Auxiliary traction device for tires and cable end connector therefor

A traction device adapted for mounting on a tire comprising in combination:

• a pair of elongated flexible cable members adapted to extend circumferentially of opposite sidewalls of a tire, each cable member having an outer protective covering of a flexible plastic material and having opposite free ends adapted for releasable connection to one another;
• a plurality of flexible cross members each having opposite ends connected to said elongated flexible cable members at spaced circumferential intervals therealong, said cross members adapted to traverse the tread portion of the tire when said elongated flexible cable members are disposed along the opposite sidewalls of said tire;
• and
• an end connector affixed to one free end of each said elongated flexible cable member and adapted for connection to an opposite free end of each said flexible cable member, each end connector provided with wedging means defined by a plate having a pair of spaced slots therein for releasable wedging engagement with said opposite free end when said opposite free end is inserted through said spaced slots and tension is applied to its associated elongated flexible member to effect positive but releasable wedged engagement between said opposite free end and said end connector.

A cable type chain adapted to be mounted for emergency use on a radial tire comprising in combination:

• a pair of elongated flexible cable members each provided with an outer protective coating composed of a flexible plastic material, said flexible members adapted to extend circumferentially along opposite sidewalls of a tire, and each flexible member having opposite free ends adapted for releasable connection to one another;
• a plurality of flexible cross members in the form of cables extending at uniformly spaced circumferential intervals transversely between said elongated circumferentially extending cables and having means at opposite ends of said cross members connecting said opposite ends to said circumferentially extending cables, each of said cross members having an outer protective coating composed of a flexible plastic material, and a plurality of inflexible roller members extending in end-to-end relation to one another in outer spaced surrounding relation to each of said cross members, each of said sleeve members composed of an impact-resistant material;
• and
• end connector means operative to releasably interconnect opposite free ends of each of said elongated flexible cable members and means for securing said end connector means to one free end of said cable member, each of said end connector means provided with wedging means defined by a body portion having a pair of spaced convergent slots therein for adjustable insertion of the opposite free end of each flexible cable member through said slots to establish a predetermined effective length of each respective flexible cable member to the desired degree of tautness on said tire whereby application of tension to each respective flexible cable member will effect positive but releasable gripping engagement between said one free end of said flexible cable and said end connector means.