light reflection surfaces that effectively darken the decorative portion and enhance contrast, while the asymmetric design is achieved through a relatively simple molding process, balancing contrast enhancement with structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional flat decorative surface to a three-dimensional structured surface with micro projections having varying thicknesses in the radial direction. This dimensional change creates light diffusion effects that darken the decorative portion and improve contrast, while the third-dimensional structure is integrated into the tire molding process without significantly increasing overall complexity.
3Illumination intensity
If micro projections with recesses and varying outer wall thickness are used, then light reflection is suppressed and the decorative portion appears darker, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The micro projections are designed with specific parameter ranges: 2-10 projections per 1mm², with outer wall thicknesses varying within controlled limits. These parameter specifications allow for effective light suppression while maintaining manufacturability with standard tire molding precision, resolving the contradiction between light reflection suppression and manufacturing precision 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 tire achieves improved visibility of markings by making the decorative portion appear darker, thereby enhancing the contrast with non-decorative areas, leading to better visibility and durability of the micro projections.
Implementation Method 1
light applied to the projection top portion of the micro projection is mainly reflected on the upper end surface of the outer wall portion, and light reflection is suppressed at the recess
Implementation Method 2
reflection on the upper end surface, reflection on the outer surface of the outer wall portion, and reflection on the inner surface of the recess are not uniform
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
The visibility of a part of a tire is increased. A tire 1 has a decorative portion 10 on at least a part of an outer surface 1a thereof, and a plurality of micro projections 11 are arranged on the decorative portion 10. At least one of the micro projections 11 includes a recess 14 and an outer wall portion 15 that surrounds the recess 14 to form a projection top portion 11E. A thickness T of the outer wall portion 15 at the projection top portion 11E varies in a circumferential direction.