Abstract:
A method and apparatus is provided for attaching a tire chain to a vehicle tire without necessarily crawling under the vehicle. Two members are connected to a tire chain. The members are then drawn together using a tensioning device, which allows connection of the tire chain.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for putting tire chains on tires.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Attaching a tire chain onto the tire of a motor vehicle is often an extremely difficult and messy process. A major difficulty with attaching a tire chain is trying to connect the inner chain links, those on the far side of the tire. This can often require crawling under the fender of the motor vehicle alongside a busy road during a howling snowstorm. In addition, once the tire chains are attached to the tires, they are invariably loose and require a second roadside stop for retightening. Tire chain mounting devices have been developed that attempt either to obviate the need for attaching the inner links or to align the inner links to make the attachment simpler. Each of those devices has disadvantages, though, and none has been adopted widely in the marketplace.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    One aspect of the present invention provides a tire chain application device that is simple to construct, relatively lightweight, and easy to use. Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for quickly attaching tire chains that is extremely simple and can be performed while kneeling, without necessarily crawling under the motor vehicle in the snow.  
           [0004]    The first step is to lay the tire chain over the tire. The user of the tire chain application device pulls one end of the tire chain away from the tire such that the inner links are easily visible, attaches the short end of a J-shaped crossover to the inner link of the tire chain right next to the crossing traction chain, and then attaches the outer link of the tire chain, right next to the same crossing traction chain, to another point on the same J-shaped crossover. The crossover is then wedged between the tire and the snow. The user then repeats the process on the other end of the tire chain with a second J-shaped crossover. The crossovers are then securely clamped together by a knob.  
           [0005]    The user then hooks one end of a long resilient strap to one of the crossovers. The user wraps the strap over a roller on that crossover, stretches and wraps the strap around a second roller on the other crossover, stretches and wraps the strap around the first roller again, and finally stretches and hooks the other end of the stretched strap to the knob that holds the two crossovers together. In an alternative embodiment the user attaches a shorter strap to the first roller itself, stretches and wraps the strap around the second roller, then stretches and wraps the strap around the first roller, and finally stretches and hooks the other end of the stretched strap to the knob that holds the two crossovers together. Because the strap is stretched in either embodiment as it is wrapped around the rollers, it puts tension on the crossovers, such that when the car is moved and the tire rotates approximately  45  degrees, the two crossovers are pulled together from a spread-open position into a collapsed position.  
           [0006]    When the two crossovers are pulled together, the inner links of the tire chain are placed in general alignment for attachment. The crossovers hold the inner tire chain links above the top of the snow, so the user can then get out of the vehicle, kneel down, reach behind the tire, and attach the inner links without either fumbling for the connectors or crawling underneath the fender of the car in the ice and snow to see the tire chain&#39;s inner links. The places where the tire chain&#39;s inner links attach to the crossovers are specially shaped to put the inner links of the tire chain in the proper orientation for easy attachment. In addition, the tire chain attachment device has a special angle to keep the inner tire links roughly ¾″ away from the inside of the tire, to allow for the expansion of the tire as it is compressed by the ground. Once the tire chain&#39;s inner links are connected, it is a simple matter to unhook and remove the crossovers and connect the tire chain&#39;s outer links, creating a very secure attachment of the tire chain to the tire. The tire chains are attached securely enough that there is no need for the driver to stop a second time to retighten them. The tire chain attachment device may then be applied to the opposite tire, and then be put away until it is needed again.  
           [0007]    The tire chain application device has the ability to fit a wide range of tire widths. The device includes slots and hardware at the bottom of the crossovers. The slots and hardware allow the user to pre-adjust the crossovers to the appropriate tire width before the device is needed. dr  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings of several preferred embodiments, which embodiments are intended to illustrate and not to limit the invention.  
           [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 illustrates in an exploded view the two J-shaped crossover members of one embodiment of the invention and the tightening assembly before the tension strap is attached;  
           [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 illustrates in an isometric view the two J-shaped crossover members and the tightening assembly after the tension strap is attached;  
           [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 illustrates in a side elevation an unmounted motor vehicle tire chain;  
           [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 illustrates in a side elevation a motor vehicle wheel with the unmounted tire chain of FIG. 3 before the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is attached to the chain;  
           [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 illustrates in a side elevation the outside of a motor vehicle wheel and the positions of the two J-shaped crossover members after the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is attached to the tire chain, but before the tightening assembly is attached;  
           [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 illustrates in a side elevation the inside of a motor vehicle wheel and the positions of the two J-shaped crossover members after the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is attached to the chain;  
           [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 illustrates in a side elevation the outside of a motor vehicle wheel and the attachment of one end of one embodiment of the tension device to one embodiment of the protruding attachment portion;  
           [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 illustrates in a side elevation the outside of a motor vehicle wheel and the wrapping of one embodiment of the tensioning device about one embodiment of the first protruding tension strap wrapping member;  
           [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 illustrates in a side elevation the outside of a motor vehicle wheel and the wrapping of one embodiment of the tensioning device about one embodiment of the second protruding tension strap wrapping member;  
           [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 illustrates in a side elevation the outside of a motor vehicle wheel and the second wrapping of one embodiment of the tensioning device about one embodiment of the protruding tension strap wrapping member;  
           [0019]    [0019]FIG. 11 illustrates in a side elevation the outside of a motor vehicle wheel and the attachment of the other end of one embodiment of the tensioning to one embodiment of the tightening assembly;  
           [0020]    [0020]FIG. 12 illustrates in a side elevation the outside of a motor vehicle wheel and the positions of the two J-shaped crossover members and the tire chain after the motor vehicle wheel has been rotated approximately one quarter turn and the crossovers have collapsed;  
           [0021]    [0021]FIG. 13 illustrates in a side elevation the inside of a motor vehicle wheel and the positions of the two J-shaped crossover members and the tire chain after the motor vehicle wheel has been rotated approximately one quarter turn, the crossovers have collapsed, and the inner links of the tire chain have been attached;  
           [0022]    [0022]FIG. 14 illustrates in an end elevation the front or rear of a motor vehicle wheel and the positions of the two J-shaped crossover members after the motor vehicle wheel has been rotated approximately 30 degrees and the crossovers have collapsed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0023]    As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of the invention includes the first and second generally J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2 . Although the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  are generally similar and thus will be discussed in most respects together, the differences between the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  will be discussed below. In the embodiment of the invention shown, the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  may be advantageously constructed as a combination of adjustably secured pieces, such that the width of the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  may be adjusted to fit the width of the vehicle&#39;s tire. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the first J-shaped crossover member  1  may be advantageously constructed as an inner member  3  and an outer member  4 , and the second J-shaped crossover member  2  may be advantageously constructed as an inner member  5  and an outer member  6 . The inner members  3  and  5  may be adjustably secured to the outer members  4  and  6  with combinations of nuts  7  and bolts  8  disposed in elongated slots  9 , or with other connecting hardware well known in the art.  
         [0024]    In an alternative embodiment, the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  each may be advantageously constructed as a single piece of material. In another alternative embodiment, the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  each may be advantageously constructed as a combination of adjustably secured pieces, such that the height of the J-shaped crossover members may be adjusted to fit the diameter of a vehicle&#39;s tire. In yet another alternative embodiment, the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  each may be advantageously constructed as a combination of adjustably secured pieces, such that both the height and the width of the J-shaped crossover members may be adjusted to fit the diameter and width of the vehicle&#39;s tire.  
         [0025]    Whether advantageously constructed as single or multiple pieces, each of the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  advantageously includes a short end portion  10  and a long end portion  11 . At or near the short end portions  10 , the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  include, respectively, the inner link attachment members  12   a  and  12   b . In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the inner link attachment members  12   a  and  12   b  are hourglass cross-sectional shaped portions. The inner link attachment members  12   a  and  12   b  may be part of the J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  or may be separate pieces attached to the J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2 . In either embodiment, a shelf  13  may be formed directly below the attachment portions  12   a  and  12   b . The inner link attachment members  12   a  and  12   b  are suitably adapted to engage links of a tire chain, and the shelf  13  is suitably adapted to prevent links of a tire chain from slipping off of the inner link attachment members  12   a  and  12   b.    
         [0026]    As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  further include the chain-retaining members  14   a  and  14   b  protruding from the lower front portion  15  of the J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  and suitably adapted to engage links of a tire chain. In addition, the first and second protruding tension strap wrapping members  16   a  and  16   b  protrude from the lower front portions  15  of, respectively, the first and second, J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2 . In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the protruding wrapping members  16   a  and  16   b  each include a large diameter washer-like portion  17  spaced separately from the front surface  18  of J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2 . In the preferred embodiment, the large diameter washer-like portions  17  are approximately parallel to the planes formed by the front surfaces  18  of the J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2 .  
         [0027]    As also depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  are advantageously connectable at or near their respective long end portions  11   a  and  11   b  at a pivot axis by the tightening assembly  19 . In one preferred embodiment, a threaded pin  21  is attached to the long end portion  11   a  of first J-shaped crossover member  1 , and the long end portion  11   b  of the second J-shaped crossover member  2  includes a notch portion  22 , such that the threaded pin  21  fits into the notch portion  22 . In this embodiment, best shown in FIG. 1, the tightening assembly  19  is composed of a threaded knob  23  screwed onto threaded pin  21 , and the pivot axis is defined through threaded pin  21 .  
         [0028]    In an alternative embodiment not shown, the long end  11   a  of the J-shaped crossover member  1  includes a hole portion, such that a bolt can fit through the hole portion and into the notch portion  22 . In this embodiment, the tightening assembly  19  is advantageously constructed as a wing nut portion and bolt portion that are designed such that the bolt portion can be passed through the hole portion of the J-shaped crossover member  1  and attached to the wing nut portion. The tightening assembly  19  may be composed of any of various types of hardware well known in the art that allows the first J-shaped crossover member  1  to be connected to and tightened against the second J-shaped crossover member  2 .  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 1 and 2 further depict a bump portion  24  protruding from an upper front portion  23  of the first J-shaped crossover member  1 , and a protruding tension strap attachment portion  25  protruding from the upper front portion  23  of second J-shaped crossover member  2 . The bump portion  24  is raised slightly from the front surface  18  of first J-shaped crossover member  1 , and it is designed to engage the second J-shaped crossover member  2 . In one preferred embodiment, the bump portion  24  is located approximately one inch away from the tightening assembly  19 , and the protruding attachment portion  25  is located approximately midway between the tightening assembly  19  and the protruding wrapping member  16 , although those of skill in the art will appreciate that the bump portion  24  and the protruding attachment portion  25  may be at different locations.  
         [0030]    The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 further includes a tension strap  26 . In one embodiment, the tension strap  26  is made out of rubber, but any other similarly stretchy yet resilient material is of course also acceptable. Rubber is presently preferred for its resistance to road salt and other environmental elements encountered during use; however, tension also may be provided in another way, for example by a spring or by a crank-type device. As depicted in one embodiment in FIG. 2, the tension strap  26  includes a first end portion  27  and a second end portion  28 . The first and second end portions  27  and  28  of the tension strap  26  are designed to be attachable to the tightening assembly  19  and the protruding attachment portion  25  on the second J-shaped crossover member  2 . It is preferable that each of the first and second end portions  27  and  28  of the tension strap  26  be designed to be attachable either to the tightening assembly  19  or to the protruding attachment portion  25 . In another embodiment, the tension strap  26  could be designed such that the first end portion  27  would attach only to one of either the tightening assembly  19  or the protruding attachment portion  25 , and the second end portion  28  could be similarly designed. The tension strap  26  also may be attached to the tightening assembly  19  and to the protruding attachment portion  25  in any of various diverse ways. In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the first and second end portions  27  and  28  of the tension strap  26  each include hook portions  29 . In another embodiment, one or both of the first and second end portions  27  and  28  of the tension strap  26  may include a loop portion.  
         [0031]    Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 14, in the preferred embodiment of the invention the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  each have a slight angle at the lower front portion  15  and another slight angle near the short end  10 . The angles help grab the tire  31  and also keep the hook-type member portions  14   a  and  14   b  about ¾″ away from the tire  31 , which desirably provides ample room for a person to attach the inner links after operation of the device.  
       Method Of Using The Apparatus to Attach a Tire Chain  
       [0032]    The operation of one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 13. First, the tire chain  30  is placed over the tire  31 , as depicted in FIG. 4. Although both sides of the tire  31  are shown respectively in the figures as though the tire and rim are off the motor vehicle for best illustrating attachment of the tire chain, it will be understood that the normal use of the embodiments of the invention will be when the tire  31  and rim are attached to the motor vehicle and the inner side of the tire  31  (shown in FIGS. 6 and 13) will not be easily accessible to the user.  
         [0033]    The tire chain  30  generally is of typical tire chain design as best illustrated in FIG. 3, and it includes an outer circumferential portion  32  and an inner circumferential portion  33 , connected by a plurality of traction chain portions  36 . The outer circumferential portion  32 , inner circumferential portion  33 , and traction chain portions  36  are each made up of a plurality of chain links  34 . The tire chain  30  has two tire chain end portions  30   a  and  30   b , and thus the outer circumferential portion  32  and the inner circumferential portion  33  each have two opposing end portions a and b. The outer circumferential portion  32  includes outer attachment links  52   a  and  52   b , which are the chain links  34  closest to the respective endmost traction chain portion  36 . The inner circumferential portion  33  includes inner attachment links  53   a  and  53   b , which are the chain links  34  closest to the respective endmost traction chain portion  36 . As is typical of tire chains, the opposing end portions  32   a  and  33   a  each include a tire chain hook  35 .  
         [0034]    After the tire chain  30  is placed over the tire  31 , the user may begin with either of the tire chain ends  30   a  or  30   b . The user may also begin with either of the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2 . Although it will be understood that the attachment method can begin with either end of the tire chain  30 , and with either of the J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2 , for simplicity only one order of the method will be fully described in detail. Thus, in the order illustrated, the user begins with the tire chain end  30   a  and with the first J-shaped crossover member  1 .  
         [0035]    Holding the first J-shaped crossover member  1  in one hand, with the other hand the user lifts the tire chain end  30   a  up and away from the tire  31 , such that the opposing end portion  33   a  of the inner circumferential link portion  33  is readily visible. The user attaches the inner attachment link  53   a  to the inner link attachment portion  12   a  on the J-shaped crossover member  1 . Releasing the tire chain end  30   a , the user then attaches the outer attachment link  52   a  to the chain-retaining member portion  14   a  on the J-shaped crossover member  1 . The user then slides the J-shaped crossover member  1  under the tire  31  such that the J-shaped crossover member  1  is supported between the tire  31  and the ground or snow, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.  
         [0036]    The user then repeats the same process for the other J-shaped crossover member and the other end of the tire chain  30 . Thus, holding the second J-shaped crossover member  2  in one hand, with the other hand the user lifts the tire chain end  30   b  up and away from the tire  31 , such that the opposing end portion  33   b  of the inner circumferential link portion  33  is readily visible. The user attaches the inner attachment link  53   b  to the inner link attachment portion  12   b  on the second J-shaped crossover member  2 . Releasing the tire chain end  30   b , the user then attaches the outer attachment link  52   b  to the chain-retaining member portion  14   b  on the J-shaped crossover member  2 . The user then slides the J-shaped crossover member  2  under the tire  31  such that the J-shaped crossover member  2  is supported between the tire  31  and the ground or snow, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 5 illustrates the outer view of the tire  31 , after the outer attachment links  52   a  and  52   b  have been attached to the chain-retaining member portions  14   a  and  14   b  as described above, and FIG. 6 illustrates the inner view of the tire  31 , after the outer attachment links  53   a  and  53   b  have been attached to the attachment portions  12   a  and  12   b.    
         [0038]    After the tire chain  30  has been attached as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  are then slot connected and the tightening assembly  19  is attached, as illustrated in FIG. 11. In one embodiment, best depicted in FIG. 5, the threaded pin portion  21  is fitted into the notch portion  22 . In this embodiment, the threaded knob  23  is then screwed onto the threaded pin  21  and is hand-tightened as much as possible, as illustrated in FIG. 7.  
         [0039]    After the tightening assembly  19  is in place, the user attaches the first end portion  27  of the tension strap  26  to the protruding attachment portion  25  on the second J-shaped crossover member  2 , as illustrated in FIG. 7. The user then wraps the tension strap  26  around the second tension strap protruding wrapping member  16   b , which is located on the second J-shaped crossover member  2 , as illustrated in FIG. 8. The user then wraps and stretches the tension strap  26  around the first protruding tension strap wrapping member  16   a , which is located on the first J-shaped crossover member  1 , as depicted in FIG. 9. The user then stretches and wraps the tension strap  26  a second time around the second protruding tension strap wrapping member  16   b , as illustrated in FIG. 10. As shown in FIGS. 8-11, when the user stretches and wraps the tension strap  26  around each of the first and second protruding tension strap wrapping members  16   a  and  16   b , the tension strap  26  is wrapped between the large diameter washer-like portions  17  and the front surfaces  18  of the J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2 . Thus, the large diameter washer-like portions  17  prevent the strap  26  from slipping off of each of the first and second protruding wrapping members  16   a  and  16   b . Other configurations also can be used, such as slotted posts and the like. Finally, the user stretches and attaches the second end portion  28  of the tension strap  26  to the tightening assembly  19 , as illustrated in FIG. 11. In one embodiment, the attachment of the stretched tension strap  26  to the tightening assembly  19  helps to hold the J-shaped crossover member  1  tightly against the J-shaped crossover member  2  by forcing the threaded pin portion  21  into the notch portion  22 .  
         [0040]    It will be understood that as the tension strap  26  is stretched and wrapped around the first and second protruding tension strap wrapping members  16   a  and  16   b  and stretched and attached to the tightening assembly  19 , the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  are put in considerable tension. Although the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  are naturally inclined to pivot together about the threaded pin  21  because of the tension provided by the tension strap  26 , said first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  cannot pivot because, as noted above, each of the J-shaped crossover members is wedged between the tire  31  and the ground or snow.  
         [0041]    Thus, when the user moves the motor vehicle such that the tire  31  rotates, said first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  are no longer wedged between the tire  31  and the ground or snow, and are thus automatically caused to pivot toward each other about the threaded pin  21  as a result of the tension provided by the tension strap  26 , which pulls said first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  toward each other from their original spread-open position shown in FIG. 11 into a collapsed position shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. As illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, once the user has moved the motor vehicle such that the tire  31  rotates approximately 30 to 45 degrees, the tension strap  26  has contracted and said first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  have collapsed. Other degrees of rotation also may be sufficient. Contraction of the tension strap  26  causes the first J-shaped crossover member  1  and the second J-shaped crossover member  2  to counter-rotate about the threaded pin  21  until the bump portion  24  engages the second J-shaped crossover member  2 . When the bump portion  24  has engaged the second J-shaped crossover member  2 , the counter-rotation of the first J-shaped crossover member  1  and the second J-shaped crossover member  2  has brought the inner link attachment portions  12   a  and  12   b  closer together, as depicted in FIG. 13, such that the tire chain hook  35  is easily attachable to one of the chain links  34  near the opposing end portion  33   b  of the inner circumferential link portion  33 . The inner link attachment portions  12   a  and  12   b  also hold the tire chain hook  35  and the chain links  34  near the opposing end portion  33   b  of the inner circumferential link portion  33  above the level of the snow. Thus, the user reaches around the tire  31  and attaches the tire chain hook  35  to one of the chain links  34  near the opposing end portion  33   b  of the inner circumferential link portion  33 .  
         [0042]    The user then loosens the knob  23  to separate the first and second crossovers  1  and  2  from one another to allow their removal from the inner links  52   b  and  53   b , as illustrated in FIG. 3. Once the user has attached the inner tire chain hook  35  to one of the chain links  34  near the opposing end portion  33   b  of the inner circumferential link portion  33  and removed the first and second crossover members  1  and  2 , the final step is for the user to attach the outer tire chain hook  35  to one of the chain links  34  near the opposing end portion  32   b  of the outer circumferential link portion  32 , which is performed in the normal manner. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the tire chain  30  is attached securely enough that there is no need for the driver to stop a second time to retighten it. The user may then repeat the process using the same set of first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  on other tires as necessary.  
         [0043]    In one preferred embodiment, the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  are made from ⅛″ cold rolled steel to prevent them from twisting as the tire  31  rotates. In another embodiment, the first and second J-shaped crossover members  1  and  2  are made from plastic. Other sufficiently rigid materials also can be used.  
         [0044]    The terms and expressions that have been employed within this specification are used as terms of description and not of limitation. There is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof. Instead, it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. At times modifications of or alternatives to certain features have been explicitly described. The descriptions of modifications or alternatives for some features should not be read to exclude other modifications or alternatives not so described, nor should the lack of description of modifications or alternatives for other features be read to exclude such. Accordingly, not all of the features, aspects and/or advantages are necessarily required to practice the present invention, thus the scope of the present invention should be limited only by a fair reading of the following claims.