Tyre Sidewall Texture and Marking Contrast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small-sized colored markings on tire sidewalls face visibility issues due to lack of sufficient contrast with the surrounding surface, making them difficult to distinguish under various lighting conditions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a texture made from the same rubber material as the sidewall, adjacent to the marking, which creates a contrasting effect by having a lower luminosity than the marking, thereby enhancing visibility. The texture can be produced during vulcanization or as a separate step using methods like laser engraving or machining, and the marking can be applied using inkjet printing or other methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If small-sized colored markings are applied to tire sidewalls, then brand identification and technical information are provided, but visibility of the markings deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a texture treatment specifically to the region adjacent to the colored marking on the tire sidewall, creating a localized difference in surface properties. This texture creates light scattering that reduces the luminosity of the textured area, thereby enhancing the contrast with the colored marking and improving its visibility without requiring the marking itself to be larger
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes luminosity contrast between the textured area and the colored marking to enhance visibility. The texture modifies the optical properties of the rubber material in the adjacent region, creating a perceived darkness or luminosity difference that makes the colored marking stand out more prominently against the tire sidewall background
2Loss of information
If a texture is added to enhance marking visibility, then visibility improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The texture is incorporated into the tire sidewall during the vulcanization process itself, rather than being applied as a separate post-manufacturing step. This preliminary action integrates the visibility-enhancing feature into the base manufacturing process, minimizing additional complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the texture creation process with the existing vulcanization process by incorporating a textured element in the mold that imparts the texture to the sidewall during curing. This merging of processes ensures the texture is created in-one-piece with the sidewall without requiring separate manufacturing steps
Data Source
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AI summary
The tyre of rubber material comprises a tyre tread (12) and two flanks (14) which delimit said tyre tread. At least one of the flanks comprises at least one marking (18) which is at least partially coloured, and at least one texture (20) which is integral with said flank and which forms a contrast with said marking and the remainder of said flank which is not textured and not marked, said marking being adjacent to said texture.