SI25989A - Rim protection device for tire chains a tire chain with this type of rim protection device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective device (1) for a rim for a chain (4) for tires, to a chain (4) for tires with such a protective device (1) for a rim and to a protective element (20) of a rim for use in such a protective device. 1) for the rim. The rim protection device (1) has two mutually complementary, form-fitting rim guards (20) having a head (22) and at least one stem (26) extending from the head (22) in the longitudinal direction (24) of the stem. . In the assembled and mounted on the chain (4) for tires, the stems (26) extend through the element (10) of the chain (4) for tires. The stems (26) form a joint in each other and are interlocked in the stem when assembled. In this way, the components of the rim protection device (1), which fix the rim protection elements (20) to each other, are protected by a chain element (10) during use.

Description

Wheel chain protection device for tires and tire chain with this type of wheel protection device

The invention relates to a protective device for a tire for a tire chain, with two mutually complementary protective elements of the rim, which can be assembled.

Protective devices for rims are known, for example, from EP 2 008 838 BI and DE 198 26 997 A1. They are used to protect the rim from damage caused by the tire chain when using a tire chain, e.g. snow chains or tire chains. This eliminates the risk that the tire chain will damage the protective layer against corrosion of the rim during operation and / or cause optical damage to the rim due to scratches.

The rim guards are attached to the tire chain at the radial height of the rim so that they are located between the tire chain and the rim. They are usually made of soft plastic and prevent direct contact between the tire chain and the rim, at least in those places where the tire chain has elements with sharp edges, such as curved hooks.

In the case of a rim protection device according to EP 2 008 838 BI, for example, the stem of the rim protection element is inserted through a hook which connects the tread of the tire chain laid over the tread of the vehicle tire to the side branch of the chain for attaching the tire chain to the tire. . The head of the second wheel guard has a through hole into which the stem of the second wheel guard is inserted and attached.

The object of the invention is to improve a protective device for a rim.

The problem is solved by the invention for the above-mentioned rim protection device in that it has a head and at least one shank extending from the head in the longitudinal direction of the shank, and the shanks of the two rim protective elements are shaped so that they can engage and collide with each other. they lock each other.

In this embodiment, the design joint and the mutual attachment of the rim protective elements are therefore performed on the stem. If the stem is inserted through a chain element of a tire chain branch, such as a hook or chain link, the design joint and the lock are secured with a chain link. In contrast, for example in EP 2 008 838 BI, the design joint and the locking due to the through hole are more easily accessible from the outside. In the embodiment according to the invention, the chain element therefore secures the connection of the two rim protective elements.

Further embodiments of the invention are described below, each of which has advantages and can be optionally combined with one another.

For example, the cross-section of the shank of one of the two rim protection elements in the assembled state may be formed mirror symmetrically or rotationally symmetrically with respect to the cross-section of the shank of the other of the two rim protection elements. This in turn leads to simplified fabrication. The plane of the cross-section of the stem in which the cross-section of the stem lies extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the stem, i.e. the direction in which the stem extends away from the head. The direction of view of the cross section of the stem is directed from the free end of the stem towards the head.

The cross-section of the stem of both stems is preferably constant along the entire length of the stem, which also simplifies the manufacture.

According to a further preferred embodiment, in the assembled state of the two rim guards, at least one shank section of one of the two rim guards grips the complementary shank section of the other of the two rim members, in particular transversely to the longitudinal direction of the shank. With the grip, a shape joint is formed, which in at least one direction in the cross section of the stem determines the mutual position of the two protective elements of the rim and fixes them to each other.

In a further preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the cross-section of the shank of one of the two rim guards is an undercut in which, in the assembled state of the two rim guards, the stem section of the other of the two rim guards is engaged. Such an undercut can result in the formation of two stems in one or two directions in the cross section of the stem.

Preferably, the undercut and / or grip extends over more than half the length of the stem in the longitudinal direction of the stem, preferably flat and / or preferably over the entire length of the stem. In particular, the undercut and / or grip may extend in the longitudinal direction of the stem to the free end. The large length results in a design joint that is particularly resistant to stress.

In addition, two particularly thymic guide elements can be provided on the shank of one of the two rim guards and on the shank of the other of the two rim guards, which intersect with each other and extend along each stem, by means of which the two rim guards are movable. guided along the longitudinal direction of the stem relative to each other in the composite state and / or from it. The guide elements preferably extend over at least half, preferably over the entire length of the stem. The guide elements preferably terminate at the free end of each stem. The guide elements simplify the assembly of the rim guards through the chain element by the fact that both stems can be placed in a mutual position which automatically causes both rim guards to lock when moved.

According to a further preferred embodiment, at least one locking projection may be present on the stem of at least one of the two rim protection elements and at least one locking grip complementary to the at least one locking projection on the stem of the other of the two rim protective elements. In the assembled state of the two protective elements of the rim, in such an embodiment, at least one locking projection is locked in at least one locking grip. The latch preferably acts along the longitudinal direction of the stem. The locking thus prevents the rim guards from separating from each other. In a preferred embodiment, the locking catch and the locking projection are arranged on each shank so that they automatically engage each other when the rim guards are pushed together along the longitudinal direction of the shank.

In the assembled state, the locking elements can be located in a connecting slot extending in the longitudinal direction of the stem, in particular flat, and located on the outer surface of the common stem formed by the two composite stems. The connecting gap is located between the two assembled stems. The locking elements may be arranged so that they are visible from the outside to allow visual inspection.

At least one groove and / or a rib extending from the free end of the stem to the head, preferably transiently, is provided on at least one shank of one of the two rim protection elements. The rib and the groove are preferably designed to be complementary to each other. They can serve as guiding elements at any time. The groove may grip the rib, and / or the groove and / or rib may form an undercut so as to achieve a design joint acting in the cross-sectional plane of the stem.

At least one groove and / or at least one rib extend in particular parallel to the longitudinal direction of the stem. At least one rib and / or at least one groove may be polygonal in cross-section of the stem, in particular quadrangular, pentagonal or hexagonal or round, circular, oval, elliptical or supereliptic.

To form at least one groove and / or at least one rib, the cross-section of the stem may be formed in the approximate shape of the letters U, V, T, W or L.

In the assembled state of the two rim guards, preferably at least one rib rib of one of the two rim members is located in at least one groove of the other of the two rim guards.

At least one groove and at least one rib are movable relative to each other along the stem in the longitudinal direction of the stem, preferably until a composite state is reached. Transverse to the longitudinal direction of the stem, at least one rib can be fixed in at least one groove.

In this sense, an intermediate space between two mutually spaced stems of one rim protection element, between which at least one stem of the other rim protection element engages, can also be considered as a groove. However, a design with two separate stems may have lower strength than when using only one stem.

According to a further preferred embodiment, in the assembled state of the two rim protection elements, the two cross-sections of the shank are complemented by a common cross-section at least in sections round, polygonal, in particular quadrangular, pentagonal or hexagonal, circular, oval, elliptical or supereliptic. The common stem, which is in the assembled state of the rim protection device formed by the stems of the two rim protection elements, preferably has a smooth outer surface up to the connecting slot so that it does not get stuck in the chain element and becomes less easily soiled. In this case, each of the two stems preferably forms outside the surfaces of the common stem. Preferably, the common stem has only two connecting slots extending in the longitudinal direction of the stem, between the two stems of the two protective elements of the rims. However, several joint slots may also be present if the cross-sectional geometry of the stem is properly designed. The cross section of the common stem may be constant in the longitudinal direction of the stem.

The head of the rim protection element is preferably flat. Protruding transversely to the longitudinal direction of the stem for at least the thickness of the stem, measured in the cross section of the stem, preferably in the direction of this thickness. The base surface of the head lying transversely to the longitudinal direction of the stem may be round, polygonal, here in particular triangular, or quadrangular to octagonal, circular, oval, elliptical or supereliptic. Preferably the head protrudes laterally, further preferably protruding completely over the chain element into which the rim protection device is inserted.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the heads of the two rim guards can be designed differently. This design allows the inside of the tire chain to be made visually different from the outside of the tire chain, making installation easier. Different design can be achieved with different color and / or different label at least on the head.

Finally, the invention also relates to a head and shank rim protection element extending away from the head in the longitudinal direction of the shank, the rim protection element being designed for use in protecting a rim device in one of the embodiments described above.

Finally, the invention relates to a tire chain with at least one chain branch and at least one rim protection device, wherein the chain branch has a chain element through which the rim protection device extends, the rim protection device being formed in accordance with one of the embodiments described above.

The invention is further illustrated by examples of various embodiments. The various features of the designs can be combined with each other as desired. If the technical effect of the performance feature is not significant in a particular application, that feature may also be omitted. Conversely, a feature whose technical effect is relevant to a particular application may also be added to the above-mentioned embodiments.

In the following, the same reference numerals are used for characteristics that correspond to each other in terms of function and / or structure.

Shown:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a rim protection device against assembly;

Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the rim protection device of FIG. 1 in the assembled state;

Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a further rim protection device before assembly;

Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a further rim protection device before assembly;

Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of the rim protection device of FIG. 5 in the assembled state;

Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a further rim protection device before assembly;

Fig. 9 is a schematic side view of the rim protection device of FIG. 8 in the assembled state;

Figure 10a is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line Χ-Χ of FIG. 9;

Figure 11 is a schematic side view of a further rim protection device in the assembled state;

Figure 12 is a schematic representation of a cross-section along the line ΧΙΙ-ΧΙΙ of FIG. 11;

Fig. 13 is a schematic side view of the rim protection element of the rim protection device of FIG. 11;

Figure 14 is a schematic representation of a tire chain with rim protection devices;

Figure 15 detail XV of FIG. 14;

Figure 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a further rim protection device.

First, the function of the rim protection device 1 is described with reference to Figures 14 and 15.

The protective device 1 for the rim serves to protect the rim 2 of the wheel 6 of the vehicle, which is equipped with a chain 4 for tires, from damage due to the chain 4 for tires. Chain 4 for tires can be a snow chain or a protective chain for tires. Tire 6 can be any type of motor vehicle tire, such as e.g. tire for truck or car.

The tire chain 4 is made at least in sections of the chain branches 8, which consist of chain elements 10, for example chain links, meshes or hooks. As can be seen in FIG. 14, the rim protection device 1 is preferably used where the elements 10 of the tire chain 4 can touch the rim 2.

In this case, the protective device 1 for the rim, as shown in Figure 15, is inserted into the element 10 of the chain. The chain member 10 may be, for example, a connecting hook 12 connecting the guide chain section 14, which connects the tire chain tread 16 laid over the tread 14 of the tire 6 to a side chain branch 18 running on the rim 2 or along care, for lateral axial and radial attachment of chain 6 to tires. The rim protection device 1 can also be inserted into the chain link.

The structure of the rim protection device 1 can be seen, for example, in FIG. 1 to 3 as follows.

The protective device 1 for the rim has two collapsible protective elements 20 of the rim or. preferably consists of two such protective elements 20 of the rim. Each rim guard 20 has a head 22 and a stem 26 extending along the longitudinal direction 24 of the stem, preferably away in a straight line. On the side facing away from the head 22, the stem 26 terminates with a free end 28.

The stems 26 have interlocking complementary guide elements 30, which can be formed as ribs, including webs, or grooves, including grooves or slots. The guide elements 30 extend along the longitudinal direction 24 of the stem, preferably over at least a part of the stem, preferably over the entire length of the stem. The guide element 30 forms a stem section of the rim protection element 20, which in particular at least in sections encloses the complementary stem section 26 of the second rim protection element 20, so as to achieve a design joint acting in at least one direction of the stem cross section 32. For example, the sections may be in the form of a groove and / or a rib, as explained in more detail below.

The guide elements 30 allow the guide security elements 20 to be pressed against each other at the free ends 28 and reliably guided in a position in which the guide elements 20 are fixed together, for example by a latch 34, and are thus assembled. The assembled state 35 of the rim protection device 1 is shown in FIG. 2. The latch 34 is preferably located exclusively on the stems 26. For locking, the stem 26 of one rim protection element 20 may have at least one locking projection 36 and the stem 26 of the second rim protection element may have at least one locking recess 38.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to 3, two locking projections 36 are provided, spaced apart in the longitudinal direction 24 of the stem, which engage in a common locking recess 38. As shown in Figure 4, only a single locking projection 36 can be provided with a complementary locking recess 38. .

As shown in Figure 3, the cross-sections of the stem 26 in the plane 32 of the cross-section of the stem in the direction of view of the head 22 are rotationally symmetrical to each other. The cross-section of the stem 26 of one rim protection element is rotated by a certain angle of rotation with respect to the cross-section of the stem 26 of the other rim protection element. According to FIG. 3 is a rotation angle of 180 °. The axis of rotation is preferably in the geometric center of the common stem 40 of the protective device 1 for the rim, which is formed of two composite stems 26.

In the assembled state, the protective device 1 for the rim is approximately in the form of a handle, with both heads 22 at the ends and a common stem 40 between the two heads. The common stem 40 extends through the tire chain member 10 when the rim guard 1 is fitted. The heads 22 prevent the rim protection device 1 from falling out. The two protective elements 20 of the rim are fixed to each other in the area of the stem with the latch 34 and the articulated connection of the two stems 26 transversely to the plane 32 of the cross section. One of the heads 22 lies between the chain member 10 through which the common stem 40 protrudes and the rim 2 and thus keeps the tire chain 4 away from the rim.

The head 22 protrudes over the chain member 10 in at least one direction, preferably on both sides (Fig. 15). It is even more preferred if the rim protection device 1 completely covers the chain element 10, i.e. the chain element in the longitudinal direction 24 of the stem lies completely in the shadow of at least one head 22.

The base surface of the head 22 in a plane parallel to the plane 32 of cross-section may be round, polygonal, here in particular tri- to octagonal, oval, elliptical or supereliptic.

The guide elements 30 may have round and / or polygonal ribs 42 and complementary, round and / or polygonal grooves 44. The groove 44 may, for example, represent the above-mentioned section of the stem 26 which adheres to the complementary section formed for example as a rib 44. Stem 26 of the rim protection element 20, in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, each has one rib 42 and one groove 44.

To assemble the rim guards 20, the rim guard 20 is first inserted through the chain member 10. Then, the free end 28 of the second wheel guard 20 abuts the free end 28 of the wheel guard 20, which is inserted through the chain member 10 so that the guide members 30 engage each other. The stems 26 are then guided through the guide elements 30 along the longitudinal direction 24 of the stem by pushing them past each other until the latch 34 locks and the protective elements 10 of the rim are assembled.

In order to facilitate the retraction of the tire chain, at least the heads 22 of the two protective elements 20 of the rim may be designed differently. For example, the two heads 22 of the rim protection device 1 may have different markings and / or different colors. This allows one head 22 of the rim protection device 1 to be arranged on the inside of the tire chain 4, i.e. to rest on the rim 2, while the other heads 22 are arranged away from the rim 2 on the outside of the tire chain 4. This makes it possible to see at a glance with what orientation the tire chain 4 should be pulled onto the tire 6.

The common stem 40 has a round, polygonal, in particular quadrangular, hexagonal, circular, elliptical or supereliptic cross-section in a plane parallel to the plane 32 of the cross-section. The outer contour of the cross-section of the common stem 40 is preferably designed to be complementary to the inner contour of the opening of the chain element 10 through which the protective device 1 for the rim passes.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the cross-section of the stem 26 is approximately L-shaped with two legs 46. The shape joint in the cross-sectional plane 32 is achieved by undercuts 48, preferably obtained in mutually perpendicular directions in the cross-sectional plane 32. Each leg 46 has at least one undercut 48.

In addition to the cross-section of the stem from Figures 1 to 3, other cross-sections of the stem are also possible. In the embodiments of Figures 5 to 7, one stem 26 is provided with a T-shaped rib 42 in cross section, which is received in the complementarily formed groove 44 in a form-fitting manner and movable in the longitudinal direction 24 of the stem. The shank 26 with a groove 44 has a substantially U- or V-shaped cross section. The latch 34 may be present in the bottom 44 of the groove or in the connecting slot 50 of the outer surface 52 of the common shank 40.

The embodiment according to Figures 9 to 10 has stems 26 whose cross section is similar to the cross section of stems 26 of the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 3. Instead of the round protruding rib 42 as in the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 3 forming at least one undercut 48, the ribs 42 embodiments according to Figures 8 to 10 rectangular cross section without undercuts. The shape joint in the plane 32 of the cross section is achieved by having at least two ribs 42 protruding in different directions in the cross section of the stem 26. In the embodiment according to Figures 8 to 10, the cross-section of the stem 26 is again approximately in the shape of the letter L. The locking takes place as in the previously described embodiments in the joint slots 50.

In Figures 11 and 12, the approximately T-shaped rib 42 is formed by a stem 26 having round projections projecting into the second stem 26, which form undercuts 48 and thus form a reinforced shape joint in the cross-sectional plane 32. The latch 34 in this embodiment is not in the connecting slots 50, but on the interlocking rib 42 and the corresponding complementary groove 44. For this purpose, a locking recess 38 is provided on the groove 42 or rib 44, here on the rib 42, into which the locking projection 34 the bottom of the groove 44 when the protective elements 20 of the rim are assembled.

The guide element 30, for example in the form of a groove 44, can also be formed by two mutually spaced stems 26 of a single rim protection element 20 between these two stems.

Figure 16 shows an embodiment in which the rim protection element 20 has two stems 26a, 26b, the stem 26 of the second rim protective element being inserted into the groove 44 between the two stems 26a, 26b. The stability is slightly lower in this embodiment, due to the smaller, interconnected cross-sections of the two stems 26a, 26b compared to the previous embodiments. The latch can also be here again in at least one connection slot 50.

References rim protection rim tire chain tire chain chain link chain element connecting hook tread tires tire chain link chain side guard rim head head longitudinal direction of stem, 26a, 26b stem free end of stem cross section guide element condition locking projection locking recess common shank rib groove arm undercut connecting slot outer surface protrusion on rib or groove

Claims (10)

Patent claims Protective device (1) for a tire chain (4), with two mutually complementary, form-fitting protective elements (20) of the rim having a head (22) and at least one stem (26) extending from the head in the longitudinal direction (24) of the stem, the stems (26) of the two protective elements (20) of the rim being designed so that they can engage with each other in shape and lock each other. Wheel protection device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cross section of the stem of one of the two wheel protection elements (20) in the assembled state (35) is arranged rotationally symmetrically with respect to the cross section of the stem of the other of the two protection elements (20) rims. Wheel protection device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the assembled state (35) of the two wheel protection elements (20) at least one section (44) of the stem (26) of one of the two wheel protection elements embraces the complementary section ( 42) the stem (26) of the second of the two protective elements of the rim. Wheel protection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one locking protrusion (36) is present on the stem (26) of one of the two wheel protection elements (20) and on the stem (26) at least one locking recess (38) complementary to the at least one locking protrusion (36) of the second of the two rim protection elements (20) and in the assembled state (35) of the two rim protective elements at least one locking protrusion (36) locked in at least one locking recess (38). Wheel protection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one groove (44) and / or a rib (42) extending from the free end is provided on at least one stem (26) (28) stems to the head (22). Wheel protection device (1) according to claim 5, wherein in the assembled state (35) of the two wheel protection elements (20) the rib (42) of the stem (26) of one of the two wheel protection elements is located in the groove (44) of the other of the two rim protection elements. Wheel protection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein in the assembled state (35) of the two wheel protection elements (20) at least two stems of the two wheel protection elements form a common stem (40) of the protection device. 1) for a rim, each stem forming at least one outer surface (52) of the common stem (40). Wheel protection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the heads (22) of the two wheel safety elements (20) are designed differently. A rim guard (20) with a head (22) and a stem (26) extending away from the head (22), the rim guard (20) being designed for use in a rim guard (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8. A tire chain (4) with at least one chain branch (8) and at least one rim protection device (1), the chain branch having a chain element (10) through which the rim protection device extends, wherein the rim protection device (1) is designed according to any one of claims 1 to 8.