The present disclosure relates to a tire at which minute projections are formed at the outer surface thereof.
Conventionally, pattern ons having contrast are formed by forming minute projections at the side portions of a tire. For example, International Application Publication No. 2012/131089 discloses a technique that provides large contrast at the side portions of a tire by plural projections that are formed over an entire pattern region.
A decorative portion at the side portion of a tire has one region where projections are formed. By controlling the reflection of light by the projections, the brightness of this one region is low as compared with the brightness of other regions where light is reflected as is. However, the range of expression of the decorative portion where the projections are formed at a tire is limited by merely lowering the brightness of the one region, at which the projections are formed, to a similar brightness overall.
An object of the present disclosure is the broadening of the range of expression of a decorative portion having regions where projections are formed at a tire.
A tire relating to the present disclosure has: a decorative portion that is formed at a tire outer surface and has a base surface; and a plurality of first pattern regions at which a plurality of projections, which project out from the base surface of the decorative portion at a projecting height of from 0.1 [mm] to 1.0 [mm], are formed at intervals of from 0.1 [min] to 1.0 [mm], wherein intervals between the projections differ from one another in the plural first pattern regions.
In accordance with the present disclosure, the range of expression of a decorative portion having regions where projections are formed at a tire can be broadened.
An example of a tire 10 relating to a first embodiment in the present invention is described in accordance with
As shown in
Moreover, a first low brightness region 21, second low brightness regions 22, and a third low brightness region 23, whose brightness is low as compared with the another region 18 and that appear black, are formed at the decorative portion 14 as examples of plural first pattern regions. Thereamong, the brightness of the third low brightness region 23 is the lowest, and the brightness of the second low brightness regions 22 is the highest. The brightness of the first low brightness region 21 is lower than the brightness of the second low brightness regions 22 and higher than the brightness of the third low brightness region 23. Further, medium brightness regions 16 are formed at the decorative portion 14 as an example of second pattern regions. The brightness of the medium brightness regions 16 is low as compared with the brightness of the another region 18, and is high as compared with the brightness of the second low brightness regions 22. Due thereto, the medium brightness region 16 appears gray.
Further, the first low brightness region 21 that is formed at the decorative portion 14 extends in the tire circumferential direction, and the second low brightness regions 22 are disposed adjacent to the tire circumferential direction both end sides of the first low brightness region 21, respectively. Moreover, the medium brightness regions 16 are disposed adjacent to the tire circumferential direction both end sides of the second low brightness regions 22, respectively. The third low brightness region 23 is disposed within the range of the first low brightness region 21. In other words, the third low brightness region 23 is adjacent to the first low brightness region 21 and is surrounded by the first low brightness region 21.
Note that the first low brightness region 21, the second low brightness regions 22, the third low brightness region 23 and the medium brightness regions 16 are formed by providing indentations and projections at portions, which correspond to the first low brightness region 21, the second low brightness regions 22, the third low brightness region 23 and the medium brightness regions 16, of a mold (die) for molding the tire 10. Further, the first low brightness region 21, the second low brightness regions 22, the third low brightness region 23 and the medium brightness regions 16 being disposed further toward the tire radial direction outer side than the tire maximum width portion (the portion where the rectilinear distance between the tire side portions is the maximum), is preferable from the standpoint of visibility in the state in which the tire 10 is mounted to a vehicle.
First asterisk projections 34 and second asterisk projections 36, which are examples of projections, are formed so as to be similar to one another at the medium brightness region 16 shown in
As described above, the shapes of the first asterisk projections 34 and the second asterisk projections 36 are similar at the respective regions. Accordingly, the shapes of the first asterisk projections 34 and the second asterisk projections 36 will be described by using the first low brightness region 21 as an example.
(First Low Brightness Region 21)
As shown in
[First Asterisk Projection 34]
As shown in
The first extending portion 35A-1 and the first extending portion 35A-2 extend out from the center O1 in directions opposite one another, a shape that is continuous in a rectilinear form is structured by the first extending portion 35A-1 and the first extending portion 35A-2. The first extending portion 35A-1 extends from the center O1 toward the tire radial direction outer side, and the first extending portion 35A-2 extends from the center O1 toward the tire radial direction inner side. Further, the first extending portion 35A-1 and the first extending portion 35A-2 are made to be similar lengths. Hereinafter, the first extending portion 35A-1 and the first extending portion 35A-2 collectively are called the “first extending portions 35A”.
The second extending portion 35B-1 and the second extending portion 35B-2 extend out from the center O1 in directions opposite one another, and a. shape that is continuous in a. rectilinear form is structured by the second extending portion 35B-1 and the second extending portion 35B-2. The second extending portion 35R-1 and the second extending portion 35B-2 are inclined with respect to the tire circumferential direction such that the end portions at a tire circumferential direction one side (the left side in the drawing) are positioned at the tire radial direction outer side with respect to the end portions at the another side (the right side in the drawing).
The second extending portion 35B-1 extends out from the center O1 toward the tire circumferential direction one side, and the second extending portion 35B-2 extends out from the center O1 toward the tire circumferential direction another side. Further, the second extending portion 35B-1 is made to be long as compared with the second extending portion 35B-2. Moreover, the distal end side portion of the second extending portion 353-2 is curved toward the tire radial direction inner side. Hereinafter, the second extending portion 35B-1 and the second extending portion 35B-2 collectively are called the “second extending portions 35B”.
The third extending portion 35C-1 and the third extending portion 35C-2 extend out from the center O1 in directions opposite one another, and a shape that is continuous in a rectilinear form is structured by the third extending portion 35C-1 and the third extending portion 35C-2. The third extending portion 35C-1 and the third extending portion 35C-2 are inclined with respect to the tire circumferential direction such that the end portions at the tire circumferential direction one side (the left side in the drawing) are positioned at the tire radial direction inner side with respect to the end portions at the another side (the right side in the drawing).
The third extending portion 35C-1 extends out from the center O1 toward the tire circumferential direction another side, and the third extending portion 35C-2 extends out from the center O1 toward the tire circumferential direction one side. Further, the third extending portion 35C-1 is made to be short as compared with the third extending portion 35C-2. Hereinafter, the third extending portion 35C-1 and the third extending portion 35C-2 collectively are called the “third extending portions 35C”.
The six extending portions 34E form angles of 60° respectively with the extending portions 34E adjacent thereto. In other words, the first asterisk projection 34 is a shape in which the six extending portions 34E extend out in a radial form from the center O1.
As shown in
Note that the dimensions, such as the height of the projections and the interval (pitch) between the projections that is described later and the like, in the present embodiment are measured by using, as an example, the One-Shot 3D Measuring Macroscope VR-3000 series by Keyence Corporation.
[Second Asterisk Projections 36]
As shown in
At the second asterisk projection 36, the portions that correspond to the first extending portions 35A-1, 35A-2, the second extending portions 359-1, 359-2, the third extending portions 35C-1, 35C-2 and the center O1 of the first asterisk projection 34 are called first extending portions 37A-1, 37A-2, second extending portions 37B-1, 37B-2, third extending portions 37C-1, 37C-2 and center O2. Hereinafter, these six extending portions are collectively called “extending portions 36E”.
Further, at the second asterisk projection 36, the portion that corresponds to the peak surface 34C of the first asterisk projection 34 is called a peak surface 36C. Moreover, at the second asterisk projection 36, the portions that correspond to the side surfaces 34D of the first asterisk projection 34 are called side surfaces 36D (see
[Other Points]
As shown in
As shown in
Moreover, the distal ends of the third extending portions 35C-1 of the first asterisk projections 34, and the distal ends of the second extending portions 37B-1 of the second asterisk projections 36 that are disposed at the tire radial direction outer sides of the first asterisk projections 34, are connected to one another, Connecting portions 34A are thereby formed. Moreover, the distal ends of the second extending portions 35B-1 of the first asterisk projections 34, and the distal ends of the third extending portions 37C-1 of the second asterisk projections 36 that are disposed at the tire circumferential direction one sides of the first asterisk projections 34, are connected to one another. Connecting portions 34B are thereby formed.
In this structure, the first asterisk projections 34 and the second asterisk projections 36 are connected to one another in the form of steps via the connecting portions 34A, 34B, from the tire radial direction inner side toward the outer side.
Further, at the first asterisk projections 34 and the second asterisk projections 36 that are adjacent to one another in the tire radial direction and the tire circumferential direction, the interval between the center O1 and the center O2 (hereinafter the “interval P”) is a value that is determined in advance and that is from 0.1 [mM] to 1.0 [mm]. If the interval P is less than 0.1 [mm], molding of the projections is difficult. Moreover, if the interval P is larger than 1.0 [mm], there is the concern that the brightness cannot be lowered to the extent of being seen as black by damping the incident light. Note that the interval P at the second low brightness regions 22 may be set to he greater than 0.5 [mm], within the aforementioned range. This is because the range of expression of the decorative portion 14 can be further broadened.
Here, at the first low brightness region 21 and the second low brightness regions 22, which appear black and are described in the present embodiment, the value of brightness L* measured by using the Handy Spectrophotometer (NF333) of Nippon Denshoku Industries Co., Ltd. is in the region of less than 10, as an example. The range of the brightness L* is 0 to 100, and, the closer to 0, the more black the appearance, and, the closer to 100, the more white the appearance. Further, at the medium brightness regions 16 that appear gray, the value of the brightness L* is in the region of from 10 to 20, as an example. Namely, the medium brightness regions 16 that appear gray are regions whose brightness is a relatively medium level at the outer surface of the tire 10. At the another region 18 that is other than the decorative portions 14 at the tire side portion 12, the value of the brightness L* is greater than 20, as an example.
(Third Low Brightness Region 23)
The third low brightness region 23 that is shown in
(Medium Brightness Regions 16)
In
(Operation, Effects)
Operation/effects of the tire relating to the present embodiment are described next.
At the decorative portion 14 of the tire side portion 12, the light that is incident on the first asterisk projections 34 and the second asterisk projections 36 that are formed at the first low brightness region 21, the second low brightness regions 22 and the third low brightness region 23 hits the side surfaces 34D, 36D that are shown in
Further, at the medium brightness regions 16 of the decorative portion 14 of the tire side portion 12, the light that is incident on the first asterisk projections 34 and the second asterisk projections 36 that are formed at the medium brightness regions 16 also similarly is damped while reflecting thereof is repeated between the side surfaces 34D, 36D that face one another, and is reflected to the outer side.
Moreover, at the another region 18 where the projections are not formed of the tire side portion 12, the light that is incident on the another region 18 is reflected to the outer side by the outer surface that structures the another region 18.
Here, the interval P between the first asterisk projections 34 and the second asterisk projections 36 that are formed at the first low brightness region 21 and the second low brightness regions 22, and the interval P between the rib-shaped projections 52 that are formed at the third low brightness region 23, are respectively values that are determined in advance and that are from 0.1 [mm] to 1.0 [mm]. In these low brightness regions, the brightness is low as compared with at the another region 18 where projections are not formed. Further, at the respective low brightness regions, because the intervals between the projections differ from one another, the brightnesses are gradually varied, and gradation can be expressed. At at least one of the low brightness regions, due to the interval P between adjacent projections being made to be greater than 0.5 [mm], the brightness can be made to be bright as compared with at regions where the interval between adjacent projections is less than or equal to 0.5 [mm]. In this way, the range of expression of the decorative portion 14 that has regions where projections are formed at the tire 10 can be broadened.
Further, the interval P between the first asterisk projection 34 and the second asterisk projection 36 that are formed at the medium brightness regions 16 is a value that is set in advance and that is greater than 1.0 [mm]. Namely, the density of the projections that are formed at the medium brightness regions 16 is low as compared with the densities of the projections that are formed at the first low brightness region 21, the second low brightness regions 22 and the third low brightness region 23.
Moreover, because the apex angles of the respective projections are similar, the regions, which the base surface 40 occupies per unit surface area at the medium brightness regions 16, is large as compared with the regions that the base surface 40 occupies per unit surface area at the first low brightness region 21, the second low brightness regions 22 and the third low brightness region 23.
Due thereto, the amount of light that is reflected to the outer side at the medium brightness regions 16 is large as compared with the amounts of light that are reflected to the outer side at the first low brightness region 21, the second low brightness regions 22 and the third low brightness region 23. Moreover, the amount of light that is reflected to the outer side at the medium brightness regions 16 is small as compared with the amount of light that is reflected to the outer side at the another region 18 at which projections are not formed. Namely, the brightness L* of the third low brightness region 23, the first low brightness region 21, the second low brightness regions 22, the medium brightness regions 16 and the another region 18 become higher in that order.
Therefore, the first low brightness region 21, the second low brightness regions 22 and the third low brightness region 23 appear black relatively, and the another region 18 appears white relatively, and the medium brightness region 16 appears gray relatively. Due thereto, the brightness is gradually varied in stages, and better gradation can be expressed. Further, at the second low brightness region 22 and the medium brightness region 16 that are adjacent to one another, by setting the ratio of the intervals P of the projections to be from 1.0 to 3.0, the gradual variation in the brightness is easy to see.
By providing the medium brightness regions 16 in addition to the first low brightness region 21, the second low brightness regions 22 and the third low brightness region 23, the range of expression of the decorative portion 14 can be broadened as compared with a case in which only the above-described low brightness regions are formed. In other words, the manners of expression can be increased.
Further, in
Further, the first asterisk projections 34 are structured by the extending portions 34E that extend out in respectively different directions and six of which are connected at the center O1. The second asterisk projections 36 are structured by the extending portions 36E that extend out in respectively different directions and six of which are connected at the center 02. Accordingly, it is difficult for the first asterisk projections 34 and the second asterisk projections 36 respectively to collapse, and the durability of the first asterisk projections 34 and the second asterisk projections 36 respectively can be improved.
Further, the first asterisk projections 34 and the second asterisk projections 36 are connected in the form of steps via the connecting portions 34A, 34B. Due thereto, the first asterisk projections 34 and the second asterisk projections 36 support one another via the connecting portions 34A, 34B, and collapsing-in of the first asterisk projections 34 and the second asterisk projections 36 is suppressed. Therefore, the durability can be improved.
In
Operation of the second embodiment, and the detailed structures of the first low brightness regions 21 and the second low brightness regions 22, are similar to the first embodiment, and therefore, description thereof is omitted.
In
Note that a second pattern region may be provided in addition to the first pattern region. Further, the arrangement of the respective pattern regions is arbitrary. The respective pattern regions may be lined-up, for example, in the tire width direction, or in an inclined direction that intersects the tire width direction.
The detailed structures of the first low brighmess regions 21 and the second low brightness regions 22 are similar to the first embodiment, and therefore, description thereof is omitted.
Note that embodiments relating to the present invention are not limited to the above-described respective embodiments, and it will be clear to those skilled in the art that various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described first embodiment, the first asterisk projections 34 and the second asterisk projections 36 are connected to one another, but may be structured so as to not be connected to one another. Further, although the third low brightness region 23 is provided as the second pattern region, such a second pattern region does not have to be provided.
The apex angles of the projections such as the first asterisk projections 34 and the second asterisk projections 36 and the like (e.g., D in
The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-236451 filed on Dec. 8, 2017 is, in its entirety, incorporated by reference into the present specification. All publications, patent applications, and technical standards mentioned in the present specification are incorporated by reference into the present specification to the same extent as if such individual publication, patent application, or technical standard was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2017-236451 | Dec 2017 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2018/044302 | 11/30/2018 | WO | 00 |