Assembly for installing chains

An assembly for installing chains or the like on dual wheels having corresponding outer peripheral surfaces and facing sidewalls, the assembly having a plate dimensioned for engagement with the outer peripheral surfaces of the dual wheels; a capturing member having at least one dimension greater than the distance between the sidewalls; an arm interconnecting the plate and the capturing member to mount the assembly on the wheels for rotation therewith with the plate in engagement with the outer peripheral surfaces of the wheels and the capturing member captured between the sidewalls; and pins mounted on the plate for releasably supporting chains in depending relation aligned with the wheels for installation thereon by rotation of the wheels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an assembly for installing chains or the 
like and more particularly to such an assembly which is adapted to install 
chains on dual wheels such as those of trucks, buses and other large 
vehicles under even the most adverse of conditions. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The installation of chains on the wheels of vehicles to improve traction 
where snow or ice are encountered has long been known. Such installation 
is commonly a tedious, exhaustive and dirty procedure because of the 
necessity for crawling under the vehicle and moving the segments of chain 
about the periphery of the tire while pulling the ends sufficiently tight 
to permit their interconnection. It has, however, been known in the case 
of smaller automotive vehicles to employ wire clips which are snap fitted 
around the transverse periphery of the tire and to which an end of the 
chains is attached. Thereafter, the operator drives the vehicle forwardly 
to pull the chains about the periphery of the tire and permit fastening of 
the ends of the chains together. 
Which such prior art devices can be employed on relatively small wheels, 
they are not suited to the installation of chains or large wheels such as 
those of trucks, buses or the like. The weight of the chains required for 
such wheels is often seventy-five pounds or more which is simply too great 
for conventional devices to support for installation in the manner 
described with respect to smaller vehicles. 
Furthermore, the problems incident to the installation of chains or other 
vehicles are compounded in the case of such large wheel vehicles. Since 
the chains are normally to be installed on the driving wheels of such 
vehicles and since the driving wheels of such vehicles are normally of the 
dual type, the weight of the chains employed on such wheels is so great as 
to prevent installation by other than a person of considerable strength or 
by more than one person. In the case of trucks and buses, it is frequently 
necessary to install chains on several sets of dual wheels which, when 
using conventional procedures, can require up to an hour and a half by 
even a person experienced in the installation of such chains. In the case 
of both trucks and buses, it may be necessary for the driver to await the 
arrival of a crew for installing the chains. Since such vehicles 
frequently travel great distances passing into and out of mountainous 
areas where snow and ice are encountered, the problem of chain 
installation is of chronic proportions. 
Therefore, it has long been known that it would be desirable to have an 
assembly for installing chains which is particularly well suited to the 
installation of chains on dual wheels rapidly, safely, securely and with 
minimal exertion. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved 
assembly for installing chains which is adapted to the installation of 
chains on dual wheels. 
Another object is to provide such an assembly which permits the operators 
of trucks, buses and the like to install chains on the dual wheels of 
their vehicles with little or no exertion and in a small fraction of the 
time required by conventional procedures. 
Another object is to provide such an assembly which operates in conjunction 
with the wheels themselves to install chains thereabout and which can 
itself rapidly be installed and removed. 
Another object is to provide such an assembly which can be employed in 
multiples to install chains on the dual wheels of a vehicle in a single 
operation. 
Another object is to provide such an assembly which permits the rapid 
installation of chains under even the most adverse of conditions and which 
possesses the capability for adjusting to stresses applied thereto as a 
result of such conditions. 
Another object is to provide such an assembly which is capable of use in 
installing even the heaviest of chains without exertion by the user or 
damage to the tires. 
Another object is to provide such an assembly which is of such exceedingly 
strong and durable construction as virtually to preclude damage thereto 
over a long operational life. 
Another object is to provide such an assembly which virtually insures that 
the chains are installed more tightly, uniformly and precisely than as 
heretofore been possible so as virtually to eliminate damage resulting 
from improperly installed chains. 
Another object is to provide such an assembly which is quite compact and 
easy to store and which can be sold at a nominal price. 
Further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements and 
arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is 
dependable, economical, durable and fully effective in accomplishing its 
intended purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring more particularly to the drawings, the assembly of the present 
invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10 in FIG. 1. As shown 
therein, the assembly is displayed in a typical operative environment 
mounted on dual wheels 11 such as are used on trucks, trailers, buses and 
the like. Such dual wheels include an outer wheel 12 and an inner wheel 13 
disposed in side-by-side relation. The wheels are mounted on an axle and 
hub assembly 14 in the conventional manner for rotation about an axis of 
rotation 15. 
Each of the wheels 12 and 13 has a wheel center 20 including a wheel rim 21 
on which an inflated tire 22 is mounted in the conventional manner. Each 
tire has substantially convex sidewalls 23 which are joined by a 
peripheral or tread portion 24 extending circumferentially about the tire. 
As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the tread portion of each tire has an inner 
lateral edge 25 and an outer lateral edge 26. The tires of the dual wheels 
11 are spaced from each other in side-by-side relation to define the space 
or passage 27 therebetween. As shown in FIG. 1, the dual wheels are rested 
on a ground surface 28. 
The assembly 10 of the present invention has a frame 35. The frame has a 
first portion or plate 36 which is preferably, although not necessarily, 
substantially flat and of metal or durable plastic construction. The plate 
has a first side 37 and an opposite, substantially parallel second side 
38. The plate has opposite end portions 39 and is bounded by a lateral 
edge 40. The plate preferably has a length, as can be seen in FIG. 2, 
which is slightly greater than the distance between the outer lateral 
edges 26 of the tires 22. 
The frame 35 has a second portion or arm 46 mounted on the first side 37 of 
the plate 36 substantially midway between the opposite end portions 39. 
The arm 46 is mounted in position by a clevis or mount 47 consisting of a 
pair of plates 48 mounted in upstanding relation on the first side 37 of 
the plate in spaced relation to each other and aligned longitudinally of 
the plate 36. A pin 49 is extended through and interconnects the plates 48 
to define an axis of rotation 50 right angularly related to the plate 36, 
as best shown in FIG. 4. The arm has a distal end portion 51 which is 
mounted for pivotal movement on the pin 49 about the axis of rotation 50. 
The arm has a remote end portion 52. 
The frame 35 has a third portion or capturing member 56 mounted, as by 
welding, on the remote end portion 52 of the arm 46, as best shown in FIG. 
5. The capturing member includes a sleeve or coupling 57 having an 
internally screw threaded passage 58 extending therethrough. A pair of 
adjustment members or bolts 59 are individually, screw-threadably received 
in the opposite end portions of the passage 58. Each of the adjustment 
members has an externally screw threaded shaft portion 60, which is 
screw-threadably received in the passage 58 at its respective end thereof, 
and a head portion 61. The head portion preferably has a convex or 
hemispherical outer surface 62. 
A pair of T-shaped pins 66 are individually mounted in upstanding relation 
on the opposite end portions 39 of the first side 37 of the plate 36. Each 
of the pins has an upright portion 67 which is substantially normal to the 
first side 37 and a cross portion 68 mounted in spaced relation to the 
first side 37 and extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation 
50, as best shown in FIG. 4. The length of the cross portion 68 is such as 
to permit it to pass through a link of the chains with which the assembly 
10 is intended to be used, as will hereinafter be described in greater 
detail. 
A T-shaped pin 69 is mounted on the first side 37 of the plate 36 in 
upstanding relation substantially centrally thereof. The pin is mounted in 
a predetermined position adjacent to the arm 46, as best shown in FIG. 5. 
The pin 69 has an upright portion 70 and a cross portion 71 substantially 
parallel to the cross portions 68 of the pins 66. The relationship between 
the arm and cross portion 71 of the pin 69 is preferably such that the arm 
can pivot toward the pin 69 a relatively short distance beyond right 
angular relation with respect to the plate 36, as best shown in FIG. 5. 
The assembly 10 is operable to install a conventional set of chains 80 
preferably of the type designed for installation on dual wheels 11. Such 
chains generally consist of three longitudinal strands or portions 81 
having corresponding end links 82. The longitudinal portions 81 are 
interconnected by a plurality of transverse strands or portions 83. The 
ends of the longitudinal portions remote from the end links 82 mount 
clasps 84 adapted for attachment to the end links upon installation of the 
chains about the dual wheels. 
It has been found convenient, although not necessary, to employ a wire 
spring 86 having end portions 87 shaped to engage the links of the 
outermost longitudinal portions 81 of the chains 80, as shown in FIG. 1, 
during installation of the chains. 
OPERATION 
The operation of the described embodiment of the subject invention is 
believed to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. 
The frame 35 of the assembly 10 is simply and expeditiously installed by 
grasping the end portions 39 of the plate 36 and positioning it in a 
secondary or inserting attitude. This attitude can best be visualized by 
reference to FIG. 5 wherein the opposite end portion 39 of the plate 36 on 
the right, as viewed therein, is held above the opposite end portion so 
that the plate is held in a vertical attitude. This causes the arm 46 to 
pivot about the axis of rotation 50 into engagement with the cross portion 
71 of the pin 69, as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, the arm is permitted to rotate 
a short distance beyond what would be a right angular relationship with 
respect to the plate. When held in this position, the arm is inserted 
through the space 27 between the sidewalls 23 of the tires 22 until the 
capturing member 56 is beyond the point of closest approach of the convex 
sidewalls 23. Thereafter, the plate is rotated ninety degrees to a primary 
attitude shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In the primary attitude the plate 36 
is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation 15 of the dual wheels 
11. Such rotation causes the head portions 61 of the adjustment members 59 
to be drawn into engagement with the convex sidewalls 23 of the tires 22, 
as best shown in FIG. 2. The first side 37 of the plate 36 is similarly 
moved into engagement with the tread portions 24 of the tires. This action 
binds and thus mounts the frame 35 securely on the tires, as shown in FIG. 
2. It has been found that the engagement of the hemispherical surfaces 62 
of the head portions 61 with the resilient rubberized sidewalls 23 of the 
tires achieves a binding effect capturing the tires between the plate 36 
and the capturing member 56. As a result, the plate is securely mounted in 
position on the tires. 
Adjustment to individual tire shapes and sizes can be accommodated in 
several respects. The plate 36 can, when positioned in the primary 
attitude, be pulled outwardly from the tread portions 24 to draw the head 
portions 61 of the adjustment members into engagement with the sidewalls 
23. While this draws the plate 36 away from the tread portions, when such 
engagement of the head portions has been achieved, the plate can be forced 
downwardly against the tread portions to bind the plate in position such 
as can be visualized in FIG. 3. 
Alternatively, or in conjunction with such adjustment, the adjustment 
members 59 can be screw threaded inwardly or outwardly of the internally 
screw threaded passage 58 of the sleeve 57 to adjust to the different 
shapes and sizes of the tires involved. In either case, it has been 
discovered that once the binding effect has been achieved, the plate 36 is 
so securely mounted on the tires 22 as to be capable of supporting 
tremendous weight without becoming dislodged. 
Furthermore, the pivotal mounting of the arm 46 for movement beyond a right 
angular relation with respect to the plate allows it to adjust to uneven 
surfaces encountered during installation and permitting it to become 
centered in more nearly right angular relation, as shown in FIG. 2, upon 
achieving the binding effect as desired. This also accommodates shifting 
of the tires relative to each other during rotation of the dual wheels in 
installation of the chains as will hereinafter be described. In addition, 
since the T-shaped pin 69 retains the arm in an extended position even 
when in the secondary attitude, the arm is prevented from simply pivoting 
further and into engagement with the plate. 
When the assembly 10 has been installed on the dual wheels 11 as described, 
the chains 80 are attached to the assembly. This is achieved by 
positioning the end links 82 of the longitudinal portions 81 over the pins 
66 and 69, as shown in FIG. 2. The end links of the outer longitudinal 
portions 81 are individually slipped over the cross portions 68 of the 
pins 66 and supported on the upright portions 67 thereof. Similarly, the 
end link of the central longitudinal portion is slipped over the cross 
portion 71 of the pin 69 and supported on the upright portion 70 thereof. 
The chains are then extended downwardly over and in alignment with the 
dual wheels as shown in FIG. 1 and extended in rested relation on the 
ground surface 28 therebehind. The outer longitudinal portions are 
laterally disposed with respect to the outer lateral edges 26 of the tires 
22 and in trailing relation thereto. The central longitudinal portion of 
the chains is arranged in alignment with and trailing relation to the 
space 27 between the tires. Under certain circumstances, it has been found 
to be of assistance to install the wire spring 86 on the chains remote 
from the tires, as shown in FIG. 1. The end portions 87 thereof are 
individually snapped into engagement with links of the outer longitudinal 
portions 81 of the chains compressing the wire spring and keeping the 
chains in a "spread" condition. 
Subsequently the vehicle, not shown, mounting the dual wheels 11 is driven 
forwardly to draw the chains 80 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in 
FIG. 1, and about the dual wheels. Such forward motion is continued until 
the plate 36 presses under the tires 22 and reaches a position a short 
distance above the ground surface 28. At that point the clasps 84 of the 
chains 80 are held by gravity in close proximity to their corresponding 
end links 82 attached to the pins 66 and 69 of the assembly. The end links 
are then individually removed from their respective pins and dropped on 
the ground surface 28. The weight of the dual wheels on the chains coupled 
with the force of gravity maintains the chains in position extending about 
the dual wheels. 
The assembly 10 is then removed from the dual wheels 11 by moving the plate 
36 to the vertical, secondary attitude and withdrawing the plate 36 from 
the tread portions 24 of the tires and the arm 46 from the space 27 
between the tires. It has been found that although the plate in the 
installed primary attitude is securely held in position on the tires, it 
is easily freed therefrom by moving the plate to the secondary attitude. 
It is believed the hemispherical surfaces 62 of the adjustment members 59 
assist in achieving this operative effect. Once the assembly 10 has been 
removed from the dual wheels 11, the end links 82 of the chains are simply 
individually fastened on their respective clasps 84 and the wire spring 
86, if used, removed from the chains. This completes installation of the 
chains on the dual wheels. 
Two or more of the assemblies 10 can be employed simultaneously to install 
chains 80 on all of the sets of dual wheels 11 of a vehicle if desired. 
The assemblies are installed on the dual wheels in each case as already 
described and extended about the sets of dual wheels during the same act 
of moving the vehicle forward as described. 
Alternatively, the assembly 10 can be installed on a set of dual wheels 11 
as described, but positioned on the front side of the dual wheels adjacent 
to the ground surface 28. The chains 80 are then installed on the pins 66 
and 69 and laid on the ground surface ahead of the path of forward 
movement so that forward movement of the dual wheels causes the dual 
wheels to pass over and along the chains. Thus, the chains are carried 
about the dual wheels in the same clockwise direction as would be the case 
if viewed in FIG. 1. The assembly is then removed, as described, and the 
clasps 84 attached to the end links 82 to complete the installation. It 
will be apparent that, if desired, both processes can individually be 
employed for installing the chains on several sets of dual wheels. 
The embodiment of the invention shown and described herein is the preferred 
form of the invention. However, it can be constructed in other forms as 
well. For example, the assembly 10 can employ a steel cable in place of 
the arm 46 with the capturing member 56 mounted on the end thereof. The 
cable is sufficiently rigid to support itself when the plate is in the 
secondary attitude while being sufficiently flexible to adjust to 
variations in the attitudes and positions of the wheels 12 and 13 of the 
dual wheels 11. Alternatively, the plate can mount a chain in place of the 
arm 46 and the capturing member 56 on the remote end thereof. Insertion of 
the capturing member can be accomplished by positioning the plate 36 on 
the top of the tires 22 and dangling the capturing member through the 
space 27 between the tires 22. By pulling upwardly on the plate, the 
capturing member is drawn into engagement with the side walls 23 of the 
tires and by then pulling the plate downwardly into engagement with the 
tread portions 24 of the tires the assembly can be secured in position. 
In any case, the assembly 10 of the present invention reduces the time 
required to install chains on the dual wheels of vehicles to a small 
fraction of the time required by conventional procedures. It does so while 
requiring little physical exertion on the part of the person installing 
the chains, without risk of injury and under clean working conditions. 
Further, the assembly insures that the chains are correctly installed. 
Therefore, the assembly of the present invention permits the installation 
of the chains on dual wheels rapidly, safely, securely, with minimal 
exertion and with a precision insuring that the chains operate most 
effectively. 
Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is 
conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is 
recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the 
invention, which is not to be limited to the illustrative details 
disclosed.