CA2328823C

CA2328823C - Traction device (the artic claw)

Info

Publication number: CA2328823C
Application number: CA 2328823
Authority: CA
Inventors: Farley Stephen Donsky
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-12-19
Filing date: 2000-12-19
Publication date: 2004-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2020-12-19
Also published as: CA2328823A1

Abstract

A traction device for placement beneath the driving wheel of a vehicle disabled on a slippery road surface. The traction device is comprised of a rectangular metal frame that consists of a rectangular double sided wire mesh grid that is affixed to it along its inner periphery, and the outer portion of the rectangular metal frame provided with a grated rubber edge. The double sided wire mesh grid of the rectangular metal frame is exposed to grip the vehicle's tire and subsequently the slippery driving surface.
The grated rubber edge covers the outer edge of the metal rectangular metal frame to prevent injury from exposed metal edges, and aids in holding the traction device in place as the vehicle passes over the rectangular metal frame during vehicle extraction.

Description

The title of this invention is Traction Device. This invention is a Traction Device for vehicles which have become disabled on ice or snow covered roadways. This invention is a traction device consisting of a wire mesh grid doubled in thickness encased in a rectangular metal frame and its outer portion of the metal frame is provided with a grated rubber edge along its periphery.
The frame is intended to be used to improve wheel traction in a situation whereby a vehicle's wheels lack the ability to effectively grip a slippery driving surface when a vehicle is in a stationary position. Spinning wheels due to the lack of traction grip onto the frame and allow the vehicle to proceed. The combination of the double sided mesh grid and the grated rubber edging holds the traction device in place as the vehicle is extricated as a result of improved traction between the tires and the slippery driving surface.

This invention relates to a portable, easily managed way that a person may improve vehicle tire traction a snow or ice covered driving surface. Maximum traction is achieved as the drive tires) pass over the rectangular mesh grid frame which is placed over the ice or snow covered surface. Motor vehicles often have difficulty gaining sufficient traction from a stationary position on a slippery driving surface such as snow or ice.
In the past a number of traction devices have been proposed and constructed to improve the traction of the driving wheels of an automobile on icy or snow covered pavements. One such example in the United States proposed by Covington in U.
S.
Patent 4,265,399 suggests a foldable anti-skid device consisting of a plurality of framed sections each framed section comprising a sheet of wire mesh framed within angle irons. This example is also quite similar to the art exemplified by inventor Caragata in Canada Patent CA02247881 and in Canada Patent CA1297768 by inventors Bratic and Lewin.
Some anti skid mats have been constructed from chain mesh of varying sizes and configurations. Metal reinforced sheeting has frequently been employed often including on the sheeting an abrasive or a grit -like coating to provide traction between the mat and pavement on the one hand, and the driving wheel and the mat on the other hand.

Another anti-skid device disclosed by Haynes in U.S. Patent 3,786,989 refers to a rectangular traction mat comprised of a plurality of sharp transverse metal slits coated with beads or globules of plastic.
In addition to the above prior devices, typical prior patented approaches have included chain link systems that are installed directly around the drive tires) of the vehicle to prevent the tires from spinning such as in Canada Patent CA1122108 by inventor Martinelli.
The above prior devices have been met with varying degrees of success in use.
Covington's U. S. Patent 4,265,399 is similar to the other track-like devices which are very bulky, heavy, and cumbersome to utilize. As in the case of Covington's patent herein above mentioned, these devices are also inconvenient to store in the trunk of an automobile. Devices constituted to chain link systems such as in Canada Patent CA1122108 by Martinelli were very flexible and difficult to place on the desired location of the tire. These types of traction devices are inconvenient to use and expensive to the consumer to replace when such articles when due to deterioration or damage from normal wear, they become ineffective or unusable. In addition, as in the device disclosed by Haynes in U.S. Patent 3,786,989 a material such as plastic does not seem to provide sufficient traction results between the wheel and the slippery road surface, and would seem to "spin" the mat out from beneath it, requiring a re-placement of the mat.

The above drawbacks and disadvantages of prior traction devices are overcome by the present invention which for one object the unique and improved traction device for vehicles, which is especially basic in construction and economical to build, while at the same time providing an effective means for enabling a vehicle which has become disabled on a slippery road surface to pull out under its own power.
The above object is accomplished by a traction device consisting essentially of a wire mesh grid doubled in thickness and encased in a substantially rectangular metal frame, presenting a multiplicity of edges at both faces, one side being adapted for the engagement with the slippery road surface, and the other side being adapted for the engagement with the drive wheel of the vehicle. Due to the nature of the metal frame there are sharp edges of the rectangular frame following its construction. A
grated rubber edge is fitted on the outer two opposite longitudinal elements as well as on the two opposite lateral elements of the metal rectangular frame to lesson the likelihood of injury, as well as aid in holding the traction device in place as the vehicle passes over the traction device during vehicle extraction.

In the drawings which illustrate the embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a key identifying the different components of a traction device according to the invention. Figure 2 is a top view of a traction device according to the invention. Figures 3-5 show a side view of the traction device of Figure 2 in use.
Figure 6 shows a cross section of the inside of the rubber edging of the traction device according to the invention . Figure 7 shows the grated design of the rubber edging of the traction device according to the invention.
The traction device Figure 2 is comprised of a rectangular double sided metal mesh grid (2) along the inner periphery of the rectangular metal frame (3) and the outer portion of the rectangular metal frame (3) is provided with said rubber edge ( 1 ).
The traction device illustrated comprises a guide 1 which is placed longitudinally at the edge of the vehicle's drive tire(2) and the driving surface (A), in Figure 3. The grated rubber lateral edge of the traction device is firmly placed against the vehicle's drive tire (2) in Figure 3, thereby one side of the double sided metal mesh grid is placed onto the slippery driving surface (A). The vehicle's drive tire (2) travels onto the other side of the double sided metal mesh grid, Figure 4. The vehicle proceeds over the traction device, as the tire (2) travels onto a more stable driving surface Figure 5. Figure 6 provides a cross section of the grated rubber edge which is provided on the outer portion of the rectangular metal frame.
The grated rubber edge in Figure 6 encompasses a sleeve like design (B) in which the outer portion of the rectangular metal frame is affixed. A thin metal lining (C) inside the sleeve of the grated rubber edge in Figure 6 ensures that the grated rubber edge is permanently affixed to the outer edge of the rectangular metal frame. Figure 7 illustrates the outer grated design of the grated rubber edge.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION IS WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVELGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A traction device for improving vehicle tire traction on slippery road conditions, the traction device comprising a double sided rectangular metal mesh grid, a rectangular metal frame and a grated rubber edge, the inner portion of the rectangular metal frame being affixed to said mesh grid along its periphery; and the outer portion of the metal frame is provided with said grated rubber edge.
(a) a traction device comprised of a unitary, one piece, double sided rectangular metal mesh grid, the one side being adapted for engagement with a slippery road surface and the other side being adapted for engagement with the driving wheel of the vehicle, said metal mesh grid being affixed to the inner portion of the said rectangular metal frame, and (b) said rectangular metal frame having a pair of opposite longitudinal elements and a pair of opposite latitudinal elements, the outer portion of said elements provided with said grated rubber edge, and (c) said grated rubber edge being adapted for a protective layer for the outer portion of said rectangular metal frame and the said grated rubber edge further comprising additional adhesiveness of said rectangular metal frame to the slippery road surface.