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US 6,505,713 B1Granted
Tire locating wheel restraint
AssigneeRite-Hite Holding Corporation
InventorsLester W. Paul, Arthur S. Ellis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tire locating wheel restraint for securing a parked vehicle against movement in one direction is provided. The wheel restraint includes a trigger for sensing the position of a tire of the vehicle, and collapsible locking assembly for engaging and restraining the tire. The trigger and collapsible locking assembly travel along a path within a base on which the vehicle is parked. Once the tire is sensed, the collapsible locking assembly is erected and moves longitudinally relative to the trigger until the tire is engaged and restrained. The relative movement between the trigger and the locking assembly enables the wheel restraint to secure tires of different sizes.
Claims19
For use in restraining a parked vehicle having a tire in a parking area, a tire locating wheel restraint comprising:
- first trolley including a trigger positioned for selectively locating the tire of the vehicle, the first trolley being moveable between a first position wherein the trigger is displaced from the tire and a second stationary position wherein the trigger locates the tire;
- and
- a second trolley including a collapsible locking assembly having a distal portion for engaging the tire, the second trolley being moveable from a third position wherein the collapsible locking assembly is out of engagement with the tire to a fourth position wherein the distal portion of the collapsible locking assembly is in restraining engagement with the tire, the first trolley with the trigger in the second stationary position and the second trolley cooperating to erect the collapsible locking assembly adjacent the tire such that the distal portion of the collapsible locking assembly contacts the tire, wherein the distance between the distal portion of the collapsible locking assembly and the trigger when the second trolley is in the fourth position and the first trolley is in the second stationary position is dependent upon the size of the tire, wherein the collapsible locking assembly further comprises an actuating member for selectively erecting the locking assembly, the actuating member comprising a cam surface which operatively engages the first trolley to erect the collapsible locking assembly.
For use in restraining a parked vehicle having a tire in a parking area, a tire locating wheel restraint comprising:
- a first trolley including a trigger positioned for selectively locating the tire of the vehicle, the first trolley being moveable between a first position wherein the trigger is displaced from the tire and a second stationary position wherein the trigger locates the tire;
- and
- a second trolley including a collapsible locking assembly having a distal portion for engaging the tire, the second trolley being moveable from a third position wherein the collapsible locking assembly is out of engagement with the tire to a fourth position wherein the distal portion of the collapsible locking assembly is in restraining engagement with the tire, the first trolley with the trigger in the second stationary position and the second trolley cooperating to erect the collapsible locking assembly adjacent the tire such that the distal portion of the collapsible locking assembly contacts the tire, wherein the distance between the distal portion of the collapsible locking assembly and the trigger when the second trolley is in the fourth position and the first trolley is in the second stationary position is dependent upon the size of the tire, wherein the collapsible locking assembly further comprises an actuating member for selectively erecting the locking assembly, the actuating member erecting the locking assembly by relative movement between the first trolley and the second trolley.
For use in restraining a parked vehicle having a tire in a parking area, a tire locating wheel restraint comprising:
- a first trolley including a trigger positioned for selectively locating the tire of the vehicle, the first trolley being moveable between a first position wherein the trigger is displaced from the tire and a second stationary position wherein the trigger locates the tire;
- a second trolley including a collapsible locking assembly having a distal portion for engaging the tire, the second trolley being moveable from a third position wherein the collapsible locking assembly is out of engagement with the tire to a fourth position wherein the distal portion of the collapsible locking assembly is in restraining engagement with the tire, the first trolley with the trigger in the second stationary position and the second trolley cooperating to erect the collapsible locking assembly adjacent the tire such that the distal portion of the collapsible locking assembly contacts the tire, wherein the distance between the distal portion of the collapsible locking assembly and the trigger when the second trolley is in the fourth position and the first trolley is in the second stationary position is dependent upon the size of the tire;
- and
- a drive mechanism comprising:
- a motor;
- a first sprocket operatively coupled to the motor;
- a second sprocket;
- and
- an endless chain operatively engaging the first and second sprockets, the endless chain being coupled to the second trolley to selectively move the second trolley between the third and fourth positions.
6 more elements
For use in restraining a parked vehicle having a tire in a parking area, a tire locating wheel restraint comprising:
- a first trolley including a trigger positioned for selectively locating the tire of the vehicle, the first trolley being moveable between a first position wherein the trigger is displaced from the tire and a second stationary position wherein the trigger locates the tire;
- and
- a second trolley including a collapsible locking assembly having a distal portion for engaging the tire, the second trolley being moveable from a third position wherein the collapsible locking assembly is out of engagement with the tire to a fourth position wherein the distal portion of the collapsible locking assembly is in restraining engagement with the tire, the first trolley with the trigger in the second stationary position and the second trolley cooperating to erect the collapsible locking assembly adjacent the tire such that the distal portion of the collapsible locking assembly contacts the tire, wherein the distance between the distal portion of the collapsible locking assembly and the trigger when the second trolley is in the fourth position and the first trolley is in the second stationary position is dependent upon the size of the tire, wherein the first trolley is disposed in a first channel and the second trolley is disposed in a second channel, the first and second channels being substantially parallel, the second channel being disposed above the first channel.
For use in restraining a parked vehicle having a tire in a parking area, a tire locating wheel restraint comprising:
- a first channel located in a first plane;
- a second channel located in a second plane adjacent the first plane;
- a first trolley disposed for movement along the first channel and including a trigger positioned for locating an exposed face of the tire of the vehicle;
- and
- a second trolley disposed for movement along the second channel and including a collapsible locking assembly having a distal portion for engaging the tire of the vehicle on said exposed face to restrain tire movement, the collapsible locking assembly including a cam surface which cooperates with the first trolley to erect the collapsible locking assembly after the trigger has become stationary.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.