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US 5,810,451 AGranted
Traction device for vehicle wheels
OwnerJohn Michael O'Brieninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A traction device for vehicle wheels has tread segments that are expandable and contractible by secondary inflatable chambers to place studs either in engagement or out of engagement with a road surface. Alternatively, stud bearing tread segments are removably mounted between segments of conventional tread.
Claims4
A wheel for mounting to a vehicle comprising:
- a wheel hub and a tire mounted on the wheel hub, said tire having a primary chamber that is inflatable and in the inflated condition defines a circumferential portion for contacting a road surface;
- at least two non-stud bearing tread segments in spaced apart relation provided on said circumferential portion of the tire and at least one stud bearing tread segment interposed between the non-stud bearing tread segments;
- and
- a secondary inflatable chamber associated with one of either the non-stud bearing tread segments and the stud bearing tread segment and an inlet control selectively providing the inflation and deflation of the secondary chamber whereby the stud bearing tread segment is placed in contact with the road surface and out of contact with the road surface in response to the inflation and deflation of the secondary inflatable chamber.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.