Patent Publication Number: US-2015075687-A1

Title: Tire Cradle and Method

Description:
Notice is given that the following patent document contains original material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile or digital download reproduction of all or part of the patent document but otherwise reserves all copyrights. 
     This utility patent application is based on and claims the filing date benefit of U.S. provisional patent application (Application No. 61/820323) filed on May 7, 2013. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention pertains to an apparatus and method for installing a tire chain on a tire, and more particularly, to apparatuses and methods for installing a tire chain on the outside tire on the two outer tires on dual tires mounted on opposite sides of the single axle. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Most states in the U.S. have promulgated laws and regulations that require using approved traction devices on motor vehicles operated on public roads in snowy or icy conditions. The type of traction device and the specific location of the tire where the traction device must be installed are also set forth in the laws and regulations. Normally, the type of traction device and the tire location is determined by the type of motor vehicle (i.e. passenger, vehicle, light truck vehicle, heavy truck vehicle, tractor/trailer vehicle, etc) and the motor vehicle&#39;s axle arrangement (two to four axles, five axles, and six or more axles). For example, on light or heavy trucks with dual tires on opposite sides of a single axle, metal chains must be used and installed on the two outside tires. On tractor/trailer vehicles with one or more single axles with dual tires on opposite sides on both the tractor and on the trailer, metal chains must be used and installed on the two outside tires on a single axle on the tractor and on at least one outside tire on a single dual tire arrangement on the trailer. 
     Drivers of heavy trucks and tractor/trailer vehicles often drive alone. When weather conditions require installation of tire chains, the driver must personally install the tire chains on the tires. Normally, the driver must find a safe flat area to park the truck or tractor/trailer vehicle. The driver then must exit the cab and spread each chain longitudinally on the ground in front of the desired tires. The driver then returns to the cab and slowly drives the truck or tractor/trailer forward so the center axis of each tire is aligned over the central transverse axis of the chain. Unfortunately, determining the location of the tires to determine if they are properly aligned over the chains is difficult using the vehicle&#39;s outside rear view mirrors. As a result, the driver must sometimes repeatedly exit and reenter the cab to properly align the tires over the chains. 
     What is needed is an apparatus and an improved method that allows a single driver to easily and safely install and remove tire chains from an outside tire on a motor vehicle with dual tires on a single axle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed is an apparatus and method for easily and safely installing or removing tire chains from the outside tire on a dual tire, single axle on a large motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a pyramid, or triangular -shaped base with a flat bottom surface, two vertical side walls, two upward converging top surfaces, and an elevated, centrally located, concave tire support surface disposed between the two converging surfaces. The apparatus also includes a tire sensor gauge mounted in the tire support surface, and a signaling device coupled to the tire sensor that informs the driver when a desired tire has been successfully driven onto and properly aligned on the tire support surface. 
     During use, the base is positioned on a flat surface and longitudinally aligned with the rolling track of one of the inside tires on dual tire arranged on opposite sides of a single axle. The lower edge of the converging surface is transversely aligned and positioned against the tire&#39;s tread. The motor vehicle is then driven in a direction towards the base so the tire rolls over the converging surface and onto the tire support surface. The arc or curvature of the tire support surface is slightly greater than the outer curvature of the section of the tire in contact with the apparatus partially capturing the tire and prevent rolling. The angles of the two converging surfaces and the curvature of the tire support surface are sufficient so the tangent point of the tire when aligned with the center axis of the tire support surface is elevated approximately 3 inches above the ground. 
     The tire sensor is mounted over the center axis of the tire support surface. In one embodiment shown, the tire sensor is a pressure gauge that registers a downward force exerted by the tire when it rolls over the center axis of the tire support surface. When the pressure gauge is forced downward, the operational stage of a signaling device is changed informing the driver located in the cab of the truck or tractor/trailer vehicle that the tire is properly aligned. In one embodiment, the signaling device is a light source attached to a cable connected to the tire sensor. In one embodiment, the light source is configured to be activated when the tire rolls onto the tire support surface. When the gauge is extended upward, the light source is deactivated. The cable has a sufficient length so that during use, the cable and the light source may be positioned on the flat surface outside the outside tire to allow a driver to view the activation state of the light source in the truck cab using the rear view mirrors. 
     When the inside tire is elevated off the flat surface, the outside tire adjacent to the elevated tire is also elevated. A tire chain can then be easily installed on the outside tire. 
     In one embodiment, the base is made of lightweight plastic and sold and distributed in a pair so the driver may simultaneously install chains on the two outside tires. Elastic straps are provided that enable two apparatus to be held with their flat surfaces pressed together. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a single axle with a dual tire arrangement used on a motor vehicle with two apparatus positioned on the ground in the rolling track path of the two inside tires. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional side elevation view of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 6  is an end elevation view of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing two apparatuses stacked together for compact storage. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the two apparatuses shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Referring to the Figs, there is disclosed an apparatus  10  for easily and safely installing or removing a tire chain  100  from the outside tire  94  on a dual tire , single axle arrangement  90  on a motor vehicle  92 . The apparatus  10  includes a four sided pyramid base  12  with a triangular side profile with a bottom surface  13 , two vertical side walls  14 ,  15 , two upward converging surfaces  18 ,  22 , an elevated , centrally located concave tire surface  30  disposed between the two converging surfaces  18 ,  22 . Formed on the outer edges of the two converging surfaces  18 ,  22  are raised curbs  19 ,  19 ′ and  23 ,  23 ′. In the tire support surface  30  is a tire centering sensor  40 . Coupled to the tire centering sensor  40  is a signaling device  50  that informs the driver when an inside tire  96  on a dual tire arrangement on a single axle  90  has been driven onto and properly aligned on the tire support surface  30 . 
     In the embodiment, the base  12  is made of molded, lightweight plastic and measures approximately 31 inches in length and approximately 13.5 inches in width. The converging surfaces  18 ,  22  are angled upward at approximately 27 degrees from the flat bottom surface  13 . The tire support surface  30  has a radius of approximately 21 inches. The lower center tangent point  31  of the tire support surface  30  is approximately 3 inches above the bottom surface  13 . Formed on the tire support surface  30  is a centrally located valve cavity  34  configured to receive a tire sensing valve  40 . Also formed on the side wall  16  is an optional storage cavity  17  for signaling device  50 . The arc or curvature of the tire support surface  30  is slightly greater than the outer curvature of the section of the tire  96  in contact with the base  12  thereby capturing the tire  96  within the tire support surface  30 . 
     In one embodiment, the signaling device  50  is a rectangular box  72  with at least one light bulb or LED mounted  74  hereon. Mounted inside the box  72  is a manual switch  73  and a battery compartment  76  that houses one or more batteries  78  that operate the light bulb or LED  74 . The signaling device  50  also includes a cable  80  that connects at its opposite end to a plug port  82  on the side wall  15  of the base  12 . The plug port  82  is electrically connected to the sensing valve  40  so that when the operational condition (ON or OFF) of the signaling device  50  changes when a tire  96  rolls over and forces the sensing valve  40  downward. 
     During use, the base  12  is positioned on a flat surface and longitudinally aligned with the rolling track  97  of the inside tire  96  on a dual tire single axle arrangement  90 . The adjoining edge between the bottom surface  13  one of the converging surface  18  or  22  is positioned transversely against tire&#39;s tread. The box  72  and the cable  80  are positioned lateral to the apparatus  10  so it may be seen by the driver sitting in the cab and operating the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle is then driven in a direction towards the apparatus  10  so the inside tire  96  rolls over the adjacent converging surface  18  or  22  and into the tire support surface  30 . 
     When the inside tire  96  rolls onto the tire support surface  30  and activates the sensor valve  40 , the operating state of the light bulb or LED  74  on the box  72  changes. During use, the cable  80  is extended along the ground and the box  72  are positioned so the driver may view the operating condition of the bulb or LED  82  with the rear view mirrors. As the driver drives the tractor onto the tire support surface  30 , he or she watches the operating condition of the LED  74 . When the operative condition changes, the brakes are applied and set and the driver can then install chains  100  to the elevated outside tire  94  adjacent to the elevated inside tire  96 . Because the outside tire  94  is also elevated off the ground, the chain  100  may be easily installed on the outside tire  94 . When the chain  100  has been installed, the motor vehicle is then driven forward and away from the base  12 . The apparatus  10  can then be used raised other inside tires  96  to install chains  100  on other outside tires  94  or returned to its storage space. 
     In one embodiment, base  12  is made of lightweight plastic and sold and distributed in pairs ( 12 ,  12 ′) as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , so the driver may simultaneously install chains  100  on the two outside tires  94 ,  94 ′. The bases  12 ,  12 ′ are nested together and elastic straps  105  are provided that hold their flat bottom surfaces  13 ,  13 ′ longitudinally aligned and pressed together. 
     Using the above described apparatus  10 , a method for installing and removing tire chains is also described in which the base is positioned in adjacent to the inside tire on a dual tire, single axle arrangement  90 . The driver first determines the inside tire  96  adjacent the outside tire  94  where a tire chain  100  will be installed. The driver then selects a base  12  and positions it longitudinally over the tire track  97 . The light senor  72  is connected to the base  12  and then positioned on the ground laterally from the outside tire  94  so the LED  74  may be seen by the driver via the outside rear view mirrors. The driver then slowly drives the motor vehicle forward or rearward until the condition of the LED  74  changes indicating that the inside tire  96  is properly positioned over the tire support area  30 . The driver then installs the tire chain  100  around the elevated outside tire  94 . The driver then drives the truck forward or reward so the base  12  is free and may be retrieved. The above process is then repeated in reverse to remove the tire chain from the other outside tire  94 . 
     In compliance with the statute, the invention described has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown, comprises the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted under the doctrine of equivalents.