Tire Tread Blocks with Exposed 3D Sipe Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing three-dimensional sipe patterns in tire tread blocks are buried inside and not visible or exposed to road elements, such as snow, leading to inefficient snow retention and obscurity to users.
Innovation Solution
A tire design featuring tread blocks with cut-out portions that expose zig-zag patterns on interior walls, allowing snow to be trapped and improving traction by creating visible and functional sipe patterns that interlock for enhanced snow packing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If three dimensional sipe patterns are buried inside tread blocks, then the structural integrity of tread blocks is maintained, but the sipe patterns are not visible to consumers and not exposed to road elements such as snow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts portions of the tread block material to create cut-out portions that expose the interior walls containing the three-dimensional sipe patterns. This allows the sipe patterns to be visible and accessible to road elements while maintaining the structural integrity of the remaining tread block material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates three-dimensional sipe patterns with vertical depth within the tread blocks, and uses cut-out portions to reveal these patterns from the surface dimension. This multi-dimensional approach allows the sipe patterns to be both structurally integrated and visually exposed.
2Ease of manufacture
If three dimensional sipe patterns are buried inside tread blocks, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but snow retention efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
By removing material to create cut-out portions, the patent enables snow to access and be retained within the three-dimensional sipe patterns. This extraction approach maintains relative manufacturing simplicity while dramatically improving snow retention efficiency through exposed interior walls.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If cut-out portions are added to expose sipe patterns, then visibility and snow trapping are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies cut-out portions selectively at specific locations on the tread block surface where exposure of the sipe patterns is most beneficial. This localized approach improves visibility and snow trapping without adding complexity to the entire tread block structure.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to tire tread blocks each having a sipe and cut-out portions that reveal a three dimensional sipe pattern on interior walls of the tread block. More particularly, the sipe defines the interior walls of the tread block and divides the tread block into first and second portions. The sipe further defines the sipe pattern on the interior walls of the tread block, on the first and second portions. The cut-out portions are located on the first and second portions, and expose the sipe patterns on the second and first portions, respectively.