Wheel accessory for additional traction

An apparatus for use with an automotive wheel including a tire to provide additional traction includes a first and a second ring member fabricated of hard grooved metal material, each having a sufficient diameter and held in a spaced-apart parallel relation by a plurality of transversely oriented angled bar members rigidly connected at each end and equally spaced along the circumference of the rings to the rings so as to be adapted to receive therein and therebetween the tire. The angled bar members each have a convex portion member oriented towards the tire and a concave portion oriented away from the tire. At least one selectively adjustable strap is provided for connecting both of the ring members to the tire in a rotataionally fixed, but removable relation. The selectively adjustable strap has sufficient length to engage both the ring members and the tire in a compressive relation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates in general to accessories to increase vehicle tire 
traction, and, more particularly, to an apparatus for use with an 
automotive wheel including a tire to provide additional traction 
capability for the tire in loose terrain or on icy surfaces. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
A vehicle's tires are designed as a compromise to both city driving on hard 
paved surfaces at high speeds and to country driving on rough, uneven 
surface roads at slower speeds. As in most compromises, the design 
provides the performance desired for the mid-range of the expected 
conditions but fails to provide for the type of performance needed at the 
extremes of the driving range. 
One such extreme of the driving range occurs when the tire must provide 
traction on icy or snow packed surfaces where the very hardness and 
smoothness of the ice gives the tire little to no chance to find traction 
points. 
Another such extreme of the driving range is when the tire must provide 
traction in loose terrain such as sand, mud or gravel surfaces that are 
commonly found in off-road situations. 
The existing prior art has attempted to better the performance of the 
compromise design currently used with tires by providing aftermarket 
add-on accessories for use with tires that enable a tire to produce more 
traction at the driving extremes of icy roads and off-road travel. 
One such example of an aftermarket add-on accessory currently in wide use 
is snow chains. Snow chains, in a most common embodiment, are flexible 
chains that are linked together to form a ladder-like assembly that is 
wrapped around the circumference of a tire and connected to form a 
continuous ring. As the tire turns, the transverse "steps" of the 
ladder-like snow chains dig into the driving surface and provide 
additional traction. 
Snow chains, however, are difficult to install and are apt to break or 
release during high speeds, damaging the vehicle and possibly injuring the 
driver. Also snow chains tend to damage both the tire and the road if they 
are driven on dry, hard road surfaces. 
Thus, the user of the snow chains is forced to install the snow chains, 
usually at the side of the road when the roadway driving conditions become 
sufficiently dangerous to require additional traction, and, to remove the 
snow chains when the road conditions improve, hopefully before damage to 
the tires or road can occur. 
Such installation and removal is usually accomplished in less than ideal 
conditions and is sometimes dangerous to the individual concerned. Snow 
chains have somewhat limited use in off-road situations and are generally 
restricted to snow and ice driving. 
The problem with existing prior art aftermarket accessories then, such as 
snow chains, is that the accessories are usually limited to use in only 
one of the two extremes noted above, that is, they are useful in either 
icy conditions or in loose gravel conditions, but not both. Also such 
devices are difficult to install and are apt to release or break during 
use, causing damage to the vehicle and possibly injuring the driver. The 
very flexibility needed to fit these devices to a wheel is quite often the 
cause of its breaking. 
The present invention provides an aftermarket apparatus that solves the 
problems of the prior art devices as described below. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for use 
with an automotive wheel including a tire to provide additional traction 
in either icy conditions or in loose gravel conditions where traction is 
normally lessened for an unaided tire. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for 
use with an automotive wheel including a tire to provide additional 
traction that is easy to install and remove from the tire by an 
individual. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus 
for use with an automotive wheel including a tire that is easy to maintain 
and economical to manufacture. 
In general, the present invention is embodied in an apparatus for use with 
an automotive wheel including a tire to provide additional traction 
including a first and a second ring member, each having a sufficient 
diameter to surround the tire and held in a spaced-apart parallel relation 
by a plurality of transversely oriented bar members rigidly connected at 
each end along the circumference of the rings to the rings so as to be 
adapted to receive therein and therebetween the wheel and tire, whereby 
additional inflation of the tire secures the rings in place. 
The novel features of construction and operation of the invention will be 
more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, 
reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been 
illustrated a preferred form of the device of the invention and wherein 
like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
An apparatus for use with an automotive wheel including a tire to provide 
additional traction that is constructed in accordance with and embodies 
the present invention, is generally referred to by the reference numeral 
10 in FIGS. 1 through 4. 
Apparatus 10 is shown in the FIGs. as being used with an automotive wheel 
12 having mounted thereon a tire 14. Tire 14 has a treaded circumferential 
portion 16 that normally engages the driving surface. While it is assumed 
that the present invention will be used with treaded tires, there is no 
reason why the apparatus 10 cannot also be used with tires having no tread 
in appropriate circumstances calling for such smooth tires. 
A first and a second ring member 18, 20, are major components of apparatus 
10. Ring members 18 and 20 are preferably fabricated of hard grooved metal 
material so as to minimize wear on the ring members during use of 
apparatus 10 due to the forces exerted by the wheel 12 and tire 14 against 
the roadway. 
To further minimize wear and tear on both apparatus 10 and tire 14, as well 
as on the driving surface, a layer 21 of soft pliable material covers the 
outer periphery 23 of each of the rings 18, 20 so as to act as a cushion 
between rings 18, 20 and the driving surface on which additional traction 
is to be provided by apparatus 10. Preferable materials for layer 21 are a 
rubber material or a synthetic plastic material. Layer 21 not only 
protects rings 18, 20 but also acts to reduce noise caused by hard metal 
engaging a driving surface. 
Layer 21 may be bolted to rings 18, 20 by means of bolts 25, as shown in 
FIG. 4, passing through both layer 21 and rings 18, 20. Bolt heads 27 
preferably protrude above the surface of layer 21 so as to add additional 
traction to apparatus 10 similar to a studded tire. 
Each ring member 18 and 20 has a sufficient diameter to encircle the tire 
14. Likewise, ring members 18 and 20 are held in a spaced-apart parallel 
relation by a plurality of transversely oriented angled bar members 22 
rigidly connected at each end 24 to ring members 18 and 20 along the 
circumference of the ring members 18 and 20. Bar members 22 are preferably 
equally spaced around the rings 18 and 20 to provide a uniform set of 
points of additional traction force for the tire meeting the driving 
surface. 
Ring members 18 and 20 are held in the spaced-apart relation so as to be 
adapted to receive therein and therebetween the wheel 12 and tire 14 as 
shown in the FIGs. 
Angled bar members 22 each have a convex portion 26 oriented towards the 
tire 14 and a concave portion 28 oriented away from the tire 14. 
Tire 14 can be held in a rotationally fixed relation to apparatus 10 by a 
number of methods. The first method would be to additionally inflate tire 
14 once it is inserted between ring members 18, 20 so as to secure the 
tire 14 into a tight compressive relation with ring members 18, 20 as well 
as with angled bar members 22. 
A second method to hold tire 14 in a rotationally fixed, yet selectively 
removable relation to apparatus 10, is by the addition of at least one, 
although preferably two, selectively adjustable straps 30 that have 
sufficient length to encircle both the ring members 18 and 20 and the tire 
14. As shown in the FIGs., straps 30 may be inserted through an aperture 
32 in wheel 12 and adjacent in length to hold wheel 12 in a tight 
compressive relation. 
A combination of both of these methods of holding tire 14 rotationally 
fixed with respect to the apparatus 20 can also be employed to provide a 
doubly secure connection. 
As shown in the FIGs., the spacing between rings 18 and 20 in the 
spaced-apart parallel relation described above is sufficient to allow the 
treaded portion 16 of the tire 14 to protrude therebetween and make direct 
contact with the driving surface. 
Angled bar members 22 also make direct contact with the driving surface and 
provide additional traction points for tire 14. Specifically, the concave 
portion 28 "scoops" the driving surface and "digs" into the ice or loose 
gravel to provide a strong point of traction for the tire 14. 
Similarly, convex portion 26 of the bar members 22 engages the tire 14 
causing a slight deformity of the tire 14 which adds to the traction 
afforded the tire. 
Installation of apparatus 10 is accomplished by first raising the wheel 12 
and tire 14 off the ground by a jack or the like means. Apparatus 10 is 
then positioned so that tire 14 is inserted between the ring members 18 
and 20 as they are held in the spaced-apart relation. The inflation 
pressure of tire 14 may be lessened to insure a tight fit between the tire 
14 and the apparatus 10, that is, with lessened pressure the tire 14 may 
be inserted in the apparatus 10 and later inflated to a higher pressure to 
strengthen the rotationally fixed relation between the tire 14 and the 
apparatus 10. 
If adjustable straps 30 are used with the apparatus 10, they are positioned 
to encircle the tire 14 and to pass through apertures 32 in wheel 12. Once 
straps 30 are in position, they are fastened to compressively hold both 
the tire 14 and the apparatus 10 in the desired rotationally fixed 
relation. The wheel 12 is then lowered to the ground and the driver is 
ready to resume his travel. 
Removal of the apparatus 10 is the reverse of the above steps for the 
installation of the apparatus 10 on tire 14. Straps 30 are loosened and 
withdrawn from apertures 32 in wheel 14. Tire 14 may be slightly deflated, 
if necessary, to provide sufficient leeway to remove it from its position 
between ring members 18 and 20. Once apparatus 10 is removed from tire 14, 
tire 14 may be re-inflated, if necessary, to the suggested inflation 
pressure for the roadway and vehicle conditions. 
The invention described above is, of course, susceptible to many 
variations, modifications and changes, all of which are within the skill 
of the art. It should be understood that all such variations, 
modifications and changes are within the spirit and scope of the invention 
and of the appended claims. Similarly, it will be understood that it is 
intended to cover all changes, modifications and variations of the example 
of the invention herein disclosed for the purpose of illustration which do 
not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.