Tire Side Decoration with Inclined Ridges for Crack Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire designs with side decoration bands lack significant variation in silhouette and light reflection, making them appear less aesthetically appealing and prone to cracks when subjected to radial forces.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating inclined ridges and depressions at the tire side portion, with varying heights and widths, to create non-continuous decoration elements that enhance light reflection and shadow differences, while preventing continuous ridges from causing cracks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If straight or curved ridges are arranged in parallel to form side decoration bands, then the unevenness at the side portion is made less obvious, but there is little variation in silhouettes depending on directions in which light arrives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by making the second ridges smaller than the first ridges in at least one of height or width, creating asymmetric ridge structures that produce varied light reflections and shadow patterns, thereby improving silhouette variation while maintaining the unevenness masking effect
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating different ridge configurations in different regions - first ridges form the outer boundary while second ridges are disposed inside, with varying heights and widths, producing differentiated light reflection characteristics in different local areas of the decoration band
2Shape
If continuous ridges are formed at the decoration portion, then the decoration elements provide aesthetic appearance, but cracks are likely to occur when radial forces act on the tire side portion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by forming depressions that divide the decoration elements into multiple regions, making the ridges non-continuous in the tire circumferential direction. This segmentation prevents crack propagation while maintaining aesthetic appearance through the structured arrangement of first and second ridges
3Shape
If floor portions of depressions are made lower to form the decoration elements, then the ridges can be formed, but the strength of the tire regions at which depressions are formed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the depth and dimensions of the depressions to an appropriate range, and by varying the heights and widths of the ridges, achieving both aesthetic appearance and sufficient structural strength through optimized geometric parameters
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 design reduces the visibility of tire unevenness, improves aesthetics by varying light reflections, and enhances the strength of the tire side portion by preventing continuous ridges from cracking under radial forces.
Implementation Method 1
differences between the presence and absence of light reflections and between brightnesses (the light and shade of shadows) may be effectively exhibited
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic tire is provided with a decoration portion at a tire side portion. The decoration portion includes decoration elements, which include ridges, and gullies, which are inclined with respect to the tire circumferential direction and divide the decoration elements into at least two regions. Thus, the gullies make the ridges non- continuous in the tire circumferential direction. The ridges include first ridges and second ridges that are smaller than the first ridges in one or both of height and width. At least some of the first ridges are inclined with respect to the tire circumferential direction and are adjacent to one another. Thus, the gullies are formed between the adjacent first ridges.