FR2630972A1 - Non-skid device for the tyre of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a non-skid chain for a tyre of a motor vehicle. A device according to the invention comprises a first and a second half-link 1, 2 for going around the inside, a first and a second half-link 4, 5 for going around the outside, and transverse chains 6 and 8 arranged between the two first half-links and the two second half-links in order respectively to form a first non-skid layer 7 and a second non-skid layer 9. Suitable hooks are provided at the various ends of the aforementioned half links to secure the chain device onto the tyre.

Description

ANTI-DERAPING DEVICE FOR TIRE OF A VEHICLE
AUTOMOBILE
The present invention relates to an anti-slip device reported and removable, for a tire of a motor vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to devices known as "snow chains".

There are already commercially available chain devices comprising, flat and in the developed state
- An inner lap link of the inner side of the tire, provided at its two ends respectively with two complementary elements of internal hooking
a first and a second external half-link of the outer sidewall of the tire, the two intermediate ends of these two half-links being provided respectively with two complementary elements of first external attachment, and the two extreme ends of these two half-links; links being respectively provided with two complementary elements of second external attachment;
the first outer half-turn link, arranged parallel to the inner turn link, being connected to the latter by a plurality of transverse chains, forming a first anti-skid web in contact with the tread of the tire;
- The second outer half-turn link, disposed parallel to the inner turn link, being connected thereto by a plurality of transverse chains, forming a second anti-skid web in contact with the tread of the tire.

 The invention proposes to facilitate the handling of the devices as defined above, and more specifically to make it easier to hook the inner latch link.

According to the invention, in combination:
- the inner latch link is dissociated into a first inner half-tie, forming with the first outer half-tie the first anti-skid web, and into a second inner half-tie, forming with the second half-lap of outer turn the second anti-skid web
the two intermediate ends of the two inner tower half-links are interconnected by a fixed but flexible connection
at least the first inner half-link has a sufficient rigidity to be passed from the inside of the tire, by manipulation of one of its ends.

 The invention notably allows a greater flexibility in the positioning of the tire inner turn link, as described hereinafter during the manipulation corresponding to FIGS. 5 to 11.

The present invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
FIG. 1 shows, flat and in the fully developed state, an anti-skid device according to an embodiment of the invention;
- Figure 2 shows a sectional view of an inner half-turn link, along the section line II II of Figure 1, belonging to the device shown in Figure 1;
- Figure 3 shows flat, and in the fully developed state, seen from above, an anti-slip device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 represents a view in longitudinal section of the first inner half-link of the device represented in FIG.
FIGS. 5 to 11 represent the various assembly steps of the device according to FIGS. 1 and 2, but with a cross chain around a tire.
- Figure 12 shows in the developed state an external attachment system which can be part of any of the two devices according to Figures 1 and 2, 3 and 4 respectively.

 An anti-skid device according to the invention is intended to be attached around a tire of a motor vehicle, more precisely on its tread and its two inner and outer flanks, and removably. As described below, most of the constituent elements of a device according to the invention consist of chains, that is to say a succession of metal links connected to each other; hence the name "chains" given by practice to the devices according to the invention.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first device according to the invention comprises, seen flat and in the developed state
- a first half-link (1) of inner turn, and a second half-link (2) of inner turn, adjacent to the first half-link (1), while being separate and dissociated from the latter; these two half-links are intended to come into contact with the inner side of the tire, in a circle
a fixed link (3), that is to say permanently, for example in the form of a chain element, connecting the two intermediate ends (1a) and (2a), in the form of hooks or rings closed, and respectively belonging to half-links (1) and (2)
a first outer link half-link (4) and a second outer link half-link (5) intended to come into contact with the outer sidewall of the tire in a circle, as shown hereinafter
a first plurality of transverse chains connecting the first inner tower half-link (1) and the second outer tower half-link (4), which in position on the tire are arranged parallel to one another; other; thus obtaining on the tire, as described hereinafter, a first anti-skid web (7) which is in contact with the tread of said tire.
a second plurality of transverse chains (8), connecting the second inner tower half-link (2) and the second outer tower half-link (5), which are also arranged parallel to one another, position on the tire; thus, as described hereinafter, a second anti-skid web (9) is obtained in contact with the tread of the tire.

 The two extreme ends (1b) and (2b) respectively belonging to the first and second half-links (1) and (2) of the inner tower, consist of two complementary elements of interior hooking; more specifically, the end (Ib) is a male hook, while the end (2b) is a female hook.

 The two intermediate ends (4a) and (5a), respectively belonging to the first half-link (4) of the outer tower and the second half-link (5) of inner tower are provided with two complementary elements of the first external hooking; more specifically, the tip (4a) consists of a female hook, and the tip (Sa) consists of a male hook.

 The two extreme ends (4b) and (5b), belonging respectively to the first half-link (4) of the outer turn and the second half-link (5) of the outer turn, are provided with two complementary elements of the second external hooking; more precisely the tip (4b) consists of a male hook, and the end (5b) in a female hook.

 The first half-link (1) of inner turn and the second half-link (2) of inner turn each have a sufficient rigidity to be passed from the inner side of the tire by manipulation of a single end, namely by the.bout extreme (lb) with respect to the first half-link (1), and by the intermediate end (2a) with respect to the second half-link (2). To this end, as shown in FIG. 2, each inner half-tie consists of a rigid wire hoop (10) protected by a plurality of hollow rigid plastic elements (11), the gap between two adjacent protection elements (11) allowing passage or connection with the transverse chains (6) or (8) of the anti-skid web (7) or (9). And it is the rigid wire (10) which forms at these two ends the hooks (la) and (Ib) with regard to the first half-link (1), and the hooks (2a) and (2b) in this respect. which concerns the second half-link (2).

 For the remainder, all the other constituent elements of the device represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 are constituted by chains as previously defined, with links, which is in particular the case of the fixed but flexible connection existing between the two intermediate ends ( la) and (2a) defined above.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 differs from the previous embodiment by the following technical characteristics:
- only the first inner half-lap link (1) has sufficient rigidity to be passed from the inside of the tire, by manipulation of its only intermediate end or its extreme end
- As shown in Figure 4, the first half (1) of inner turn consists of a chain link (12) contained in a flexible tube (13), for example plastic; the latter comprises perforations (13a) for the passage or the connection with the transverse chains (6) of the first non-slip sheet (7)
therefore, substantially all the components of the device according to Figures 3 and 4 consist of link chains.

 According to FIGS. 1 to 4, the transverse chains (6) and (8) of the first and second plies (7) and (9) are scaled, that is to say they are arranged parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the links inner tower and outer tower, and this in position on the tread. But of course, these same chains (6) and (8) can be crisscrossed, that is to say arranged in lattice between the two links of inner and outer tower, still in position on the tread of the pneumatic.

 The mode of implementation of a device according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is now described, but with crisscross chains, and not to scale, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 11.

 According to FIG. 5, the device is placed flat on the outside of the tire, the two inner latch half-links (1) and (2) being further from the tire than the two half-links (4) and (5). outside tower. We untangles and we also have all the chains in the developed state.

 According to Figure 6, by manipulating the intermediate end (2a) of the second half of inner latch link, then the end end (lb) of the first inner latch half-link, and thanks to their intrinsic rigidities, while remaining flexible the entire device can be passed from the inside of the tire, so that the end (2b) of the second half-link (2) and the end (la) of the first half-link (1) are located respectively to the left and right of the user, the other elements of the chain being included within the arc delimited by the half-links (1) and (2).

 According to FIG. 7, grasping with the left hand the end (2b) and with the right hand the end (la), it is possible to lift the entire device, bringing the ends (the ) and (lb); at this moment the oval formed by the two half-links (1) and (2) surrounds the upper half of the tire, and the hooks (la) and (2bJ are located above the latter on the outer side, of so that the user can hang them easily.

 According to FIG. 8, by letting the two half-links (1) and (2) hung, still on the outside of the tire, the two intermediate ends (4a) and (Sa) belonging respectively to the two halves external tower links (4) and (5), and thus obtain a first external attachment.

 According to FIG. 9, it is then possible to push the rigid circle formed by the two half-links (1) and (2) towards the inside of the tire.

 In accordance with FIG. 10, at the bottom of the tire and on the outside, it remains only to hang the extreme ends (4b) and (5b) belonging to the two outer link half-links (4) and (5) respectively. .

From this moment, the tire is completely surrounded by the anti-skid device according to the invention. More precisely, the two half-links of inner tower (1) and (2), forming a rigid circle are in contact with the inner side; and the two flexible outer half-links (4) and (5) are in contact with the outer sidewall of the tire, while the chains (6) and (8) are in contact with the tread.

 According to Figure 1, in a traditional manner, and by means of a suitable elastic, one can proceed to a tension of the chains of the device, reinforcing the contact of the latter with the tread.

 According to Figure 12, there is shown an external attachment system which can be part of a device according to the two embodiments described above, namely in accordance with Figures 1 and 2, and in accordance with Figures 3 and 4 respectively.

 Preferably, such a system allows the second external hooking described above, and therefore allows to connect the intermediate ends (4a) and (5a), belonging to the two external tower half-links (4) and (5) respectively. Such a system is permanently mounted on the aforementioned ends, without requiring in this respect additional manipulation of the user.

The device according to FIG.
- A tilting lever (20) of curved shape, fixed at one end (20a) to the intermediate end (Sa) of the outer tower half (5); this end has the shape of a hook curved towards the concavity of the rocker lever (20)
- a link (25) belonging to the end (4a) adjacent to the other half-link (4) of outer turn, and this link is locked to the lever (20), while being able to slide on the latter
- an elastic link (21) hooked to the other end (20b) of the rocker lever (20), having at its free end a hook (24) may be hooked on any of the half-links (4) and (5) outer tower; this link (21) consists of two elastic rubber rings (22) connected to one another by a link (23).

 The user does not have to worry about the connection between the ends (4a) and (5a), which pre-exists through the lever (20).

 In order to close the two half-links (4) and (5) of an outer turn, and in particular to tension them, the same user switches the end (20b) of the lever (20), such that so that it can hook the hook (24) at any link of the two half-links of the outer tower, with the desired tension. As a result, the link (25) moves on the lever (20), and positions itself at any appropriate place, corresponding to the desired tension.

 The use of an external attachment device according to Figure 12 avoids the use of multiple elastic tensioners for the tension of the chain.

Claims (9)

 1 / Anti-skid device reported and removable, for a tire of a motor vehicle, comprising flat  - A link (1, 2> of inner turn of the inner side of the tire, provided at its two ends respectively two complementary elements (lb, 2b) of internal hooking  a first and a second half-links (4, 5) of outer circumference of the outside edge of the tire, the two intermediate ends (4a, 5a) of these two half-links being provided respectively with two complementary elements of first external engagement, and the two extreme ends (4b, 5b) of these two half-links being provided respectively with two complementary elements of second external attachment.  - The first outer half-turn link (4), arranged parallel to the link (1, 2) of inner turn, being connected thereto by a plurality of transverse chains (6), forming a first web (7) anti -drapping in contact with the tread of the tire;  - the second outer half-link (5), arranged parallel to the link (1, 2) of inner tower, being connected thereto- by a plurality of transverse chains (8), forming a second web (9) anti-skid in contact with the tread of the tire characterized in that, in combination  the inner latch link is dissociated into a first inner latch half-link (1), forming with the first outer latch first half (4) the first anti-skid web (7), and in a second half link (2) of inner tower, forming with the second half-link (5) of outer tower the second web (9) anti-skid  - The two intermediate ends (la, 2a) of the two half-links (1, 2) of inner tower are interconnected by a connection (3) fixed but flexible  - At least the first half-link (1) of inner tower has a sufficient rigidity to be passed from the inner side of the tire, by manipulation of one of its ends (la, lb).  2 / Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the second half-link (2) of inner tower has sufficient rigidity to be passed from the inside of the tire, by manipulation of one of its ends (2a, 2b) .  3 / Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection (3) fixed but flexible between the two intermediate ends (la, 2a) of the two half-links (1, 2) of inner turn consists of a chain link.  4 / Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the first half-link (1) of inner turn consists of a bow (10) of rigid wire.  5 / Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the first half-link (1) of inner turn consists of a chain link (12) contained in a tube (13) flexible, for example plastic .  6 / Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the tube (13) has perforations (13a) for the passage or the connection with the transverse chains (6) of the first sheet (7) anti-skid.  7 / Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the transverse chains (6, 8) of the first and second anti-skid webs are scaled, that is to say are arranged parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the two links of inner tower (1, 2) and outer tower (4, 5), in position -on the tread.  8 / Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the transverse chains (6, 8) - first and second anti-skid webs are cross-braced, that is to say are arranged in lattice between the two links tower interior (1, 2) and outer tower (4, 5) in position on the tread.  9 / Apparatus according to any one of claims I to 8, characterized in that any one of the two outer clasps, preferably the second outer clipping comprises  a tilting lever (20) of curved shape fixed at one end (20a) at one end of an outer half-turn link;  - a link (25) belonging to the end (4a) adjacent to the other half-link (4) of outer tower, being locked to the lever, while being able to slide on the latter;  - An elastic link (21) hooked to the other end of the rocker lever, having at its free end a hook (24) may be hooked on any of the outer half-links.