Abstract
The present invention relates to a tire (1) for a motor vehicle, in particular a tire (1) having a first indicator (2) for indicating a tire size and having a second indicator (3) with a letter for indicating a load rating of the tire (1). According to the invention, the first indicator (2) and the second indicator (3) are arranged adjacently on the tire (1). Here, the first indicator (2) may be arranged above, below or next to the second indicator (3). A separator (4) may be arranged between the two indicators.
Claims
1.-6. (canceled)
7. A tire for a vehicle, the tire comprising: a first indicator formed on a sidewall to indicate a tire size and a tire class; a second indicator adjacent the first indicator to indicate a load rating; and a scanning system configured to categorize the tire based on the first indicator and the second indicator.
8. The tire of claim 7, the first indicator further comprises a letter for indicating a tire class.
9. The tire of claim 7, the first indicator and the second indicator positioned one above the other in a radial direction of the tire.
10. The tire of claim 7, the first indicator and the second indicator arranged next to one another in a circumferential direction of the tire.
11. The tire of claim 7, further comprising a separator arranged between the first indicator and the second indicator.
12. The tire of claim 11, the tire class indicating tire class C2.
13. The tire of claim 7, the separator comprising a line.
14. The tire of claim 7, the separator comprising a plurality of angled slashes.
15. The tire of claim 7, the first indicator further comprising tire width, ratio, design designation, and max speed.
16. The tire of claim 7, the scanning system configured to categorize the tire for storage.
Description
OVERVIEW OF THE FIGURES
[0017] FIG. 1 shows schematically a tire according to the prior art for a motor vehicle;
[0018] FIG. 2 shows a detail of the sidewall of the tire from FIG. 1 with an indicator for the tire size;
[0019] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the sidewall of the tire from FIG. 1 with an indicator for the load range;
[0020] FIG. 4 shows schematically a first embodiment of a tire according to the invention for a motor vehicle;
[0021] FIG. 5 shows a detail of the sidewall of the tire of FIG. 4 with indicators arranged one above the other;
[0022] FIG. 6 shows schematically a second embodiment of a tire according to the invention for a motor vehicle; and
[0023] FIG. 7 shows a detail of the sidewall of the tire from
[0024] FIG. 4 with indicators arranged next to one another.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0025] For a better understanding of the principles of the present invention, embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. The same reference signs will be used in the figures for identical or functionally identical elements and are not necessarily described again for each figure. It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the illustrated embodiments and that the features described can also be combined or modified without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
[0026] FIG. 1 shows schematically a tire 1 according to the prior art for a motor vehicle. The tire has two indicators 2, 3 on its sidewall 5. A first indicator 2 indicates the tire size by means of a standardized sequence of numbers and letters. The second indicator 3 indicates the load range. Since there is no requirement for the positioning of the tire size and the load range on the tire 1, these are often positioned far apart on the sidewall 5. This makes it difficult for both human beings and automatic scanning systems to find these indicators 2, 3. For greater clarity, FIG. 1 does not show further indicators which can usually be found on tires 1.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows a detail of the sidewall 5 of the tire 1 from FIG. 1 with the indicator 2 for the tire size. In the example illustrated, the tire size is 235/65 R 16 C 121/119 R. The individual components of the sequence of numbers and letters are the tire width (235 mm), the ratio of the height to the width of the tire (65%), the designation of the design (R for radial tires), the rim diameter (16 inches), the C designation, the designation of the tire load capacity (121 for individual tires≙1450 kg; 119 for twin tires≙1360 kg) and the permissible maximum speed (R≙170 km/h).
[0028] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the sidewall 5 of the tire 1 from FIG. 1 with the indicator 3 for the load range. In the example illustrated, it is the load range E. The possible load ranges range from B to F. Specifically in the case of European C2 tires, on which the letter C must appear in the tire size after the rim dimension, confusion very often occurs. This C is mistakenly taken for the load range identifier by scanning systems or human beings.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows schematically a first embodiment of a tire 1 according to the invention for a motor vehicle. In this embodiment, the two indicators 2, 3 for the tire size and the load range identifier are arranged one above the other in the radial direction of the tire 1. A detail of the sidewall 5 of the tire 1 with the indicators 2, 3 arranged one above the other is shown in FIG. 5. This arrangement has the advantage that both indicators 2, 3 can be arranged within a relatively small area, which can be detected rapidly by a scanning system or a human being. Owing to the limited space on the sidewall 5 of the tire 1 in the radial direction, the indicators 2, 3 in the example illustrated have a smaller font size than is usually the case. It is, of course, also possible to use different font sizes for the two indicators 2, 3. The indicators 2, 3 can be separated from one another by a separator 4, for example a simple line, which makes it easier to distinguish between the two indicators 2, 3 during data acquisition by a scanning system or by a human being. In the example illustrated, the indicator 2 for the tire size is arranged above the indicator 3 for the load range identifier. Of course, the arrangement can also be precisely the reverse.
[0030] FIG. 6 shows schematically a second embodiment of a tire 1 according to the invention for a motor vehicle. In this embodiment, the two indicators 2, 3 for the tire size and the load range identifier are arranged next to one another in the circumferential direction of the tire 1. A detail of the sidewall 5 of the tire 1 with the indicators 2, 3 arranged next to one another is shown in FIG. 7. This arrangement has the advantage that the space available on the sidewall 5 of the tire 1 in the radial direction can be used in the normal way. It is not necessary to use a smaller font size for the indicators 2, 3. For this purpose, the indicators 2, 3 arranged next to one another extend over a relatively large area in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment too, the indicators 2, 3 can be separated from one another by a separator 4, e.g. a slash or, as shown in FIG. 7, a double slash, which makes it easier to distinguish between the two indicators 2, 3 during data acquisition by a scanning system or by a human being. In the example illustrated, the indicator 2 for the tire size is arranged to the left of the indicator 3 for the load range identifier. Of course, the arrangement can also be precisely the reverse.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0031] 1 Tire [0032] 2 First indicator [0033] 3 Second indicator [0034] 4 Separator [0035] 5 Sidewall
