Patent ID: 7845577

Claim:
A method for providing an alternative driving surface for a motor vehicle, the alternative driving surface being an inflatable automotive traction recovery device deployable on an underlying surface, the method comprising: (a) providing at least one inflatable cushion; (b) deploying said at least one inflatable cushion in an un-inflated state forward of, and adjacent to, at least one wheel on the motor vehicle in a desired direction of locomotion; (c) inflating said at least one cushion so as to simultaneously lift the vehicle and provide a driving surface; and (d) driving the motor vehicle on a top surface of said inflatable cushion; wherein said at least one inflatable cushion is implemented such that in an operationally-inflated state said top surface and a bottom surface of said inflatable cushion are flexible in substantially all directions thereby allowing walls of said cushion to mold to and accommodate substantially any ground surface contour and a contour of a vehicle tire when weight of the vehicle is supported by said cushion, said cushion being free of any interior structures that limit the adaptability of the walls to the underlying surface or said contour of said vehicle tire.