Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to protecting a surface from damage by vehicle tires and more particularly to a novel surface anti-scuff device and system for vehicle tires. 
     Background Art 
     There are many surfaces over which vehicles are moved which can be severely damaged by the mars and scuffs provided by vehicle tires. There is a need for an effective anti-scuff device and system that will prevent scuffing or marring of a Surface when a vehicle is moved or driven over a surface. For example, scuffing and marring of surfaces results in expensive and extensive clean up for contractors on many construction jobsites. Smooth concrete is one example of a surface that is easily damaged by such vehicle travel. Vehicle travel frequently results in black marks on a variety of types of flooring. A technique presently in use is to wrap duct tape over the tire tread. A disadvantage of this approach is difficulty in removing the tape and frequently the glue on the tape is transmitted to the surface. 
     Disclosure of the Invention 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a surface anti-scuff device including an anti-scuff member that readily mounts onto and demounts from a tire and on the tire extends around the circumference and a portion of the sides thereof and is fastened tightly to the tire as by draw strings so that during movement over the surface the tire cannot scuff or mar or substantially prevents scuffing of the surface over which the tire is driven. In an anti-scuff system for vehicles each tire of the vehicle is provided with a similar surface anti-scuff device. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Details of this invention are described in connection with the accompanying drawings which like parts bear similar reference numerals in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a four wheeled vehicle with each tire equipped with an anti-scuff device embodying features of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the tires and anti-scuff device shown in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an anti-scuff device in a flat condition prior to assembly to the tire. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged inside elevation view of a corner portion of the draw line assembly at the connected ends of the strip of material. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the device shown in FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5. 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 5. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an anti-scuff device. 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 8. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings there is shown in FIG. 1 a wheeled vehicle 9 having four wheels each with a tire 10. This vehicle 9 is illustrative of any type of motorized or non-motorized vehicle that may be moved over a supporting surface 11. Each tire 10 has an anti-scuff device 12 mounted thereon to provide a surface anti-scuff system for the vehicle 9. Each surface anti-scuff device 12 includes an anti-scuff or non-scuffing member 14 shown in the form of a single rectangular strip of material of a preselected width and length that is sized according to tire size that is wider than the tire tread so it will overlay the tire tread and a portion of each sidewall of the tire with the strip being fastened to the tire along both sides. The strip is secured at the ends by folding the opposite end portions 14a and 14b of the strip 14 against one another and securing them as with stitching 15 to form the strip 14 into a closed loop having substantially the same circumference as the circumference of the tire to which it is secured. 
     A first folded side edge portion 16 is provided along an inner side edge of the material 14 and a second folded side edge portion 18 is provided along the opposite outer side edge of the material. These edge portions 16 and 18 are formed as by stitching at lines 22 and 24, respectively. A first draw line 26 is provided in the first folded edge portion 16 and a second draw line 28 is provided in the second folded side edge portion so that the draw lines 26 and 28 can be used to draw the strip of material 14 tightly against the circumference and portion as of the sidewalls on both sides of the tread of the tire. The opposite end portions of the draw lines are shown held by a conventional line clamp 29 having a hole through which two of the draw lines extend and a spring biased button that releases when depressed. The draw lines could also be tied in a suitable, readily releasable knot. 
     At each end of each folded side edge portion and at the connected end portions 14a and 14b a corner portion 31 of the material is folded over and secured as by stitching 32 to provide a double-thickness beveled edge portion 33. This enables each draw string to be pulled on a straight line so there is uniform pull and no bunching up of the material. 
     A material found suitable for this anti-scuff member 14 is CORDURA® PLUS manufactured by DuPont Company. This product is a pliable, tightly woven nylon, preferably a plain weave that will readily conform to the exterior surface of the tread and sidewalls of the tire and is provided with an inside coating or layer to make it water resistant. It is found that if this strip is held tightly to the tire,tread and along the sides that vehicles with rubber tires can be driven over a surface to prevent or substantially prevent scuffing the surface or without significantly scuffing the surface. 
     An alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 has a stretchable strip of material 42 of a suitable elastic material fastened at and between folded end portions of the anti-scuff member 14 to enable the closed loop to stretch slightly over a limited width. This stretchable strip of material 42 is shown sewn to the ends as by stitching indicated at 43. 
     Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

Technology Category: 4