Recycled Tire Sidewall Protective Barrier for Structure Impact Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing structures such as light poles and base structures in parking lots and roadways cause extensive damage in low-speed collisions, and there is a need for a protective barrier that can effectively mitigate this damage while utilizing recycled rubber from vehicle tires.

Innovation Solution

A method of creating a protective barrier by removing and modifying tire sidewalls to fit around a structure or structure base, involving cutting, bending, and stacking the sidewalls to form a protective enclosure, which may include fastening and applying an ultraviolet protective layer, to absorb impact and prevent damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional structures (concrete, metal) are used for bases and light poles, then structural strength and durability are improved, but damage to vehicles in low-speed collisions increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidvehicle damage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by installing a protective barrier made of recycled rubber material around the base of structures before any collision occurs. This rubber barrier acts as a cushioning layer that absorbs impact energy during low-speed collisions, preventing direct contact between the vehicle and the hard concrete/metal structure, thereby reducing vehicle damage while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials by combining recycled rubber material with the conventional concrete or metal structure. The rubber barrier is fitted around the structure base, creating a composite system that retains the structural strength of concrete/metal while adding the shock-absorbing properties of rubber, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and harm reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If tires are sent to landfills without recycling, then disposal simplicity is improved, but environmental harm and resource waste increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisposal simplicityVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies discarding and recovering by collecting discarded tires from landfills or recycling centers and repurposing their sidewalls as protective barriers. Instead of completely discarding tires to landfills, the invention recovers useful material (sidewalls) from end-of-life tires and transforms them into functional protective components, thereby reducing environmental harm while managing tire waste effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts harm into benefit by transforming discarded tires, which would otherwise be environmental pollutants requiring landfill space, into valuable protective barriers. The harmful waste material is converted into a beneficial safety component that protects structures and vehicles, turning an environmental problem into a useful application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Adaptability or versatility

If tire sidewalls are cut and modified to fit around structures, then adaptability to different structure sizes is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefitting adaptabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the tire sidewall into manageable sections through cutting. The sidewall is cut along its length to create segments that can be opened and fitted around structures of various diameters. This segmentation allows the barrier to be adapted to different structure sizes while keeping the modification process relatively simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution effectively reduces damage from low-speed collisions by utilizing recycled tire material to create a protective barrier that can be securely fastened around structures, enhancing safety and recycling efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

covering the sidewall with an ultraviolet protective layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltraviolet absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

The solution effectively reduces damage from low-speed collisions by utilizing recycled tire material to create a protective barrier

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact absorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10590616B1Protective barrier and a corresponding structure

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 KODI JON

AI summary

A method of fitting a protective barrier on a structure base. The method may include removing a first sidewall from a tire. A line may be cut spanning from an outer diameter of the sidewall to an inner diameter of the sidewall such that the sidewall includes sidewall ends and the sidewall is no longer a continuous loop. The sidewall ends may be bent away from each other to widen a gap between the sidewall ends. The sidewall may be placed around the structure base by moving the sidewall relative to the structure base such that the structure base passes through the gap and into an inner opening of the sidewall.