Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
. CA 02217132 1997-10-23
TRACTION-AID DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE WHEEL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to devices attachable to vehicle tires to
improve their traction on slippery surfaces like those covered with snow or ice,and more particularly to a traction-aid device that can be readily and quickly
mounted onto the wheels of a vehicle and provides continuous traction over a
major part of the wheels.
BACKGROUND
One of the most popular types of traction-aid devices is probably the track-
like traction-aid device that is partly slid under the driving wheel of the vehicle
and is provided with an upper surface configured to provide a non-slippery
surface for a wheel in rotation, and a toothed underside to bite into the slippery
ground. Although this traction-aid device is normally easy to use, it only provides
for a one-shot use and must be set back in place if more traction is required. The
major drawbacks of the device are however that it is generally propelled by the
rotating wheel, so that it can be lost in the snow, can damage the vehicle and
even injure somebody in the trajectory of the ejected traction-aid device.
Another popular type of traction-aid device consists simply of an
arrangement of chains wrapped around the tires. However, the installation of
chains is rather difficult and is not adapted for occasional uses.
Known in the art are US patent Nos. 2,423,759 (Edwards); 2,586,049
(Jacobs); 2,729,261 (Rucker); 2,837,133 (Armenante et al.); 3,103,242 (Culp);
3,565,150 (Carr); 3,918,504 (Prokesch); 4,176,704 (Thorpe); 4,209,049
(Regensburger); 4,378,833 (Lindblad et al.); 4,836,258 (Ellis); and 4,862,936
(McDonough), that teach various types of traction-aid devices or the like, whichare intended to remain around the wheel during their use. However, none of the
above documents provides a really practical, easy and safe to use, highly efficient
and versatile traction-aid device. In most cases, the devices provide traction-aid
elements peripherally disposed around the wheel and spaced apart from each
CA 02217132 1997-10-23
other so the wheel is subjected to spinning strokes while turning, thereby
creating stress on the vehicle transmission. In some cases, the devices are not
easily removable and thus are rather intended for permanent use, like chains.
5 SUMMARY
One object of the present invention is to provide a traction-aid device that
is easy to install and safe to use, yet which provides an almost continuous
traction-aid action around the wheel.
The traction-aid device according to the present invention comprises an
10 elongated traction-aid member having a length exceeding half the circumference
of the vehicle wheel onto which the device is to be installed. The traction-aid
member is flexible and has a rugged outer face and a pair of opposite ends. The
traction-aid device also comprises a pair of L-shaped arms each having a first end
adapted to extend transversely on the tread of the vehicle wheel, and a second
15 end adapted to extend alongside the vehicle wheel. The ends of the traction-aid
member are respectively attached to the first ends of the arms. A clamping
means is provided for pulling, as the traction-aid member is mounted onto the
tread of the vehicle wheel with the outer face of the traction-aid member
extending outwardly with respect to the vehicle wheel while the arms are
20 disposed alongside the vehicle wheel with the first ends extending transversely
on the tread of the vehicle wheel at each end of the traction-aid member, the
second ends of the arms inwardly of the vehicle wheel, thereby causing the firstends of the arms to firmly clamp on the tread of the vehicle wheel to maintain the
traction-aid member in place on the tread of the vehicle wheel.
The almost continuous traction-aid action around the wheel is especially
useful for a vehicle that must go up a hill, the traction-aid device remaining
clamped on the vehicle wheel during the whole ascent.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention will be
given herein below with reference to the following drawings, in which like
. CA 02217132 1997-10-23
numbers refer to like elements:
Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a vehicle wheel equipped with a
traction-aid device according to a first embodiment of the invention, having a first
variation of traction-aid member;
Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the vehicle wheel equipped with the
traction-aid device of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the traction-aid device shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a front elevation partial view of a vehicle wheel equipped with
the traction-aid device of Figure 1, embodying a second variation of traction-aid
1 0 member;
Figure 5 is a front elevation partial view of a vehicle wheel provided with
the traction-aid device of Figure 1, embodying a third variation of traction-aidmember;
Figure 6 is a front elevation view of a vehicle wheel provided with the
traction-aid device of Figure 1, embodying a fourth variation of traction-aid
member;
Figure 7 is a side elevation view of the vehicle wheel equipped with the
traction-aid device of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a front elevation view of a vehicle wheel equipped with a
traction-aid device according to a second embodiment of the invention,
embodying a fifth variation of traction-aid member;
Figure 9 is a side elevation view of the vehicle wheel equipped with the
traction-aid device of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a front elevation view of a vehicle wheel equipped with a
traction-aid device according to a third embodiment of the invention;
Figure 11 is a side elevation view of the vehicle wheel equipped with the
traction-aid device of Figure 10;
Figure 12 is a front elevation view of a vehicle wheel equipped with a
traction-aid device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, embodyinga sixth variation of traction-aid member;
Figure 13 is a side elevation view of the vehicle wheel equipped with the
CA 02217132 1997-10-23
traction-aid device of Figure 1 2;
Figure 14 is a side elevation view of the traction-aid device of Figure 12,
embodying an eighth variation of traction-aid member;
Figure 15 is a side elevation view of the traction-aid device of Figure 12,
5 embodying a ninth variation of traction-aid member; and
Figure 16 is a side elevation view of a bag used to store the traction-aid
device of Figure 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, there are shown a traction-aid device for
a vehicle wheel 2 having a tread 4 (best shown in Figure 2) and a given
circumference, according to a first embodiment of the invention. The traction-aid
device has an elongated traction-aid member 6 having a length exceeding half thecircumference of the vehicle wheel 2. The traction-aid member 6 is flexible and
15 has a rugged outer face and a pair of opposite ends 8, 10. The rugged outer face
can be formed of any suitable elements that may be of any desired configuration
that will provide good traction on slippery, snowy or muddy surfaces. In the
illustrated case, the rugged outer face is provided by a series of plates 12
regularly spaced along two spaced-apart paralleled cables 14 extending between
20 the ends 8, 10 of the traction-aid member 6. Each plate 12 has opposite
protruding flanges 16, 18 extending crosswise with respect to the cables 14 to
provide a ground biting action to improve traction. Each flange 16, 18 has a pair
of holes 20 through which the cables 14 pass respectively. Stopping elements
32 are secured to the cables 14 between the flanges 16, 18 of each plate 12 to
25 restrict displacement of the plates 12 along the cables 14. The flanges 16, 18
can be jagged to better bite into hard surfaces.
The traction-aid device also comprises a pair of L-shaped arms 22, 24 (best
shown in Figure 3) each having a first end 26 adapted to extend transversely on
the tread 4 of the vehicle wheel 2, and a second end 28 adapted to extend
30 alongside the vehicle wheel 2. The ends 8, 10 of the traction-aid member 6 are
respectively attached to the first ends 26 of the elongated arms 22, 24. For this
CA 02217132 1997-10-23
purpose, the first end 26 of each arm 22, 24 is provided with a pair of spaced
apart holes 34, 36 (as best shown in Figure 2) located to extend substantially
symmetrically with respect to a center of the tread 4 when the arms 22, 24 are
clamped on the tread 4 of the vehicle wheel 2, and a roller 38 extending betweenthe holes 34, 36 to roll against and embed in the tread 4 of the vehicle wheel 2upon a clamping action exerted on the arms 22, 24. The cables 14 have ends
passing through and sticking out of the holes 34, 36 respectively, the ends being
provided with lock heads 40 bigger than the holes 34, 36 of the first ends 26,
so that the cables 14 cannot disengage from the first ends 26. The plates 12
10 each preferably have an underside provided with cleats 42 (best shown in Figure
1) to provide friction between the plates 12 and the tread 4 of the vehicle wheel
2 in order that they will remain in place. The attachment of the traction-aid
member 6 with the arms 22, 24 can be achieved with any suitable elements that
may be of any desired configuration that will provide a sufficiently strong
15 coupling given the stress exerted thereon during use of the traction-aid device.
A clamping arrangement 30 is provided for pulling, as the traction-aid
member 6 is mounted onto the tread 4 of the vehicle wheel 2 with the outer face
of the traction-aid member 6 extending outwardly with respect to the vehicle
wheel 2 while the arms 22, 24 are disposed alongside the vehicle wheel 2 with
20 the first ends 26 extending transversely on the tread 4 of the vehicle wheel 2 at
each end 8,10 of the traction-aid member 6, the second ends 28 of the arms 22,
24 inwardly of the vehicle wheel 2, thereby causing the first ends 26 of the arms
22, 24 to firmly clamp on the tread 4 of the vehicle wheel 2 to maintain the
traction-aid member 6 in place on the tread 4 of the vehicle wheel 2.
With the clamping arrangement 30 shown in Figures 1 and 2, the second
ends 28 of the arms 22, 24 are telescopically mounted together. The second end
28 of one of the arms 22, 24 (in the illustrated case, the arm 24) has a
longitudinal series of holes 54 (best shown in Figure 3). The clamping
arrangement is provided by an elongated clamp member 56 having an end
30 pivotally connected to a selected one of the holes 54 in the second end 28 of the
arm 24, and an opposite end. The clamp member 56 can be formed of a pair of
CA 02217132 1997-10-23
parallel blades extending on opposite sides of the second end 28 of the arm 24
and connected thereto by means of a dowel 110, cutter pin or any other suitable
fastener. A clamp lever 58 is pivotally connected to the second end 28 of the
other arm 22. The opposite end of the clamp member 56 is pivotally connected
5 to the clamp lever 58 so that a pivoting of the clamp lever 58 towards the
second end 28 of the arm 22, in the direction of arrow 60, pulls the clamp
member 56 in the direction of arrow 62, thereby causing the second end 28 of
the arm 24 to slide inside the second end 28 of the other arm 22. As a result, the
first end 26 of the arms 22, 24 slide down along the tread 4 of the wheel 2 as
10 facilitated by the rollers 38. The ends 8, 10 of the traction-aid member 6 are
thereby brought closer to each other, making the traction-aid device cling to the
vehicle wheel 2 in one go. This action also draws both ends of the cables 14
towards the lower part of the wheel 2, which stabilizes all the plates 12 against
the tread 4 of the wheel 2. The rollers 38 are slightly offset toward the tread 4
15 with respect to the main axis of the first ends 26 of the arms 22, 24 to keep the
rollers 38 from being damaged when the wheel 2 turns. The rollers 38 have
guiding brims 39 for contact with the tread 4 of the wheel 2 to preserve the
alignment of the arms 22, 24 during their displacement on the tread 4. The
traction-aid device is adaptable to various wheel diameters by simply selecting
20 the proper hole 54 for connecting the clamp member 56.
Referring to Figure 4, there is shown a variant of the traction-aid member,
where the flanges 16, 18 of each plate 12 are spaced from each other with a
space corresponding to a size of the stopping elements 32 therebetween. This
configuration reduces the displacements of the plates 12 along the traction-aid
25 member 6, thereby stabilizing the behaviour of the plates 12 during use, which
may be desirable in certain circumstances.
Referring to Figure 5, there is shown another variant of the traction-aid
member 6, where a series of protruding blades 42 replace the plates 12 shown
in Figure 1. The blades 42 are regularly spaced along the cables 14 and extend
30 crosswise with respect to the cables 14 to form the rugged outer face of the
traction-aid member 6. The blades 42 preferably protrude on both sides of the
CA 02217132 1997-10-23
traction-aid member 6, so that the side facing the vehicle wheel 2 provides
frictional contact with the tread 4 of the vehicle wheel 2 to oppose against thedisplacement of the traction-aid member 6 on the tread 4. Longitudinally resistant
sleeves 44 are preferably used to cover the cables 14 between the blades 42 to
5 conveniently restrict displacement and tilting of the blades 42 along the cables
14 while protecting them from external conditions.
Referring to Figures 6 and 7, there is shown another variant of the traction-
aid member 6, formed of a strap 48 extending between the first ends 8, 10 of
the arms 22, 24. Cleats 50 are distributed along the strap 48 to form the rugged10 outer face of the traction-aid member 6. The ends of the strap 48 are wrappedaround the first ends 26 of the arms 22, 24 and sewed together for attachment
thereto. The cleats 50 can be riveted to the strap 48.
The traction-aid member 6 can be provided with side restraint members 46
extending chordally on both sides of the traction-aid member 6 to embrace the
15 vehicle wheel 2 when the traction-aid member 6 is mounted onto the tread 4 ofthe vehicle wheel 2. Such side restraint members 46 are especially useful to
maintain the alignment of the traction-aid member at the center of the tread 4 for
better traction efficiency.
Referring to Figures 8 and 9, there is shown a traction-aid device according
20 to a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the second ends
28 of the arms 22, 24 have toothed end portions 64 opposite to each other. The
clamping arrangement 30 is formed of a guiding member 66 (best shown on
Figure 9) to slidably guide the toothed end portions 64 in parallel with each other.
A toothed knob 68 is rotatably mounted between and engaged with the toothed
25 end portions 64, so that a rotation of the knob 68 drives the toothed end portions
64 in opposite parallel directions. A pawl 70 cooperatively engages the toothed
knob 68 to prevent backward motion thereof. The knob 68 is preferably provided
with a handle 72 for manual operation of the knob 68.
Referring to Figures 10 and 11, there is shown a traction-aid device
30 according to a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the
clamping arrangement 30 is formed of a disk 74 adapted to extend about a
CA 02217132 1997-10-23
center location alongside the vehicle wheel 2. The disk 74 has an outer face
provided with two pairs of spaced apart guiding pins 76, 78 between which the
second ends 28 of the arms 22, 24 pivotally extend respectively in generally
radial directions with respect to the vehicle wheel 2 when the traction-aid
5 member 6 is mounted onto the tread 4 of the vehicle wheel 2. A toothed knob
80 is rotatably mounted onto the outer face of the disk 74 at a center thereof.
The second ends 28 of the arms 22, 24 are pivotally connected peripherally to
the toothed knob 80 so that a rotation of the toothed knob draws and turns the
second ends 28 of the arms 22, 24 inwardly with respect to the vehicle wheel
10 2, in the direction of the arrows 82. A pawl 84 is mounted onto the outer face
of the disk 74 and cooperatively engages the toothed knob 80 to prevent
backward motion thereof.
Referring to Figures 12 and 13, there is shown a traction-aid device
according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the
15 clamping arrangement 30 is formed of two hinged levers 86, 88 adapted to
extend about a center location alongside the vehicle wheel 2. The second ends
28 of the arms 22, 24 are pivotally connected to the levers 86, 88 respectively
so that the second ends 28 of the arms 22, 24 extend in generally radial
directions with respect to the vehicle wheel 2 when the traction-aid member 6
20 is mounted onto the tread 4 of the vehicle wheel 2. A ratchet mechanism formed
of teeth 90 on the lever 88 and a pawl 92 on the lever 86 is used to prevent
backward motion of the two levers 86, 88. The second end 28 of each arm 22,
24 is preferably made of a pair of telescopically mounted extendable portions 94,
96 and a spring 98 cooperatively associated with the extendable portions 94,96
25 for biasing the extendable portions 94,96 into a telescopically retracted position.
The second ends 28 of the arms 22, 24 can be made of elastic rubber straps to
obtain a similar effect. The levers 86, 88 can be curved downwardly to leave
more space below the arms 22, 24 for the user hands
Figures 12 and 13 also show another variant of the traction-aid member
30 6, formed of a chain 52.
Referring to Figure 14, multiple chains 52 can be used to form the traction-
CA 02217132 1997-10-23
aid member 6, instead of a single chain construction as shown in Figures 12 and
13. The chains 52 can be positioned in a crosswise arrangement to provide
efficient traction. Other chain configurations can be used as well.
Referring to Figure 15, multiple straps 48 can be used to form the traction-
5 aid member 6, instead of a single strap'construction as shown in Figures 6 and7. The straps 48 are preferably positioned in parallel with each other. Other strap
configurations can be used as well.
The traction-aid member 6 can be formed using various materials, for
example fabrics, metal (chains), rubber, plastic, etc., provided with various forms
1 0 of cleats.
As shown in Figures 10 to 16, the traction-aid device may be provided
with an additional L-shaped arm 100 like the arms 22, 24. The first end 26 of the
additional arm is attached to the traction-aid member 6 at an intermediate
location with respect to the ends 8, 10 thereof. The second end 28 of the
15 additional arm 100 is connected to the clamping arrangement 30 so that the
second end 28 of the additional arm 100 extends in a generally radial direction
with respect to the vehicle wheel 2 when the traction-aid member 6 is mounted
onto the tread 4 of the vehicle wheel 2. To accommodate various wheel
diameters, the additional arm can be slidably connected to the clamping
20 arrangement 30 that is then provided with guiding rings 101 in which the arm
100 can slide, as shown in Figure 12. The arm 100 may be provided with a stop
103 to prevent its disengagement from the clamping arrangement 30.
As shown in Figure 13, the first end 26 of each arm 22, 24 (and optionally
100) may have a length exceeding a width of the tread 4 of the vehicle wheel 2.
25 In such a case, the first end 26 has a distal hooking flange 102 extending
opposite the second end 28 of the arm 22, 24 (or 100), to engage an inner
surface 104 of the vehicle wheel 2 when the traction-aid member 6 is mounted
onto the tread 4 of the vehicle wheel 2.
As shown in Figure 11, the first end 26 of each arm 22, 24 (and optionally
30 100) may have a length inferior to a width of the tread 4 of the vehicle wheel 2.
In such a case, the first end 26 has a distal hooking flange 106 extending
CA 02217132 1997-10-23
opposite the second end 28 of the arm 22, 24 (or 100), to frictionally engage the
tread 4 of the vehicle wheel 2.
Referring to Figure 16, a bag 108 can conveniently be used to store the
traction-aid device in a collapsed position, for example in the trunk of the vehicle.
While embodiments of this invention have been illustrated in the
accompanying drawings and described above, it will be evident to those skilled
in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing
from the essence of this invention. All such modifications or variations are
believed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims
10 appended hereto.
