Patent Publication Number: US-2022219494-A1

Title: Tire

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Applications No. 10-2021-0005535 filed on Jan. 14, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a tire and, more particularly, to a tire having characters such as a brand name, a model name, etc. engraved on a sidewall thereof. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In general, other than tire information such as tire dimensions, a manufacture date, a manufacture factory, maximum speed and load, etc., a diagonal pattern, company and model logos, other decorations, etc. related to the external appearance may be marked on a side of a tire. 
     In order to set off the decoration with an advantage, colors such a white were added or a fine groove, prominence and depression, etc. were included to make a difference from flat portions, thereby visually applying a difference. 
     However, the patterns on the sides of tires substantially do not look different much from other parts under an environment with an external light source such as the sun, so there is a problem that the effect is small. 
     Various research projects for a technology of controlling the shape and structure of patterns that are formed on the sides of tires have been conducted to solve this problem. 
     For tires manufactured through common processes, the patterns forming a brand name, a model name, etc. were formed by cross-sections composed of repeated common straight lines. 
     A high-contrast tire pattern and a production method thereof are disclosed in European Patent No. 2483088 in the related art. 
     In this document, it is described that when the gaps between serrations are made close, contrast is improved. 
     However, although contrast can be improved by making the gaps of serrations close, there is a problem that particles may be stuck in the gaps of the serrations. 
     Further, there is a problem that maintenance such as a difficult cleaning method is required to remove particles stuck in the gaps of serrations. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure has been made in an effort to solve the problems and an objective of the present disclosure is to provide a tire that can be given excellent visibility by securing high contrast, that can be easily maintained, and of which the quality of external appearance can be improved. 
     A tire according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of knurling units that includes: a first knurling part that is convex; a second knurling part that continues from a side of the first knurling part and is convex; a third knurling part that continues from a side of the second knurling part and is convex; and a fourth knurling part that is convex and is continuously connected from a side of the third knurling part to another side of the first knurling part. 
     The tire may include the plurality of knurling units on any one or more of an edge and a side. 
     The first knurling part, the second knurling part, the third knurling part, and the fourth knurling part may be asymmetrically formed up, down, left, and right. 
     The first knurling part, the second knurling part, the third knurling part, and the fourth knurling part may be formed in the same shape. 
     The first knurling part, the second knurling part, the third knurling part, and the fourth knurling part may be formed around the same apex. 
     The first knurling part, the second knurling part, the third knurling part, and the fourth knurling part each may be formed in triangular pyramid shape. 
     The length of an edge of the bottom of the knurling unit may be 0.1 mm˜5.0 mm. 
     The length of the height of the knurling unit may be 0.1 mm˜1.0 mm. 
     According to the present disclosure, there is an effect that it is possible to improve the degree of blackness in comparison to the related art. 
     According to the present disclosure, there is an effect that contrast is improved, as compared with the related art, so visibility is improved. 
     According to the present disclosure, there is an effect that the degree of protrusion of a knurling unit is minimized, as compared with the related art, which is advantageous in terms of aerodynamics and improves the fuel efficiency of a vehicle. 
     According to the present disclosure, there is an effect that it is possible to improve durability of a knurling unit in comparison to the related art. 
     According to the present disclosure, since a cleaner is not stuck in a mold for manufacturing a tire, sandblasting can be used for cleaning, so there is an effect that a cleaning price and a cleaning time are reduced in comparison to the related art, which can achieve cost efficiency. 
     According to the present disclosure, there is an effect of a high touch feeling like a fabric is implemented, so the more aesthetic external appearance is achieved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view schematically showing a plurality of knurling units according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing only one knurling unit separated from  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partially enlarged view showing engraved characters, etc. on a tire in the related art. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view showing a portion of a mold for manufacturing a tire in the related art. 
         FIG. 5  is a partially enlarged view showing portions with cleaner stuck therein of a mold for manufacturing a tire in the related art. 
         FIG. 6  is an actual picture partially enlarging a character, etc. engraved on a tire according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is an actual picture of a mold for engraving characters, etc. on a tire according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, a tire according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     The terms and words used in the present specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to typical meanings or dictionary definitions, but should be interpreted as having meanings and concepts relevant to the technical scope of the present invention based on the rule according to which an inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term to describe most appropriately the best method he or she knows for carrying out the invention. Therefore, the configurations described in the embodiments and drawings of the present disclosure are merely the most preferable embodiments but do not represent all of the technical spirit of the present invention. Thus, it should be understood that the present disclosure should be construed as including all the changes, equivalents, and substitutions included in the spirit and scope of the present disclosure at the time of filing this application. 
     The size of components or specific portions of the components are exaggerated, omitted, or schematically shown in the drawings for convenience and clarity of description. Accordingly, the sizes of components do not completely reflect the actual sizes. Detailed description of well-known functions or configurations is not described when it may make the subject of the present disclosure unclear. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view schematically showing a plurality of knurling units according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a tire according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of knurling units  100  including a first knurling part  110  that is convex, a second knurling part  120  that continues from a side of the first knurling part  110  and is convex, a third knurling part  130  that continues from a side of the second knurling part  120  and is convex, and a fourth knurling part  140  that is convex and is continuously connected from a side of the third knurling part  130  to another side of the first knurling part  110 . 
     The first knurling part  110  may be convexly formed in a triangular pyramid shape. 
     The first knurling part  110  may be asymmetrically formed up, down, left, and right. That is, the upper end of the first knurling part  110  may be biased to a side. 
     The first knurling part  110 , the second knurling part  120 , the third knurling part  130 , and the fourth knurling part  140  may be formed in the same shape. 
     The first knurling part  110 , the second knurling part  120 , the third knurling part  130 , and the fourth knurling part  140  may be connected to each other around the same apex. 
     The knurling unit  100  composed of the first knurling part  110 , the second knurling part  120 , the third knurling part  130 , and the fourth knurling part  140  may form a vane shape. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing only one knurling unit separated from  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the knurling unit  100  is formed such that the first knurling part  110 , the second knurling part  120 , the third knurling part  130 , and the fourth knurling part  140  are connected to each other around one apex. 
     The first knurling part  110 , the second knurling part  120 , the third knurling part  130 , and the fourth knurling part  140  may be formed in the same shape with the same size, and the length of the height ‘c’ of the first, second, third, and fourth knurling parts  110 ,  120 ,  130 , and  140  may be 0.1 mm˜1.0 mm. 
     That is, the length of the height ‘c’ of the first, second, third, and fourth knurling parts  110 ,  120 ,  130 , and  140  may be the convex height of the knurling unit  100 . 
     When the length of the height ‘c’ of the first, second, third, and fourth knurling parts  110 ,  120 ,  130 , and  140  is 0.1 mm˜1.0 mm, the height of the knurling unit  100  that is convexly formed on a tire can be minimized, which is advantageous in terms of aerodynamics of the tire. 
     The length of an edge ‘a’ of the bottom of the knurling unit  100  may be 0.1 mm˜5.0 mm. 
     That is, the length of the edge ‘a’ connecting two apexes except for the apex shared by the first, second, third, and fourth knurling parts  110 ,  120 ,  130 , and  140  may be 0.1 mm˜5.0 mm. 
     When the length of the edge ‘a’ connecting two apexes of the bottom except for the apex shared by the first, second, third, and fourth knurling parts  110 ,  120 ,  130 , and  140  is 0.1 mm˜5.0 mm, the knurling unit  100  is formed a relatively small component, which may be advantageous in terms of aerodynamics of a tire. 
     The inclination of the upper portion forming the triangular pyramid of the first knurling part  110 , second knurling part  120 , third knurling part  130 , and fourth knurling part  140  may be 60° ˜90°. 
     That is, when the inclination of the upper portion forming the triangular pyramid of the first knurling part  110 , second knurling part  120 , third knurling part  130 , and fourth knurling part  140  is 60° ˜90°, it is possible to minimize the size of the knurling unit  100  and maximize visibility of the knurling unit  100 . 
     A plurality of knurling units  100  form a micro knurling structure on a tire, whereby it is possible to improve the quality of external appearance of the tread and the sidewall of a tire and improve the performance the tire. 
       FIG. 3  is a partially enlarged view showing engraved characters, etc. on a tire in the related art. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a character  10 , such as a brand name and a model name that are engraved on a sidewall of a tire in the related art, etc., forms a structure extending straightly like serrations on a tire to improve contrast for securing visibility. 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view showing a portion of a mold for manufacturing a tire in the related art, and  FIG. 5  is a partially enlarged view showing portions with cleaner stuck therein of a mold for manufacturing a tire in the related art. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , straight serrations are formed on the portion of a mold  10   a  for forming a sidewall portion of a tire of the related art. 
     The mold  10   a  should be cleaned when it is used over a predetermined number of times. According to sandblasting that is used to clean the mold  10   a  by spraying sand, cleaner particles  11  may be stuck in the gaps of a serrated cross-section. 
     When a tire is manufactured by the mold  10   a , there is a problem that the contrast of the detailed design of the character  10  such as brand name and a model name of the tire is decreased. 
       FIG. 6  is an actual picture partially enlarging a character, etc. engraved on a tire according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a character  20 , etc. such as a brand name and a model name that are engraved on a sidewall of a tire according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may form a micro knurling structure having, as a fundamental unit, a plurality of vane-shaped knurling units  100  having a cross-section of a plurality of rotated triangular pyramids to secure visibility. 
     A micro knurling structure having a multi-directional cutting structure can absorb light and improve the degree of blackness of a surface. 
     A high touch feeling like a fabric can increase visibility and achieve a more aesthetic external appearance of a product. 
       FIG. 7  is an actual picture of a mold for engraving characters, etc. on a tire according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , a mold  20   a  for forming a micro knurling structure on a tire forms a plurality of cross-sections of rotated triangular pyramids that are asymmetric up, down, left, and right. Accordingly, even though the mold is cleaned by sandblasting that sprays sand, a cleaner is not stuck in the cross-sections, so the cleaning price and cleaning time are decreased, whereby efficiency can be increased in terms of cost. 
     According to the present disclosure, there is an effect that it is possible to improve the degree of blackness as compared with the existing serration structure. 
     According to the present disclosure, there is an effect that contrast is improved, as compared with the related art, so visibility is improved. 
     According to the present disclosure, there is an effect that the degree of protrusion of a knurling unit is minimized, as compared with the related art, which is advantageous in terms of aerodynamics and improves the fuel efficiency of a vehicle. 
     For example, the existing serration structure protrudes more than 0.4 mm from a tire, but the micro knurling structure of the present disclosure can protrude less than 0.2 mm from a tire. 
     According to the present disclosure, there is an effect that it is possible to improve durability of a knurling unit in comparison to the related art. 
     According to the present disclosure, since a cleaner is not stuck in a mold for manufacturing a tire, sandblasting can be used for cleaning, so there is an effect that a cleaning price and a cleaning time are reduced in comparison to the related art, which can achieve cost efficiency. 
     According to the present disclosure, there is an effect a high touch feeling like a fabric is implemented, so the more aesthetic external appearance is achieved. 
     Although a tire according to the present disclosure was described above with reference to exemplary drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and drawings described above and may be achieved in various ways by those skilled in the art within claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MAIN ELEMENTS 
     
         
           10 ,  20 : character 
           10   a ,  20   a : mold 
           11 : cleaner particle 
           100 : knurling unit 
           110 : first knurling part 
           120 : second knurling part 
           130 : third knurling part 
           140 : fourth knurling part 
         a: edge 
         c: height