Clamps Patents (Class 152/225C)
  • Patent number: 5779827
    Abstract: A tire traction improvement apparatus is provided for installation on a wheel-mounted vehicle tire and includes a base assembly which includes a base plate. A fulcrum post projects from the base plate a predetermined distance from the base plate. A pair of first tire-gripper assemblies are attached to the base assembly and are oriented with respect to each other on the base assembly at a predetermined orientation angle. Each of the first tire-gripper assemblies includes a first tread-gripper portion. A guide element receives a radially adjustable second tire-gripper assembly which includes an adjustable extension portion which has a proximal end and a distal end. The adjustable extension portion includes a plurality of adjustment apertures arrayed between the proximal end and the distal end. The proximal end of the adjustable extension portion is received by the guide element of the base assembly. The second tire-gripper assembly includes a second tread-gripper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Steven Olexson
  • Patent number: 5569340
    Abstract: A traction device for a tire for a driven wheel of a vehicle includes a base for resting circumferentially upon the tread of a tire. The device includes an adjustable clamp assembly extending across the base longitudinally and includes a front and a rear jaw which, when mounted, hold onto the sidewalls of the tire. The front jaw is adjustable in any and all of three different settings: coarse, normal and fine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Inventor: Fritzler Ulrich
  • Patent number: 5454413
    Abstract: An automobile traction enhancement device including a detachable continuous track disposed circumferentially around an automobile road tire. The track comprises a strong, flexible, matlike material having a plurality of evenly spaced U-shaped cleats and bars attached across the underlying tire tread area. The automobile traction enhancement device configured as an elongated strip having the bars and a portion of the cleats facing a road surface is first positioned in a driving path of a driven road wheel and the automobile is driven thereon. The device is then wrapped around the tire tread portion and interjoined by a pin which is inserted through holes in the track ends thereby linking the ends for use. The cleat sides engage the road wheel sidewalls thereby precluding side slippage from the wheel. The bars and a portion of the cleats engage the roadway thereby providing traction in snow and ice surface conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Inventor: Richard L. Morelli
  • Patent number: 5360045
    Abstract: A wheel traction lug assembly includes a pair of side plates with wedge-shaped elements on upper ends thereof extending toward one another so as to define a wedge-shaped gap therebetween being wider at respective front ends than rear ends of the wedge-shaped elements, a cross bracket pivotally attached to and extending between midsections of the side plates, a pair of holding clips disposed on lower ends of the side plates for gripping opposite sides of a wheel rim, and a lug extension plate pivotally mounted to the cross bracket and extending upwardly between the wedge-shaped elements on the side plates such that the tighter the lug extension plate becomes wedged between the upper ends of the side plates the tighter the holding clips on the lower ends of the side plates grip opposite sides of the wheel rim as to remain at a stationary position about the wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Inventor: Donald R. Campbell
  • Patent number: 5170827
    Abstract: Snow chain for improving road contact of a vehicle comprising articulated plastic links which are interconnected without clearance and each have a bottom part as well as side walls, which by the load of the wheel clamp upon the sides of the wheel or the tire respectively by the elastic properties of the material of the links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Inventors: Alfred Urleb, Willibald Gangl
  • Patent number: 4852948
    Abstract: A traction device designed for attachment and support by a spoke of a vehicle wheel. The traction device includes a clamping arm that is forced by a threaded fastener to grip an individual spoke. Extending from the clamping arm is a traction arm having a traction finger that extends transversely to the treadwall portion of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Inventor: Ernest Vagias
  • Patent number: 4747437
    Abstract: A traction device for mounting on pneumatic tire to assist in extricating a motor vehicle from snow, ice or mud is disclosed. The traction device, generally U-shaped in cross section, is provided with a wide base having an upwardly-curving segment which results in greater gripping action when the device is mounted on a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Inventor: James T. Magee
  • Patent number: 4747438
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved structure of an automobile tire auxiliary device, especially relates to such a device capable of holding the tire to step up the friction force of the tire through a recess and an adjustable lug on the claw plates so that the automobile can pass through the land of snow, sand, mud and swamp or upward slope by virtue of poking the sand and earth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Inventor: Lai Fu Joung
  • Patent number: 4735248
    Abstract: A detachable anti-skid device for a vehicle wheel tire comprises a support bearing a series of anti-skid components extending transversely over the tread of the tire and at least one pneumatic jack fed from the air valve of the tire and making it possible to apply the anti-skid components against the tire. The support is formed by a ring having a diameter which is slightly less than that of the tire and on which the anti-skid components are pivotally mounted. The ring also comprises a hub with a compressed-air distribution chamber connected by a rotary connection to the inlet valve of the tire and to the control jacks of the anti-skid components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Inventor: Ivan Cizaire
  • Patent number: 4716949
    Abstract: An antiskid traction device adapted to be attached to vehicle tires which comprises a right side frame member having a locking pin, a left side frame member having a pivotable locking member adapted to engage the locking pin, at least two antiskid members disposed at each of the end portions of the right and left side frames, the antiskid members being provided with a plurality of studs thereon for improving the traction thereof, and an adjusting member for changing the length of at least one of the antiskid members so that the device can be adjusted for all tire sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Inventor: Suk R. Lee
  • Patent number: 4662417
    Abstract: An antiskid traction device adapted to be attached to vehicle tires which comprises a right side frame member having a locking pin, a left side frame member having a pivotable locking member adapted to engage the locking pin, antiskid members disposed at each of the end portions of the right and left side frames, the antiskid members being provided with a plurality of studs thereon for improving the traction thereof, and an adjusting member for changing the length of at least one of the antiskid members so that the device can be adjusted for all tire size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Inventor: Suk R. Lee
  • Patent number: 4549591
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for fitting and fixing gripping shoes on vehicle wheels. Four gripping shoes are fitted at the one end of respective arms which, after being fitted on the wheel, form a cross. The other ends of the arms of the gripping shoes are toothed and the arms are slidingly suspended in their longitudinal directions relative to a housing centrally situated with respect to the wheel and are movable by means of a gear wheel, rotatably mounted in the housing. The gear wheel engages with the teeth on the arms and is rotatable by means of an operating mechanism. The centrally situated housing is shaped from one piece in which there are arranged four channels for slidingly suspending and guiding the arms of the gripping shoes. The channels are running from the lower part and in the same plane on each of the short sides of the centrally situated housing and are running out at the upper part and in the same plane on opposite short sides of the centrally situated housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: Elkem a/s
    Inventor: Egil E. Hyggen
  • Patent number: 4508151
    Abstract: A non-skid device for motor vehicle tires comprises at least two strands of cable joined at their ends and having adjustably threaded thereon a plurality of pairs of half-brackets separated from one another by cross pieces in contact with the tread of the tire. The half-brackets are symmetrically disposed and have two branches, a first branch of each half-bracket resting against the tire tread. The second branch of one of the half-brackets in each pair rests against one of the flanks of the tire, and the second branch of the remaining half-bracket rests against the other flank of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Inventors: Jean Sepheriades, Joel Lecharpy
  • Patent number: 4476907
    Abstract: An antiskid device and its fittings for a tire including a side chain, a cross chain, a connector, an end link, a hook and a stopper. The side chain includes a side link formed as a two-piece link having two links, one a long link and the other a short link, which are integral with each other. The stopper is angled in transverse cross section and formed with a transverse web of a width large enough to contact a lower portion of the end link and a groove of a width large enough to receive the hook. The cross chain is formed as a cross link of bar material, and the connector is in the form of a link on either end and in the form of a rod in its intermediate portion so that the connector is connected at one end to the cross link and at the other end to the side link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Inventor: Chuichiro Odawara
  • Patent number: 4408646
    Abstract: A wheeled vehicle flotation augmentation device is disclosed herein having at least elongated segments releasably connected together in a continuous and endless series of track block guides so as to form a circular tread about the periphery of a single wheel of the vehicle. The plurality of track block guides in the series are hingably coupled together and the adjacent ends of each segment of track block guides are joined by releasable pins. Each track block guide includes a flat base having outwardly projecting and spaced apart side horns which are separated by the wheel of the vehicle. The terminating tips of the side horns are rounded to aid in projecting a load bearing track block beyond full tire contact and so provide increased ground contact length or aspect ratio in soft-soil or snow environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Inventor: Robert W. Forsyth
  • Patent number: 4391316
    Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-skid device for vehicle wheels, comprising a plurality of U-shaped elements radially mounted on the wheel tire, and two series of connecting levers pivoted on each arm of said U-shaped elements. In order to provide an automatic mounting operation of the device on a vehicle wheel by simply advancing the wheel on the device, each arm of each of the U-shaped elements carries retaining means for said levers, which removably retain the U-shaped elements and levers in a relative position wherein each of said U-shaped elements forms a pre-set angle with the levers adjacent to the same, said angle corresponding to that formed when the device is mounted on the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Inventor: Gianfranco Seggio
  • Patent number: 4386643
    Abstract: A tire traction device including a cylindrical cup member for attachment on a rim-securing nut of a vehicle wheel by a set screw, an elongated threaded shank extending coaxially with the cup member, an elongated link having an elongated slot for receiving the elongated shank, nuts threadably mounted on the elongated shank on opposite sides of the elongated link for tightening the elongated link in an axial position on the shank wherein the elongated link both extends perpendicularly to the shank and rests against the side of a tire, and a traction member extending perpendicularly from the end of the elongated link and having a first side for gripping engagement with the tread of the tire and an opposite side for gripping engagement with the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1983
    Inventors: John C. Belknap, III, Brian D. Belknap
  • Patent number: 4378833
    Abstract: An anti-skid device, which can be detachably mounted on the wheels of a vehicle, is simple to handle, comparatively independent of wheel dimensions, and which poses a minimum of risk of damage to the wheel housing of the vehicle and its brake system, at the same time as the device effectively follows the movements of the tire without risk of losing its hold.An anti-skid device made according to the invention comprises a number of gripping elements (201) interspaced along the periphery of the wheel (6, 7) of the vehicle, and each having the shape of a frame open on one side and with two portions extending over the tread of the tire at a certain distance from each other, the frame having additional frame portions (204, 203), which extend along the plane sides of the wheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1983
    Inventors: Lennart Lindblad, Karl-Erik Lindblad, Sven-Olof Lindblad, Hans Lindblad
  • Patent number: 4342352
    Abstract: This invention is a traction device for a vehicle wheel. It comprises a shoe member adapted to seat onto the tread of a tire. One side of the shoe has upstanding bars for supporting an inwardly extending curvilinear member for bracing against the side wall of the tire adjacent the rim of the wheel. The other side of the shoe is provided with upstanding bars which support a rectangular frame to which is pivotally hinged a base on which is mounted a laterally movable curvilinear member which is clamped against the outside wall of the tire adjacent the rim of the wheel. The clamping device includes a screw means having a head keyed to be rotated by a releasable crank. The clamp device of this invention incorporates screw means which moves to tighten and loosen the clamp member in small increments as well as hinge or pivot means which radially moves a substantial distance to position the clamp member adjacent the tire side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1982
    Inventor: Ilie Tisma
  • Patent number: 4287926
    Abstract: Traction is provided for automotive vehicles stuck in snow, mud, and the like by a device applied over the outer face of the slipping driven vehicle wheel and having J-shaped traction fingers draped over the tire of the wheel and fixedly clamped on the tire by merely swinging a lever. The device has a mounting plate for overlying the conventional wheel disk or hubcap, three J-shaped fingers pivoted to the center of the plate and radially guided in 120.degree. spaced apart relation at the periphery of the plate with the cups of the fingers receiving the tire and presenting outer tread surfaces which will bite into the slippery road bed. One of the fingers is retracted on its pivot by a lever or handle effective to clamp all three of the fingers on the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Inventor: James K. C. Wong
  • Patent number: 4278122
    Abstract: A traction device includes traction arms each having a traction finger extending transversely to the treadwall portion of a tire while supported by a shank portion extending to a carrier plate. Pivotal support arms on the carrier plate engage the hub section of the wheel rim by projecting through openings through spoke portions of the rim. The free ends of the support arms engage a hub with a threaded opening received on a threaded shaft that is moved into contact with the axle member of the vehicle and supported by the carrier plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Inventor: Ernest Vagias
  • Patent number: 4235272
    Abstract: A snow anti-skid device a plurality of which are to be fitted at intervals around a motor vehicle wheel. Each device is in the form of a horseshoe-shaped strip-form yoke or stirrup comprised of a thickened central yoke section with curved limbs (20) for embracing the tire (15) extending away from opposite sides thereof. The free ends of the limbs are in the form of claws provided with magnets which engage under and adhere to the shoulders of the wheel rim. The thickened central region of the yoke may be provided with a coating of a resilient material, which can be molded on so as to extend through openings in the strip and provide a non-slip surface abutting the tread of the tire and a studded surface for engaging the ground. One or both limbs of the yoke or stirrup may be resiliently longitudinally extensible, or may be adapted for positive adjustment of its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1980
    Inventor: Walter Landsrath
  • Patent number: 4226272
    Abstract: A removable tire traction device adapted to be positioned on a vehicle tire. The device includes approximately four substantially U-shaped cleats which are loosely positioned around the tire. A ring-shaped cleat holder is positioned adjacent to the outer sidewall of the tire. Mounting means is provided on the cleat holder to loosely attach the cleats to the cleat holder whereby the cleats are free to move in all directions within fixed movement limits relative to the cleat holder and the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1980
    Inventor: Michael E. Deluty
  • Patent number: 4209049
    Abstract: There is disclosed in the present application a traction device adapted to being mounted on a driving wheel tire of a vehicle for obtaining greater traction on ice or snow although the device may also be useful in certain types of mud. The device comprises four spring arms each including a textured traction portion positioned across the face of the tire tread. The device is quickly mounted over the tire by collapsing and spreading apart the tread portions to permit bringing the device into engagement with the tire from a radial direction. The four arms in two pairs are then disposed at right angles to each other and are thereafter simultaneously tightened into embracing generally equally spaced relationship with the tire by turning a spring loaded crank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1980
    Assignee: Alpine Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Regensburger
  • Patent number: 4192367
    Abstract: A wheel attachment device adapted to provide anti-skidding of a traction wheel of a vehicle and which is characterized by a simple and sturdy construction, and a pair of separate clamping devices easy to put in place on the wheel, which are compactly stacked one on the other for stowage such as in the trunk of a car, and which are adjustably slidable relative to each other. The anti-skid wheel attachment device comprises the pair of separate clamping devices with each a pair of laterally spaced apart bars which form at one end a tire clamping portion and at the other end a connection portion. The connection portion of one clamping device slidably overlaps the other, a locking lever adjustably slides the clamping devices toward each other and a single catch holds the locking lever in operatively locking position and connects the two clamping devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1980
    Inventor: Ovila Chabot
  • Patent number: 4176704
    Abstract: Provided is a novel emergency traction device adapted for use on all vehicles which use circular rubber tires or the like for movement. The traction device disclosed, by virtue of its design, takes advantage of inherent physical forces to maintain the device on the tire during forward motion and rotation of the tire, rather than depending on conventional securing devices. By doing so, the present device can be mounted entirely from one side of the tire in a snap-on motion without having to remove the tire from the vehicle, or elevating the vehicle, as was required by past traction devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1979
    Inventor: Walter H. Thorpe
  • Patent number: 4155388
    Abstract: A plurality of traction devices are positioned transversely in spaced relation on a tire tread. Each traction device has a first end portion arranged to be guided into one of a plurality of troughs that are positioned on the periphery of a circular member mounted to the unexposed or inside rim of a vehicle wheel. The troughs are separated by crests to form a wave-like configuration on the periphery of the circular member. The first end portion is guided into a trough without the need to visually locate the point of attachment on the circular member. A portion of the first end portion is too large to pass through the trough and serves to secure the traction device to the inside circular member. A second end portion of the traction device is secured on the opposite side of the tire by connection to a second circular member or to the ends of the other traction devices to tightly position an antiskid body portion of the traction device on the tire tread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1979
    Inventors: Slavko B. Rajcic, Ivo Rajcic
  • Patent number: 4155391
    Abstract: A traction device having a pair of cleats that mount on the periphery of an automobile tire to provide temporary traction on ice, deep snow, mud and other adverse conditions for on and off the road travel. The cleats are each rigidly mounted to a pair of channels with one of the channels being inserted into the other to allow mounting of the cleats on a wheel. A handle mounted by a linkage to one of the channels engages protruding latches on the other channel, such that rotation of the handle draws the two channels together until the handle reaches a locked position wherein the cleats are firmly held on the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1979
    Inventor: Roy W. Dieck