Tyre Sidewall Concave Mark Legibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concave marks on tyres for improved legibility are shallow and suffer from poor visibility due to surface curvature, and using differently colored rubber increases costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The tyre features concave marks with a section line that extends in the circumferential or diagonal direction, dividing the mark surface into inclined first and second surfaces, enhancing legibility without using differently colored rubber, by maintaining a constant depth and forming the section line as a straight or arcuate line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If marks are formed in a convex shape to improve legibility, then legibility is improved, but air resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by forming marks in a concave shape instead of convex. This inversion allows the marks to be recessed into the sidewall surface, reducing air resistance while maintaining legibility through the use of section lines that create visual contrast on the bottom surfaces of the concave marks
2Object-affected harmful factors
If marks are formed in a concave shape to reduce air resistance, then air resistance is reduced, but legibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bottom surface of each concave mark into multiple surface portions (first surface portion and second surface portion) separated by section lines. This segmentation creates multiple reflective surfaces at different angles, enhancing light reflection and visual contrast, thereby improving legibility while maintaining the concave shape for reduced air resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different local qualities to different parts of the concave mark by creating section lines that form surface portions with specific inclination angles. These localized variations in surface orientation optimize light reflection from specific areas, enhancing overall legibility of the concave marks
3Ease of manufacture
If bottom surfaces of marks are made flat to simplify manufacturing, then manufacturing is simplified, but legibility deteriorates due to surface curvature effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent intentionally incorporates curvature into the bottom surfaces of the concave marks by forming section lines that create inclined surface portions. These curved or inclined surfaces, rather than flat surfaces, optimize light reflection angles to counteract the convex curvature of the sidewall, thereby improving legibility while remaining manufacturable
4Loss of information
If rubber with different color is used on inner surfaces of concave marks to improve legibility, then legibility is improved, but cost and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the color-enhancement function from a separate material layer and integrates it into the structural design of the concave mark itself. By using section lines to create surface portions with different inclination angles, the patent achieves visual contrast through geometry rather than through differently colored rubber, thereby eliminating the need for additional materials and attachment processes
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
This design improves legibility and design properties by ensuring the marks reflect light and create a stereoscopic effect, enhancing visibility without increasing costs or complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the marks reflect light and create a stereoscopic effect, enhancing visibility
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A mark indicating portion arranged on a sidewall portion is provided with a reference surface provided on a surface of the sidewall portion and one or more marks formed on the reference surface in a concave manner. A surface of the or each mark is divided into a first surface portion and a second surface portion by a section line. Each of the first surface portion and the second surface portion is inclined in a direction in which a depth thereof from the reference surface is decreased as it goes away from the section line.