GB2267263A

GB2267263A - Device for the prevention of tyre deformation on vehicles parked for long periods

Info

Publication number: GB2267263A
Application number: GB9310997A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruno Gianini
Original assignee: GIANINI AUTO Srl
Current assignee: GIANINI AUTO Srl
Priority date: 1992-05-29
Filing date: 1993-05-27
Publication date: 1993-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-27
Also published as: FR2691689A3; IT226641Z2; DE9307917U1; CH688312A5; ITMI920549V0; FR2691689B3; GB9310997D0; GB2267263B; ITMI920549U1

Abstract

A device for the prevention of tyre deformation (2) on vehicles (1) parked for long periods, consisting of a wedge-like element (3) with a flat underside and an access ramp (6) and with a circular arc shaped cradle rest (7) designed to receive a tyre (2), the cradle rest being preferably adjustable in size. Non-skid rubber studs (8) are fitted to the underside. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR THE PREVENTION OF TYRE DEFORMATION ON VEHICLES PARKED FOR LONG PERIODS This invention concerns a device designed to prevent deformation of the tyres on vehicles parked for long periods.

It has been shown that after long periods of parking, there is deformation of the tyre contact area, with consequent "bumping" and loss of adherence and vehicle stability, especially during the first distance covered.

Furthermore, temperature differences between the road contact area and the rest of the tyre can, in the long run, affect tyre life and performance.

Even though this problem is well known, especially in big cities where cars can stay in the garage for weeks on end, no practical system has hitherto been found for its solution.

In fact, a system that is sometimes used is to jack up the vehicle and to place it on supports to keep the tyres off the ground. This is a time consuming and laborious solution that vehicle owners rarely adopt.

The object of the invention is to eliminate the above mentioned disadvantages in providing an extremely simple and economical device to prevent tyre deformation in parked vehicles and which calls for no particular effort on the part of the user.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for the prevention of tyre deformation on vehicles parked for a long period comprising a free standing cradle which provides a tyre support surface shaped to engage a substantial portion of the tyre tread surface to prevent deformation from a circular shape, and an access ramp part, whereby the tyre can be rolled from the ground to engage the support surface.

By virtue of the device the tyre is supported by a segment of its circumference with a considerable increase in bearing area as compared to when it is resting on a flat surface. Consequently the weight of the vehicle is more uniformly distributed and deformation in the tyre contact area with a tendency to flattening, is avoided.

The device is made in thermal insulating material such as plastic, wood or similar, so as to maintain the tyre at an almost uniform temperature.

The ramp allows the tyre to easily mount the inclined face so as to position itself in the cradle.

Sufficient devices may be positioned according to the track and wheelbase of the vehicle so that each receivesa tyre in a normal parking manoeuvre.

The underside of the device can be provided with rubber studs to prevent slipping.

The device may be fixed to the floor.

The device according to the invention may be adjustable so as to accommodate different sized tyres. To this end, packing sections can be inserted into the cradle rest to adapt its profile to that of the tyre.

Alternatively, the support element can be made in two relatively movable sections movement of which allows the size of the cradle to be varied.

Devices for the prevention of tyre deformation on vehicles parked for long periods, embodying the present invention, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of the lateral outline of a vehicle, placed on support elements according to the invention; Figure 2 is an isometric schematic view of a support element according to a first form of the invention; Figure 3 shows schematically a pair of packing sections for the element of Figure 2, to vary the profile of its cradle rest; Figure 4 is a schematic view of a support element according to the invention, showing a different design for adjusting the cradle rest.

In Figure 1, (1) indicates the outline of a vehicle of which the tyres (2) repose in support elements (3) according to the invention.

Each support element (3) is in the form of a wedge, with a flat underside (4) which rests on the floor (5) and an inclined ramp (6) which gives access to a cradle rest (7) designed to receive a tyre (2).

To improve the adhesion of the underside (4) of the element (3) to the floor (5), rubber studs (8) can be fitted. Obviously, other methods of fixation can also be used.

The cradle rest (7) has a circular arc shape corresponding to the shape of the tyre (2).

To adapt this profile to different sized tyres, special packing sections (9) can be fixed in the cradle rest (7) to reduce the size in steps, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 3 shows only one pair of special packing sections (9) which are fixed by pins (10) provided on the back side and which fit into corresponding holes in the cradle rest (7).

In the design shown in Figure 4, the support element (3) is made in two parts (3') and (3''), such as to divide the cradle rest (7) into two sections which slide longitudinally in relation to each other so that the dimensions of the cradle rest (7) can be thus adjusted. The two parts (3') and (3"), are attached to each other by connecting rods (12).

The support element (3) according to the invention, is conveniently made in thermal insulating material such as plastic, wood or similar.

From the above description, the advantages of the invention appear evident. A vehicle can be easily mounted on four opportunely placed elements (3) by driving the tyres up the ramp (6) until they drop into the cradle rest (7).

Claims

1. A device for the prevention of tyre deformation on vehicles parked for a long period comprising a free standing cradle which provides a tyre support surface shaped to engage a substantial portion of the tyre tread surface to prevent deformation from a circular shape, and an access ramp part, whereby the tyre can be rolled from the ground to engage the support surface.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the cradle is provided by a wedge-like element with a flat underside.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the tyre support surface is of constant radius of curvature.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cradle is capable of providing different sizes of tyre support surface to accommodate various sizes of tyre.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the size of the tyre support surface is adjustable by the provision of packing sections.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein a packing section is fixed to the cradle by means of pins projecting from the packing section or the cradle and received in holes in the other of the packing section or the cradle.

7. A device according to claim 4 wherein the cradle is made of two relatively longitudinally slidable parts which allow for the size adjustment.

8. A device according to any preceding claim wherein rubber studs are fitted to its underside.

9. A device according to any preceding claim made of thermally insulating material.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein the material is plastic or wood.

11. A device for the prevention of tyre deformation on vehicles parked for a long period as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A device for the prevention of tyre deformation on vehicles parked for long periods, consisting of a wedge-like element with a flat underside and an access ramp to a circular arc shaped cradle rest designed to receive the tyre of a vehicle.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the cradle rest is of adjustable size.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the adjustment of the size of the cradle rest is achieved by means of packing sections.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the packing sections are fixed to the cradle rest by means of pins attached to the sections and with corresponding holes in the cradle rest or vice versa.

16. A device according to claim 13, wherein the adjustment of the cradle seat is obtained by making the element in two parts and which slide longitudinally in relation to each other.

17. A device according to any of the previous claims, wherein the rubber studs are fitted to its underside.

18. A device according to any of the previous claims, made in thermal insulating material, such as plastic, wood or similar.