Traction assist device

A traction assist device for mobilizing vehicles stuck in surfaces such as snow and ice includes a panel that has a top face, which is coarse. The panel is flexible, such that the panel is manipulable from an extended configuration into a rolled configuration. A plurality of grasps is coupled to and extends transversely from a bottom face of the panel. The grasps are configured to penetrate into surfaces, such as snow and ice, when the panel is positioned on the surface and a tire of a vehicle is positioned on the top face of the panel. The grasps retain the panel in a fixed position. The top face of the panel is configured to grip the tire, such that traction is supplied of the vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure and prior art relates to traction assist devices and more particularly pertains to a new traction assist device for mobilizing vehicles stuck in surfaces such as snow and ice.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a panel that has a top face, which is coarse. The panel is flexible, such that the panel is manipulable from an extended configuration into a rolled configuration. A plurality of grasps is coupled to and extends transversely from a bottom face of the panel. The grasps are configured to penetrate into surfaces, such as snow and ice, when the panel is positioned on the surface and a tire of a vehicle is positioned on the top face of the panel. The grasps retain the panel in a fixed position. The top face of the panel is configured to grip the tire, such that traction is supplied of the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 6, the traction assist device10generally comprises a panel12that has a top face14. The top face14is coarse, such that the top face14is gripping. The panel12is flexible, such that the panel12is manipulable from an extended configuration into a rolled configuration. In one embodiment, the panel12is substantially rectangularly shaped.

A plurality of grasps16is coupled to and extends transversely from a bottom face18of the panel12. The grasps16are configured to penetrate into surfaces, such as snow and ice, when the panel12is positioned on the surface and a tire of a vehicle is positioned on the top face14of the panel12. The grasps16retain the panel12in a fixed position, and the top face14of the panel12is configured to grip the tire, such that traction is supplied of the vehicle.

In one embodiment, the grasps16comprise blades20. In another embodiment, the blades20are angled relative to the panel12when the panel12is in the unrolled configuration. In yet another embodiment, the blades20are triangularly shaped. The blades20are positioned on the panel12such that a side22of the blade20is positioned distal from the panel12and a point24of the blade20is coupled to the panel12.

In yet another embodiment, the blades20are positioned in a plurality of rows26. Each row26extends from proximate to a front28to proximate to a rear30of the panel12. In still yet another embodiment, each row26is staggered relative to adjacent rows26.

In one embodiment, the device10comprises a plurality of extenders32. Each extender32is positioned between a respective blade20and the panel12, such that the blades20are separated from the panel12. In another embodiment, the plurality of extenders32comprises short rods34and long rods36.

In one embodiment, the plurality of extenders32is positioned such that the plurality of rows26comprises rows having short rods38and rows having long rods40. In another embodiment, the rows having short rods38are alternatingly positioned with the rows having long rods40.

A plurality of tabs42is coupled to and extends from opposing edges44of the panel12. The tabs42are opposingly positioned relative to the grasps16. The tabs42are positioned on the panel12such that the tabs42are configured to assist in retention of the panel12under the tire of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the tabs42are substantially rectangularly shaped.

A handle62is coupled to the front28of the panel12. The handle62is configured to grasp in the hand of the user to position and lift the panel12. In one embodiment, the handle62comprises a band46. The band46has opposing ends48that are coupled to the front28of the panel12.

A retainer50is coupled to the panel12. The retainer50is configured to retain the panel12in the rolled configuration. In one embodiment, the retainer50comprises a strap52and a closure54. The strap52is coupled to the front28substantially equally distant from the opposing edges44of the panel12. The strap52is positioned to wrap around the panel12when the panel12is in the rolled configuration. In one embodiment, the strap52comprises elastic. The closure54is coupled to the strap52and is positioned to retain the strap52around the panel12when the panel12is in the rolled configuration. In one embodiment, the closure54comprises a snap56. The snap56has a female piece58coupled to the strap52distal from the panel12. The snap56has a male piece60coupled to the strap52proximate to the panel12.

In use, the handle62is positioned on the panel12such that the handle62is configured to grasp in the hand of the user to position and lift the panel12. The grasps16are positioned on the panel12such that the grasps16are configured to penetrate into surfaces, such as snow and ice, when the panel12is positioned on the surface and a tire of a vehicle is positioned on the top face14of the panel12. The grasps16retain the panel12in a fixed position. The top face14of the panel12is configured to grip the tire, such that traction is supplied of the vehicle.