Tire Sidewall Mark Visibility via Segmented Multi-Faceted Surface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tire designs with marks on the sidewall suffer from limited visibility due to monotonous contrast changes, which can be improved by enhancing the complexity of contrast on the surface.

Innovation Solution

The tire features a mark indication portion divided into multiple constituent portions with ridgelines that create tilted surfaces, allowing for more complex contrast changes and increased visibility by ensuring uniform and equal heights of ridgelines and minimum heights across these portions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the mark surface is divided into multiple slopes tilted in opposite directions, then the contrast in appearance is improved and visibility is enhanced, but the change in contrast becomes monotonous when limited to two slopes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of markVSAvoidnumber of slopes per mark
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mark surface is segmented into multiple constituent portions (at least two), with each portion further divided by ridgelines into multiple tilted surface portions. This segmentation creates four or more slopes tilted in different directions, transforming the simple two-slope structure into a complex multi-faceted surface that generates varied contrast changes and eliminates monotony while enhancing visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If each mark surface is formed by only two slopes, then the structure is simple, but the tilt angle relative to reference surface cannot be sufficiently ensured and contrast becomes small

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure of mark surfaceVSAvoidcontrast of mark
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from a two-dimensional simple slope structure to a three-dimensional multi-faceted structure by introducing multiple constituent portions with ridgelines. This dimensional enhancement allows each surface portion to be tilted at sufficient angles relative to the reference surface, creating deep contrast variations that significantly improve mark visibility while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Illumination intensity

If the mark surface is divided into multiple constituent portions with ridgelines creating four or more slopes, then complicated changes to contrast are achieved and visibility is further improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of markVSAvoidcomplexity of mark formation
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The mark is segmented into multiple constituent portions that can be independently formed and positioned. Each constituent portion is divided by ridgelines into tilted surface portions, creating a modular structure that achieves complex contrast variations. This segmentation approach allows for systematic manufacturing while delivering enhanced visibility through multi-directional tilting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3666555B1tire
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP3666555B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3666555B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3666555B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The visibility of a mark formed on a sidewall portion is improved. A mark 4 is divided into a plurality of constituent portions 5 in a plan view. Each of surfaces S of two or more of the constituent portions 5 is divided into a first surface portion S1 and a second surface portion S2 by a ridgeline 8. Each of the first surface portion S1 and the second surface portion S2 is tilted so as to be oriented such that the height thereof from a reference surface X decreases as the distance from the ridgeline 8 increases.