JPH11151908A - Pneumatic tire - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To discriminate a pneumatic tire by color and to allow a user to freely select the color by providing the tread part with a groove capable of fitting a color member in color different from the color of the tire body. SOLUTION: A tread part 2 is provided with a groove 7 capable of fitting a kind of color member selected out of a plurality of color members 6 different from the color of the tire body or in general different from black. These color member 6 and the groove 7 are extended along a part or entire length of the circumferential direction of the tire, and further preferably the color member 6 is constituted in an endless ring shape. Thus, even if many kinds of color members 6 are to be prepared, the tire body can be commonly produced, so that the tires can be discriminated by many kinds of colors without causing a significant cost increase. Further, a user can freely select the color for improving the fashionableness.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire capable of discriminating the appearance by color, and more particularly, to a pneumatic tire which allows a user to arbitrarily select a color as a private brand. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a pneumatic tire is identified by a side brand or a pattern imprinted on a side surface of the tire, but is inconspicuous because it is black like the tire body. Therefore, it has been proposed to facilitate identification by putting a white ribbon or white letter on the tire side.

[0003] However, since the manufacture of tires by tire manufacturers is based on a single-product high-volume production system, the production of various types of tires of various colors in small quantities increases the cost significantly. In addition, the type of tires is inevitably limited, so that there is a problem that the user cannot freely select colors and the fashionability has to be reduced.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic tire which enables discrimination by various kinds of colors without significantly increasing the cost, and which allows a user to arbitrarily select colors. Is to provide.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a pneumatic tire according to the present invention is mounted on a tread by selecting at least one of a plurality of color members having a color different from that of the tire body. It is characterized in that a possible depression is provided. As described above, the depression is provided in the tread portion, and at least one of a plurality of types of color members having a color different from that of the tire main body is selected and attached to the depression. Discrimination by various colors can be performed without increasing the cost, and the user can arbitrarily select a color. In the present invention, the collar member may be a molded article formed in advance, or may be an uncured elastomer. Preferably, the depression is provided in a groove of the tread portion.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 and 2 illustrate a pneumatic tire according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a pair of left and right bead portions, 2 denotes a tread portion, and 3 denotes a sidewall portion connecting the left and right bead portions 1 and 1 and the tread portion 2 respectively. A carcass layer 4 is mounted between the pair of left and right bead portions 1 and 1 via a sidewall portion 3 and a tread portion 2, and both end portions of the carcass layer 4 in the tire width direction around the bead core 5. It is wound up from the inside of the tire to the outside.
On the outer peripheral side of the carcass layer 4 in the tread portion 2, two belt layers 8 made of a plurality of steel cords are provided. These belt layers 8 are arranged such that the reinforcing cords are inclined with respect to the tire circumferential direction, and the reinforcing cords intersect each other between the layers. The tread portion 2 is provided with a plurality of main grooves 9 extending in the tire circumferential direction.

The tread portion 2 is provided with a recess 7 in which at least one type can be selected from a plurality of types of color members 6 having a color different from that of the tire body (generally a color other than black). These collar members 6 and depressions 7
The collar member 6 extends over a part or the entire length in the tire circumferential direction, and more preferably, the collar member 6 is formed in an endless ring shape.

[0008] The position where the recess 7 is provided is not particularly limited as long as it is a tread region that contacts the ground when a normal load is applied. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to provide a recess 7 at the groove bottom of a main groove 9 extending in the tire circumferential direction in the tread portion 2. When the depression 7 is provided at the groove bottom as described above, since the collar member 6 does not directly contact the road surface, it is possible to prevent the collar member 6 from being stained or damaged. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to provide a depression 7 on the surface of the tread portion 2. In addition, the said normal load is J
The load is 80% of the maximum load capacity specified in ATMA (1997 version).

As shown in FIG. 3, it is desirable that the rubber thickness T at the portion where the bottom 7a of the recess 7 and the reinforcing material such as a belt cord are closest is 1 mm or more, more preferably 1.5 mm or more. If the rubber thickness T is less than 1 mm, the tire performance may be degraded by providing the depression 7. Further, the radius R is 0.25 at the bottom 7a of the depression 7.
It is preferable to perform chamfering of not less than mm. By performing such chamfering, generation of cracks at the bottom 7a of the depression 7 can be prevented.

The cross-sectional shape of the recess 7 is not particularly limited, and may be various shapes such as a wedge type and a key type as shown in FIGS. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4F, the recess 7 is configured such that the opening is smaller than the bottom, and at least a part of the recess 7 has an overhang shape, so that the collar member 6 is effectively detached. Can be prevented.

As described above, the depression 7 is provided in the tread portion 2, and at least one of a plurality of types of color members 6 having a color different from that of the tire body is selected and attached to the depression 7. Even if many types of color members 6 are prepared, the tire main body can be manufactured in common, so that identification with various types of colors can be realized without a significant increase in cost. Further, in the present invention, the user can arbitrarily select a color, and the fashionability is excellent.

Further, according to the present invention, since the collar member 6 is formed in a step different from that of the tire main body, it can be made of a material different from that of the tire main body according to the required characteristics. Therefore, by appropriately selecting the material of the color member 6, it is possible to improve the cut resistance, the ozone resistance, the contamination resistance to the tire body, and the sound vibration characteristics of the color member 6.

As means for attaching the color member 6 to the recess 7, a plurality of types of color members 6 having different colors are formed in advance, and at least one of the plurality of types of color members 6 formed of these molded products is used. It is possible to select and fit into the recess 7. In this case, the collar member 6 can be formed into an endless ring shape, a band shape, a short piece shape, or the like according to the shape of the recess 7.

When the collar member 6 has an endless ring shape,
The collar member 6 is fitted into the recess 7 extending in the tire circumferential direction. In this case, the collar member 6 can be firmly held by the inflation force when an internal pressure is applied to the tire. When the collar member 6 is formed in a belt shape, the collar member 6 is annularly fitted into the recess 7 extending in the tire circumferential direction. Further, when the collar member 6 is a short piece spot fitting, the short piece color member 6 is fitted into the depressions 7 scattered in the tread portion 2. In any case, an adhesive can be interposed between the collar member 6 and the depression 7 as necessary.

The above-mentioned color member 6 can be easily formed by an injection extruder or the like using a composition obtained by mixing a pigment with rubber, plastic, thermoplastic rubber or the like. Specific examples include the following molding materials. Molding material 1: Ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM) Contains an elastomer composed of ethylene-propylene and its derivatives. More specifically, an elastomer (EPR) composed of ethylene-propylene and its derivatives
And further includes an elastomer obtained by copolymerizing a diene (EPDM) as the third component.

[0016]

[0017]

Molding material 2: butyl rubber (IIR) Contains an elastomer composed of butyl rubber. More specifically, rubbers containing isobutylene as a main component and copolymerized with isoprene or a styrene derivative are included. Further, they include halogenated butyl rubbers obtained by halogenating them.

[0019]

[0020]

[0021]

Molding material 3: Chloroprene rubber (CR) Contains an elastomer composed of chloroprene rubber (CR). More specifically, it contains an elastomer containing chloroprene as a main component.

[0023]

Molding material 4: Urethane rubber Contains an elastomer composed of urethane rubber. More specifically, it is constituted by a reaction between an isocyanate compound and an active hydrogen compound such as an alcohol or an amine (Rubber Industry Handbook, 4th edition, edited by The Japan Rubber Association, published in 1994,
339-34).

[0025]

Molding material 5: silicone rubber

Molding material 6: thermoplastic rubber Contains a thermoplastic resin exhibiting rubber elasticity composed of a hard phase and a soft phase. In addition, it includes those in which the rubber is vulcanized and dispersed when the rubber is dispersed in the thermoplastic resin. As specific examples (hard phase / soft phase), olefin-based (PE or PP / E)
DPM, EPR, butyl derivative, etc.), vinyl chloride (crystalline PVC / amorphous PVC), urethane (urethane / polyester, polyether), ester (polyester / polyether or polyester), amide (polyamide / polyether) Or polyester, butyl derivative, EPR), fluorine (fluorine resin / fluorine),
Styrene (styrene / BR, IR or hydrogenated B
R, IR) and the like.

[0028]

In Formulation Example 9, the mixture is melt-mixed with a Brabender mixer at 180 to 190 ° C. at a rotation speed of 100 rpm, and a vulcanizing agent and a vulcanization accelerator are added. Molding material 7: epoxy resin A resin composed of a flexible material containing an epoxy group at the terminal and an active hydrogen compound is included. In addition, the curing agent contains a flexible resin. Specific examples include a flexible epoxy resin having an ester skeleton modified with a dibasic acid or the like, an elastic epoxy resin having a main chain modified with urethane, and a flexible curing agent having a polyether terminated with an amine. Can be

[0030]

Molding material 8: Fluorine rubber It is composed of an elastomer containing fluorine. More specifically, vinylidene fluoride is a main component and is copolymerized with another fluorine monomer.

[0032]

Molding material 9: Short fiber reinforcing material Short fibers are further blended with the above materials to reinforce.

Formulation Example 12: EPDM / LDPE in which nylon fibers are dispersed so that the fiber content becomes 43% by weight.
20 parts by weight (manufactured by Ube Industries: SHP) dispersed in the master of Formulation Example 1.

On the other hand, as another means for attaching the collar member 6 to the recess 7, a plurality of types of uncured elastomers having different colors are prepared, and at least one of these uncured elastomers is selected. It is possible to mold the collar member 6 by injecting it into the depression 7 and curing the elastomer. The depression 7 is shown in FIG.
In the case of having an overhang shape as shown in (f), since the cured collar member 6 is hard to separate from the depression 7, the elastomer does not require strong adhesiveness to rubber. When the depression 7 does not have an overhang shape as shown in FIGS. 4 (g) to 4 (j), there is a possibility that the cured collar member 6 may be detached from the depression 7, so that the elastomer is strong against rubber. Adhesiveness is required.
In any case, an adhesive can be interposed between the collar member 6 and the depression 7 as necessary.

It is preferable to use a room temperature natural curable elastomer as a material to be injected into the recess 7. Specific examples include the following injection materials. Injectable material 1: Silicone resin A polymer having an alkoxyloxane structure. One-part silicone is cured by elimination and condensation of alkoxy, oxime, acetic acid, alcohol and the like. The reaction of the two-part silicone is the same as the one-part condensation,
And an addition type by the reaction of a vinyl group.

Formulation Example 13: To 100 parts by weight of an alkoxysiloxane polymer (KE103, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), 5 parts by weight of a catalyst is added, and coloring is further performed with 0.5 parts by weight of a pigment. The resin is poured and left overnight for a cured product. Injection material 2: Modified silicone resin A polymer having a structure in which alkoxysilyl groups are attached to both ends of polypropylene glycol. Polypropylene glycol is treated with alkali to increase the molecular weight.
The chain is extended with dichloromethane to polymerize. Curing is due to condensation of the terminal alkoxysilyl group by dealcoholization by moisture. There is a one-pack type and a two-pack type, but this is the difference in how to put the catalyst.

Formulation Example 14: Polypropylene glycol having a molecular weight of 2,000 was treated with Na to form an alkoxide, 1 part by weight of dichloromethane was added to extend the chain, and a vinyl group was added to the end by reacting with aryl chloride, and diethoxymethylsilyl A hydride is reacted to introduce an alkoxysilyl group at the terminal. 0.5 parts by weight of the pigment is added to this. The resin is poured and left overnight for a cured product. Injection material 3: urethane resin An isocyanate compound is reacted with the end of polypropylene glycol. In order to cure efficiently, a polyol having three or more functional groups is used in combination, and the molecular weight is increased with a diol to enhance the physical properties. It consists of two components, a main agent (polyol) and a curing agent (isocyanate), and promotes curing by using a catalyst such as dibutyltin dilaurate.

Formulation Example 15: 80 parts by weight of polypropylene glycol having a molecular weight of 2,000, 10 parts by weight of ethylene glycol, 10 parts by weight of trimethylolpropane, 0.01 part by weight of dibutyltin dilaurate and 0.5 part by weight of a pigment. To this, 2,4-toluene diisocyanate 10
Mix parts by weight. The resin is poured and left overnight for a cured product. Injection material 4: Epoxy resin What is known as a flexible epoxy resin uses a curing agent having an amino group at the terminal of polypropylene glycol. Alternatively, a flexible epoxy resin based on a dibasic acid and an amine-based curing agent are used. Further, it can also be obtained by curing an elastic epoxy resin that introduces an epoxy group to the terminal of polypropylene glycol via an isocyanate bond with an amine-based curing agent.

Formulation Example 16: 2,4-Toluene diisocyanate (2.05 mol) and dibutyltin dilaurate (0.001 mM) are reacted at 80 ° C. with polypropylene glycol (1 mol) having a molecular weight of 1,000 to add an isocyanate group to the terminal. Glycidol (2.10
mol) to give epoxy groups at both ends. 1,3-bisaminomethylcyclohexane and
Dimethylpropylamine is blended and mixed as a catalyst. The resin is poured and left overnight for a cured product.

The injection material can be properly used depending on the required characteristics. For example, in terms of color, silicone has to be blended with fillers such as silica and calcium carbonate to improve the physical properties, so it is difficult to produce colors.However, urethane or epoxy has good physical properties even with a resin alone, so it produces colors. There is a feature that it is easy. In terms of curability, urethane is most preferable, and epoxy and silicone have poor curability. From the viewpoint of workability, urethane and silicone are preferable, and epoxy has poor workability. From the viewpoint of physical properties, silicone having excellent weather resistance is most preferable, and modified silicone, epoxy, and urethane are in this order. Epoxy is most preferable from the viewpoint of adhesiveness to rubber, and urethane, modified silicone, and silicone are in this order.

[0042]

EXAMPLE The tire size was 185 / 65R14, and a recess for attaching a color member was provided in the tread portion as shown in FIG. 1, and a color member having a color different from the black tire body was attached to this recess. The tire of the present invention was manufactured. On the other hand, a color member colored in an arbitrary color was formed from the materials of the above-described formulation examples 1 to 12, and fitted into the depressions of the tire of the present invention. Further, uncured elastomers of Formulation Examples 13 to 16, which were colored in any colors, were respectively injected into the depressions of the tire of the present invention, and these elastomers were cured to form a color member.

In each case, the tire of the present invention could be given an arbitrary color, and the collar member could be firmly attached to the depression.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, at least one type of color member having a color different from that of the tire body can be selected and attached to the tread portion. In addition, since the tire body is common, it is possible to identify various colors without significantly increasing the cost, and the user can arbitrarily select a color as a private brand.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a pneumatic tire according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a pneumatic tire according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a recess to which a collar member according to the present invention can be attached.

FIGS. 4A to 4J are partially enlarged cross-sectional views showing a modified example of a recess to which a collar member according to the present invention can be attached.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bead part 2 Tread part 3 Side wall part 4 Carcass layer 5 Bead core 6 Color member 7 Depression 8 Belt layer 9 Main groove

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A pneumatic tire in which a tread portion is provided with a recess in which at least one type can be selected from a plurality of types of color members having a color different from that of the tire body and can be attached. 2. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the collar member is a preformed product. 3. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the collar member is an uncured elastomer. 4. The pneumatic tire according to claim 1, wherein the depression is arranged in a groove of the tread portion.