VEHICLE TIRE COMPRISING A HATCHED SURFACE, VULCANIZATION MOLD AND PRODUCTION METHOD

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle tire (1) with sidewalls (2) and a tread (3) and with at least one hatched area (4) on at least one of the sidewalls (2) and/or the tread (3), wherein the hatched area (4) has elongated hatching ribs (5) which are arranged largely parallel to one another. The invention also relates to a vulcanization mold and to a method for producing the vehicle tire.

The object is to influence the contrast effect in an even more targeted fashion and to further increase the contrast effect. It is also intended to make it possible for the tire to be produced reliably by means of a vulcanization mold.

This is achieved by each hatching rib (5) having branches (7), wherein in each case precisely one short transverse elevation (6) branches off from each branch (7) of the branches, and by the short transverse elevations (6) all branching off on a same first side (9) of the hatching ribs (5) and ending in a free end (8).

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A vehicle tire comprising: first and second sidewalls; a tread with at least one hatched area on at least one of the sidewalls and/or the tread, wherein the hatched area has elongated hatching ribs, which are arranged largely parallel to one another; each hatching rib of the hatching ribs has branches, wherein in each case precisely one short transverse elevation branches off from each branch of the branches; and the short transverse elevations branch off on a same first side of the hatching ribs and end in a free end.

17. The tire of claim 16, wherein the short transverse elevations (6) of at least one hatching rib (5) of the hatching ribs are arranged largely parallel to one another.

18. The tire of claim 16, wherein the branches (7) of at least one hatching rib (5) of the hatching ribs are arranged equidistantly.

19. The tire of claim 16, wherein the branches (7) of at least one hatching rib (5) of the hatching ribs and the branches (7) of a hatching rib (5) adjacent to the at least one hatching rib (5) are arranged offset to one another.

20. The tire of claim 16, wherein a longitudinal extent direction (10) of at least one hatching rib (5) of the hatching ribs encloses an angle (11) of 45 to 90, preferably of 60 to 90, particularly preferably of largely 90, with the respective longitudinal extent direction (12) of the respective branching-off short transverse elevation (6).

21. The tire of claim 16, wherein the short transverse elevations (6) of at least one hatching rib (5) of the hatching ribs have a length L of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, preferably of 0.25 mm to 0.40 mm, particularly preferably of 0.25 mm to 0.32 mm.

22. The tire of claim 16, wherein the branches (7) of at least one hatching rib (5) of the hatching ribs have a first center spacing (22) of 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm, preferably of 0.25 mm to 0.30 mm.

23. The tire of claim 16, wherein the hatching ribs (5) are arranged with a second center spacing (23) of 0.4 mm to 1.0 mm, preferably of 0.5 mm to 0.7 mm, particularly preferably of 0.55 mm to 0.60 mm.

24. The tire of claim 16, wherein at least one hatching rib (5) of the hatching ribs has a height H of 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm, preferably of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, particularly preferably of 0.25 mm to 0.35 mm.

25. The tire of claim 16, wherein at least one hatching rib (5) of the hatching ribs has mutually opposite flanks (14) which enclose an angle (15) of at least 50, preferably of 55 to 65, with one another.

26. The tire of claim 16, wherein at least one hatching rib (5) of the hatching ribs and/or at least one short transverse elevation (6) of the short transverse elevations has mutually opposite flanks (14) which enclose an angle (15) of 2 to 10, preferably of 6 to 8, with one another.

27. The tire of claim 16, wherein at least one hatching rib (5) of the hatching ribs and/or at least one short transverse elevation (6) of the short transverse elevations has a flank (14) which has a convexly curved and/or a linear and/or a concavely curved and/or a stepped and/or a bent and/or a structured region (16).

28. The tire of claim 16, wherein the vehicle tire (1) has several hatched areas (4) which are arranged in such a way that they represent a machine-readable code (41), preferably a two-dimensional code (41), particularly preferably a QR code (41).

29. A method for producing a vehicle tire, the method comprising: engraving a negative contour of a hatched area (4) into a mold area of a vulcanization mold for the shape-imparting vulcanization mold of a vehicle tire (1) by means of laser engraving, wherein the hatched area (4) has elongated hatching ribs (5) which are arranged largely parallel to one another, wherein each hatching rib (5) of the hatching ribs has branches (7), wherein in each case precisely one short transverse elevation (6) branches off from each branch (7), and wherein the short transverse elevations (6) all branch off on a same first side (9) of the hatching ribs and end in a free end (8); providing a tire blank and positioning the tire blank in the vulcanization mold having the mold area; and performing shape-imparting vulcanization of the tire blank by means of the vulcanization mold having the mold area, as a result of which the hatched area (4) is imprinted into an outer area of the vehicle tire, in particular a sidewall (2) and/or a tread (3) of the vehicle tire.

Description

[0072] Further features, advantages, and details of the invention will now be described in more detail on the basis of the drawings, which schematically show exemplary embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:

[0073] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle tire 1 having a hatched area;

[0074] FIGS. 2 and 3 each show a hatched area;

[0075] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a hatched area,

[0076] FIG. 5 shows exemplary embodiments of cross-sections.

[0077] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle tire 1 with sidewalls 2 and a tread 3 and with at least one hatched area 4 on at least one of the sidewalls 2 and/or on the tread 3. In the case of an arrangement on the tread 3, the hatched area may in particular also be applied to groove flanks and/or groove bases of grooves running in the tread 3, or at the tread outlet, i.e. at the shoulder flanks running outside the ground contact area to the sidewalls, or on the outer surface of the tread, i.e. on the tread which comes into contact with the ground. The hatched area 4 is preferably applied to at least one of the sidewalls 2. The tire is preferably a pneumatic vehicle tire, in particular for a car. It may, however, also be a different vehicle tire, in particular for a bicycle, a van, an SUV, a light truck, a commercial vehicle, a motorcycle, and/or a bus.

[0078] The hatched area 4 has elongated hatching ribs 5 which are arranged largely parallel to one another. Each hatching rib 5 has two branches 7, wherein in each case precisely one short transverse elevation 6 branches off from each branch 7 of the branches. The short transverse elevations 6 here all branch off on a same first side 9 of the hatching ribs and end in a free end 8.

[0079] Such hatched areas 4 are exceptionally well suited for representing a code 41, in particular a two-dimensional code such as, for example, a QR code 41. The usually dark areas of the code may here be designed as hatched areas 4.

[0080] The ridges of the hatching ribs 5 with the ridge lines 18 and/or the ridges of the short transverse elevations 6 with the ridge lines 24 may be designed as lowered, elevated, or at the same level relative to a tire surface surrounding the hatched area.

[0081] Two design variants of such a hatched area 4 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0082] The branches 7 of each hatching rib 5 can be clearly seen. In each case precisely one short transverse elevation 6 branches off from each branch 7. The short transverse elevations 6 of all hatching ribs here branch off on a same first side 9 of the hatching ribs and extend in each case as an elevation from a hatching base 19 as far as their free end 8. Each hatching rib 5 thus forms a hatching element, like a comb in plan view, with the short transverse elevations 6 branching off from it on the first side 9. This thus results in a sequence, in a direction transverse to a direction of longitudinal extent of the hatching ribs 5, consisting of a hatching rib 5, a region 17 with short transverse elevations 6 branching off from the respective hatching rib 5, the next hatching rib 5, the next region 17 with short transverse elevations 6 branching off from the respective hatching rib 5, etc. The hatching ribs and the short transverse elevations 6 are here designed in each case as an elevation from the hatching base 19 of the hatched area 4.

[0083] The short transverse elevations 6 of all the hatching ribs 5 each end in a free end 8. The short transverse elevations 6 are thus free of further branches and/or intersections with an elevation from the hatching base 19. Each short transverse elevation 6 thus branches off from precisely one hatching rib 5 and ends before the next hatching rib 5.

[0084] Flanks 14 of the hatching ribs facing the first side 9 of the hatching ribs 5 are interrupted by the short transverse elevations 6, which further increases the contrast. In contrast, flanks 14 facing away from the first side 9 of the hatching ribs are free of interruptions.

[0085] The short transverse elevations 6 of at least one hatching rib 5, in particular of all the hatching ribs, of the hatching ribs are arranged largely parallel to one another. The branches 7 of at least one hatching rib 5, in particular of all the hatching ribs, of the hatching ribs are arranged equidistantly. The branches 7 of a hatching rib 5 of the hatching ribs and the branches 7 of a hatching rib 5 adjacent to the hatching rib 5 are arranged offset relative to one another.

[0086] A longitudinal extent direction 10 of at least one hatching rib 5 of the hatching ribs encloses an angle 11 of 45 to 90, preferably of 60 to 90, particularly preferably of largely 90, with the respective longitudinal extent direction 12 of the branching-off short transverse elevations 6. An angle 11 of 90 is illustrated.

[0087] The short transverse elevations 6 of at least one hatching rib 5 of the hatching ribs have a length L of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, preferably of 0.25 mm to 0.40 mm, particularly preferably of 0.30 mm to 0.35 mm. The length L may here be measured from a ridge line 18 of the hatching rib 5 as far as the free end 8 of the short transverse elevation 6, measured at one third 21 of a height H of the hatching rib 5 and measured parallel to a level 20 of the hatching base 19 of the hatched area 4. The ridge line 18 here runs, as illustrated in FIG. 3, along the ridge of the hatching rib 5 or, in the case of a flattened ridge, along the center of the ridge, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0088] The branches 7 of at least one hatching rib 5 of the hatching ribs have a first center spacing 22 of 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm, preferably of 0.25 mm to 0.30 mm. The hatching ribs 5 are arranged with a second center spacing 23 of 0.4 mm to 1.0 mm, preferably of 0.5 mm to 0.7 mm, particularly preferably of 0.55 mm to 0.60 mm. The second center spacing 23 of the hatching ribs may be measured between the ridge lines 18 of the hatching ribs 5, in each case measured parallel to the level 20 of the hatching base 19.

[0089] At least one hatching rib 5 of the hatching ribs has a height H of 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm, preferably of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, particularly preferably of 0.25 mm to 0.35 mm. The height H of a hatching rib 5 may be the height averaged along the longitudinal extent of the hatching rib. Heights may, as illustrated, be measured relative to the level 20 of the hatching base 19 of the hatched area 4. Mean values generally correspond to the arithmetic mean value.

[0090] The short transverse elevations 6 branching off from at least one hatching rib 5 of the hatching ribs each have mutually opposite flanks 14 which enclose an angle 15 of 2 to 10, preferably of 6 to 8, with one another. The mutually opposite flanks 14 enclose such an angle 15 here over a height extent which corresponds to at least one quarter of the height H of the respective hatching rib 5.

[0091] The exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 differ in particular in the angle 15, 15 which the mutually opposite flanks 14 of the hatching ribs 5 enclose with one another.

[0092] The exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 is characterized in that at least one hatching rib 5 of the hatching ribs has mutually opposite flanks 14 which enclose an angle 15 of at least 50, preferably of 55 to 65, with one another. The exemplary embodiment further has flattened ridges, wherein the ridge lines 18, 24 run along the center of the ridges.

[0093] The exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 is characterized in that at least one hatching rib 5 of the hatching ribs has mutually opposite flanks 14 which enclose an angle 15 of 2 to 10, preferably of 6 to 8, with one another.

[0094] FIG. 4 shows a schematic plan view of a hatched area 4 according to the invention. It may be the hatched area 4 illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0095] It can be clearly seen that all the short transverse elevations 6 branch off from the respective hatching rib 5 on the same first side 9 and end in a free end 8.

[0096] FIGS. 5a to 5g show examples of cross-sections of one of the hatching ribs 5 and/or of one of the short transverse elevations 6. The cross-section here runs in each case outside a branch 7 perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal extent direction 12 of the respective short transverse elevation 6 or perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal extent direction 10 of the respective hatching rib 5. The cross-sections are suitable for the hatched areas 4 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Without restricting the general nature, the cross-sections illustrated are symmetrical.

[0097] FIG. 5a shows a cross-section which has a linearly running region 16 in the region of the flanks 14. The flanks 14 lie opposite one another and may enclose an angle 15 of at least 50, preferably of 55 to 65, with one another. The flanks 14 transition into the hatching base 19 in a bend.

[0098] FIG. 5b shows a corresponding cross-section, wherein the flanks 14 enclose an angle 15 of 2 to 10, preferably of 6 to 8, with one another. FIG. 5c shows by way of example that, irrespective of the exact configuration of the cross-section, the flanks 14 may also transition into the hatching base 19 with a curvature.

[0099] FIG. 5d shows a cross-section which has a convexly curved region 16 in the region of the flanks 14. FIG. 5e shows a cross-section which has a stepped region 16 in the region of the flanks 14.

[0100] FIG. 5f shows a cross-section which has a structured region 16 in the region of the flanks 14. FIG. 5g shows a cross-section which has a concavely curved region 16 in the region of the flanks 14.

[0101] In all the FIGS. 5a to 5g, the correspondingly shaped region 16 may extend over at least one quarter of the height H of the hatching rib of the corresponding hatching element.

[0102] The hatched areas 4 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 of a surface 3,2 of a vehicle tire 1 may be produced by shape-imparting vulcanization of the vehicle tire. For this purpose, a vulcanization mold has a mold area which has a negative contour of the hatched area 4 to be created, in particular a negative contour of the respective hatched area 4 illustrated in one of FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0103] The production of a vehicle tire 1 having a surface 2,3, with a hatched area 4 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 comprises at least the following steps: [0104] a) engraving a negative contour of the hatched area 4 into a mold area of a vulcanization mold for the shape-imparting vulcanization mold of a vehicle tire 1 by means of laser engraving, wherein the hatched area 4 has elongated hatching ribs which are arranged largely parallel to one another, wherein each hatching rib 5 has branches 7, wherein in each case precisely one short transverse elevation 6 branches off from each branch 7, and wherein the short transverse elevations 6 all branch off on a same first side 9 of the hatching ribs 5 and end in a free end 8, [0105] b) providing a tire blank and positioning the tire blank in the vulcanization mold having the mold area, [0106] c) shape-imparting vulcanization of the tire blank by means of the vulcanization mold having the mold area, as a result of which the hatched area 4 is imprinted into an outer area of the vehicle tire 1, in particular a sidewall 2 and/or a tread 3 of the vehicle tire 1.

[0107] The negative contour engraved into the mold area in step a) is here in particular a negative contour of one of the hatched areas 4 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0108] 1 vehicle tire [0109] 2 sidewall [0110] 3 tread [0111] 4 hatched area [0112] 5 hatching rib [0113] 6 short transverse elevation [0114] 7 branch [0115] 8 free end [0116] 9 side [0117] 10 longitudinal extent direction of a hatching rib [0118] 11 angle [0119] 12 longitudinal extent direction of a short transverse elevation [0120] 13 clear spacing [0121] 14 mutually opposite flanks [0122] 15 angle [0123] 15 angle [0124] 16 region [0125] 17 region [0126] 18 ridge line of a hatching rib [0127] 19 hatching base [0128] 20 level [0129] 21 third of height H [0130] 22 first center spacing of the branches [0131] 23 second center spacing of the hatching ribs [0132] 24 ridge line of a short transverse elevation [0133] 41 QR code [0134] H height of a hatching rib [0135] L length of a short transverse elevation