Tire Spike LED Insert for Visibility and Mechanical Strength

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing luminous built-in elements for vehicle tires lack mechanical strength and have complex, costly installation methods, limiting their durability and widespread implementation.

Innovation Solution

A spike-based installation element with a light-emitting diode and translucent covering body embedded in the tire tread, utilizing a hard metal spike for mechanical protection and a plastic covering body for high visibility and simple installation, with options for symmetric or asymmetric placement and different LED colors for various warning functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If known built-in elements are used to improve vehicle visibility, then visibility is enhanced, but mechanical strength and durability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle visibilityVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The built-in element is segmented into a separate insert that fits within the spike structure, allowing the light-emitting component to be protected by the spike's hard metal body while maintaining optical functionality through the translucent covering

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spike body acts as an intermediary protective structure that shields the light-emitting diode and covering from mechanical stresses during driving, while the translucent covering allows light to pass through for visibility enhancement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If known built-in elements are used to improve vehicle visibility, then visibility is enhanced, but installation complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle visibilityVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insert is integrated into the existing spike structure, combining the light-emitting function with the already-proven spike design. This merging allows utilization of established spike attachment techniques while adding the visibility-enhancing LED component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The spike structure serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical protection for the light-emitting element, maintains attachment to the tire through established techniques, and enables visibility enhancement through the integrated insert with LED and translucent covering

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 provides a durable, cost-effective, and easily installable means to enhance vehicle visibility, ensuring high mechanical resilience and efficient power supply through established techniques, with LEDs of different colors serving specific warning functions.

Implementation Method 1

which has a light-emitting diode and a translucent covering body arranged radially outside the light-emitting diode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight-emitting diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3205517B1Insert for a pneumatic vehicle tyre for improving vehicle visibility
Publication Date: 2018.08.22 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP3205517B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

An installation element for a vehicle pneumatic tire to improve vehicle visibility, comprising a light-emitting diode (8, 8') and a translucent cover (9, 9') arranged radially outside the light-emitting diode (8, 8'), and embedded in the tread of a vehicle pneumatic tire such that the light from the light-emitting diode (8, 8') is visible when looking at the tread. The installation element is a spike inserted into the tread, which contains at least one insert (7, 7') comprising the light-emitting diode (8, 8') and the translucent cover (9, 9').