SNOW HOOK FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES

Abstract: The snow hook comprises a first and respectively a second hooking element (14, 15), that may be engaged on the opposite sides of the rim of a vehicle's wheel and at least one connection chain piece (16) that will get placed transversallly across the tyre (12), said chain being connected to the first hooking element (14) and respectively to a traction lever articulated onto the second hooking element. Besides means are provided for blocking the lever's rotation when the chain is in tension.

Description: SNOW HOOK FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES The present invention concerns a snow hook that may be appliei] to the drive wheels, in particular on the front- wheel drive vehicles, for replacing the usual tyre- chains actually in use. As it is well known, on innevated streets oftenly the use of appropriate tyre-chains, of different possible shapes, are requested; a conventional tyre-chain pro¬ vides a plurality of chain segments that are placed a- cross the tyre, along the circumference of the vehicle's tyre. Even if a plurality of solutions have been suggested and adopted, usually the application and the removal of the conventional chains is rather difficult and bothersome, beyond requesting a particular ability or practice and a certain amount of time; for these reasons, on many occa¬ sions people renounce to apply them with a strong risk and danger for the driver and the passengers of the ve- hide. Furthermore, for short innevated streets, or for an occasional use of the vehicle, people often renounce to the application of the tyre-chains for the bothering of the operation, thus accepting to run the unavoidable risks. It is the aim of the present invention to provide a snow hook that may be used in case of need or that may repla¬ ce the conventional tyre-chains, that may be easily ap- plied and removed from the wheels of a vehicle, in par¬ ticular provided for front-wheel drive vehicles, that does not request any complicated operation but only a little time for applying and removing: and this elimi- nates any bothersome operation implied by the conven¬ tional tyre-chains. By applying a plurality of snow hooks according to the present invention at different angles on each drive wheel, the driver may afford a safe journey even along long innevated roads, without the risks implied by the non-utilization of tyre-chains. The snow hook for the drive wheels according to the pre¬ sent invention is characterized in that it comprises a first, and respectively a second hooking element that may be engaged on the opposite sides of the rim of a vehicle's wheel and at least one connection chain piece that will get placed transversally across the tyre, said chain bein connected to the first hooking element and respectively to a traction lever articulated onto the second hooking element, as well as in that means are provided for blocking the lever's rotation when the chain is in tension. A preferred embodiment of the snow hook accoridng to the present invention will be described in detail hereinbe- low relating to the enclosed drawing, in which: • • •/ • • • figure 1 shows a section view of a part of a common wheel with a snow hook applied according to the present invention; figure 2 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a snow hook according to the present inven¬ tion; figure 3 is a lateral view of figure 2; figure 4 is an axonometric view of an improved variant of the snow hook; and figure 5 shows the variant of figure 4, applied on a tyre. Figure 1 shows a common wheel 10 of a vehicle, compris¬ ing a metal rim 11 provided with a tyre 12 is a known manner; 13 generally shows in figure 1 a snow hook ac¬ cording to the present invention, applied across the tyre 12 and hooked on the two opposite sides of rim 11. In particular, as shown in figures 2 and 3, the snow. hook according to the present invention comprises.-a first hooking element 14, having e.g. the shape of a small plate having one end 14a folded like a hook, and a shaped finger 14b for the protection of the tyre, as well as a second hooking element 15 connected to the first one by a ring chain portion 16 that is transver¬ sally placed across the tyre 12, as shown in figure 1. More in detail, an end ring 16a of chain 16, whose • • • / • • _ - ά- length may vary according to the dimensions of the tyre and of the wheel 10, is inserted in a hole 17 of the hooking element 14, while the other ring 16b, on the op¬ posite end of chain 16, is inserted inside a connection ring lδ, of greater dimensions, articulated in 19 to a traction lever 20 which, in turn, is upperly hinged in 21 to the hooking element 15, as shown. The lever 20, at the side opposite to the hinging one, has ar. elongated hole 22 through which a safety ring 23 passes, out of one piece with the hooking element 15, so as to allow the application of a blocking element 24 (figure 1), that prevents the rotation of the lever in the tensed condition of the snow hook chain. It is evi- dent that for replacing or in combination with the blocking element 24, any other appropriate means may be used, e.g. providing a placement beyond a dead point of the articulation 19 of the ring 18 with respect to the hinging 21 of lever 20, so that the driving forces act in the sense of pulling the lever towards and against the hooking element 15. In the shown case, the two hooking elements 14 and 15 are connected by one single chain of chain portion 16; however, if requested, it is possible to appropriately shape, e.g., hooking element 14 and ring 18 providing for a coupled disposition at a short distance of one or two chain portions, so as to increase the efficiency of taking on the snow. The application of the snow hook according to the pre¬ sent invention e.g. to a front-drive wheel of a vehicle, is substantually the as follows: after having turned the wheel outwardly, the first hooking element 14 is hooked to the external edge of rim 11, passing the chain 16 across the tyre 12; now the traction lever 20 is rotated upwardly so as to engage the second hooking element 15 on the other side of the rim 11, e.g. in correspondence to an opening or a ventilaton hole usually provided on iϋ the rims of vehicle wheels. Once the second hooking ele¬ ment 15 is hooked on the external side of rim 11, lever 20 is lowered towards and against the hooking element, thus putting chain 16 in tension. Lever 20 is now block¬ ed in the tensed condition of the chain e.g. inserting 15 the blocking element 24 into ring 23, as shown. It is eviden * that instead of blocking element 24 any other appropriate means may be used, even a small lock that prevents the removal and the theft of the snow hook. 0 From what described and shown above, a snow hook has been provided of easy application and removal, that may be used for replacing the conventional tyre-chains, so as to make more comfortable and safe a journey along innevated roads, that does not request the driver a any > waste of time for the application and the removal of said snow hook. • • •/ • • • It evident that a plurality of snow hooks may be provid¬ ed with chain portions of different length, adapted to the different kinds of wheels or, as schematiclaly shown in figure 3, means may be provided for the length ad- justing of the hook, e.g. providing the possibility of moving the articulation of ring 18 along different points provided along the edge of a longitudinal groove 25 on both sides of the shown traction lever. In the variant according to figures 4 and 5 the hook is provided with a stabilizing tab 2, provided with springs 25 so as to determine e repelling force between the hole F and the circumference C of the rim. In said variant the lever 20 shows a safety lock consi¬ sting in projection 26 that gets engaged in eyelet 27. Furthermore, the last ring 28 of the chain is provided with an adjustable hook 29 for partially balancing the width variations of the tyre. ./.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A snow hook for drive wheels of vehicles, in which the wheel comprises a metal rim to the periphery 5 of which a tyre is applied, characterized in that it comprises a first and respectively a second hooking e- lement that get engaged on the two opposite sides of the rim, and at least one connection chain that is placed across the tyre, said chain being connected to 10 the first hooking element, respectively to a traction lever hinged to the second hooking element, as well as means for blocking the rotation of the lever in the tensed condition of the chain. 15 2. A snow hook according to claim 1, characteriz¬ ed in that said first hooking element that will engage the internal edge of the rim, shows in correspondence to its end folded like a hook a shaped protection finger that gets adapted against the side of the tyre. 20 3. A snow hook according to claim 1, characteriz¬ ed in that said means for blocking the rotation of the lever in the tensed condition of the chain, comprise a disposition beyond a dead point of the chain articula- I - ' tion to the traction lever with respect to the rotation axis cf said lever. • • * / • • • - H - 4. A snow hook according to claim 1, characteriz¬ ed in that said means for blocking the rotation of the traction lever comprise a ring out of one piece with the second hooking element aligned to a hole on the traction 5 lever, as well as a blocking element that gets engaged, in a disengageable manner, to said ring. 5. A snow hook according to one or more of the precedent claims, characterized in that it comprises at 0 least two chains placed one near the other, connected between the mentioned hooking elements. 6. A snow hook according to any of the precedent claims, characterized in that it comprises means for ad- 5 justing thelength of the hook for varying the distance between the connection points between the chain and the hooking elements. 7. A snow hook according to claim 6, characteriz- C ed in that said adjusting means comprise articulation points distanced on the traction lever, as well as means for engaging and disengaging said chain to and from said lever in correspondence of said articulation points. 8. A snow hook according to claim 1, characteriz¬ ed in: - a stabilizing tab provided with springs so • • •/ • • • as to 'letermining, a repelling force between the hole and the circumference of the rim; - a safety lock of the lever consisting in a projection that gets engaged in an eyelet; - a last ring of the chain provided with an adjustable hook for partially balancing the with varia¬ tions of the tyre.

Inventors: FELLINI MARCO, FELLINI, MARCO
Applicants: FELLINI MARCO, FELLINI, MARCO
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B60C27
IPC codes: B60C27