Tyre Sidewall Textured Zone for Durable Colored Markings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tire sidewall colored markings face durability issues due to friction and elastic deformation, leading to cracks and detachment, and their production is complex and costly, especially when involving multiple layers or colors.

Innovation Solution

A tire with a textured zone integral to the sidewall, featuring protruding elements like strands, slats, or parallelepipeds, where the colored marking is either superimposed on or penetrates into the texture, decoupling it from elastic deformations and enhancing durability while maintaining a lower manufacturing cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If colored markings are affixed to the sidewall of the tire, then the original appearance and brand identification are improved, but the durability deteriorates due to friction and elastic deformation causing cracks and detachment

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveappearanceVSAvoiddurability
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The textured zone is divided into multiple protruding elements (strands, slats, or parallelepipeds) spaced at specific intervals. These segmented structures create discrete stress distribution points that prevent continuous crack propagation across the colored marking, thereby maintaining durability while preserving appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The texture is applied locally only in the zones where colored markings are positioned, rather than uniformly across the entire sidewall. This localized texturing provides targeted protection for the colored marking areas while maintaining the overall aesthetic quality of the sidewall surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a textured zone with protruding elements is integrated into the sidewall, then the durability and adhesion of colored markings are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadhesionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The textured zone is integrated directly into the sidewall structure during the tire manufacturing process, merging the texture formation with the existing sidewall extrusion or molding operations. This eliminates the need for separate texture application steps and reduces overall manufacturing complexity despite the added functional feature.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The protruding elements of the textured zone serve multiple functions: they provide mechanical interlocking for improved adhesion, create stress distribution points to prevent cracking, and maintain the structural integrity of the sidewall. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components or processes.

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

3Reliability

If the colored marking extends over the textured zone, then the durability is improved by reducing stress concentration, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure proper alignment

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The textured zone is formed and positioned on the sidewall before the colored marking is applied. This preliminary action allows the texture pattern to serve as a pre-established guide for subsequent marking application, ensuring proper alignment without requiring high-precision positioning during the marking process itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The protruding elements of the textured zone naturally guide the application of the colored marking through their physical structure. The marking material self-aligns with the texture pattern during application, reducing the need for external alignment mechanisms or high-precision positioning systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3894239B1Tyre provided with a coloured marking and with a texture on a sidewall
Publication Date: 2023.06.21 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)
  • EP3894239B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3894239B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3894239B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a tyre of rubber material comprising a tread (12) and two sidewalls (14) delimiting said tread (12). At least one of said sidewalls (14) comprises a textured region (16) integrally formed with the sidewall and forming a contrast with the rest of this sidewall. The sidewall comprises a coloured marking (18). This coloured marking (18) extends over the sidewall of the tyre, at least in part, in the textured region (16).