JP2001191745A - Pneumatic tire - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pneumatic tire with vertical ridges having decorative quality without forming an unevenness on sidewall portions. SOLUTION: At least one surface of each of a pair of sidewall portions is provided with a decorative portion having a number of vertical ridges arranged in an annular region. The decorative portion has the vertical ridges all inclined in the same direction to the radial direction. Each of the vertical ridges has a mountain sectional shape and the decorative portion has an aggregate of vertical ridge groups consisting of plural units using a preset number of vertical ridges as one unit, where adjacent vertical ridges are arranged at spaces with ridge lines being within 0.3-5.0 mm. Each vertical ridge of the aggregate has a small bent portion in the same degree and in the same direction at least one point in the range from the inward end in the radial direction to the outward end in the radial direction. The small bent portion is located on one continuous line in the same unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tread portion,
It has a pair of side walls and a pair of bead parts connected to both sides thereof, and includes a radial carcass for reinforcing these parts, and at least one of the pair of side wall parts is
The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire provided with a decorative portion having a number of vertical ridges arranged in an annular region on the surface thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art During a pneumatic tire manufacturing process, in a cutting process, a member cut in a predetermined width from a long length of an unvulcanized rubber-coated cord is joined to reduce a long carcass ply member. In the forming step, the carcass ply member is wound at least twice on the forming drum from the small wrap of the carcass ply member, and the start edge and the end edge thereof are jointed. Joint work is required.

[0003] In the joint operation, unvulcanized rubber edges along an arrangement cord in a member are mutually joined. then,
Whether automatic or manual, the cord spacing on both sides of this joint is intended to be equal to the cord spacing of the other parts. However, in the carcass ply of the vulcanized tire, the cord interval at the joint portion is not always equal to the cord interval at other portions.

[0004]

In particular, in a pneumatic radial tire having one ply of carcass, the above-mentioned disturbance in the cord interval at the joint portion is such that the distance to the tire outer surface is the shortest when the tire is filled with internal pressure. ,
And it appears as irregularities on the side wall portion to which low hardness rubber is applied. Although these irregularities hardly adversely affect the durability and other performances of the tire, they impair the quality of the appearance and give the user uneasiness and distrust. In particular, this kind of unevenness is a problem in tires for passenger cars that emphasize appearance and truck tires used under severe conditions.

On the other hand, in order to make letters, numerals, symbols, figures, and the like provided in at least one surface of the pair of sidewall portions stand out, a large number of strips are provided inside or outside the tire along the radial direction of the tire. 2. Description of the Related Art Tires provided with decorative portions, in which longitudinal ridges are arranged, so to speak, are known. However, this decorative part is merely a compliment for letters, numbers, symbols, figures, and the like, and has not taken into account the above-mentioned irregularities. This is because such vertical ridges are arranged in the same direction as the direction in which the irregularities extend.

In addition, it is a matter of course that a concave portion for forming a vertical ridge is also formed in a vulcanizing mold. At this time, when the vertical ridge is provided over the entire circumference of the sidewall portion or a circumferential length close thereto. In addition, the cutting edge of a tool for processing a concave portion, for example, a cutting tool, gradually wears out during processing, and a nonuniform portion is formed between the concave portion at the start position of the processing and the concave portion at the end position, thereby causing a problem of impairing the appearance.

Therefore, claims 1 to 16 of the present invention.
An object of the invention described in (1) is to provide a pneumatic tire capable of using a vertical ridge to make unevenness of a sidewall portion inconspicuous and further improving appearance of a sidewall portion. .

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tire having a decorative portion described at the beginning, wherein the decorative portion is entirely formed in a radial direction of the tire. It has vertical ridges that incline in the same direction, each vertical ridge has a mountain-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the decorative part has vertical ridges adjacent to each other, and their ridge lines are 0.3 to 0.3.
A predetermined number of vertical ridge groups arranged at an interval within a range of 5.0 mm are defined as one unit, and an aggregate of the plurality of units of the vertical ridge group is provided. Having at least one portion of the same amount of small refraction in the same direction while extending from the one end to the radially outer end, the small refraction being located on one continuous line in the same unit; It is a pneumatic tire characterized by the following.

According to the invention described in claim 1, claim 2 is provided.
As described in the invention described above, each vertical ridge portion sandwiching the small refraction portion has an inclination angle in the range of 0 to 60 ° with respect to the tire radial direction in the tire axial direction projected figure.

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, as in the third aspect of the present invention, each vertical ridge in the above-mentioned assembly is formed on a concentric circle centered on the axis in the tire axial projection figure. The longitudinal ridge portions having the radially inner end and the radially outer end of the tire and sandwiching the small refraction portion are arranged at equal intervals within the same unit and between different units and on the same circumference.

According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, as in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the decorative portion has a length exceeding a vertical ridge arrangement interval between adjacent vertical ridge groups. It has gaps at multiple locations.

[0012] With regard to the invention described in claim 4, claim 5 is provided.
In the tire axial direction projection of the center point of the circumferential pitch length at the tire radially innermost position of the gap, the two center points of the gaps adjacent to each other and the tire axis as in the invention described in The angle formed is in the range of 3 to 90 °.

According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, as in the sixth aspect of the present invention, three or more decorative portions are provided for the circumferential pitch length at the radially innermost position of the gap in the tire radial direction. With gaps of different pitch lengths.

According to the invention described in claims 4 to 6, as in the invention described in claim 7, the gap is measured in the same direction as the arrangement interval of the group of adjacent vertical ridges. It has a length of 1.3 to 5 times.

According to the invention described in claims 4 to 7, as in the invention described in claim 8, the gap is 1
At least one additional longitudinal ridge extending smoothly has an inner end and an outer end in the tire radial direction on one of the concentric circles and near the concentric circles.

According to the first to eighth aspects of the present invention, as in the ninth aspect of the present invention, each vertical ridge portion sandwiching the small refraction portion extends straight in the tire axial projection pattern. There are both cases where the shape has a shape, and cases where each vertical ridge portion sandwiching the small refraction portion has a shape extending in a curved shape in the tire axial direction projection figure as in the invention described in claim 10.

Further, according to the invention described in claims 1 to 10, as in the invention described in claim 11, the continuous line is formed in one direction with respect to a circumferential line on the surface of the sidewall portion for each unit of the vertical ridge group. In the case where the small refraction partial array in the decorative portion has a sawtooth shape, the continuous line has a chevron shape in the tire radial direction for each unit of the vertical ridge group, when the decorative portion has a sawtooth shape. In the case where the small refraction partial arrangement in the decorative portion exhibits a series of chevron shapes, as in the invention described in claim 13, the continuous line is positioned on the circumferential line on the side wall portion surface for each unit of the vertical ridge group. However, the small refraction partial arrangement in the decorative portion is suitable for any case where it has a single circular shape.

According to the invention described in claims 1 to 13, as in the invention described in claim 14, each longitudinal ridge of each unit has the same number of small refractive portions at two or more locations, and each small ridge portion has the same number. Is located sequentially on the same continuous line from the radially innermost part of the tire toward the radially outward side.
As in the invention described in claim 15, two or more small refraction portions in each longitudinal ridge of each unit are adapted to be refracted in the opposite direction between adjacent small refraction portions.

According to the invention described in any one of the first to fifteenth aspects, as in the invention described in the sixteenth aspect, the decorative portion occupies at least a quarter of the annular region of the sidewall portion.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the pneumatic tire of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of a part of the decorative part of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the decorative part shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of another type of the decorative part shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and FIGS. FIG. 11 is a side view of a part of various types of decorative portions.

In FIG. 1, a pneumatic tire (hereinafter referred to as a tire) 1 has a pair of bead portions 2 and a pair of sidewall portions 3 with a tire equatorial plane E interposed therebetween, and a tread portion 4 connected to each sidewall portion 3. And each of these parts 2
There is provided a radial carcass 6 for reinforcing between the bead cores 5 embedded in each bead portion 2 and a belt 7 for reinforcing the tread portion 4 at the outer periphery thereof. The radial carcass 6 has a folded portion 6t. Radial carcass 6
It is a ply of a rubber-coated radially-arranged organic fiber cord or a ply of a rubber-coated radially-arranged steel cord. The number of plies is one or more, preferably one.

1 and FIGS. 2 to 4, the tire 1
Is located in the annular region Dp on at least one surface of the pair of sidewall portions 3 from the vicinity of the shoulder portion S outside the tire radial direction (hereinafter referred to as radial direction) R of the sidewall portions 3 to the bead portion 2. The decorative part 9 has an arrangement of a plurality of vertical ridges 10. The vertical ridge 10 refers to a ridge extending at an acute angle to the radial direction toward the radial direction. The decorative portion 9 in the illustrated example is located in the annular area Dp from the radially inner position O of the shoulder portion S to the folded portion 6t position I.

Here, the decorative portion 9 has vertical ridges 10 all inclined in the same direction with respect to the radial direction R. As shown in FIG. 4, the vertical ridge 10 has a mountain-shaped cross section. Although the vertical ridge 10 in the illustrated example has a sharp ridge p, it may be a trapezoidal flat top. The latter ridge line p is a line connecting the center of the flat top in the width direction.

The decorative portion 9 is composed of vertical ridges 10 adjacent to each other.
Are arranged at an interval δ (see FIG. 4) in which the ridgelines p are in the range of 0.3 to 5.0 mm (in the illustrated example, 2 is used).
The longitudinal ridge 10 groups 10U four) as a unit, group 10U ₁ of the longitudinal ridges 10 of multiple units of the unit ～10U _n
(N = 1, 2,..., I,..., A natural number). The interval δ is measured in a direction perpendicular to each vertical ridge 10 (a direction along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3) and extends over the entire length of the vertical ridge 10. The height of the vertical ridge 10 is in the range of 0.3 to 2.0 mm.

Each longitudinal ridge 10 in the assembly has at least one, in the example shown, one small refraction portion 10r extending from the radially inner end to the radially outer end. The small refraction portions 10r have the same amount of refraction in the same direction. Here, the term “small refraction” means having a refraction length that is extremely shorter than the length of the vertical ridge 10. The small refraction portion 10r is located on one continuous line L in the same unit. The continuous line L is an assumed line, and does not accompany the actual state as a line.

In the tire 1 having the above-described structure, even if the ply joint portion of the radial carcass 6 has a disordered cord arrangement and irregularities occur in the annular region Dp under the internal pressure filling, the longitudinal ridges may not be formed. 10 is the radial direction R
In contrast, the arrangements are all inclined in the same direction, so that the effect of suppressing the formation of unevenness is exhibited.

However, the most effective effect is the small refractive portion 1
And border a continuous line L passing through the 0r, either one of the group 10U ₁ ~10U _n portion of the radially inner longitudinal ridges 10, a group 10U ₁ ~10U _n portions of the longitudinal ridges 10 in the radially outward The portion is a pseudo three-dimensional figure effect (embossing effect) that emerges depending on the condition of the light beam. With this effect, the unevenness is completely inconspicuous, and the appearance is significantly improved.

Hereinafter, the decoration unit 9 will be described in detail. First, each longitudinal ridge 10 portion sandwiching the small refraction portion 10r is 0 to 0 in the radial direction R in the axial projection pattern of the tire 1.
It has a tilt angle in the range of 60 °, preferably in the range of 15-50 °. When each vertical ridge 10 extends in a curved shape as described later, the tangent angle of the curved line is used.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the groups 10U ₁ to 1U
Vertical ridges 10 in the collection of 0U _n is the tire 1 of the axis at (not shown) direction projected figure, concentric Co around this axis, on to Ci, the outer end and an inner end in the radial direction R Having. Further, each longitudinal ridge 10 parts sandwiching the small refractive portion 10r from both sides, between the same units 10U _i within and different units 10U each other, and are arranged at regular intervals on the same circumference.

Next, the decorative part 9, between adjacent units mutual longitudinal ridge group 10U each other, the group in the illustrated example 10U ₁ and group 1
Mutual the 0U _2, between each other and the group 10 U ₁ and the group 10 U _n, with a gap 11 of more than an array interval of the longitudinal ridges 10 [delta] length d (see FIG. 4) at a plurality of positions.

Then, when the center point M of the circumferential pitch at the innermost position in the radial direction of the gap 11 is projected in the tire axial direction, the two center points M ₁ ,
M ₂ and the angle formed by the tire axis θ in the range of 3 to 90 °, preferably in the range of 3 to 15 °. Further, with respect to the innermost position in the radial direction of the gap 11, that is, the pitch length on the inner circumference circle Ci, the decorative portion 9 has three or more types of gaps 11 having different pitch lengths.

Referring to FIG. 4, the gap 11 is measured in the same direction as the arrangement interval δ of the vertical ridge group 10U adjacent thereto, and is within a range of 1.3 to 5 times the arrangement interval δ, preferably 1 .5
Has a length d in the range of ~ 2.5 times

Next, referring to FIG. 5, the gap 11 is provided with one or more, in the illustrated example, one additional longitudinal ridge 12 extending smoothly. The additional longitudinal ridge 12 has a radially inner end and an outer end on or near the concentric circles Co and Ci without the small refraction portion 10r.

The above-described gap 11 and the additional vertical ridge 12 are used for forming a vertical ridge 10 in the vulcanized tire 1 with a tool (a cutting tool) from the start to the completion of the groove processing. ) gives room to absorb disturbance of grooves due to the shape change of the tip, thereby, the group 10 U ₁ to 10
Sequence of longitudinal ridges 10 in the collection of U _n holds uniformity, it is possible to ensure the aesthetic appearance of the decorative portion 9.

Finally, based on FIGS. 2 and 5 to 11,
The vertical ridge 10 excluding the additional vertical ridge 12 and the arrangement of the small refraction portions 10r or various types of the continuous line L will be described. The vertical ridge 10 shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 7 to 10 has a shape in which the vertical ridge 10 portion sandwiching the small refraction portion 10r extends straight in the axial projection pattern of the tire 1.
On the other hand, the vertical ridge 10 shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 11 has a shape in which the vertical ridge 10 portion sandwiching the small refraction portion 10r on both sides extends in a curved shape in the axial projection pattern of the tire 1.

The continuous line L shown in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 5 to 7 is inclined in one direction with respect to the circumferential line on the surface of the sidewall portion 3 for each unit of the vertical ridge group 10U, and the small refraction portion in the decorative portion 9 is formed. The 10r array has a sawtooth shape. However, FIG.
The continuous line L shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is straight, and the continuous line L shown in FIG. 7 is curved.

The continuous line L shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 has a chevron shape in the radial direction for each unit of the vertical ridge group 10U, and the arrangement of the small refraction portions 10r in the decorative portion 9 exhibits a series of chevron shapes. However, the continuous line L shown in FIG. 8 is straight,
The continuous line L shown in FIG. 9 is curved.

A continuous line L shown in FIG.
For each U unit, the arrangement of the small refraction portions 10r in the decorative portion 9 is located on the circumferential line on the surface of the side wall portion 3, and has a single circular shape.

The vertical ridge group 1 shown in FIG. 2 and FIGS.
Although 0U shows an example having one small refractive portion 10r, each vertical ridge 10 of each unit is allowed to have the same number of small refractive portions 10r at two or more locations. At this time, two or more small refraction portions 10r are adjacent small refraction portions 10r.
It is good to bend in opposite directions between each other. FIG. 11 shows an example of a vertical ridge group 10U having two small refraction portions 10r.

As shown in FIG. 11, the two small refraction portions 10r are located on the same continuous lines L ₁ and L ₂ sequentially from the innermost part in the radial direction to the outer part in the radial direction. Each of the two small refraction portions 10r is refracted in the opposite direction. FIG.
The one continuous line L ₁ , L ₂ is straight as in FIG. 6, but may be the straight or curved chevron shape and the circular shape mentioned above.

The decorative portion 9 as a whole occupies at least one-fourth of the annular region Dp of the side wall portion 3, and preferably exists over the entire periphery of the annular region Dp. For the various types described above, the most suitable type is selected according to the type and structure of the tire.

[0042]

According to the invention described in claims 1 to 16 of the present invention, an aggregate of vertical ridges that are inclined in the radial direction and have a small refraction portion in the middle is formed in the annular region of the sidewall portion. By providing, even if irregularities occur on the sidewall portion of a pneumatic tire having a one-ply radial carcass, not only the irregularities are made inconspicuous, but also the appearance as a true decoration can be emphasized. A possible pneumatic tire can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a pneumatic tire according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a part of the decorative portion of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of a decorative portion shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of another type of the decorative portion shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a part of another decorative portion of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a part of another type of decorative portion of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a part of another type of decorative portion of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a part of a decorative portion of still another type of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a part of still another type of decorative part of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a part of another type of decorative part of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 tire 2 bead portion 3 sidewall portion 4 tread portion 5 bead core 6 radial carcass 6t folded portion 7 belt 9 decoration portion 10 vertical ridge 10r small refraction portion 10U vertical ridge group 11 gap 12 additional vertical ridge E tire equator Surface S Shoulder portion R Radial direction Dp Annular region Co, Ci Concentric circle p Vertical ridge ridgeline δ Vertical ridge interval L Continuous line d Gap length M Gap center point θ Angle between center points M ₁ , M ₂ and tire axis

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A tread portion, a pair of sidewalls and a pair of bead portions connected to both sides thereof, a radial carcass for reinforcing these portions, and at least one of the pair of sidewall portions has a surface. In a pneumatic tire provided with a decorative portion formed by arranging a plurality of vertical ridges in an annular region, the decorative portion has vertical ridges all inclined in the same direction with respect to the tire radial direction, and each vertical ridge has a chevron shape. The decorative portion has a predetermined number of vertical ridges in which the vertical ridges adjacent to each other are arranged at intervals such that their ridge lines are in the range of 0.3 to 5.0 mm. A plurality of vertical ridges, each of which has an equal amount in at least one place in the same direction while extending from a radially inner end to a radially outer end; Small refraction A pneumatic tire the small refractive part, characterized by comprising located in one continuous line in the same units. 2. Each vertical ridge portion sandwiching the small refraction portion is 0 to 0 with respect to the tire radial direction in the tire axial direction projection figure.
The tire according to claim 1, wherein the tire has an inclination angle in a range of 60 °. 3. Each of the longitudinal ridges in the assembly has a radially inner end and a radially outer end of the tire on a concentric circle centered on the axis in the tire axial projection pattern, and has a small refractive portion. 3. The tire according to claim 1, wherein the vertical ridge portions sandwiching are arranged at equal intervals within the same unit and between different units and on the same circumference. 4. The tire according to claim 1, wherein the decorative portion has a plurality of gaps having a length exceeding the vertical ridge arrangement interval between the units of the vertical ridge groups adjacent to each other. . 5. An angle formed between two center points of a gap adjacent to each other and a tire axis in a tire axis direction projection of a center point of a circumferential pitch length at an innermost position in the tire radial direction of the gap. The tire according to claim 4, which is in a range of 3 to 90 °. 6. The tire according to claim 4, wherein the decorative portion has three or more types of gaps having different pitch lengths with respect to the circumferential pitch length of the gap at the radially innermost position in the tire radial direction. 7. The gap is measured in the same direction as the arrangement interval of the vertical ridge group adjacent thereto, and the gap is set to 1.3 to 5 of the arrangement interval.
The tire according to any one of claims 4 to 6, which has a double length. 8. The gap includes one or more additional longitudinal ridges that extend smoothly, and the additional longitudinal ridges are located on one of the concentric circles and near the concentric circles at radially inner ends and outer ends. The tire according to any one of claims 4 to 7, comprising: 9. The tire according to claim 1, wherein each of the vertical ridge portions sandwiching the small refraction portion has a shape that extends straight in a projection pattern in the tire axial direction. 10. Each of the vertical ridge portions sandwiching the small refraction portion,
The tire according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the tire has a shape extending in a curved shape in a tire axial direction projected figure. 11. The continuous line is inclined in one direction with respect to a circumferential line on a sidewall portion surface for each unit of the vertical ridge group,
The tire according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the small refraction partial array in the decorative portion has a saw-tooth shape. 12. The continuous line has a chevron shape in the tire radial direction for each unit of the vertical ridge group, and the small refraction partial arrangement in the decorative portion exhibits a series of chevron shapes.
A tire according to any one of the preceding claims. 13. The continuous line is located on a circumferential line on the surface of the sidewall portion for each unit of the vertical ridge group, and the small refraction partial array in the decorative portion has one circular shape.
10. The tire according to any one of items 10 to 10. 14. Each longitudinal ridge of each unit has the same number of small refraction portions at two or more locations, and each of the small refraction portions is sequentially arranged on the same continuous line from the radially innermost portion to the radially outward portion in the tire. The tire according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the tire is located. 15. The tire according to claim 14, wherein two or more small refraction portions in each longitudinal ridge of each unit are refracted in opposite directions between adjacent small refraction portions. 16. The decorative portion occupies at least a quarter of the annular region of the side wall portion.
5. The tire according to any one of items 5 to 5.