Patent ID: 8978519
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: B60C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A tire chain installation ramp comprising: a plurality of lengthwise plates with each lengthwise plate comprising a top surface, a bottom surface and substantially flat front and back faces and further comprising a plurality of open connection slots defined within each lengthwise plate extending through the front and back faces from either the bottom surface of the lengthwise plate toward, but not to, the top surface of the lengthwise plate or extending through the front and back faces from the top surface of the lengthwise plate toward, but not to, the bottom surface of the lengthwise plate, each lengthwise plate comprises an isosceles trapezoidal shape with the bottom surface corresponding to the longer trapezoid base and the top surface corresponding to the shorter trapezoid base; a plurality of substantially rectangular crosswise plates with each crosswise plate comprising a top surface, a bottom surface and substantially flat front and back faces and further comprising a plurality of open connection slots defined within each crosswise plate extending through the front and back faces from either the bottom surface of the crosswise plate toward, but not to, the top surface of the crosswise plate or extending through the front and back faces from the top surface of the crosswise plate toward, but not to, the bottom surface of the crosswise plate; wherein multiple lengthwise plates are configured to be interlinked with multiple crosswise plates by the engagement of adjacent connection slots over each other to form a ramp comprised of a grid of multiple lengthwise plates and multiple crosswise plates; the plurality of lengthwise plates and the plurality of crosswise plates have substantially the same uniform thickness and the open connection slots defined within each type of plate has an opening width which is no more than 1/16 inch greater than the plate thickness; and the grid of multiple lengthwise plates and multiple crosswise plates comprises lengthwise and crosswise plates in a substantially vertical orientation that are interconnected only by the engagement of adjacent connection slots over each other with no other connecting structures.