Mounting antiskid device for automobile tires

Abstract: The invention relates to a mounting antiskid device for automobile tires, designed as a segmented plastic envelope. The envelope is composed of tread segments (1.1;1.2;1.3;1.4) provided with inserted metal spikes (2.1), ribs (2.2) and recesses. Each tread segment provides perforated binding lugs accompanied by appropriate binding elements for the interconnection of the tread segments to each other and into an endless form thereof, as well as for mounting the envelope on a tire. By means of inner binding elements a binding wire (5.0) , preferably a stranded one, located at the inner side of the envelope connects the envelope in endless form, whereas tightening by means of outer binding elements to the envelope at the outer side of the tire is made possible by an optionally decorative elastic binding ring and an elastic tightening link.

Description: The invention belongs to the field of transportation. In more detail, it concerns antiskid devices aimed to be mounted at times onto flexible tires or wheels provided with flexible tires. Articles of the kind set forth above are classified into classes B 60 C 27/06, B 60 C 27/12, and B 60 C 27/20 of Int.Cl. There are known several devices in this field. Some of them relate to plastic or rubber mats (e.g. Patent Specification GB 2,135,252) and traction-strap-envelopes (e.g. Patent Specification US 4,287,925). GB 2,135,252 (Ellis) suggests a flexible studded mat attached to the outside of a tyred wheel, either singly or in pairs, the mat having external studs and also internal studs which engage in the tread of the tyre to prevent movement of the mat relatively to the wheel. The studs may be moulded with the mat or formed separately and secured to the mat. It is a first substantial disadvantage of mentioned prior art that the arrangement of the internal studs must comply with the tread of the tire, i.e., the antiskid means and the tire can only co-operate if they mate. It is another disadvantage of the prior art that the solution might be satisfactory merely at ice, not at snow. US 4,287,925 (Spann) suggests a pair of annular elastomeric tubular sidewall elements interconnected by a plurality of spaced layered traction straps which provide internal nubs. The suggestion of this reference involves a substantial disadvantage that the antiskid means might be satisfactory merely at snow, not at ice, and, besides, it does not deal with the question of how to stabilize the direction of moving the vehicle. In principle, the invention concerns means for improving the grip of tyred wheels on the ground , basically consisting in that their main constituent is a sectioned sheet of rubber or plastics. It is an object of invention to design a mounting antiskid device for automobile tires, applicable under changing weather conditions (snow, ice), during a longer period of time and at higher speeds, not only for use as a protection in cases, where the usual equipment (summer tire/winter tire) would fail, but also as a prevention, i.e. in advance, if changes of wheather conditions are to be expected in the course of driving, even at high velocities, where normal antiskid devices because of various reasons will detach from the tire surface they engage. Thus the invention refers to a mounting antiskid device for automobile tires consisting of a grid shaped plastic envelope with metal spikes inserted in the envelope, the envelope providing on the inner/back, and the outer/front, respectively longitudinal sides binding lugs. A mounting antiskid device for automobile tires consisting of a grid-shaped plastic envelope with metal spikes possibly inserted in the envelope, the envelope providing binding lugs on both longitudinal sides, is known from EP 0 248 387. It is an essential disadvantage of such a single-piece device that at the operation the device generates an unavoidable source of discounterbalancing the wheel/device system by its area where the two ends of the device are tightened to each other. Besides, evidently due to the existing, constructionally conditioned opening material ratio, which is relatively great, there have to be foreseen special relief configuration measures on the tread surface of the device in addition to ribs and spikes in order to achieve the optimum gripping properties of the device. Again in view of the said ratio, the device has to be provided with a special reinforcement, which represents additional material and production costs. The above and other objects according to the invention with an antiskid device as just called for is characterized in that the plastic envelope is segmented and is composed of mutually equal tread segments, each tread segment providing on the inner/back and the outer/front respectively longitudinal sides perforated binding lugs and that on the external rolling side of the tread segment there are foreseen projecting therefrom groups of ribs arranged between groups of spikes and below the external rolling side tread surface of the latter recesses to intensify roughness of pattern of the tread, the end rim respectively the edge of each segment being substantially straight and the virtual units of substantially checker square shape of a segment being mutually arranged such that their corner fields arranged along the longitudinal axes of the segment, that point towards each other, overlap each other, wherein a first straight row of openings of one virtual unit guided to the overlap field and a second straight row of openings of an adjacent virtual unit continuing to the same overlap field, together form a straight row of openings. The rough-pattern tread segments indicate that along with diverse elements projecting from the external surface of the sheet the latter as such provides recesses or openings. No element is foreseen to project from the internal side of the sheet. The number of tread segments can either be even or odd. In a preferred embodiment, four mutually equal tread segments constitute an envelope. The pattern of tread segments is designed to intensify friction on whatever ground and to guarantee appropriate flexibility and adaptability to the basic tire at the same time, also including the question of how to stabilize the direction of moving the vehicle. For the aims of flexibility and adaptability to the basic tire, a series of perforated binding lugs provided by each tread segment, namely a group of inner/intermediate and a group of outer/intermediate lugs, a pair of inner/end and a pair of outer/end lugs and thereof, a pair composed of a first inner/termination and a first outer/termination lugs as well as a pair composed of a last inner/termination and a last outer/termination lugs make it possible, in combination with elected materials, to interconnect the tread segments of the mounting antiskid envelope for automobile tires and to bend them both on the circumference of a tire as well as following the outline of the cross-section of the tire without creating folds. Further advantageous features of the invention are characterized by the subclaims. Here and below, the terms "inner" and "outer", respectively, indicate the rear and the front axial sides, respectively, of an incorporated wheel; the terms "end" and "intermediate", respectively, relate to the description of a tread segment in its longitudinal (circumferential) direction, whereas the term "termination" indicates a last element of an assembled device, also meant in its longitudinal (circumferential) direction. Tips of the aforementioned lugs foreseen for binding are reinforced, i.e. thickened, to enhance the durability and to accommodate projecting parts of binding elements defined below. One pair of termination tugs, composed of an inner and an outer termination lug, and another pair of termination lugs, again composed of an inner and an outer termination lug, of the mounting antiskid envelope make it possible to close the envelope by means of respective binding elements at mounting same on a tire. At the external, i.e. passable side, each end section of the tread segments provides border ribs so as to intensify unevenness of the segment and the grasping ability at touching the ground so as to alleviate the weakening influence of possible interruptions in the circumference of the envelope. In a preferred embodiment, each tread segment provides sockets accommodating appropriate spikes. Preferably, there are foreseen twelve sockets/spikes in each tread segment. Hereby, the sockets/spikes are arranged in four groups each composed of three sockets/spikes, the socket/spike groups being equally distributed along the tread segment, three sockets/spikes of one socket/spike group forming a triangle symmetrical to the longitudinal axis of the tread segment. In a preferred embodiment, the four groups of sockets/spikes are separated from each other by three groups of appropriate ribs, the groups of ribs being arranged essentially equally to the groups of sockets/spikes. Binding elements, such as inner/intermediate binding elements, inner/end binding elements, a first inner/termination binding element, a last inner/termination binding element, as well as outer/intermediate binding elements, outer/end binding elements, a first outer/termination binding element, and a last outer/termination binding element, serve for interconnecting the tread segments, in given case four tread segments, into an assembly as well as for binding them into an annular state, said elements making by means of a stranded wire, a tightening link and an optionally decorative binding ring, possible mounting and fastening of the envelope on a wheel. The binding stranded wire disposed at the inner side of the assembly provides a metal ear at each end. At assembling and mounting the envelope according to the invention the stranded wire is conducted through all inner-side binding elements. Thereat, one of the ears, the one with a single hole, is hooked by an inner/termination binding element. Technical features required for the tread segments, namely tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, wear-resistance, friction coefficient, flexibility at different temperatures, hardness, resistance against weather influences, resistance against oil, fuel, fats, solvents, and insignificant fatigue deformation, have been met by using a high-quality polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer material. The metal spikes, not matter of protection, as such, are made of special hard alloy and provide specially treated tips, thus having been attained hardness and wear-resistance of spikes. All binding elements are manufactured of a wire thermically treated and surface-protected by an electrolytic zinc process or by cadmium plating. The stranded wire is coated with a polyester plastic layer. The metal ears, namely one with a single hole and one with two holes, of stranded wire are suitably made by forging. The binding ring is made of rubber having stable elasticity characteristics and resistant against altering frequency vibrations. The tightening link similar to an O-ring is foreseen to tighten the envelope on its front, i.e. outer, side. During driving the tightening force of the tightening link and the binding ring overcome the centrifugal forces generated in the envelope. Following, the invention is disclosed in more detail on the basis of an embodiment shown in the attached drawing. Therein show: Fig. 1 a plan, partly broken, of a four-segment mounting antiskid envelope for automobile tires, in stretched state - prior to mounting; Fig. 2 an elevation of a decoration binding ring; Fig. 3 an elevation of a tightening link, and Fig. 4 an illustrative representation of a tread segment of the mounting antiskid envelope of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 represents a stretched plastic envelope 1.0 composed of four mutually equal tread segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, the first one thereof, 1.1, being separately shown from the opposite side in Fig. 4 . On the external, i.e. rolling side, each tread segment 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 provides metal spikes 2.1 and ribs 2.2, respectively, arranged in groups, the groups being equally distanced from each other and each consisting of three metal spikes 2.1 and three pairs of ribs 2.2, respectively, arranged to form a triangle symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis X-X of the envelope 1.0. On its longitudinal (circumferential) sides, i.e. inner/back, B , and outer/front side F , each tread segment 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 provides three perforated inner/intermediate binding lugs 1.5, three perforated outer/intermediate binding lugs 1.5', two perforated inner/end binding lugs 1.6, and two perforated outer/end binding lugs 1.6'. The inner/end binding lugs 1.6 of the four tread segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 are interconnected in pairs by means of inner/end binding elements 3.2, and the outer/end binding lugs 1.6' are interconnected in pairs by means of outer/end binding elements 4.2, forming thereby a stretched assembly as shown in Fig 1. Hereby, the first inner/termination binding lug 1.7 and the first outer/termination binding lug 1.7' belonging to a first tread segment 1.1 as well as the last inner/termination binding lug 1.8 and the last outer/termination binding lug 1.8' belonging to the last tread segment 1.4 remain free to be interconnected at mounting the envelope on a tire. The inner/intermediate binding lugs 1.5 and the outer/intermediate binding lugs 1.5', respectively, of the tread segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 provide inner/intermediate binding elements 3.1 and outer/intermediate binding elements 4.1, respectively. The first inner/end binding lug 1.7 of the tread segment 1.1 provides a first inner binding element 3.3 which at mounting binds the envelope by means of a binding stranded wire 5.0, more concretely, binds same by means of one of the metal ears 5.1, 5.2 of the latter, the right one, 5.1, in the embodiment shown, to an annular, i.e. endless, form, whereas the first outer/end binding lug 1.7' of the first tread segment 1.1 provides a first outer/end binding element 4.3 generally equal to outer/end binding elements 4.2 with a mere difference that it is distinctively coloured to indicate the starting point at dismounting. The last inner/end binding lug 1.8 of the tread segment 1.4 provides a last inner/end binding element 3.4 foreseen to be hooked by another, i.e. left metal ear 5.2, according to the embodiment shown, of the binding stranded wire 5.0, after the latter has been inserted into the inner/intermediate binding elements 3.1 as well as into the inner/end binding elements 3.2. This is to be performed prior to mounting the envelope onto a tire. At mounting, the left metal ear 5.2 to be finally hooked by the first inner binding element 3.3 binds the envelope by means of the binding stranded wire 5.0 to an annular, i.e. endless, form. The last outer/end binding lug 1.8' of the last tread segment 1.4 remains free. It serves for binding the envelope at its outer side by means of the first outer/termination binding element 4.3 when mounting the envelope. Fig. 2 shows an optionally decorative binding ring 6.1 intended to be hooked by all outer/intermediate, 4.1, outer/end, 4.2, and by the first outer/termination binding element 4.3, when mounting the envelope. The binding ring 6.1 also is preferably designed as a reticular structure. In the embodiment shown, the ring is composed of bar elements enclosing two rows of essentially triangular recesses, the cross-section of bars being preferably circular. As evident from Fig. 2, there are foreseen four radial indication projections on the inner border of the binding ring 6.1 to indicate the locations of hooking the three outer/end binding elements 4.2 and one outer/termination binding element 4.3. Fig. 3 shows a tightening link 6.2 designed similarly to an O-ring, said link being together with the decorative/binding ring 6.1 placed onto all binding elements, namely outer/intermediate, 4.1, outer/end, 4.2, and onto the first outer/termination binding element 4.3, and aimed to act as a counterweight to centrifugal forces generated in the envelope, as well as at mounting the envelope serving to tighten same at the front, i.e. outer, side of a wheel. The proposed mounting antiskid device for automobile tires represents a novelty in the field of antiskid devices. By means of the new article serving as an envelope of a tire, according to the invention the above-mentioned problems were overcome, and driving in winter under changing weather and driving conditions was simplified in specific manner. Some advantages of the proposed invention are the following: The riding speed is higher; there is no need for a removal of the device from the tire, although during a longer journey changing weather conditions, e.g. snow, ice, water, dry road, can be expected; the device can be mounted in advance, as preventive measure, in dry conditions (in a garage); driving is noiseless, i.e. without vibrations; the durability, i.e. mileage, is higher, and the mounting procedure is simple. Mounting starts from the state as shown in Fig. 1. The left, i.e. two-hole, ear 5.2 is inserted through all remaining binding elements 3.1, as indicated by a dash-and-dot line in Fig. 1, and hooked by one of its holes at the last inner/end binding element 3.4. Hereby, the stretched form of the assembly is folded to a certain extent (not shown). In such state, the assembly is temporarily attached to the tire and also temporarily fastened on the front side F of the wheel by means of the tightening link 6.2 hooked by some binding elements 4.1, 4.2, e.g. four of them. The maneuver of temporary attachment finished, the wheel is turned (automobile displaced) up to the termination sections of the tread segments 1.1, 1.4 lifted from the ground. The tightening link 6.2 is removed, and on the back side B of the wheel, the binding ear 5.2 is by its remaining hole hooked by the first inner binding element 3.3. Hereafter, on the front side F by the first outer/end binding element 4.3 the last outer/end binding lug 1.8' is connected, and onto all outer binding elements 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 the tightening link 6.2 is placed, and finally the binding ring 6.1 is hooked by the same binding elements. Furtheron Fig. 4 makes clear that the number of tensioning lugs was increased with regard to the state of art. The tensioning units being of checker square shape virtual units; according to the invention it has become possible that two adjacent checker square shaped units (virtual units) of one segment may be mutually so arranged that their edge fields pointing towards each other are on a longitudinal axis and overlap. Overlapping of this checker square shape tensioning unit is such that one respectively two rows of openings guided towards the overlapping field and one or two rows of openings of the other virtual unit leading to the overlapping field will form a same sense row of openings. Thus, in the center of the respective virtual unit an opening (11) is preseen. Between the openings 12, 12a arranged in the corner of the virtual unit there are at least one advantageously two openings 13 forming component of the above cited row of openings. In the region between the central (11) and the respective outer openings (12) of a virtual unit at least one riblike protrusion is arranged between the openings, arranged along the longitudinal axis of the segment (openings 11, 11a), alternatively at least one riblike protrusion (15) and a spike (16) are preseen. Laterally of the respective openings (12a) arranged along the longitudinal axis of the segment and provided in the virtual unit (checker square overlapping fields) a respective spike 17 is arranged.

Claims: A mounting antiskid device for automobile tires consisting of a grid shaped plastic envelope with metal spikes inserted in the envelope, the envelope providing on the inner/back, and the outer/front, respectively longitudinal sides binding lugs, characterized in that the plastic envelope is segmented and is composed of mutually equal tread segments, each tread segment providing on the inner/back and the outer/front respectively longitudinal sides perforated binding lugs and that on the external rolling side of the tread segment (1.1; 1.2; 1.3; 1.4) there are foreseen projecting therefrom groups of ribs (2.2) arranged between groups of spikes (2.1) and below the external rolling side tread surface of the latter recesses to intensify roughness of pattern of the tread, the end rim (1.7; 1.7') respectively the edge of each segment being substantially straight and each segment having virtual units of substantially checker square shape being mutually arranged such that their corner fields arranged along the longitudinal axes (X-X) of the segment, that point towards each other, overlap each other, wherein a first straight row of openings of one virtual unit guided to the overlap field and a second straight row of openings of an adjacent virtual unit continuing to the same overlap field, together form a straight row of openings. Device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that in the center of the respective checker square shaped unit an opening (11) is provided, furthermore between the openings (12, 12a) arranged in the corners of the virtual unit there being at least one advantageously two openings (13) forming component of the said row of openings. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the region between the central (11) and the respective outer openings (12) of a virtual unit at least one rib-like projection is arranged between the openings arranged along the longitudinal axes of the segment, alternatively at least one rib-like protrusion (15) and a spike (16) being provided. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the pattern of the tread at each end of the tread segment (1.1; 1.2; 1.3; 1.4) terminates by an assembly of ribs. The device of Claim 1, characterized in that inner/back ( B ) and outer/front ( F ), respectively, intermediate binding lugs (1.5; 1.5') of the envelope (1.0) provide inner and outer, respectively, intermediate binding elements (3.1; 4.1), whereas pairs of neighbouring inner and outer, respectively, end binding lugs (1.6; 1.6') are interconnected by means of inner and outer, respectively, end binding elements (3.2; 4.2). The device of Claims 1 and 5, characterized in that the outer/front ( F ) border of the envelope (1.0) is strengthened by an elastical binding ring (6.1) or/and an elastic tightening link (6.2), and the inner/back ( B ) border thereof is strengthened by a binding wire (5.0) provided with connecting ears (5.1, 5.2). The device of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a first inner and a first outer, respectively, termination binding lugs (1.7; 1.7') provide a first inner and a first outer, respectively, termination binding elements (3.3; 4.3), and a last inner/termination binding lug (1.8) provides a last inner/termination binding element (3.4), whereas a last outer/termination binding lug (1.8') is free prior to be hooked by the first outer/termination binding element (4.3). The device of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a connecting ear (5.1), preferably a single-hole ear, of the binding wire (5.0), preferably a stranded wire, is hooked by the first inner/termination binding element (3.3), and the remaining connecting ear (5.2), preferably a two-hole ear, of the binding wire (5.0) is introduced through all inner/intermediate binding elements (3.1) and inner/end binding elements (3.2) and is hooked by the last inner/termination binding element (3.4) as well as by the first inner/termination binding element (3.3). The device of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the tightening link (6.2) or/and the binding ring (6.1) is/are hooked by all outer/intermediate binding elements (4.1), outer/end binding elements (7) and the first outer/termination binding element (4.3).

Inventors: BARTOLJ DARKO, LOGAR CIRIL, BARTOLJ, DARKO, LOGAR, CIRIL
Applicants: BARLOG, " BARLOG" PROIZVODNO IN TRGOVSKO PODJETJE, D.O.O.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B60C27
IPC codes: B60C27