Apparatus for installing tire chains

An apparatus for installing tire chains, comprising:

• a support;
• a spool rotatably mounted to the support for rotation about a rotational axis;
• means for attaching the support to a vehicle;
• means for detachably securing a first end of a tire chain to the spool, such that when the spool rotates in a first direction the tire chain is wound onto the spool and when the spool is rotated in a second direction tire chain is fed from the spool;
• a torsion spring biasing the spool for rotation in the first direction;
• and
• means for detachably securing a second end of the tire chain to a tire.

In combination:

• a vehicle having tires each of the tires being rotatably mounted tires for rotation a rotational axis;
• a support having a spool rotatably mounted to the support for rotation about a rotational axis, the support being mounted to the vehicle adjacent to one of the tires with the rotational axis of the spool in parallel spaced relation to the rotational axis or the tire;
• a tire chain having a first end and a second end, the first end being detachably secured to the spool, such that when the spool rotates in a first direction the tire chain is wound onto the spool and when the spool s rotated in a second direction tire chain is fed from the spool;
• means for detachably securing the second end of the tire chain to a tire;
• means for selectively rotating the spool in the first direction;
• and
• the vehicle having at least one pivotally mounted fender which pivots out of the way to provide better access to a selected one of the tires for detachably securing the second end of the tire chain to the selected tire.

A fender mounting for a vehicle, comprising:

• a first fender support adapted to be secured to and support a first end of a fender;
• a second fender support adapted to be secured to and support a second end of the fender;
• means for pivotally securing the first fender support to a vehicle;
• means for detachably securing the second fender support to a vehicle, such that the second fender support is detachable from the vehicle to permit the fender to pivot with the first fender support.

An apparatus for attaching a tire chain to a dual wheels, comprising:

• a generally “T” shaped member consisting of two pivotally connected bodies, each of the bodies:
• a main shaft with a first end and a second end, the main shafts being pivotally secured in parallel spaced relation by at least one band;
• arms projecting outwardly from the first end of each main shaft;
• feet projecting outwardly from the second end of each main shaft in parallel spaced relation to the arms;
• and
• means for attaching tire chains positioned at spaced intervals along the arms.