Tire Sidewall Protrusion Pattern for Higher-Contrast Markings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information presented on tire sidewalls or surfaces, such as letters or images, often blends into the tire material, making them difficult to read due to lack of contrast.
Innovation Solution
A region on the tire surface is created with a pseudo-random pattern of protrusions, which vary in position, shape, height, and surface contour, providing contrast and making the information more visible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If information is made from the same rubber as the tire, then manufacturing cost is reduced and material uniformity is improved, but visibility and readability of the information deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by creating protrusions that alter light reflection and absorption properties. The protrusions create regions with different optical characteristics compared to the surrounding tire surface, making the information visible through contrast in appearance rather than through color or material differences.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating protrusions only in specific regions where information needs to be displayed, while leaving the rest of the tire surface uniform. This allows the information areas to have different surface properties (protrusions) from the surrounding areas, improving visibility without affecting the overall tire structure or requiring different materials.
2Device complexity
If a smooth surface is used for tire sidewall, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but visibility of information deteriorates due to lack of contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains overall surface simplicity while introducing localized protrusions only where information needs to be displayed. This allows the majority of the tire surface to remain smooth and simple to manufacture, while specific information regions gain the necessary surface complexity for visibility through the protrusion pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the tire surface into distinct regions: smooth areas for the general tire body and protrusion-patterned areas for information display. This segmentation allows different surface treatments in different locations, maintaining manufacturing simplicity for the bulk of the tire while providing enhanced visibility where needed.
3Loss of information
If protrusions are made large enough to be visible, then visibility of information improves, but the structure of protrusions can be resolved by the naked eye at close distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the size, spacing, and distribution parameters of the protrusions. The protrusions are sized and spaced to create visual contrast at typical viewing distances while remaining below the resolution threshold of the human eye at close distances, optimizing both visibility and aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the third dimension (surface relief/protrusions) to create visual contrast rather than relying on two-dimensional color or pattern differences. By varying the height and distribution of protrusions, the information becomes visible through shadowing and light reflection effects without requiring the protrusions to be individually resolvable.
Data Source
AI summary
A tire or other rubber item is described that has a surface such as a sidewall. A region on the surface includes a plurality of protrusions. The protrusions are positioned in a pseudo-random pattern within the region. Various features of the protrusions may be varied in a random or pseudo-random manner.