Patent Application
20170100963
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a traction device, and more particularly, a compressible traction device.
Description of the Prior Art
Numerous innovations for vehicle traction devices have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.
A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 1,815,435, Issued on Jul. 21, 1931, to Harding, et al. teaches a traction tread device including a substantially imperforate body of vulcanized rubber adapted to be placed between the tread of a driving wheel and the ground. The substantially imperforate body has projections on its under side adapted to indent soft or granular ground surface.
A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 1,863,316, Issued on Jun. 14, 1932, to Webster, Jr. teaches a traction mat including a sheet metal shoe portion having a plurality of diagonally upwardly extending sharp projections. The shoe is sufficiently pliable to conform to the shape of a vehicle tire. Further included is a strip of flexible material having one of its ends secured to the shoe, and plurality of studs secured to the strip and projecting from the opposite sides thereof.
A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,640,459, Issued on Feb. 8, 1972, to Preisler teaches a traction pad for an automotive vehicle having pneumatic tires, which includes a flat and flexible mat formed with transverse treads on its upper surface. Studs embedded in the mat extend out of the smooth bottom surface of the mat for engagement with a slippery roadway. The mat is rectangular, and has long beveled side edges and end edges to provide an incline on which the wheel rolls. Each stud has a cylindrical body with a reduced-diameter and cylindrical pin portion extending outwardly axially of one end thereof. Ridges are provided on the bottom surface between rows of protruding stud pin portions to cooperate with the studs in holding the mat in place on the roadway. The ridges elevate the pin portions from the carpet on the floor of the vehicle when the pad is stored thereover and being used as a mat thereupon. Drag lines are attached to an end of the mat.
A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,422, Issued on Jun. 27, 1972, to Greipel teaches a traction device for use with automotive vehicles to assist in extrication of the vehicle from ice, snow, sand, mud, or the like. The traction device includes a rigid or semi-rigid plate having an upper traction surface for engagement by the vehicle tire and having projecting members on the opposite surface adapted to bite or dig into the ice, snow, mud, or sand in which the vehicle is stuck. Flexible apparatus, such as chains, secured to the traction plate are provided for the purpose of firmly securing the traction mat to the vehicle tire at the interface with the material in which the vehicle is stuck. This causes the traction device to engage the tire temporarily, but firmly, for sufficient time to permit the traction plate to become firmly set into engagement with the ice, snow, mud, or sand. Thereupon, further engagement between the moving tire tread and the traction plate permits the vehicle to be readily extricated.
A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,989, Issued on Jan. 22, 1974, to Haynes teaches a traction mat for placement beneath the driving wheel of an automobile disabled on an ice- or snow-covered road. The mat includes an inexpensive, one-piece, an expendable elongate flat sheet of expanded metal, such as metal lath, having a substantially rectangular shape and characterized by a plurality of slit portions formed by transverse slits in the metal. The sheet has a pair of opposite and longitudinal edge or margin portions formed by cutting across the sheet. This normally would result in a plurality of sharp protrusions that are formed by the cutting. To prevent injury to the user and damage to surrounding objects from scratching by the protrusions, a plastic substance is applied to the sharp protrusions, preferably, by dipping the latter into a bath of plastic in a molten state and allowing the plastic substance to solidify, whereby the protrusions become coated with beads or globules of plastic.
A SIXTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,861,592, Issued on Jan. 21, 1975, to Fisher teaches a traction mat formed of injection-molded and thermoplastic material having formed therein a plurality of integral sleeves defining socket-like recesses extending transversely through the thickness of the material, being closed at one end and open at the other, and provided with metallic pins or studs frictionally secured in the sockets, and projecting from the open end for the purpose of engaging a road bed.
A SEVENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,280, Issued on Jul. 1, 1980, to Reisner teaches a traction mat having a plurality of pins captivated in a resilient mat. Each pin has a head on each of the opposing ends and a washer between the head and the mat. The mat provides increased traction to a vehicle stuck in snow and the like by seizing both the tire and the ground with the heads of each pin in pivotal action as the washer pivots and locks the heads in a gripping position for the increased traction. A rigid steel start plate of a width less than the width of the tire is attached to one end of the mat for providing initial impetus to position the mat under the tire.
AN EIGHTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,791, Issued on Aug. 4, 1981, to Schaaf, et al. teaches a motor vehicle traction aid device including a plastic bag containing a sand mixture for insertion under a tire on a drive wheel of a motor vehicle for improving traction on ice, snow, or the like. The bag is partially filled with the sand material, and includes a foam or sponge rubber tab on one side. The bag is inserted between the driving surface and the tire of the motor vehicle so that the tab engages the tire. Rotation of the wheel toward the driving surface causes the tire to engage the tab drawing the bag and the sand material under the tire in a rolling action, bursting the bag, and dispensing the sand beneath the tire.
A NINTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,722, Issued on Nov. 17, 1981, to Simmons teaches a traction mat to aid vehicle wheels for driving out of ice, snow, mud, sand, and the like, which is an elongated, unitary, stamped, and metal structure that is generally rectangular and has a forward inwardly tapered end portion, with the mat including a plurality of upwardly extending flanges disposed at 90° with respect to the planer surface and a plurality of downwardly projecting V-shaped gripping lugs. The mat outer side edges are formed with trough-shaped ribs for stiffening and the upwardly extending flanges and downwardly shaped gripping lugs are provided with structurally formed ribbing to increase the rigidity for placement and use in a variety of terrains.
A TENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,277, Issued on Nov. 30, 1982, to Cannady, et al. teaches a traction device for assisting vehicles when stuck in sand, snow, bog, or the like, which incorporates a rigid plate having opposed upper and lower gripping ribs and an appended chain structure having transverse angle-iron pieces spaced lengthwise thereof.
AN ELEVENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,171, Issued on Aug. 8, 1995, to Fruend teaches a traction mat for vehicles, which has panels of flexible and resilient material interconnected by sets of overlapping links that enable the panels to be folded in a stacked arrangement. Recesses or slots in the upper faces of the panels provide grip for a vehicle's tires, and holes in the panel enable the panel to be pushed down through mud to a solid surface.
It is apparent now that numerous innovations for vehicle traction devices have been provided in the prior art that adequate for various purposes. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, accordingly, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a compressible traction device that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a compressible traction device that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a compressible traction device that is simple to use.
BRIEFLY STATED, STILL YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a traction device providing increased traction of a tire having a shape and being on a poor tractional surface, and widening under, and cupping to the shape of, the tire by compression to increase surface area engaging the poor tractional surface to increase weight distribution and the increased traction of the tire. The traction device includes a base and a top cover. The top cover is affixed to the base, and widens under, and cups to the shape of, the tire by the compression to increase the surface area engaging the poor tractional surface to increase the weight distribution and the increased traction of the tire.
The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.
The figures of the drawings are briefly described as follows:
20 traction device of embodiments of present invention for providing increased traction of tire 22 having shape and being on poor tractional surface 24, for cupping to shape of tire 22, and for widening under tire 22 by compression 25 to increase surface area 26 engaging poor tractional surface 24 to increase weight distribution for increased traction of tire 22 on poor tractional surface 24
22 tire
24 poor tractional surface
25 compression
26 surface area
28 base
30 top cover for widening under, and for cupping to shape of, tire 22 by compression 25 to increase surface area 26 engaging poor tractional surface 24 to increase weight distribution for increased traction of tire 22 on poor tractional surface 24
32 pair of long sides of base 28
34 pair of short sides of base 28
36 upper surface of base 28
38 lower surface of base 28
40 first plurality of through bores of base 28
42 second plurality of through bores of base 28
44 groups of second plurality of through bores 42 of base 28
46 plurality of traction blocks of base 28 for increased traction of tire 22 on poor tractional surface 24
47 nubs of plurality of traction blocks 46 of base 28 for increased traction of tire 22 on poor tractional surface
48 groups of through bores of plurality of traction blocks 46 of base 28
50 first plurality of nuts and bolts of base 28 for increased traction of tire 22 on poor tractional surface 24
52 pair of long sides of top cover 30
54 pair of short sides of top cover 30
56 outer surface of top cover 30
58 inner surface of top cover 30
60 first plurality of through bores of top cover 30
62 second plurality of through bores of top cover 30
64 nubs of top cover 30 for increased traction of tire 22 on poor tractional surface 24
66 first plurality of nuts and bolts of top cover 30
68 vertical compression space
70 tab of top cover 30
72 ramp
74 first plurality of nuts, washers, and bolts of tab 70 of top cover 30 for increasing traction of tire 22 on poor tractional surface 24
76 plurality of endless chains
78 endless chain handle for facilitating carrying traction device 20
80 arrow indica for pointing to ramp 72 for utilitarian purpose of alerting user which end of traction device 20 is to be placed under tire 22
82 top indica for utilitarian purpose of alerting user which surface of traction device 20 is to be placed upwardly
Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to
The configuration of the traction device 20 can best be seen in
The traction device 20 comprises a base 28, and a top cover 30. The top cover 30 is affixed to the base 28, and is for the widening under, and for cupping to the shape of, the tire 22 by the compression 25 to increase the surface area 26 engaging the poor tractional surface 24 to increase the weight distribution for the increased traction of the tire 22 on the poor tractional surface 24.
The base 28 is made of a flexible material, and is rectangular-shaped, and as such, has a pair of long sides 32 and a pair of short sides 34.
The base 28 further has an upper surface 36, a lower surface 38, a first plurality of through bores 40, and a second plurality of through bores 42.
The first plurality of through bores 40 of the base 28 are spaced-apart from each other, extend axially therealong, and are disposed just inward of the pair of long sides 32 of the base 28.
The second plurality of through bores 42 of the base 28 are formed into groups 44.
The groups 44 of the second plurality of through bores 42 of the base 28 are axially spaced-apart from each other, extend laterally therealong, and are disposed between the first plurality of through bores 40 of the base 28 that extend axially therealong.
The base 28 further has a plurality of traction blocks 46.
The plurality of traction blocks 46 are made of a flexible material with nubs 47 extending therefrom for the increased traction, are axially spaced-apart from each other, extend laterally therealong, are disposed on the lower surface 38 of the base 28, over the groups 44 of the second plurality of through bores 42 of the base 28, respectively, and are for the increased traction of the tire 22 on the poor tractional surface 24.
The plurality of traction blocks 46 of the base 28 have groups of through bores 48, respectively.
The groups of through bores 48 of the plurality of traction blocks 46 of the base 28 align with the groups 44 of the second plurality of through bores 42 of the base 28, respectively.
The base 28 further has a first plurality of nuts and bolts 50.
The bolts of the first plurality of nuts and bolts 50 of the base 28 pass through the groups 44 of the second plurality of through bores 42 of the base 28, from the upper surface 36 of the base 28, and through the aligned groups of through bores 48 of the plurality of traction blocks 46 of the base 28, respectively, where nuts of the first plurality of nuts and bolts 50 of the base 28 engage the bolts of the first plurality of nuts and bolts 50 of the base 28 to affix the plurality of traction blocks 46 of the base 28 to the lower surface 38 of the base 28, with the nubs 47 of the plurality of traction blocks 46 of the base 28 facing downwardly for the increased traction.
The top cover 30 is made of a flexible material, and is rectangular-shaped prior to attachment to the base 28, and as such, has a pair cf long sides 52 and a pair of short sides 54.
The top cover 30 further has an outer surface 56, an inner surface 58, a first plurality of through bores 60, and a second plurality of through bores 62.
The first plurality of through bores 60 of the top cover 30 are spaced-apart from each other, extend axially therealong, and are disposed just inward of the pair of long sides 52 of the top cover 30.
The second plurality of through bores 62 of the top cover 30 are spaced-apart from each other, and are disposed inwardly of the first plurality of through bores 60 of, and throughout, the top cover 30.
The top cover 30 further has nubs 64.
The nubs 64 of the top cover 30 extend from the outer surface 56 of the top cover 30 and are for the increased traction of the tire 22 on the poor tractional surface 24.
The first plurality of through bores 60 of the top cover 30 are aligned with the first plurality of through bores 40 of the base 28.
The top cover 30 further has a first plurality of nuts and bolts 66.
The bolts of the first plurality of nuts and bolts 66 of the top cover 30 pass through the first plurality of through bores 40 of the base 28, from the upper surface 36 of the base 28, and through the aligned first plurality of through bores 60 of the top cover 30, respectively, where nuts of the first plurality of nuts and bolts 66 of the top cover 30 engage the bolts of the first plurality of nuts and bolts 66 of the top cover 30 to affix the top cover 30 to the base 28, with the base 28 extending past a short side 54 of the top cover 30, and with the top cover 30 forming a vertical compression space 68 with the base 28, and when driven upon by the tire 22, the top cover 30 widens under, and cups to the shape of, the tire 22 by the compression 25 of the vertical compression space 68 to increase the surface area 26 engaging the poor tractional surface 24 to increase the weight distribution for the increased traction of the tire 22 on the poor tractional surface 24.
The top cover 30 further has a tab 70.
The tab 70 of the top cover 30 extends from, is narrower than, and is one-piece with, the short side 44 of the top cover 30.
The tab 70 of the top cover 30 mates with the base 28, at a short side 34 of the base 28, so as to form a ramp 72 by virtue of the tab 70 of the top cover 30 being more flexible than the base 28.
The tab 70 of the top cover 30 is mated with the base 28 by a second plurality of nuts, washers, and bolts 74.
The bolts of the first plurality of nuts, washers, and bolts 74 of the tab 70 of the top cover 30 pass through the tab 70 of the top cover 30 and through the base 28, where nuts of the first plurality of nuts, washers, and bolts 74 of the tab 70 of the top cover 30 engage the bolts of the first plurality of nuts, washers, and bolts 74 of the tab 74 of the top cover 30 to affix the tab 70 of the top cover 30 to the base 28 while increasing the traction of the tire 22 on the poor tractional surface 24.
The traction device 20 further comprises a plurality of endless chains 76.
The plurality of endless chains 76 are separate from each other, extend continuously through diagonally opposed pairs of the first plurality of through bores 40 of the base 28 and continuously through pairs of the first plurality of through bores 60 of the top cover 30 that are aligned with the diagonally opposed pairs of the first plurality of through bores 40 of the base 28, are disposed between adjacent pairs of the traction blocks 46 of the base 28, respectively, and are for the increased traction of the tire 22 on the poor tractional surface 24.
The traction device 20 further comprises an endless chain handle 78.
The endless chain handle 78 extends continuously through a pair of spaced-apart second through bores 62 of the top cover 30, centrally of the top cover 30, and is for facilitating carrying the traction device 20.
The traction device 20 further comprises arrow indica 80.
The arrow indica 80 is associated with the top cover 30 for pointing to the ramp 72 for the utilitarian purpose of alerting a user which end of the traction device 20 is to be placed under the tire 22.1 1 See in re Miller, 164 USPQ 46, 49 (CCPA 1969) (“When the printed matter is associated with a structural article for some utilitarian purpose, the fact that printed matter by itself is not patentable subject matter, because non-statutory, is no reason for ignoring it when the claim is directed to a combination.” [Emphasis added]); and In re Bernhart and Fetter, 163 USPQ 611 (CCPA 1969) (“[E]ven though certain items are nonstatutory by themselves, it is proper to include them and rely on them for novelty and unobviousness if combined with other items which are in the statutory class [even though] the other ‘items’ may all be old.” [Emphasis added]).
The traction device 20 further comprises top indica 82.
The top indica 82 is associated with the top cover 30 for the utilitarian purpose of alerting a user which surface of the traction device 20 is to be placed upwardly.2 2 Id.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodiments of a compressible traction device, accordingly it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.
