JP2020100371A - tire - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a tire which can obtain a contrast in a pattern region on an outer surface of the tire while suppressing an increase in air resistance in tire traveling and generation of cracks on the tire outer surface.SOLUTION: A tire has a pattern region formed on an outer surface of the tire and having a base part, in which the pattern region has a plurality of projections projecting with a height of more than 0.02 mm and less than 0.1 mm from the base part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a tire.

Conventionally, there has been proposed a technique of forming a pattern region in which a pattern or the like is processed on the outer surface of a tire (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

International Publication No. 2017/086363 Pamphlet Special table 2013/505872 gazette

In such a technique, it may be desired to obtain contrast of light and shade in the pattern area. In addition, it is also desired to suppress an increase in air resistance during running of the tire due to the processed pattern and generation of cracks on the outer surface of the tire.

Therefore, the present invention, while suppressing the increase of air resistance during tire running and the occurrence of cracks on the outer surface of the tire, it is possible to obtain a contrast in the pattern region of the outer surface of the tire, it is an object to provide a tire To do.

The gist of the present invention is as follows.
The tire of the present invention is
Formed on the outer surface of the tire, having a pattern region having a base portion,
The pattern region may have a plurality of ridges protruding from the base portion at a height of more than 0.02 mm and less than 0.1 mm.
According to the tire of the present invention, it is possible to obtain contrast in the pattern area on the outer surface of the tire while suppressing an increase in air resistance during tire running and generation of cracks on the outer surface of the tire.

Here, the "height" of the ridge means the height measured from the base portion in a direction perpendicular to the base portion when the tire is mounted on the applicable rim, filled with the specified internal pressure, and no load is applied. I will say.
“Applicable rim” is an industrial standard that is effective in regions where tires are produced and used. In Japan, JATMA (Japan Auto Tire Association) JATMA YEAR BOOK, and in Europe, ETRTO (The European Tire and Rim Technical Organization). ) STANDARDS MANUAL, TRA in the US (The Tire and Rim Association, Inc.) YEAR BOOK, etc., or described in the future. Design Rim) in the YEAR BOOK of (i.e., the "applicable rim" mentioned above includes not only the current size but also a size that may be included in the industry standard in the future. As an example, the size described as "FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS" in the ETRTO 2013 edition can be mentioned.) However, in the case of a size not listed in the above industrial standard, a rim having a width corresponding to the bead width of the tire is used. Say.
The "specified internal pressure" refers to the air pressure (maximum air pressure) that corresponds to the maximum load capacity of a single wheel in the applicable size and ply rating described in JATMA, etc., and has a size not listed in the above industrial standards. In this case, the “specified internal pressure” means the air pressure (maximum air pressure) corresponding to the maximum load capacity specified for each vehicle in which the tire is mounted. Further, the “maximum load capacity” described later means a load corresponding to the maximum load capacity.

In the tire of the present invention, the pattern area has a unit pattern in which the plurality of ridges are densely arranged,
In the unit pattern, the ratio Ls/S of the sum Ls of the extended lengths of the plurality of ridges included in the unit pattern and the total area S of the unit pattern is 1.5 to 5.5 ( mm/mm ² ) is preferable.
According to this configuration, the contrast can be obtained more effectively.

In the tire of the present invention, in the unit pattern, it is preferable that in the plurality of ridges, a distance between the adjacent ridges gradually decreases in one direction in which the ridge extends.
According to this configuration, the contrast can be obtained more effectively.

In the tire of the present invention, in the unit pattern, it is preferable that the extension length of the ridge is 250 to 350 mm.
With the above range, the contrast can be obtained more effectively.

In the tire of the present invention, it is preferable that the pattern region is formed by repeating a fan-shaped unit pattern in plan view.
With this configuration, it is possible to arrange the unit patterns densely and obtain contrast at many points in the entire pattern area.

In the tire of the present invention, among the pattern regions, a region adjacent to the outside of the pattern region is an end region, and when a region surrounded by the end regions is a central region, at least a part of the end region is formed. It is preferable that the protruding height of the ridge is lower than the protruding height of the ridge in the central region.
With this configuration, it is possible to gradually decrease the contrast from the pattern area to the outside of the pattern area.

In the tire of the present invention, it is preferable that a protruding height of the ridge in at least a part of the end region gradually decreases from the central region side toward the outside of the pattern region.
With this configuration, it is possible to make the contrast disappear from the pattern region to the outside of the pattern region in a gradation manner.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tire capable of obtaining a contrast in a pattern region on the outer surface of the tire while suppressing an increase in air resistance during tire running and generation of cracks on the outer surface of the tire.

It is the figure which looked at the tire concerning one embodiment of the present invention from the side. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a pattern area on the outer surface of the tire according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partial plan view showing four unit patterns in the pattern area of FIG. 2. It is a top view which shows the pattern area|region of the outer surface of the tire concerning other embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The internal structure of the tire is the same as that of the conventional one. Therefore, although detailed description is omitted, as an example, a tire diameter of a carcass crown portion that has a pair of sidewall portions and a tread portion that are continuous with a pair of bead portions and that extends in a toroidal shape on the pair of bead portions. A structure having a reinforcing structure such as a belt on the outer side in the direction can be adopted.

FIG. 1 is a view of a tire 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from a side surface side. As shown in FIG. 1, the tire 1 according to the present embodiment has two mark portions 3 (the tire circumferences on the circumference of the tire 1 in the illustrated example, on the outer surface (sidewall portion 2 in the present embodiment) of the tire. 180° apart in the direction). The mark part 3 includes a pattern region (processed part in which a pattern is processed) 3a (details of the pattern region 3a are not shown in FIG. 1, but are shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3), In the illustrated example, it has a mark 3b made of the characters "ABCDEFGH". In this example, the character is composed of a smooth surface, but it may be composed of irregularities or the like formed by processing such as laser. Further, the mark 3b may be formed of figures, symbols, etc. in addition to characters, and in this case also, the mark 3b may be formed of a smooth surface or a structure having irregularities or the like. The mark portion 3 does not have to have the mark 3b such as a character, and may be composed of only the pattern region 3a so that only the pattern region 3a can function as the mark.
The mark portion 3 includes the tire maximum width position (position where the width in the tire width direction is maximum) when the tire 1 is mounted on the applicable rim, filled with the specified internal pressure, and put in an unloaded state. It is preferable that the sidewall portion 2 is formed over a tire radial direction region of 1/4 or more and 1 or less of the tire radial direction region. The "sidewall portion" here means a tire radial direction region from the tire radial outside end of the bead core to the ground contact end. Further, the "ground contact end" refers to both outer ends in the tire width direction of the ground contact surface that come into contact with the road surface when the tire 1 is mounted on the applicable rim, the specified internal pressure is filled, and the maximum load is applied. ..

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the pattern area 3a on the outer surface of the tire 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the mark 3b made of the characters “ABCDEFGH” is omitted. FIG. 3 is a partial plan view showing four unit patterns 6 (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) in the pattern region 3b of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the present embodiment, the pattern region 3a includes a base portion 4 forming a bottom surface and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the base portion 4 at a height of more than 0.02 mm and less than 0.1 mm. Strips (elongated protrusions extending in the planar direction) 5. In the illustrated example, the ridge 5 has a trapezoidal shape in a sectional view perpendicular to the extending direction of the ridge 5, and in the illustrated example, the width of the top of the ridge 5 is 0.01 to 0. The width of the bottom of the ridge 5 is 0.02 to 0.04 mm, and the difference between the width of the top and the width of the bottom of the ridge 5 is about 0.01 mm. The width of the top and the width of the bottom of the ridge 5 are not limited to the above range.
Further, in the illustrated example, the ridge 5 has a trapezoidal shape in a cross-sectional view, but may have another shape such as a rectangular shape or a triangular shape. The ridge 5 is projected from the base portion 4 at a height of more than 0.02 mm and less than 0.1 mm in any cross-sectional shape. The width of the ridge when the ridge 5 has a rectangular shape is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, 0.015 to 0.035 mm, and the width of the ridge when the ridge 5 has a triangular shape is Although not particularly limited, it can be 0.02 to 0.04 mm, for example.
The ridges 5 as described above can be formed by laser processing, for example.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the pattern region 3a is composed of repeating unit patterns 6 each having a fan shape in plan view. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, one unit pattern 6 projects from the base portion 4 and a height of more than 0.02 mm and less than 0.1 mm from the base portion 4, and has a center of each fan shape in a plan view. A plurality of ridges 5 extending radially from are densely arranged. As shown in FIG. 3, in this example, the central angle of the fan shape in plan view is 90°, and 19 ridges 5 of the same extension length are provided so as to divide it into 20. That is, in this example, each sector is 1/4 of a circle in a plan view. In this example, the extension length of the ridge 5 is the same between the sectors. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in the plurality of ridges 5, the distance between the adjacent ridges 5 is toward one direction of the extending direction of the ridges 5 (in this example, toward the center of the fan shape). ) It is gradually decreasing (continuously decreasing). In the present example, one arc and two radial lines forming the outer peripheral edge of each fan shape in plan view are also the ridges 5.
Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, one side of one unit pattern 6a that is fan-shaped in plan view and one side of the other unit patterns 6b and 6c that are fan-shaped in plan view have the centers of the fan-shaped ones. They are rotated 180° apart from each other and are fitted together. Further, another unit pattern 6d having the same direction as that of one unit pattern 6a is arranged such that its arc is in contact with the arcs of the other unit patterns 6b and 6c. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the set of unit patterns 6a to 6d in the state shown in FIG. 3 is repeated so that the ridge 5 intersecting the center of each fan-shaped arc is inclined by 45° with respect to the tire radial direction. The pattern areas 3a are formed by being arranged. In the illustrated example, the small (dense) space between adjacent ridges 5 extends in a zigzag shape in a direction inclined in the tire radial direction. Specifically, while the dark-appearing portion is located in a straight line, the dark-appearing portion in a substantially triangular shape in a plan view is a unit pattern 6 that is adjacent in the tire radial direction with respect to the straight line. And are formed so as to be alternately opposite.
Hereinafter, the function and effect of the tire 1 of this embodiment will be described.

According to the tire 1 of the present embodiment, the pattern region 3a has the plurality of protrusions 5 protruding from the base portion 4 at a height of more than 0.02 mm. It is possible to obtain contrast (shading) by reflection of. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the distance between the adjacent ridges 5 of the plurality of ridges 5 gradually decreases in one direction of the extending direction of the ridges 5, the distance between the adjacent ridges 5 is small. It is possible to obtain a contrast in which sparseness occurs in the distance, a dense part looks dark, and a sparse part looks bright. In the present embodiment, since the fan-shaped unit patterns 6 are repeatedly arranged in a plan view in the pattern area 3a as described above, the unit patterns 6 are densely arranged and many ( Contrast can be obtained at (regularly located) locations. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the interval between the adjacent ridges 5 is small (dense portion), the ridges 5 extend in the zigzag shape in the direction inclined in the tire radial direction, so that the contrast can be obtained even between the unit patterns 6. ..
Further, since the plurality of ridges 5 project at a height of less than 0.1 mm, the air resistance during running of the tire is increased and cracks on the outer surface of the tire (sidewall portion 2 in the present embodiment) are generated. Occurrence can also be suppressed.
As described above, according to the tire 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain the contrast in the pattern area on the outer surface of the tire while suppressing an increase in air resistance during tire running and the occurrence of cracks on the outer surface of the tire.

In the present invention, the plurality of ridges 5 preferably protrude from the base portion 4 at a height of 0.03 mm or more and less than 0.1 mm. This is because the contrast effect can be further obtained by setting the height of the plurality of ridges 5 to 0.03 mm or more. For the same reason, it is more preferable that the plurality of ridges 5 protrude from the base portion 4 at a height of 0.04 mm or more and less than 0.1 mm, and the plurality of ridges 5 are 0.05 mm from the base portion 4. More preferably, the protrusion is formed at a height of not less than 0.1 mm.
On the other hand, in the present invention, it is preferable that the height of the base portion 4 exceeds 0.02 mm and 0.08 mm or less. By setting the height of the plurality of ridges 5 to be 0.08 mm or less, it is possible to further suppress the increase of air resistance during tire running and the generation of cracks on the outer surface of the tire. For the same reason, it is more preferable that the plurality of ridges 5 protrude from the base portion 4 at a height of more than 0.02 mm and 0.07 mm or less, and the plurality of ridges 5 are 0.02 mm from the base portion 4. More preferably, the protrusion is formed at a height of more than 0.06 mm.
In addition, it is preferable that the height and the width are constant between the plurality of ridges 5. This is because the above-mentioned contrast can be made conspicuous by eliminating the contrast that can occur due to the difference in height and width.

In the above example, the central angle of the fan-shaped unit pattern 6 is 90° in plan view, but the central angle is not particularly limited to this. However, from the viewpoint of arranging the unit patterns 6 in the pattern region 3a in a substantially regular manner, it is preferable that the central angle of the fan-shaped unit patterns 6 in plan view be 80° to 100°, as in the above example. Most preferably, it is 90°.
In the above example, the central angle of the fan-shaped unit pattern 6 is 90° in plan view, and 19 ridges 5 are arranged excluding the outer peripheral edge of the fan, but the number of ridges 5 is not particularly limited. Instead, it can be 10 to 25, for example. The number of ridges 5 can be appropriately increased or decreased according to the size of the central angle.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a pattern region on the outer surface of a tire according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, among the pattern regions 3a, regions adjacent to the outside of the pattern region 3a are referred to as end regions 7 (7a to 7d), and a region surrounded by the end regions 7 is referred to as a central region 8. At this time, in this example, as shown in FIG. 4, the protruding height of at least a part of the ridges 5 in the end region 7 is lower than the protruding height of the ridges in the central region 8. In the illustrated example, in the end regions 7, outside the pattern region 3a, in the end regions 7a and 7b that are adjacent to the inner side and the outer side in the tire radial direction, the protrusion height of the protrusion 5 is equal to that of the protrusion of the central region 8. It is lower than the projecting height, and the projecting height of the ridge 5 in the end regions 7a and 7b gradually decreases (continuously decreases) from the central region 8 side toward the outside of the pattern region.

According to the tire 1 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, since the protruding height of at least a part of the ridges 5 in the end region 7 is lower than the protruding height of the ridges in the central region 8, the pattern region The contrast gradually disappears from 3a to the outside of the pattern area 3a. In particular, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the projecting height of at least a part of the ridges 5 of the end region 7 gradually decreases from the central region 8 side toward the outside of the pattern region. The contrast disappears in a gradation pattern to the outside of 3a.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, in the end regions 7, outside the pattern region 3a, in the end regions 7a and 7b that are adjacent to the inner side and the outer side in the tire radial direction, the protruding height of the ridge 5 is Although it is lower than the protruding height of the ridge, the protruding height of the ridge 5 is made lower than the protruding height of the ridge of the central area 8 in only one of the end regions 7a and 7b (for example, , Gradually decreasing from the central region 8 side toward the outside of the pattern region). At this time, of the end regions 7, outside the pattern region 3a, for the end regions 7c and/or 7d adjacent on both sides in the tire circumferential direction, the protrusion height of the protrusion 5 is set to the protrusion height of the center region 8. The height may be lower or higher than the protruding height, or may be the same as the protruding height of the ridge in the central region 8.
Further, in only at least one of the end regions 7c and 7d, the protruding height of the ridge 5 is set to be lower than the protruding height of the ridge in the central region 8 (for example, from the central region 8 side to the outside of the pattern region). Can be gradually reduced). At this time, in the end regions 7a and/or 7b, the protruding height of the ridges 5 can be lower or higher than the protruding height of the ridges in the central region 8, or can be higher than that of the central region 8. The height may be the same as the protruding height of the ridge.
In addition, in the central region 8, it is preferable that the heights and the widths of the plurality of ridges 5 are constant. This is because the above-mentioned contrast can be made conspicuous by eliminating the contrast that can occur due to the difference in height and width. Further, in the end region 7, it is preferable that the widths of the plurality of ridges 5 are constant. This is because the above-mentioned contrast can be made conspicuous by eliminating the contrast that can occur due to the different widths.
The width in the tire radial direction of the end regions 7a and/or 7b that lowers the protruding height of the ridges 5 as described above is not particularly limited, but while maintaining the area of the central region 8, it is possible to reduce the above-mentioned contrast loss. From the viewpoint of obtaining visual sense as well, the width is preferably 3 to 20% of the width of the pattern region 3a in the tire radial direction. Similarly, the width in the tire circumferential direction of the end regions 7c and/or 7d is preferably 3 to 20% of the width in the tire circumferential direction of the entire pattern region 3a.

In the present invention, the pattern area has a unit pattern in which a plurality of convex stripes are densely arranged, and the unit pattern includes a sum Ls of extension lengths of a plurality of convex stripes included in the unit pattern and the entire unit pattern. The ratio Ls/S to the area S is preferably 1.5 to 5.5 (mm/mm ² ). By setting the ratio Ls/S to 1.5 (mm/mm ² ) or more, it is possible to effectively form a dense portion in the unit pattern, while the ratio Ls/S is 5.5 (mm/mm 2 ). ² ) By setting the following, it is possible to prevent the area of dense portions in the entire unit pattern from becoming too large. Thereby, the contrast can be obtained more effectively.
For the same reason, the ratio Ls/S is more preferably 2.5 to 4.5 (mm/mm ² ).
Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the number of ridges with respect to the total area S of the unit pattern is 3 to 21 (lines/mm ² ). By setting the number to be 3 (lines/mm ² ) or more, it is possible to effectively form a dense portion in the unit pattern, while, by setting it to be 21 (lines/mm ² ) or less, the dense portion in the entire unit pattern can be formed. The area of the place can be prevented from becoming too large. Thereby, the contrast can be obtained more effectively.
For the same reason, it is more preferable that the number of ridges with respect to the entire area S of the unit pattern is 9 to 15 (lines/mm ² ).

In the present invention, in the unit pattern, it is preferable that, in the plurality of ridges, the distance between the adjacent ridges gradually decreases toward one direction in which the ridges extend. This is because sparseness and denseness are formed in the distance between the adjacent ridges, so that it is possible to obtain a gradation effect in which dense areas are dark and sparse areas are bright. Thereby, the contrast can be obtained more effectively.

In the present invention, the extension length of the ridge in the unit pattern is preferably 250 to 350 mm. By setting the extension length L of the ridge to 250 mm or more, it is possible to effectively form a dense portion, and by setting it to 350 mm or less, the area of the dense portion is prevented from becoming too large. can do. Thereby, the contrast can be obtained more effectively.
For the same reason, it is more preferable that the extension length of the ridge is 275 to 325 mm.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the pattern region is composed of repeating unit patterns that are fan-shaped in plan view. This is because the unit patterns can be arranged densely and contrast can be obtained in many places in the entire pattern region.
In particular, as in the above embodiment, by forming a plurality of convex stripes 5 radially extending from the center of the fan shape in the fan-shaped unit pattern 6 in a plan view, it is more effective to form a sparse and dense pattern in order to obtain a contrast effect. preferable.

In the present invention, when the area adjacent to the outside of the pattern area in the pattern area is defined as the end area and the area surrounded by the end area is defined as the central area, the protrusion height of at least a part of the ridges of the end area is defined. Is preferably lower than the protruding height of the ridge in the central region. This is because the contrast can be gradually lost from the pattern area to the outside of the pattern area.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the protrusion height of at least a part of the ridges in the end region gradually decreases from the central region side toward the outside of the pattern region. This is because it is possible to make the contrast disappear like a gradation from the pattern area to the outside of the pattern area.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the mark portions 3 are formed on the outer surface of the tire 1 at two locations on the circumference, which are 180° apart from each other in the tire circumferential direction. It may be formed at one or more locations on the outer circumference. In the above embodiment, the displayed mark (character) 3b is the same in both places, but it can be different. Especially when a plurality of types of mark (character etc.) 3b are provided, the mark part It is preferable to provide 3 in two or more places. On the other hand, when one mark (character etc.) 3b is provided, the mark part 3 can be provided at two or more places or at one place. When the mark portion 3 is composed of only the pattern region 3a without providing the mark (characters or the like) 3b, the pattern region 3a may be provided over the entire circumference of the outer surface of the tire 1.

Furthermore, although the unit pattern 6 is fan-shaped in a plan view in the above-described embodiment, it may have various shapes such as a triangle, a rectangle, a circle, and an ellipse in a plan view. In any shape, by arranging the ridges 5 radially, for example, sparseness and denseness can be formed and contrast can be obtained.

1: tire 2: sidewall part 3: mark part, 3a: pattern region, 3b: mark 4: base part 5: ridges 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d: unit patterns 7, 7a, 7b, 7c , 7d: edge area 8: central area

Claims (7)

Formed on the outer surface of the tire, having a pattern region having a base portion,
The tire, wherein the pattern region has a plurality of ridges protruding from the base portion at a height of more than 0.02 mm and less than 0.1 mm. The pattern region has a unit pattern in which the plurality of ridges are densely arranged,
In the unit pattern, the ratio Ls/S of the sum Ls of the extended lengths of the plurality of protrusions included in the unit pattern and the total area S of the unit pattern is 1.5 to 5.5 ( mm/mm< ² >), The tire according to claim 1. The tire according to claim 2, wherein, in the unit pattern, the distance between the adjacent ridges of the plurality of ridges gradually decreases toward one direction in which the ridges extend. The tire according to claim 2 or 3, wherein an extension length of the ridge in the unit pattern is 250 to 350 mm. The tire according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pattern region is formed by repeating a fan-shaped unit pattern in plan view. Of the pattern area, an area adjacent to the outside of the pattern area is an end area, and an area surrounded by the end areas is a central area,
The tire according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a protruding height of the ridge in at least a part of the end region is lower than a protruding height of the ridge in the central region. The tire according to claim 6, wherein a protruding height of the ridge in at least a part of the end region gradually decreases from the central region side toward the outside of the pattern region.

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