Abstract:
A flexible system for winter traction products that allows for component repairability, interchangeability, customization and resizing, all without requiring tools. The key to this system is the provision of connectors which provide interconnection of multiple components whereby at least three points of connection on three components can be interconnected by the connectors. The interconnection of the points of connection by the connectors enable components to be interchanged within the assembly for establishing a desired style and fit of the tire chain to a variety of tire sizes and tire chain types.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a tire chain structure, including side members, and cross members and releasable connectors connecting the side members and cross members. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The concept of releasable fasteners for tire chains is disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,882, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The concept of the releasable fastener used in that patent was to enable the removal and replacement of a cross member that had become worn or damaged. Thus, when a tire chain broke, it was almost invariably a broken cross member. By securing the cross members to the side members using releasable connectors or fasteners, an operator merely has to actuate the release mechanism, remove the broken cross member, and replace that cross member with a spare cross member. 
     The above basic concept has been expanded to establish a new and different dimension of tire chain structure. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to the concept of modular construction. Connectors are preferably (but not necessarily) independent of the cross members and the side members. Further, at least certain of the connectors are designed to interconnect three component ends. For example, a side member for a tire chain may be constructed from short segments of interconnected chain links. The length of each segment determines the spacing between cross members. Thus, a connector connects one segment to another and both segments to a chain link cross member. The free end of one of the segments is connected to a third segment and a second cross member, and so on until the desired length for a complete side member is achieved. The opposite side member is similarly constructed. As desired, the segments may be replaced with cam locks or other tightening devices and alternate side member types may be used such as cable sections, bars, etc. The side member ends (the free ends when all of the segments are interconnected) can be fitted with a standard quick release, length-adjustable fastener or even a further connector as used for connecting the segments. 
     The above concept is considered a flexible modular construction or system for winter traction products that allows for component repairability, interchangeability, customization and resizing, all without requiring tools. Thus, a supplier or dealer can stock a variety of components of different sizes and types and with the different components provided with points of connection adapted to receive the above connectors. A customer needing tire chains for whatever size of tire can be quickly accommodated with the required tire chain size through the assembly of selected components that will make up that size. A user (truck driver, for instance) can repair worn and broken cross members without tools. The connectors can also be adapted to different styles of tire chains, e.g., as between cable or part cable and chain or part chain; configured as a Z-type, V-type, H-type or ladder type, etc. The invention will be more fully understood and appreciated upon reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a tire chain incorporating the concept of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate the connector utilized in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3A–3H  illustrate the assembly of components for construction of a tire chain as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a variation of the connector of  FIGS. 2A and 2B ; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a further variation of the connectors of  FIGS. 2A and 2B ; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a still further variation of the connector of  FIGS. 2A and 2B ; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a still further variation of the connector of  FIGS. 2A and 2B ; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a still further variation of the connector of  FIGS. 2A and 2B ; 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate variations of tire chain types and/or styles; 
         FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate a combination of component types making up a tire chain in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a variation of the tire chain of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate a further combination of component types making up a tire chain in accordance with the invention; 
         FIGS. 16–23  illustrate a further embodiment of the invention and the manner of assembly; 
         FIGS. 24–30  illustrate still further embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 31–34  illustrate a still further embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 35A through 35D  and  FIGS. 36A through 36G  illustrate a further embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 37  illustrates a variation of the connector of  FIGS. 35 through 36 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 1  which is a ladder type tire chain of chain links in accordance with the present invention. As is conventional for a tire chain, included is spaced apart side members  10  and  12 , and multiple cross members  14  extending between the side members. As well known to the art and as mounted on a tire, one of the side members, e.g.  10 , is located at the inner side wall of a tire and the other side member  12  is located at the outer side wall of a tire (as illustrated in  FIG. 1  of U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,882). The opposing inner ends  16 ,  18  are brought together and connected together and then the opposing outer ends  20 ,  22  are brought together and connected together, sometimes with the aid of a chain tightener or as supplemented by the use of any of a variety of chain tighteners known to the art. 
     Whereas the general arrangement of side members and cross members as shown is familiar, the specific structure, as will be explained, is believed unique to the present invention. As will be noted, side members  10  and  12  are interconnected side member segments  24 , each consisting of three interconnected chain links. Each segment is connected end to end to another segment by a connector  26 . There are different versions of such connectors which will be explained in more detail hereafter. However, the concept of the invention is believed to be demonstrated by the structure of  FIG. 1 . 
     Each connector  26  (see also  FIGS. 2A and 2B ) is a rigid loop having an opening  28  into the loop as illustrated in  FIG. 2B . A closure member  30  is spring biased to a closed position as seen in  FIG. 2A  and is manually forced to the open position of  FIG. 2B . As will be noted from  FIG. 1 , each connector  26  other than where positioned at the extreme ends, interconnects two side member segments  24  and a cross member  14 . 
     The procedure for connecting the side member segments and cross member to a connector, e.g. the connector  26 ′, is illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3H . It will be noted that the closure member  30   a  of  FIG. 3A–3H  is somewhat modified but functions the same as closure member  30  for purposes of the following explanation.  FIG. 3A  shows the connector  26 ′ as an individual component not fixedly connected to any of the other components.  FIG. 3B  shows an end link of a side member segment  24  forced past closure member  30   a  and toward a corner seat  32  whereupon the closure member  30   a  snaps back to the closed position and the end link is then moved from seat  32 , past seat  34  as indicated in  FIG. 3C  and into seat  36  as seen in  FIG. 3D . It is then desirable to insert an end link of a cross member  14  past closure member  30   a  as seen in  FIG. 3E  and into seat  32  whereat the closure  30   a  is closed to allow the end link of cross member  14  to be positioned at seat  34  as seen in  FIG. 3F . Finally, the other side link segment  24  is inserted past closure member  30   a  and into seat  32  as illustrated in  FIG. 3G and 3H . 
     With the side member segments  24  at corner seats  32  and  36  and cross member  14  at corner seat  34 , the side member segments and cross member are optimally connected. It should be observed that the greatest tensile force operating against the connector  26  and which is indicated by arrow “f” in  FIG. 3H  is applied by the cross member  14  whereas the opening  28  is located between the side link segments  24  whereat relatively minor tensile force is applied. Once this arrangement of cross member and side member segments is properly assembled, that arrangement can be assured by an oversize configuration of the closure member  30   a , which prevents movement across the side of opening  28  of either side member segment links  38  or  40 , e.g., the width of closure member  30   a  is greater than the opening in the loops of links  38  and  40 . 
     Returning now to  FIG. 1 , the reader will appreciate that the entire structure of the tire chain of  FIG. 1  can be constructed of numerous individual side link segments  24  interconnected together and to cross members  14  via connectors  26  in the manner described above. Further, it will be appreciated that different tire sizes can be accommodated e.g. width-wise by replacing cross members  14  with shorter or longer cross members  14 , and/or length-wise by replacing all or any of the three link segments  24  (at each side member) with shorter or lesser number of links or longer or greater number of links. 
     As indicated, the above description for  FIGS. 1–3  is believed to convey the basic concept of a system for custom building tire chains e.g. by a merchant stocking a variety of tire chain components. The scope of this concept will be further appreciated from the following explanation of a number of variations thereto. However, such disclosed variations are not intended to be exhaustive of the many other variations or modifications that may be conceived by those skilled in the art. 
       FIGS. 4A ,  4 B;  5 A,  5 B;  6 A,  6 B; and  7 A,  7 B and  FIG. 8  illustrate different versions of connectors in open and closed positions as compared to that of  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B (the same connector also illustrated in  FIG. 1 ).  FIG. 4A and 4B  illustrate a connector including an offset wire spring as the closure member  30   a  in open and closed position (and which is also the connector of  FIGS. 3A through 3H ).  FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a connector including a stamped metal spring as closure member  30   b .  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B illustrate a compression spring as closure member  30   c .  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B illustrate a bridge nut and screw threads as closure member  30   d .  FIG. 8  illustrates a connector wherein the opening  28 , when closed, also serves as a cradle for, e.g., side link  40  (see  FIG. 3H ), the closure member being the screw pin  30   e  screwed into screw threads provided in connector end  42 . 
     It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and having reference to the above description for  FIGS. 1–3 , how the connectors of  FIGS. 4–8  are applied to the tire chain components. 
     As will also be apparent to those skilled in the art, the type and sizes of tire chains to which this invention is applicable is substantially unlimited. Examples only of such unlimited other types and sizes are illustrated and briefly described in the following paragraphs. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  are variations of link type or style of tire chains,  FIG. 9  referred to as a diamond shaped or style tire chain and  FIG. 10  an H-shape or style tire chain. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate a ladder type or style tire chain but having cable instead of chain links as the inner side member segments  46  and as the core portion of cross members  44 .  FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of cross member  44  that extends between cable type side member segments  46  and a chain link type side member segment  24 . As is common for cable cross members, the cable is provided with sleeve segments of coiled springs  48  surrounding the cable and which are retained centrally on the cross members by retainers  50 , the connectors  26  being similar to that of  FIGS. 1 and 2  and which function in the same manner, the connector end fitted through an opening in disk  52  provided at both ends of both side member segments  46  and cross members  44  as best viewed in  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 13  is similar to the structure of  FIG. 11  (but see also  FIG. 12 ) which shows an alternate type or style referred to as a V-type tire chain which provides for the connectors  26  having four tire chain components connected into the connector (two cross members  48  and two side member segments  24 ). 
       FIG. 14  illustrates the combination of three different types of components, e.g., a side cable member  46 , a side link member  24 , and strap type cross member  54 , the latter shown in more detail in  FIG. 15 . 
       FIGS. 16–23  illustrate an embodiment that includes a bar type side member segment  56  (including connecting link  60 ) having a formed end  58  that functions as the connector.  FIG. 16  is similar to  FIG. 13  in providing interconnection of four tire chain components, i.e., a pair of cross members  14 , side member segment  56 , and link  60  of the preceding side member segment. 
       FIGS. 17–23  illustrate the procedure for interconnecting the components.  FIG. 18  shows a first cross member  14  inserted past the closure member  62  of formed end  58  and moved to its operating position as seen in  FIG. 19 .  FIGS. 20 and 21  show a second cross member  14  inserted into the formed end  58 , and  FIGS. 22 and 23  show the link  60  adjacent side member segment  56  inserted into the connector of formed end  58 . 
       FIGS. 24–28  illustrate a further variation of a tire chain, including a one-piece side member segment  64 , but including side member segments  66  modified to have a cam lock component  68 . As shown in  FIGS. 24 and 25 , segments  64 ,  66  are interconnected by the connector at formed end  70  but note from  FIG. 24  that prior to connection of end to end side member segments  64 ,  66 , a cross member  14  is first seated in the formed end  70  as shown. Whereas cam lock component  68  is shown in an unlocked position in  FIGS. 24 and 26 , the locked position is shown in  FIGS. 25 and 27 .  FIG. 28  shows a variation to the shape of the formed end  70  and is indicated to be  70 ′. Shaped end  70 ′ shows multiple link receiving seats  72 . 
       FIG. 29  illustrates a type of creative interconnection of the various components, e.g., a link  64  of  FIG. 24 , a cam lock  74  as is typical of tire chains currently in use, and a connector  26  as shown in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B. 
       FIG. 30  shows the side link member  64  of  FIGS. 24 ,  25 , having a plastic or elastomer cover  76  as may be desired to protect a tire&#39;s side wall. 
       FIGS. 31 through 33  illustrate a still further embodiment referred to as having two-part connectors. Part  78  is a flat plate having connector holes  80 ,  82 .  FIG. 34 , as taken along view lines  34 – 34  of  FIG. 31 , shows connector  84  having closure member  86  which enables connection of connector  78  to cross member  14 . 
       FIGS. 32 and 33 , taken along view lines  32 – 32  of  FIG. 31 , show a connector part  88  having releasable connectors at both ends, one end fitted to a hole  80  of connector part  78  as permitted by closure member  90 , and the opposing end permitting connection to a side member segment. 
       FIGS. 35A–35D  illustrate a still further embodiment of the invention. As mentioned in connection with the explanation of  FIG. 3H , the tensile force applied by the cross member is far greater than the force imparted by side member segments  24  (through connecting links  38  and  40 ). The opening  28  produces a weakness in the connector link that dictates that the opening  28  be positioned where least likely to be forced open, i.e., between the side link segments. A drawback to this design is that the side member segments cannot be connected together prior to connection of the cross member segments. The embodiment of  FIGS. 35A–35D  and  FIGS. 36A–36G  provides a fix to this drawback. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 35A–35D , the connector  92  includes an opening  94  as closed by closure member  96 . Closure member  96  is channel shaped with an opening  98  that permits formed hook portion  100  of connector  92  to enter opening  98  and become hooked onto cross bar  102  of the closure member. 
     It will be observed that the hooking engagement between the closure member  96  and the connector  92  ( FIG. 35D ) produces added resistance to a tensile force acting to pull the connector open. 
       FIGS. 36A–36G  illustrate the benefit of this latching type arrangement. As seen in  FIGS. 36A–36D , this modified version allows the connecting links  92  to be connected to a sequence of side links  104  to create a side member. In this assembled form, and as depicted in  FIG. 36G , cross members  14  can be connected to the connector  92  as a subsequent operation. Such enables preassembly of the side members ( FIG. 36F ) and then assembly, as desired, of cross members  14  ( FIG. 36G ). Further, should it be desirable to replace a cross member, it is not necessary to separate two side member segments as is the case for the version of  FIGS. 3A–3H . With reference now to  FIG. 37 , illustrated is a connector  92 ′ wherein a side link  104  is fixedly secured to the connector  92 ′. 
     It will be appreciated that the connectors, the cross members and the side member segments can take many different forms and can be intermixed as may be desired. Accordingly, the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular combination or arrangement as herein described, but instead is intended to encompass a system for interfitting many different types of components in accordance with the definition of the claims appended hereto.