Tire chain

A tire chain comprising two-spaced parallel side chains, a plurality of cross chains joining the side chains at spaced intervals, a plurality of spaced junction links in each side chain, wherein each junction link has areas of reduced thickness and a hook element on each end of each cross chain for connecting to one of the junction links. Each hook element consists of a bight and two-spaced hooks which are transverse to the plane of the bight having free ends which overlie the bight and which are spaced from the bight a distance which is less than the thickness of the junction link and greater than the thickness of the areas of reduced thickness to permit the entry of the junction link into the hooks of the hook element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to a tire chain having improved 
hooking means for securing the cross chains to the side chains. 
The present invention is particularly directed to a tire chain in which 
each cross chain is provided with a hook element at each end and in which 
each hook element has two hook-shaped legs that are secured to a link in 
the side chain. This type of hook element is used in cases where it is 
desired to prevent the cross chain from twisting relative to the side 
chains. This feature is particularly useful for a cross chain which 
consists of twisted links which have sharp gripping edges on one side. The 
cross chain is mounted so that the gripping edges face outwardly from the 
tire and the double hook elements maintain the cross chain in this 
orientation. The cross chain must be periodically replaced due to linkage 
wear or breakage. 
A special tool is required to open the hook-shaped legs, so that the legs 
can be slipped out of the link of the side chain for removing the cross 
chain. A new cross chain is applied by inserting the hook-shaped legs of 
the hook element in the link of the side chain. The special tool is used 
for crimping legs, so that the hook element remains in the link of the 
side chain. Since cross chains must be periodically replaced, the 
replacement procedure is quite annoying to the operator of the vehicle. 
The hook opening and crimping tool is quite expensive and must be carried 
by the operator at all times. The entire replacement operation is very 
time-consuming and, in the case of heavy duty chains, a great amount of 
force is required to separate and crimp the hooks. These and other 
difficulties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviated in 
a novel manner by the present invention. 
It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide a tire 
chain combination having cross chains which are attached to junction links 
in the side chains by means of double hook elements which can be applied 
and removed from the side chains without the use of special tools. 
Another object of this invention is the provision of a tire chain 
combination in which the side chains can be applied and removed quickly, 
with very little physical effort and, yet, remain securely in place after 
they are applied. 
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a tire chain 
combination which is simple in construction, and which is inexpensive to 
manufacture and use. 
With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled 
in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in 
the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In general, the invention consists of a tire chain having two spaced 
parallel side chains, a plurality of cross chains joining the side chains 
at spaced intervals, a hook element on each end of the cross chain, and a 
junction link in each side chain to which each hook element is connected. 
Each hook element consists of a bight which lies in a first plane and two 
hook-shaped legs which extend in planes that are transverse to the bight 
and have free ends which overlie the bight. Each junction link has an area 
of reduced thickness and the free end of each hook-shaped leg is spaced 
from the bight a distance which is less than the thickness of the junction 
link and greater than the thickness of the area of reduced thickness to 
permit the entry of the junction link into the hook-shaped portions of the 
legs between the free ends and the bight. Most specifically, each junction 
link comprises an elongated portion which includes the reduced areas and 
the reduced areas comprise a pair of spaced notches which extend 
transversely of the elongated portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a tire chain embodying the 
principles of the present invention. The tire chain is generally indicated 
by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a pair of spaced parallel side 
chains 12 and 14 and a plurality of cross chains 16 joining the side 
chains 14 and 12 at spaced intervals. As shown in FIG. 1, the chain 10 is 
mounted on a tire, indicated by the reference numeral 17, so that the side 
chains 12 and 14 extend along opposite side walls of the tire, and the 
cross chains extend across the front of the tire from the side chain 12 to 
the side chain 14. Each side chain consists of a plurality of links 22 and 
spaced junction links 24. Each cross chain 16 consists of a plurality of 
twist links 18 and a hook element, generally indicated by the reference 
numeral 26, at each end of the cross link for attaching the cross chain to 
the junction links 24. Each hook element 26 consists of a bight 28 and a 
pair of spaced hook-shaped legs 30 which terminate in free ends 32. The 
hooks 30 are located in planes which are transverse to the plane of the 
bight 28. The ends 32 overlie the bight 28 and are spaced from the bight 
28 at a distance which is less than the thickness of the junction links 
24. This spacing is indicated by the reference numeral 33 in FIG. 3. 
Referring also to FIG. 4, each junction link 24 is elongated and includes 
an elongated portion 25 which has areas of reduced thickness indicated by 
the reference numeral 35. These areas of reduced thickness are formed by a 
pair of spaced notches 36. The areas 35 of reduced thickness have a 
thickness which is less than the spacing 33 between the ends 32 and the 
bight 28. This allows the hook elements 26 to be attached to the junction 
links 24 by first aligning the ends 32 with the reduced areas 35. This 
allows the junction link to pass through the spacing 33, so that the 
elongated portion 34 of the junction link lies within the bight of the 
hook-shaped legs 30 as shown in FIG. 3. 
The manner in which the hook element 26 is applied to the junction link 24 
is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The hook element 26 is positioned so that the 
legs 30 are below the elongated portion 34 of the junction link 24, with 
the free ends 32 facing toward the outside of the link. As shown in FIG. 
7, the legs 30 are aligned with the reduced areas 35, so that the portions 
of the legs which form the bight 28 lie in the notches 36. Since the 
thickness of each reduced area 35 is less than the spacing 33, the reduced 
portions 35 can pass through the spaces 33, thereby allowing the elongated 
portion 34 to move toward the bight of the hook-shaped legs 30, so that it 
is located within the bight. The hook-shaped legs 30 are then rotated 
180.degree. in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6 to the position 
shown in FIG. 3. The hook element 26 can not be removed from the junction 
link 24 while it is in the position shown in FIG. 3, since the width of 
the bight 28 is greater than the spacing between the two links 22 which 
are connected to the junction link 24, as illustrated in FIG. 5. This 
prevents accidental unhooking of the hook element 26 from the junction 
link. However, when it is desired to remove the hook element 26 from the 
junction link 24 due to breakage or wear of the cross chain 16, the hook 
element is removed by reversing the procedure described above for 
inserting the hook in the junction link. 
FIRST MODIFICATION 
Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a first modified junction link 
generally indicated by the reference numeral 38. Link 38 comprises an 
elongated portion 39 which has an area of reduced thickness by virtue of a 
wide notch 40. The width of the notch 40 is greater than the distance 
between the outside edges of the bight in the vicinity of the ends 32 of 
the hook-shaped element 26. 
SECOND MODIFICATION 
Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a second modified junction link 
generally indicated by the reference numeral 42. Junction link 42 
comprises an elongated portion which has reduced areas 45 which are formed 
by means of a pair of spaced transverse notches 46 on the interior surface 
of the elongated portion 44. The thickness of each reduced area 45 is less 
than the spaces 33. 
THIRD MODIFICATION 
Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown a third modified junction link 
generally indicated by the reference numeral 48. Junction link 48 
comprises an elongated portion 50 which includes areas of reduced 
thickness 51 and 53. Reduced area 51 is formed by a transverse notch 52 on 
the outer surface of the elongated portion 50 and reduced area 53 is 
formed by a transverse notch 54 in the inside surface of the elongated 
portion 50. The reduced areas 51 and 53 have a thickness which is less 
than the spacings 33. 
FOURTH MODIFICATION 
Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown a fourth modified junction link 
generally indicated by the reference numeral 56. Junction link 56 
comprises an elongated portion 58 which has reduced areas 59 formed by 
spaced transverse notches 60 in the inside surface of the elongated 
portion 58 and a pair of spaced transverse notches 62 in the outer surface 
of the elongated portion 58. The outer notches 62 are aligned with the 
inner notches 60, as shown in FIG. 11 and the thickness of each reduced 
area 59 is less than the spacings 33 between the bight 28 and the ends 32 
of the hook element 26. 
It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction 
of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is 
not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein 
shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly 
come within the scope claimed.