Aircraft tire chock

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates to tire chocks and, more particularly, to tire chocks designed for use with aircraft.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a pair of tire chocks placed in front and behind a pair of tires on an aircraft landing gear.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an aircraft tire chock.

#FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the aircraft tire chock shown in FIG. 2.

#Referring to the accompanying Figures, there is shown and described an aircraft tire chock 10 comprising a triangular-shaped elongated body 20 designed to fit against the rolling surface of an aircraft tire 98. The elongated body 20 is eighteen to sixty inches in length, with three longitudinally aligned support members 30, 32, and 34, each measuring four to six inches in width. Disposed between the three support members 30, 32, and 34 is a plurality of triangular-shaped gussets 24, equally spaced apart and vertically aligned inside the elongated body 20 to provide support.

#As shown in FIG. 4, each gusset 24 is an equilateral triangle with three radially aligned, outward extending legs 36, 38, and 40. The outer edges 37, 39, and 41 of each leg 36, 38, and 40, respectively, are straight and aligned approximately 120° C. apart. During assembly, the three support members 30, 32, and 34 are aligned over the outer edges 37, 39, 41, respectively, on adjacent gussets 24. The support members 30, 32, and 34 are flat plate material, when viewed in cross-section, with inward curved outer edges 31, 31′, 33, 33′, and 35, 35′ respectively. The outer edges 37, 39, 41 on the legs 36, 38, and 40, respectively, are complementary in shape to the outer edges 31, 31′, 33, 33′, and 35, 35′ so that the adjacent support members 30, 32, 34 are fully supported by each gusset 24.

#Each gusset 24 also includes three radially oriented bell-shaped openings 28 formed between the extending legs 36, 38, and, 40. During assembly, the bell-shaped openings 28 receive the inward extending central members 43, 45, 47 on bumpers 42, 44, and 46, respectively, to securely hold the bumpers 42, 44, 46 in place between the support members 30, 32, and 34, repectively. Located centrally on each gusset 24 is a bore 26.