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US 8,800,622 B2Granted
System and method of using a friction increase device
OwnerJerry F. Safranekinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tire friction device utilizes a sub-frame assembly with a length adjustment assembly to grip a tire. Grip members are used to grip a tire. The grip members attach to the tire tread and/or tire side walls utilizing friction components. The grip members have friction components on their outer surface to provide additional friction for vehicle (e.g., car or truck) tires on surfaces such as snow, ice, loose gravel and mud that is easy to apply and remove from a tire.
Claims14
A tire friction device, comprising:
- a sub-frame assembly comprising a rigid length adjustment assembly with a fixed end component and an adjustable end component, a first grip member and a second grip member;
- and
- wherein the first grip member is fixedly attached to the distal end of the fixed end component and the second grip member is fixedly attached to the distal end of the adjustable end component;
- wherein said grip members engage a tire having a tread surface and inner and an outer sidewalls;
- wherein said fixed end and adjustment end components are joined such that they are adjustable for length;
- wherein said adjustment assembly locks said adjustable end component to said fixed end component to maintain said sub-frame assembly at a desired length;
- whereby when in use, the length adjustment assembly in a tire gripping position is approximately parallel to a tire's rotational plane;
- whereby when in use, the first grip member and the second grip member are approximately perpendicular to a tire's rotational plane in the tire gripping position;
- whereby when in use, the adjusting mechanism is adjusted to non-fixedly clamp the tire in the tire gripping position or release the tire friction device from the tire;
- whereby when in use, the length adjustment assembly is located proximate to the tire outer sidewall when non-fixedly clamping the tire in the tire gripping position, and
- wherein said grip members increase traction between the tire and a driving surface.
8 more elements
A tire friction device comprising:
- a length adjustment assembly comprising a fixed end component and an adjustable end component;
- and
- wherein the fixed end component further comprises a tire grip member for gripping a tire tread and a tire center rim opening attachment component;
- wherein an adjustable end component further comprises a tire rim center opening attachment component for gripping the tire rim center opening;
- wherein the adjusting mechanism is adjusted to non-fixedly clamp or release the tire grip member and the second grip member from the tire;
- wherein the length adjusting mechanism is located at or near the tire outer sidewall when non-fixedly clamping the tire;
- wherein end components comprise fabric straps, plastic straps, woven straps, I-beams, angle iron, bar stock, threaded rod, straps, chains, wire, braided wire and elastomeric bands;
- and
- wherein the end components are made of materials comprising stainless steel, plastic, carbon steel, galvanized steel, high strength plastics, aluminum, wrought iron, fiber-reinforced synthetic material, nano-materials, elastomeric materials, and spring steel.
6 more elements
A method of increasing tire friction, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a traction device with an adjustment mechanism and first and the second grip members;
- (b) grasping the device by a handle of the adjusting mechanism;
- (c) placing the device, using one hand, near or against an outer sidewall of a tire;
- (d) extending the length between the first and the second grip member by activating a length fixing/releasing mechanism and pulling the first and the second grip member further apart until the length between the first and the second grip member is greater than the tire's outside diameter;
- (e) grasping the device with one hand and placing the device against an outer sidewall of the tire;
- (f) readjusting the sub-frame assembly so that the first and second grip members grip firmly and transversely against the tire/tire tread;
- (g) locking the device in place with the length fixing/releasing mechanism;
- (h) determining if there is enough traction to move the vehicle successfully.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.