GB2271539A

GB2271539A - Wheel clamping or chocking device

Info

Publication number: GB2271539A
Application number: GB9221848A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Twigger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-10-17
Filing date: 1992-10-17
Publication date: 1994-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2012-10-17
Also published as: GB2271539B; GB9221848D0

Abstract

A pair of chocks (1) arranged to be inserted in an opposed manner against a wheel or wheel tyre (T) so as to have a wedge action, are interconnected in order to maintain them in firm wedging engagement with the wheel and thus prevent or resist rolling movement of the wheel in either direction. A resilient interconnection (2) is shown provided by elastic cord (20) passing around the chocks (1) and located in transverse groove formation (12) at the back of each chock (1). Each groove formation (12) comprises a transverse bore 13 with an entry slot for the cord (20) so that it is freely slidable in the bore (13). The cord (20) is disconnectible at (22) which may be lockable. A steeper upper inclined surface (11) of each chock (1) resists ride out of a wheel over the chock (1) and extends up to a hand grip (15). <IMAGE>

Description

Title - WHEEL CLAMPING OR CHOCKING DEVICE This invention relates to the clamping or chocking of a vehicle or like wheel against rolling movement and has for its object to provide a device or assembly having an effective clamping or chocking action and which can be readily fitted in position of use or removal from a wheel. This and other practical advantages of the device will be apparent from the following description.

The device has particular practical application to trailer caravan wheels and also to motor vehicle or other road or like wheels including aircraft landing wheels especially of light aircraft.

According to the invention a wheel clamping or chocking device comprises a pair of wedge shaped chock members arranged to be inserted in an opposed manner to opposite lowermost peripheral portions of a wheel or wheel tyre so as to have a wedge action thereunder, the chock members being interconnected or interconnectible in order to maintain them in firm wedging engagement with the wheel peripheral portions and thus prevent or resist rolling movement of the wheel.

The interconnection of the chock members is preferably resilient so as to thrust them into the wedge engagement with the wheel in a self adapting and self adjusting manner. Thus the interconnection can consist of elastic cord or other suitable spring loaded connection. The interconnection is desirably disconnectible to facilitate application of the chock members to a wheel and obtain their release from it.

A practical arrangement of the device is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the device in position of use applied to a vehicle road wheel; Figure 2 is a plan view, and Figure 3 is a detail side elevation.

The two chock members 1 of the device or clamping assembly are of wedge form and in use as shown in Figure 1 are inserted in an opposed manner under lowermost opposite peripheral portions of the tyre T of a wheel indicated at W.

To maintain the chocks l-in firm wedging engagement with respective peripheral portions of the tyre T, they are interconnected by resilient means 2 shown consisting of elasticated or elastomeric cord 20, e.g. of the kind used for securing luggage or the like on a vehicle roof rack or for similar use. Instead of elastic cord other suitable resilient interconnection may be employed such as a tension spring or springs of steel or plastic material.

To facilitate the application of the connected chocks 1 to a wheel W, the elastic cord 20 is disconnectible such as by hook connection at 22 or by more than one such connection..

The elastic cord 20 is located or secured in relation to the chocks 1 and for this purpose is received by a transverse groove or like formation 12 at back of each chock 1. In order to retentatively yet removably secure the cord 20 in the groove formation 12 the latter is shown consisting of a bore 13 having a narrower communicating open slot 14. To insert the cord into the bore 13 it is stretched to reduce its diameter and then pushed or forced laterally through the slot 14 into the bore 13.

The bore 13 is shown of circular cross section to correspondingly receive the usual round section of the elastic cord 20.

When the cord 20 is in the bore 12 it is preferably freely slidable along the bore to ensure a substantially uniform tensioning action on the chocks 1 and to enable the cord 20 to be pulled round for convenient positioning of the hook connection 22 usually at the outer side of the wheel W. Other means of locating or securing the cord 20 in relation to the chocks 1 may be employed.

The upper face of each chock 1 is shown having a lower inclined surface or slope 10 having a lead in chamber 100 and an upper steeper slope 11 to resist any tendency of a wheel W to ride out over the chock especially where a larger diameter wheel is involved. The upper part of each chock 1 is formed at 15 so that it can be gripped by hand in placing it in position of use or removing it away from the wheel. Any suitable form of hand grip 15 can be provided.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing the chocks 1 can be readily applied to a wheel and the elastic cord interconnection thrusts and maintains the chocks 1 in firm wedging engagement with the tyre T in a self adjusting manner. As a result the wheel W is effectively held or clamped against rolling movement.

To provide a measure of security the hook or other suitable connection 22 may be lockable such as by a padlock.

The chocks 1 should be of any suitable durable material, e.g.

of hard wood or plastics material or may be of metal construction such as castings or of fabricated form.

As will also be appreciated the complete device is not only effective in operation but of simple form capable of low cost manufacture.

Various modifications may be made to the device within the scope of the invention herein defined. Thus the chock members 1 may be interlinked, the linkage being operable to apply pressure to the chocks so as to thrust them firmly against the wheel tyre.

The arrangement may be such that the resilience of a pneumatic tyre is utilised to obtain a firm wedging engagement.

Claims

1A wheel clamping or chocking device comprising a pair of wedge shaped chock members arranged to be inserted in an opposed manner against opposite lowermost peripheral portions of a wheel or wheel tyre so as to have a wedge action thereunder, the chock members being interconnected or inconnectible in order to maintain them in firm wedging engagement with the wheel peripheral portions and thus prevent or resist rolling movement of the wheel.

2 A wheel clamping or chocking device according to claim 1 wherein the interconnection means of the chock members is resilient so as to thrust them into the wedge engagement with a wheel in a self adapting and self adjusting manner.

3 A-wheel clamping or chocking device according to claim 2 wherein the interconnection means of the chock members consists of, or includes, elastic cord and/or tension or like spring connection.

4 A wheel clamping or chocking device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the interconnection means of the chock members is disconnectible to facilitate application of the chock members to a wheel and obtain their release from it.

5 A wheel clamping or chocking device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the interconnection means of the chock members passes around them in order to bring them towards one another for the wedge engagement with a wheel.

6 A wheel clamping or chocking device according to claim 5 wherein the interconnection means of the chock members has a locating engagement with them.

7 A wheel clamping or chocking device according to claim 6 wherein the interconnection means of the chock members is received by a transverse groove or like formation at the back of each chock.

8 A wheel clamping or chocking device according to claim 7 wherein the groove formation at the back of each chock consists of a transverse open slot communicating laterally with a transverse bore, the slot receiving a corresponding portion of the interconnection means for entry into and location in the bore.

9 A wheel clamping or chocking device according to claims 3 and 8 wherein the slot is narrower than the bore for passage of elastic cord of the interconnection means in a stretched reduced diameter or like condition as necessary through the slot into the bore so as to be slidably retained therein.

10 A wheel clamping or chocking device according to any of the preceding claims wherein disconnectible interconnection means of the chock members is lockable.

11 A wheel clamping or chocking device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the wheel contacting face of each chock member has a lower inclined surface and an upper more steeply inclined surface to resist any tendency of a wheel to ride out over the chock.

12 A wheel clamping or chocking device according to claim 11 wherein the leading edge of the lower inclined surface has a lead in chamfer.

13 A wheel clamping or chocking device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the upper part of each chock member is formed or provided with a hand grip to facilitate placing it in position of use or removing it away from a wheel.

14 A wheel clamping or chocking device when substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.