Snow chain having a network of diamond shaped openings

This invention discloses a snow chain comprising at least three chains or wires arranged and connected to each other in a network providing two series of diamond-shaped openings adjacent and parallel to one another, wherein the two extremities of the first chain or wire respectively extending from the two end-most junctions between the first and second chains or wires are respectively connected to the two extremities of a first retainer cord, which first retainer cord with connectors for removably connecting the two extremities thereof is linked to the first chain or wire at each zig-zag point in a sliding arrangement. One extremity of the second chain or wire extending from one of the two end-most junctions between the first and second chains or wires includes, firstly, a connector for removably connecting that extremity to one extremity of the third chain or wire extending from one of the two endmost junctions between the second and third chains or wire and, secondly, an angled link disposed at the mid-length of that extremity that engages an angled link included in the other of the two end-most junctions between the second and third chains or wires. A second retainer cord with connector for removably connecting the two extremities thereof to one another is linked to the third chain or wire at the one extremity removably connected to the one extremity of the second chain or wire and at each zig-zag point in a sliding relationship.

A number of years ago, the inventor of the present invention had invented a 
snow chain employing a continuous loop of a chain disposed in a zig-zag 
pattern following the tread surface of the automobile tire (U.S. Pat. No. 
4,304,280), which provides truly outstanding traction and at the same 
time, quiet and smooth ride on all types of road surfaces including snowy, 
icy, and bare asphalt or concrete surfaces. The conventional snow chain 
employing a plurality of short chains disposed across the tread surface of 
the tire at regular intervals produces extremely bad noises and vibrations 
when the automobile is moving at a moderate or high speed, because those 
transversely disposed chain segments float away from the tire tread 
surface under the centrifugal force and around the road surface like a 
"flail". The continuous chain disposed in a zig-zag pattern following the 
tread surface of the tire in the "Continuous Snow Chain" invented by this 
inventor also floats away from the tread surface of the tire under the 
centrifugal force. However this continuous zig-zag chain does not pound 
the road surface, because the continuous zig-zag chain becomes 
continuously squeezed between the road surface and the tread surface of 
the tire and, consequently, there is absolutely no pounding action. The 
"Continuous Snow Chain" invented by the inventor of the present invention 
is a super snow chain as far as its performance is concerned. However, it 
has a serious problem as it is rather difficult to install onto the 
automobile tires. The continuous snow chain (U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,280) is 
like a bell on cat's neck. It does a wonderful job when it is somehow tied 
on the cat's neck. The problem is that there is no easy way to tie the 
bell on the cat's neck. The present invention is to teach how to tie the 
bell on the cat's neck. In other words, the present invention teaches how 
to make the Continuous snow chain from an Open loop chain and, thus, make 
it easy to install the continuous snow chain on and take it off from the 
automobile tire. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a closed loop 
continuous chain that employs an open loop construction. 
Another object is to provide a novel and simple method for effectively 
splicing and unsplicing the traction chain disposed in a zig-zag pattern 
continuously following the tread surface of the tire. 
A further object is to provide a snow chain that provides a super 
performance and cinch to install and take off. 
Additional object is to provide the missing link that gives the life to the 
Continuous Snow Chain (U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,280) invented by this inventor 
nearly ten years ago. 
These and other objects of the present invention will become clear as the 
description thereof progresses.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a perspective view of an embodiment of the 
continuous snow chain of the present invention installed on an automobile 
tire outlined by broken lines. In terms of function, the continuous snow 
chain shown in FIG. 1 comprises a first closed loop of chain 1 disposed in 
a zig-zag pattern continuously following the tread surface of the tire; a 
second closed loop of chain 16 disposed on one side of the tire in a 
star-shaped pattern, wherein the outer points of the star-shaped second 
chain 16 are respectively connected to the group of alternate zig-zag 
points of the first zig-zag chain 1, while the inner points of the 
star-shaped second chain 16 are pulled towards each other by a first 
retainer cord 24 linked to those inner points in a sliding arrangement; 
and a third closed loop of chain 5 disposed on the other side of the tire 
in a star-shaped pattern, wherein the outer points of the star-shaped 
third chain 5 are respectively connected to the second group of alternate 
zig-zag points of the first zig-zag chain, while the inner points of the 
star-shaped third chain 5 are pulled towards each other by a second 
retainer cord 15 connected to those inner points in a sliding arrangement. 
Actually, the closed loop of the diamond-shaped network of chains 
comprising the zig-zag chain 1 and the pair of star-shaped chains 5 and 16 
are made of an open loop of the diamond-shaped network of chains. 
In FIG. 2 there is illustrated the construction of the embodiment of the 
continuous snow chain shown in FIG. 1. In order to show the variations in 
materials employed in constructing the continuous snow chain as well as 
for the sake of simplicity in illustration, the link chain elements of the 
embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are replaced with shielded wire elements in the 
embodiment shown in FIG. 2. Apart from the aforementioned change of the 
elements, the same numerals stand for the same elements in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
In terms of structure, the continuous snow chain shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 
comprises three chains or shielded wires 1, 5 and 16 arranged and 
connected to each other into a network of chains, which network includes 
two rows of diamond-shaped openings adjacent and parallel to one another. 
The two extremities 5-a and 5-b of the third chain 5 respectively 
extending from the two end-most junctions 8 and 11 between third and first 
chains 5 and 1 are connected to the two extremities of the second retainer 
chord 15, respectively, wherein the second retainer cord 15 linked to the 
third chain 5 at each zig-zag point 12, 13 and 14 in a sliding arrangement 
includes connecting means such as a hook 6 and eyelet 7 respectively 
included in the two extremities thereof for removably connecting the two 
extremities thereof to one another. The extremity 5-a of the third chain 5 
is a first flexible elongated member and the extremity 5-b of the third 
chain 5 is a fourth flexible elongated member. The first chain 1 is 
connected to the third chain 5 at each zig-zag point 8, 9, 10 and 11. One 
extremity 1-a and 16-a of the first chain 1 (a second flexible elongated 
member) extending from one end-most junction 8 between the first and third 
chains 1 and 5 includes an angled link 3 at the mid-length thereof and a 
hook 4 at the end thereof. The other extremity 1-b of the first chain 1 
extending from the other end-most junction 11 is connected to the 
extremity 16-b of the second chain 16, which extremity 1-b includes an 
angled link 2. The second chain 16 is connected to the first chain 1 at 
each zig-zag point 18, 19, and 20. The extremity 16-c of the second chain 
16 (a third flexible elongated member) extending from one end-most 
junction 18 between the first and second chains 1 and 16 includes an 
eyelet 21. The first retainer cord 24 secured to one end-most zig-zag 
point 17 including an eyelet is linked to each zig-zag point 22 and 23 in 
a sliding arrangement and engages through the eyelet 21 secured to the 
extremity 16-c of the second chain 16, which first retainer cord 24 
includes a hook 25 that is to engage the eyelet 17. The hook 4 is to 
engage the eyelet 21. 
The continuous snow chain having the open-ended structure as shown in FIG. 
2 can be easily and instantly installed on an automobile tire. After 
spreading the chain on the ground as shown in FIG. 2, one moves the 
automobile to a position where the drive wheel rests on the middle of the 
chain spread on the ground. After bringing the two ends of the chain 
together around the thread surface of the tire, one engages the two angled 
links 2 and 3 by looping the extremity 16-a through the diamond-shaped 
opening including the chain elements 1-b and 16-b and, then, connects the 
hook 4 to the eyelet 21. The installation is complete when one closes the 
two retainer cords 15 and 24 by connecting the hook 6 to eyelet 7 and the 
hook 25 to the eyelet 17. The snow chain is taken off by following the 
installation precedure in reverse order. 
In FIG. 3 there is illustrated an embodiment of the continuous snow chain 
identical to that of FIG. 2 with one exception being that the eyelet 26 is 
now employed in place of the angled link 2 shown in FIG. 2. In installing 
the snow chain, the extremity 27 of the traction chain is threaded through 
the eyelet 2b in such a way that the angled link engages the eyelet. 
In FIG. 4 there is illustrated an embodiment of the continuous snow chain 
having the same construction as that of FIG. 2 with one exception being 
that the open links 28 and 29 now replace the angled links 2 and 3 shown 
in FIG. 2. 
In FIG. 5 there is illustrated an embodiment of the continuous snow chain 
having the same construction as that shown in FIG. 3 with one exception. 
The open-link 30 is now employed in place of the eyelet 26 shown in FIG. 
3. 
In FIG. 6 there is illustrated an embodiment of the continuous snow chain 
identical to that shown in FIG. 4 with one exception. The eyelet 31 is now 
employed in place of the open-link 28 shown in FIG. 4. It is readily 
recognized that a continuous snow chain comprising three rows of diamond 
shaped openings can be constructed by eliminating the chain 32 and, then, 
adding two chains in its place in a mirror image to the two chains 33 and 
34 about plane x--x as shown in FIG. 6. 
The snow chain comprising three rows of diamond shaped openings thereby 
constructed comprises: 
(a) a network of flexible elongated elements including at least three rows 
of diamond-shaped openings disposed in side-by-side and parallel 
arrangement; 
(b) a first retainer flexible elongated member connected to one edge of 
said network at each zig-zag point on said one edge; wherein said first 
retainer flexible elongated member includes means for removably connecting 
two extremities thereof to one another; 
(c) a second retainer flexible elongated member connected to the other edge 
of said network opposite to said one edge at each zig-zag point on said 
the other edge; wherein said second retainer flexible elongated member 
includes means for removably connecting two extremities thereof to one 
another; 
(d) a first and second flexible elongated members extending from one 
end-most junction of a middle row of said diamond-shaped openings, wherein 
each of said first and second flexible elongated members includes a first 
half of a coupling means disposed at a mid portion thereof and a first 
half of a connecting means disposed at the extremity thereof; 
(e) a third flexible elongated member extending from one end-most junction 
of one side row of said diamond-shaped openings adjacent to said one-end 
most junction of the middle row of said diamond-shaped openings and 
connected to said first retainer flexible elongated member, said third 
flexible elongated member including a second half of said connecting means 
of said first flexible elongated member disposed at the extremity thereof; 
(f) a fourth flexible elongated member extending from one end-most junction 
of another side row of said row of said diamond-shaped openings adjacent 
to said one end-most junction of the middle row of said diamond-shaped 
openings and connected to second retainer flexible elongated member, said 
fourth flexible elongated member including a second half of said 
connecting means of said second flexible elongated member disposed at the 
extremity thereof; 
(g) a second half of said coupling means of said first flexible elongated 
member disposed at the other end-most junction of said one side row of 
said diamond-shaped openings opposite to said one end-most junction of 
said one side row; and 
(h) a second half of said coupling means of second flexible elongated 
member disposed at the other end-most junction of said another side row of 
said diamond-shaped openings opposite to said one end-most junction of 
said another side row; and 
(i) wherein at least one of said halves of said coupling means comprises at 
least an open-link member or an angle link member. 
While the principles of the invention have now been made clear by the 
illustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those 
skilled in the art many modifications in the structures, arrangements, 
proportions, elements and materials which are particularly adapted to the 
specific working environments and operating conditions in the practice of 
the invention without departing from those principles. It is not desired 
to limit the invention to the particular illustrated embodiments shown and 
described and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to falling within the scope of the inventions as defined by 
the claims which follow.