Extended-Life Tire Chain and Method of Extending the Life of a Tire Chain
OwnerTim Ruppertinventor
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Abstract
An extended-life tire chain and method of extending the life of a tire chain. An extended-life tire chain has a plurality of chain links, a plurality of twin clevises each secured to two of the links, and a plurality of clevis pins each having a head on one of its extremities. Each twin clevis has two receptacles. Each clevis pin is removably disposed in a different one of the receptacles. The twin clevises are oriented such that, when the tire chain is installed on a tire, the heads project radially away from a tread surface of the tire.
Claims23
An extended-life tire chain comprising:
- a plurality of chain links;
- a plurality of twin clevises each secured to two of the links, each twin clevis having two receptacles;
- and
- a plurality of clevis pins each having a head on one of its extremities, each clevis pin removably disposed in a different one of the receptacles, the twin clevises oriented such that, when the tire chain is installed on a tire, the heads project radially away from a tread surface of the tire.
The tire chain of clam 1 and further comprising a plurality of spring retaining clips each carrying a plurality of teeth, each retaining clip disposed on a different one of the clevis pins with the teeth oriented to oppose removal of that clevis pin from its receptacle.
An extended-life tire chain comprising:
- a plurality of chain links;
- a plurality of twin clevises each having two pairs of arms, each pair of arms defining therebetween a U-shaped opening, at least one arm of each pair having therethrough a receptacle, each twin clevis encircling one of the chain links in one of its U-shaped openings and another of the chain links in the other of its U-shaped openings such that the twin clevises and chain links together define a tire chain structure shaped to cover a tread surface of a tire, the chain links oriented generally parallel the tread surface and the twin clevises oriented generally perpendicular to the tread surface;
- and
- a plurality of clevis pins each having a head on one of its extremities, each clevis pin removably disposed in a receptacle in a different one of the pairs of arms to retain a chain link encircled by that pair of arms, the clevis pins oriented with their heads projecting radially away from the tread surface.
The tire chain of clam 8 and further comprising a plurality of spring retaining clips each carrying a plurality of teeth, each retaining clip disposed on a different one of the clevis pins with the teeth oriented to retain that clevis pin in its receptacle.
An improvement to a tire chain of the kind having a plurality of interconnected links that encircle a tire, the improvement comprising:
- a plurality of twin clevises each having at least two receptacles, each twin clevis secured to two of the links;
- and
- a plurality of clevis pins each having a head on one of its extremities, each clevis pin removably disposed in a different one of the receptacles, the twin clevises oriented such that, when the tire chain covers a tire, the heads project radially away from a tread surface of the tire.
The tire chain of clam 15 and further comprising a plurality of spring retaining clips each carrying a plurality of teeth, each retaining clip disposed on a different one of the clevis pins with the teeth oriented to retain that clevis pin in its receptacle.
A method of extending the life of a tire chain, the method comprising:
- inserting chain links into U-shaped openings in twin clevises;
- removably installing clevis pins in the twin clevises to secure the chain links in the U-shaped openings and thereby define a tire chain;
- installing the tire chain on a tire of a vehicle and orienting the twin clevises such that heads of the clevis pins project generally radially away from a tread surface of the tire;
- inspecting the clevis pins after operating the vehicle;
- and
- replacing worn and damaged removable clevis pins.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.