Non-return block for snow chains

• US 20060021689A1
• Filed: 07/06/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: König SpA
• Original Assignee: Thule SpA (Thule Group AB)
• Inventors: Farina, Luigi, Arrigoni Neri, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 7,363,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/217
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 27/006 provided with protective parts, e.g. rubber elements to protect the rim portion
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 27/10 having tensioning means

Abstract

A non return block (5) for locking a tensioning terminal portion (7) of snow chains (2), comprising a body (51) which defines a channel (12) in which the terminal portion (7) passes and a ratchet or a pawl (13) pivoted on the body (51) to lock the terminal portion (7) is described. The non-return block comprises at least one insert (62, 63) of soft material fixed to the body (51) of the non-return block so as to protrude laterally therefrom to come into contact with the rim (8) of the wheel of the vehicle, avoiding deterioration thereof through rubbing.

Claims

1. A non-return block (5) for locking a terminal tensioning portion (7) of snow chains (2), comprising a body (51) which defines a channel (12) within which the terminal portion (7) passes and a ratchet or pawl (13) pivoted to the body (51) to lock said terminal portion (7), characterised in that it comprises at least one insert (62, 63) of soft material on at least one side surface of the body (51) of the non-return block so as to protrude laterally therefrom to come into contact with the rim (8) of the wheel of the vehicle preventing deterioration thereof through rubbing.

2. A non-return block (5) according to claim 1, characterised in that the body (51) of the non-return block is made of metal and said at least one insert (62, 63) is made of soft material such as plastic, rubber or elastomer.

3. A non-return block (5) according to claim 1, characterised in that said inserts of soft material (62, 63) are disposed on both sides of the body (51) of the non-return block for use of reversible snow chains.

4. A non-return block (5) according to claim 1, characterised in that the inserts of soft material (62, 63) are fixed to said body (51) of the non-return block by press fitting.

5. A non-return block (5) according to claim 4, characterised in that a drawn seat (55) and a hole (61) able to receive, by press fitting, two inserts of soft material (62, 63) are provided on at least one side of the body (51) of the non-return block.

6. A non-return block (5) according to claim 5, characterised in that in said drawn seat (55) retaining teeth (56) forming a narrowing for the press fitting of said insert of soft material (62) are formed.

7. A non-return block (5) according to claim 4, characterised in that said inserts of soft material (62, 63) comprise a tang (64) having a tapered end (65) defining an annular abutment surface (66) to allow a press fitting in special seats or holes formed in the body (51) of the non-return block.

8. A non-return block (5) according to claim 4, characterised in that the body (51) of said non-return block has two aligned through holes (61) and a through hole (154) that puts two drawn seats (55) into communication and in that a first pair of inserts (62, 63) comprise a tang (64) having a tapered end (65) defining an annular abutment surface (66) to allow a press fitting in a seat (256) provided with a narrowing (266) formed inside a tang (264) of a second pair of inserts (262, 263), said aligned holes (61) and said communication hole (154) in the two drawn seats being able to receive the tangs (264) of said inserts (262, 263).

9. A non-return block (5) according to claim 1, characterised in that said inserts of soft material (62, 63) are fixed to said body (51) of the non-return block by coupling with screw means (167).

10. A non-return block (5) according to claim 9, characterised in that the body (51) of said non-return block has two aligned through holes (61) and a through hole (154) that puts two drawn seats (55) into communication and in that each of said inserts (162, 163) comprises a through hole (165) communicating with a recessed seat (166), in which screw means pass through the holes (165) in the inserts (162, 163), the aligned holes (61) and the hole (154) for communication of the two drawn seats being able to receive the shank of said screw means (167) and the recessed seats (166) of the inserts (162, 163) being able to receive the head of the screw means and respective nuts (168) for locking of the screw means

11. A non-return block (5) according to claim 1, characterised in that said inserts of soft material (62, 63) are fixed to said body (51) of the non-return block by means of gluing, welding, heat welding, riveting and the like.

12. Snow chains (2) comprising an outer element (3) that can be ring-closed, designed to be placed on the outer side of the wheel (1), an internal element that can be ring-closed, designed to be placed on the inner part of the wheel (1), said inner and outer elements being joined by variously composed elements (10) achieving the tread traction, said outer element (3) having a terminal portion (7) designed to be pulled to tension the chain (2) after passage thereof in a non-return block (5) which allows sliding thereof only in the direction of tensioning of said chains (2) and not in the opposite direction of slackening, characterised in that it comprises a non-return block (5) according to any one of the preceding claims.