Tire comprising a high-contrast pattern and ribs for protecting the pattern

Abstract

The invention relates to a tire made of rubbery material comprising a sidewall on which there is formed at least one pattern that contrasts with this sidewall. The pattern comprises a plurality of strands distributed through the pattern with a density of at least five strands per square millimeter (mm.sup.2), each strand having a mean cross section of between 0.003 mm.sup.2 and 0.06 mm.sup.2. The tire also comprises on the said sidewall at least two ribs that pass through the pattern and between which strands of the pattern are present, the said ribs being distant from one another by at most 10 mm, each rib having a height of at least 0.25 mm and a mean width of at least 0.20 mm, the said pattern following the relief formed by the ribs.

Claims

1. A tire made of rubbery material comprising a sidewall on which there is formed at least one pattern that contrasts with the said sidewall, the said pattern comprising a plurality of strands distributed through the pattern with a density of at least five strands per square millimeter (mm2), each strand having a mean cross section of between 0.003 mm.sup.2 and 0.06 mm.sup.2, wherein the tire comprises on the said sidewall at least two ribs that pass through the pattern and between which strands of the pattern are present, the said ribs being distant from one another by at most 10 mm, each rib having a height of at least 0.25 mm and a mean width of at least 0.20 mm, the said pattern following a relief formed by the ribs, wherein the ribs have inclined lateral walls which, in terms of absolute value, make an angle () of between 30 and 60 with a direct on (Z) perpendicular to the sidewall, wherein the plurality of strands consist of at least three types: the first type being defined as strands between the at least two ribs, the second type being defined as strands disposed on the inclined lateral walls, and the third type being defined as strands on a top portion of the at least two ribs, each of the first type, the second type, and the third type extend in a direction perpendicular to the sidewall.

2. The tire according to claim 1, wherein ends of strands of the pattern extend heightwise beyond the ribs.

3. The tire according to claim 1, wherein the ribs are oriented in a radial direction on the sidewall.

4. The tire according to claim 1, wherein some of the at least five strands are disposed on a surface of the ribs of the at least the two side walls.

5. A tire made of rubbery material comprising a sidewall on which there is formed at least one pattern that contrasts with the said sidewall, the said pattern being provided with a plurality of substantially mutually parallel strips, the spacing of the strips in the pattern being at most equal to 0.5 mm, each strip having a mean width of between 0.03 mm and 0.10 mm, wherein the tire comprises on the said sidewall at least two ribs that pass through the pattern and between which strips of the pattern are present, the said ribs being distant from one another by at most 10 mm, each rib having a height of at least 0.25 mm and a mean width of at least 0.20 mm, the said pattern following the a formed by the ribs, wherein the ribs have inclined lateral walls which, in terms of absolute value, make an angle () of between 30 and 60 with a direct on (Z) perpendicular to the sidewall, wherein the plurality of substantially mutually parallel strips consist of at least three types: the first type being defined as mutually parallel strips between the at least two ribs, the second type being defined as mutually parallel strips disposed on the inclined lateral walls, and the third type being defined as s mutually parallel strips on a top portion of the at least two ribs, each of the first type, the second type, and the third type extend in a direction perpendicular to the sidewall.

6. The tire according to claim 5, wherein ends of strips of the pattern extend heightwise beyond the ribs.

7. The tire according to claim 5, wherein some of the plurality of substantially mutually parallel strips are disposed on a surface of the ribs of the at least the two side walls.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically depicts a sidewall of a tire and a pattern that contrasts against this sidewall;

(3) FIG. 2 depicts a detailed view of the pattern of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a first embodiment of the pattern of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a second embodiment of the pattern of FIG. 1; and

(6) FIG. 5 depicts a view in cross section of part of a mold able to mold the pattern of FIG. 1.

(7) In the description which will follow, elements which are substantially identical or similar will be denoted by the same references.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIG. 1 is a partial view of a tire 1 according to embodiments of the invention. More specifically, FIG. 1 depicts a sidewall 3 of a tire. Visible on the sidewall of the tire are a plurality of mutually parallel ribs 4 and a pattern 5. A rib means an additional thickness projecting from the sidewall of the tire and the length of which is at least equal to twice its height.

(9) The ribs 4 here are oriented on the sidewall in a radial direction.

(10) The sidewall 3 has a smooth overall surface finish giving it a great ability to reflect the incident rays of light. Thus, under common brightness conditions, the sidewall will be perceived by an observer to be shiny overall.

(11) The pattern 5 for its part has a black and matt appearance contrasting with the sidewall 3.

(12) FIG. 2 is an enlargement of the pattern of FIG. 1. This FIG. 2 clearly shows ribs 4 passing through the pattern 5. Ribs passing through the pattern means that these ribs extend inside the pattern. The pattern 5 will therefore follow the relief formed by the ribs.

(13) In the case of FIG. 2 the ribs are not limited to the pattern but extend beyond this pattern. As an alternative, it is possible to plan for the ribs to extend only inside the pattern and not to extend beyond this pattern.

(14) It will be noted that the ribs here are parallel and the distance between two adjacent ribs is at most equal to 10 mm. As an alternative, the ribs are not parallel and the ribs may intersect each other inside the pattern. However, it is important that the distance between the ribs inside the pattern remains less than or equal to 10 mm.

(15) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the pattern 5 of FIG. 1.

(16) In this embodiment, the pattern 5 is formed by a plurality of strands 7. Some of these strands extend between two tops 11 of two adjacent ribs 4. More specifically, strands cover a residual area 13 delimited by bases of the two adjacent ribs. Strands also cover the lateral walls of the ribs. Specifically, each rib has two lateral walls extending one on each side of their top 11. The lateral walls of the ribs 4 are, for example, inclined by an angle which, in terms of absolute value, is between 30 and 60 to a direction Z perpendicular to the sidewall. Thus, the walls of the ribs when not covered with strands have a low ability to trap the incident rays of light. Thus, when the ribs extend all around the circumference of the tire, as they do in the example of FIG. 1, the pattern can be sure to contrast markedly with the sidewall and particularly with those zones of the sidewall which are covered by these ribs.

(17) It will be noted that the height of the strands in the pattern is at least equal to 0.1 mm and that the height of the ribs in the pattern is between 0.25 mm and 1 mm. Depending on the heights selected for the strands and the ribs, and depending on the position of the strands with respect to the tops of the ribs, it is possible for ends of strands to extend beyond the tops of these ribs.

(18) It will also be noted that in this instance the strands have a conical overall shape.

(19) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the pattern 5 of FIG. 1.

(20) In this embodiment, the strands of the pattern are replaced by strips 14 the mean width of which is less than the mean width of the ribs 4. The mean width of the strips in the pattern is thus between 0.03 and 0.10 mm and the mean width of the ribs in the pattern is at least equal to 0.20 mm. The mean width of a rib or of a strand, respectively, means the mean of the widths measured at regular intervals from the root of the rib, or of the strand respectively, to the tip, the width of a rib or, respectively, of a strip, corresponding to the distance measured between two lateral walls of this rib or of this strip respectively.

(21) In addition, the height of the strips in the pattern is at least equal to 0.1 mm and the height of the ribs in the pattern is between 0.25 mm and 1 mm.

(22) The strips are depicted here as being parallel to the ribs. As an alternative, the strips may make a non-zero angle with the direction in which the ribs extend. For example, the strips may be orthogonal to the direction in which these ribs extend.

(23) FIG. 5 is view in cross section of part of a mold capable of molding the pattern 4 of FIG. 1. More particularly, this part of the mold corresponds to part of a shell 15 able to mold the sidewall of a tire.

(24) The shell 15 comprises a surface for molding a plurality of striations 19. The striations 19 are able to mold ribs of the pattern 5. Each striation 19 extends into the depth of the shell. The shell 15 also comprises a set of cutouts 21 opening onto the molding surface between two adjacent striations 19. The cutouts 21 are, for example, cavities able to mold the strands of the pattern 5 of FIG. 3. These cavities may therefore have a conical overall shape.

(25) As an alternative, the cutouts 21 are incisions able to mold the strips of the pattern 5 of FIG. 4.

(26) Another embodiment relates to a method of manufacturing the shell in which method the striations 19 are created before the cutouts 21. More specifically, the striations 19 may be created mechanically by the removal of material, for example during a milling operation. As an alternative, the striations 19 are formed by deforming the material during a knurling operation. The striations thus formed by knurling have a depth of between 0.25 and 0.3 mm and a spacing of between 0.7 and 10 mm.

(27) The cutouts 21 are created by laser etching. More specifically, the cutouts 21 are produced using a laser in successive passes, each pass having the effect of eroding the mold metal over a given surface and to a given depth. By way of example, a pulsed laser of the IPG make with a power of 50 W is used to form these cutouts. With such a laser etching operation it is possible to create a marking in the shell which follows the relief formed by the striations 19.

(28) The invention is not restricted to the examples described and depicted and various modifications can be made thereto without departing from its scope.

(29) For example, it is possible for the bases of the ribs to be in contact with one another. If they are, there are no residual surfaces between the ribs. The strands of the pattern or, respectively, the strips of the pattern, present between the ribs then project only from the walls of the ribs.