Abstract:
A traction aid for wheeled vehicles cooperable with the circumferential peripheral grooves of a tire of the wheeled vehicle, the traction aid comprising a cable securable at both ends, forming a loop, fixedly secured to the cable, there being a plurality of beads such that when installed, the cable lies completely recessed within a respective circumferential peripheral groove of the tire and the respective beads extend outwardly and above the upper surface of the tread of the tire thereby providing additional traction and grip in cooperation with the cross grooves of the tire in snowy and icy climatic conditions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a traction aid for wheeled vehicles for use in snow and ice conditions, the traction aid cooperable with and positioned in the circumferential grooves of the respective tires mounted on the respective drive wheels of the vehicle.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Obtaining traction for a wheeled vehicle in snow and ice conditions has been a problem since the early development of the automobile. One solution to the problem was to change out the road tires on the drive wheels as winter approached and replace those tires with what are commonly referred to as snow tires, these tires having a significant tread difference than the normal road tires in order to provide better traction in snow and ice conditions. In some instances, and in some climates, snow tires in and of themselves were insufficient to provide the necessary traction and grip.  
         [0005]     A supplementary solution to the snow tire solution was the development of tire chains, which consisted of a chain mesh wrapped around the circumferential surface of the tires and held in place by a tensioning force (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,536,491; 4,799,522; and 4,922,982). This solution proved satisfactory when the climatic conditions required this extreme measure. However, in the absence of snow and ice on the road surface, the chains proved noisy and because of the higher speeds on the road surface, absent snow or ice, the chains were likely to become disengaged and become a flying object doing damage to the underside of the vehicle in which they were mounted, or a trailing vehicle. Because of this danger, the tire chains would have to be removed as soon as the roadways were clear.  
         [0006]     Another development which attempted to address the solution of added traction and grip in snow and icy climatic conditions was the development of the studded snow tire. This was essentially a snow tire having a significant tread differentiation from that of the normal road tire, but in which was embedded tungsten studs which protruded radially outwardly from the circumferential peripheral surface and which were designed to penetrate packed snow or ice as the wheel and tire revolved in order to provide traction. These worked in certain instances, but it soon became evident that when no snow or icy climatic conditions were prevalent on the paved roadways, the tungsten studs damaged the roadway and prematurely degraded the surface of the roadway, hence, studded snow tires with the outwardly extending tungsten studs were outlawed in many jurisdictions.  
         [0007]     Applicant&#39;s invention is directed to improving the traction and grip of a wheeled vehicle in snow and icy climatic conditions, which is easily installed and cooperable with the circumferential periphery of the tire of the wheeled vehicle, provides necessary traction and grip, does not damage the roadway surface, and does not have to be removed during short intervals of non-snow or non-ice climatic conditions.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel traction device for a wheeled vehicle which improves traction in snow and icy climatic conditions.  
         [0009]     Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel traction device for a wheeled vehicle which is cooperable with and removably embedded in the circumferential peripheral grooves of the tire.  
         [0010]     Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel traction device for snow and icy climatic conditions in which a cable having beads formed therein is embedded in the circumferential grooves of the tire such that the beads secured on the cable extend above the outermost level of the tread of the tire.  
         [0011]     Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel traction device for a wheeled vehicle in which the ends of each respective cable are easily secured with a tensioning device.  
         [0012]     A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel traction device for a wheeled vehicle in which the beads positioned on the cable are dimensioned so as to not inflict unwanted wear and tear or damage to a clear road surface.  
         [0013]     A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel traction device for a wheeled vehicle in which the traction device can remain mounted on the tire during intervals of non-snowy and icy climatic conditions.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     A traction aid for wheeled vehicles cooperable with the circumferential peripheral grooves of a tire of the wheeled vehicle, the traction aid comprising a cable securable at both ends, forming a loop, fixedly secured to the cable, there being a plurality of beads such that when installed, the cable lies completely recessed within a respective circumferential peripheral groove of the tire and the respective beads extend outwardly and above the upper surface of the tread of the tire thereby providing additional traction and grip in cooperation with the cross grooves of the tire in snowy and icy climatic conditions.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tire having the traction aid of the present invention installed thereon;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a tire having a traction aid of the present invention installed thereon;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a front view of a tire having a traction aid of the present invention installed thereon;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a cross section view along plane A-A of  FIG. 3  illustrating the traction aid of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a cross section view along plane B-B of  FIG. 3  illustrating the traction aid of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of a portion of the traction aid of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a side cutaway view of a bead member and method of fastening same; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a side cutaway view of a bead member and method of securing the loop of a flexible cable. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tire having a traction aid of the present invention installed thereon;  FIG. 2  is a side view of the tire having a traction aid of the present invention installed thereon; and  FIG. 3  is a front view of a tire having a traction aid of the present invention installed thereon.  
         [0025]     Tire  10  is a standard pneumatic inflatable tire mountable on a rim (not shown) and mounted on the hub of a vehicle. Tire  10  is composed of opposing side walls  12  and  14  and a circumferential tread surface  16 . Tread surface  16  comprises a plurality of circumferential grooves  18  with a plurality of cross grooves  20  either in perpendicular or angular relationship with the circumferential grooves, circumferential grooves and cross grooves thereby defining the tread surface of the tire  10 .  
         [0026]     Applicant&#39;s traction aid is cooperable with the circumferential grooves  18  about tire  10 . Applicant&#39;s traction aid comprises a flexible cable  22  dimensioned to span the circumference of the tire  10  within circumferential groove  18 . The diameter of flexible cable  22  is such that it is fully recessed within the circumferential groove  18  of tire  10 . As discussed in more detail hereafter, the ends of the flexible cable  22  are secured together by a suitable fastening means to maintain the flexible cable  22  within a circumferential groove of tire  10 .  
         [0027]     Fixedly positioned onto flexible cable  22  are a plurality of bead members  24 . Bead members  24  are formed with a cable receiving bore  25  and are dimensioned to fit snugly within the circumferential groove  18  of tire  10 . They are fixed in position on flexible cable  22  which passes through bore  25  such that they do not slide and they are dimensioned such that their upper surface extends above the tread surface of circumferential surface  16  of tire  10 .  
         [0028]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a tire  10  in which there is formed three circumferential grooves  18  about a circumferential tread surface  16 . The traction aid in the form of the flexible cable  22  and the plurality of bead members  24  secured thereon are positioned in each of the circumferential grooves  18 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the traction aids are installed preferably so that the bead members  24  are not laterally aligned, but rather are offset from each adjacent groove in order to improve traction.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view along plane A-A of  FIG. 3  illustrating the traction aid of the present invention;  FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view along plane B-B of  FIG. 3  illustrating the traction aid of the present invention; and  FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of a portion of the traction aid of the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view along plane A-A of  FIG. 3  illustrating the circumferential tread surface  16 , and a circumferential groove  18  in the tire surface  16 . Flexible cable  22  is shown recessed within the circumferential groove  18  in the tread surface  16  and having secured thereto, a bead member  24 , with a cable receiving bore  25 , which is wedged or snugly secured within the circumferential groove  18  and maintained in position by the tension on the flexible cable  22 .  FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of a bead member and cable  24  and  22  positioned in a circumferential groove  18  of tire  10 . In this illustration it can be seen that flexible cable  22  is recessed below the upper surface of circumferential tread surface  16  of tire  10 . Bead member  24  has its lower surface  28  in communication with the bottom of circumferential groove  18 . The upper surface  30  of bead member  24  extends slightly above the circumferential surface  16  of tire  10  thereby defining a protruded portion  32  of bead member  24  extending above the tire surface. This protruded portion  32  of bead member  24  provides additional traction for the wheel in snow and ice conditions due to the fact that whether the vehicle is in a forward or reverse direction, the leading edges of protruded portion  32  which extend above the circumferential tread surface  16  of tire  10  can engage the ice or snow for additional traction and grip.  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a portion of the traction aid illustrating one manner in which the ends of the flexible cable  22  can be secured by a crimp cable connector  36  so as to provide sufficient tension on the flexible cable  22  to maintain the traction aid in position in the circumferential groove  18  of tire  10 .  FIG. 6  also illustrates one manner in which the bead members  24  can be secured to flexible cable  22 . One means is that flexible cable  22  and bead member  24  are secured directly by means of a possible weld  31 . In this configuration receiving bore  25  would be dimensioned to the cross section of flexible cable  22  to facilitate the weld.  
         [0032]     In an alternative manner, a wedge  31  is slid into receiving bore  25  to frictionally secure the bead position on the flexible cable  22  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Bead member  24  has been slidably positioned on flexible cable  22  to its desired location, the wedge  31  is pressure fit into receiving bore  25  so as to cause a friction lock between bead member  24 , wedge  31  and the flexible cable  22 , thereby maintaining the bead member at the desired location on flexible cable  22 . The receiving bore  25  in this configuration is greater than the circumference of flexible cable  22  in order to accommodate wedge  31 . Still further, as an alternative means for securing flexible cable  22  in a loop about tire  10 , one of the bead members  24  on each of the flexible cables  22  could serve as the fastening means by having a receiving bore large enough to accept both ends of the flexible cable  22  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Wedge  31  is illustrated as being cylindrical, however other geometric shapes may suffice. When the bead member  24  is secured to flexible cable  22  in the manner illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a steel spacer strip  40  may be utilized to protect flexible cable  22  while wedge  31  is pressure inserted.  
         [0033]     Flexible cable member  22  would preferably be constructed of steel and may be coated. The bead members  24  would preferably be formed of steel and fixedly secured to flexible cable  22  at desired intervals. Bead members  24  may further have their lower surface  28  textured  29  to increase the grip of the bead member within the circumferential groove  18  of the tire  10 .  
         [0034]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a tire with three circumferential grooves  18  and three traction aids, one traction aid secured within each groove. Certain tires may be constructed with more than three circumferential grooves, and it would be a matter of choice as to whether or not to secure a traction aid in each and every circumferential groove  18  about a tire  10 . Indeed in extreme conditions, it may be advisable that each circumferential groove be fitted with a traction aid. In some instances, it may suffice that not all of the circumferential grooves be fitted with a traction aid of the present invention. For instance, in the tire  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it may suffice that a traction aid only be positioned in the outer circumferential grooves  18  of tire  10  and still achieve the desired traction and grip for the snow or icy climatic condition.  
         [0035]     The traction aid would preferably be installed on tire  10  when tire  10  is deflated or partially deflated. The securing means would secure the two ends of the cable and then the tire would be inflated which would create the firm and rigid mounting of the traction aid to the tire  10  within circumferential groove  18 .  
         [0036]     While the present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.