Patents by Inventor Bard Lotveit

Bard Lotveit has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7789118
    Abstract: A device to be fitted on a vehicle wheel in order to increase the friction between the wheel and the road surface during winter conditions, comprises a belt that can encircle the tread of the wheel and be held in place by means of flexible inner and outer side portions. The inner side portion is tightened on the inner side of the wheel by means of an elastic member. The internal circumference of the belt is at least 4% larger, preferably 5-6% larger than the largest circumference of the wheel. The belt can be made substantially of a woven polyamide material. The outer side portion of the device can be fully covering or be provided with one or more openings, and may in addition be provided with radially extending straps in order to facilitate fitting the device to the vehicle wheel or removing it therefrom. A method for such fitting without lifting the wheel from the road surface is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Autosock AS
    Inventor: Bard Lotveit
  • Publication number: 20080035257
    Abstract: A device for increasing friction between a vehicle wheel and a road surface during winter driving conditions, the device comprising a continuous belt intended to encircle the largest circumference of the wheel; a flexible inner side portion that is fittable over the largest circumference of the wheel along a substantial portion thereof and capable of pulling the continuous belt into position over the remaining portion of the largest circumference of the wheel as the wheel is rotating while remaining in contact with the road surface; and a flexible outer side portion disposed against the outer side surface of the wheel when the device is fitted on the wheel; wherein at least the flexible inner side portion has an elastic member; and wherein the device is capable of being tightened against an inner side surface of the wheel by the elastic member when the device is fitted over the wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventor: Bard Lotveit
  • Publication number: 20060090825
    Abstract: A device to be fitted on a vehicle wheel in order to increase the friction between the wheel and the road surface during winter conditions, comprises a belt that can encircle the tread of the wheel and be held in place by means of flexible inner and outer side portions. The inner side portion is tightened on the inner side of the wheel by means of an elastic member. The internal circumference of the belt is at least 4% larger, preferably 5-6% larger than the largest circumference of the wheel. The belt can be made substantially of a woven polyamide material. The outer side portion of the device can be fully covering or be provided with one or more openings, and may in addition be provided with radially extending straps in order to facilitate fitting the device to the vehicle wheel or removing it therefrom. A method for such fitting without lifting the wheel from the road surface is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventor: Bard Lotveit
  • Patent number: 7013548
    Abstract: A device to be fitted on a vehicle wheel in order to increase the friction between the wheel and the road surface during winter conditions, comprises a belt that can encircle the tread of the wheel and be held in place by means of flexible inner and outer side portions. The inner side portion is tightened on the inner side of the wheel by means of an elastic member. The internal circumference of the belt is at least 4% larger, preferably 5–6% larger than the largest circumference of the wheel. The belt can be made substantially of a woven polyamide material. The outer side portion of the device can be fully covering or be provided with one or more openings, and may in addition be provided with radially extending straps in order to facilitate fitting the device to the vehicle wheel or removing it therefrom. A method for such fitting without lifting the wheel from the road surface is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Autosock AS
    Inventor: Bärd Løtveit