System and method of using a friction increase device

• US 20110303334A1
• Filed: 06/15/2011
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stuk Stik LLC
• Original Assignee: Jerry F. Safranek
• Inventors: Safranek, Jerry F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,800,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/216
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 27/04 the ground-engaging part being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/902 Specified use of nanostructure

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.

Claims

1. A tire friction device 100, comprising:

a sub-frame assembly comprising a 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 length adjustment assembly in a tire gripping position is approximately parallel to a tire'"'"'s rotational plane;

wherein the first grip member is attached to the fixed end component and the second grip member is attached to the adjustable end component;

wherein the first grip member and the second grip member are approximately perpendicular to a tire'"'"'s rotational plane in the tire gripping position;

wherein the adjusting mechanism is adjusted to non-fixedly clamp the tire in the tire gripping position 103 or release the tire friction device from the tire;

wherein the length adjustment assembly is located proximate to the tire outer sidewall when non-fixedly clamping the tire in the tire gripping position.

2. The tire friction device of claim 1, wherein the first grip member and the second grip member contact the tire tread;

or the tire outer sidewall and the tire tread;

or the tire inner sidewall and the tire tread;

or the tire inner and outer sidewall and the tire tread.

3. The tire friction device of claim 1, wherein the tire comprises a conventional vehicle tire, an automobile tire, a truck tire, a trailer tire, an ATV tire, a riding lawn mower tire and a tractor tire.

4. The tire friction device of claim 1, wherein there are one or more grip members.

5. The tire friction device of claim 1, wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises a hand grip winch, a gear system, a pulley, electrical tightening devices, a ratchet pulley assembly, a battery operated electric winch, a trigger hand clamp, a pinch plate, a pistol-style clamp, ratchet strap assemblies, a pneumatic device, a come along and a turnbuckle.

6. The tire friction device of claim 1, wherein the first grip and the second grip are non-fixedly attached to the tire at two locations on the tire tread approximately one hundred and eighty degrees apart.

7. The tire friction device of claim 1, wherein the first grip member and the second grip member are formed or manufactured comprising techniques of taking flat metal sheet stock and stamping out a grip, grip teeth, gripping points and bending the flat metal sheet into a given shape;

techniques of taking flat metal sheet stock and stamping out a gripping features directed toward the tire tread and bolting chain to an outside surface of the first grip member and the second grip member positioned to come into contact with a ground surface;

techniques of welding together gripper sections to form the first grip member and the second grip member that increase the available traction surface area for the device.

8. The tire friction device of claim 1, wherein various grips are interchangeable based on the ground surfaces comprising snow, ice, sand, mud, gravel and ruts.

9. The tire friction device of claim 1, wherein the length adjustment assembly, the first grip member and the second grip member have components comprising hinges, threaded rod, a cam and handle, quick release/connect components, attachment mechanisms, links, pins and telescoping mechanisms.

10. The tire friction device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a single stand-alone grip member that attaches to the tire and grips the tire outer sidewall, the tire inner sidewall and the tire tread;

and

wherein the single stand-alone grip member is formed or manufactured comprising techniques of taking flat metal sheet stock and stamping out a grip, grip teeth, gripping points and bending the flat metal sheet into a given shape;

techniques of taking flat metal sheet stock and stamping out a gripping features directed toward the tire tread and bolting chain to an outside surface of the single stand-alone grip member;

wherein the tire grip member materials comprise stainless steel, plastic, carbon steel, galvanized steel, high strength plastics, aluminum, wrought iron, fiber-reinforced synthetic material, nano-materials, elastomeric materials, and spring steel.

11. A tire friction device, wherein end components comprise fabric straps, plastic straps, woven straps, I-beams, rods, tubes, angle iron, bar stock, threaded rod, structural elements of square cross section, structural elements of round cross section, 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.

12. The tire friction device of claim 11, wherein a first and a second grip members are interchangeable with different style grips that provide greater friction based on surface conditions comprising, snow, ice, mud, gravel and sand.

13. The tire friction device of claim 11, wherein the tire friction device comprises different style grip members.

14. The tire friction device of claim 11, 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.

15. The tire friction device of claim 11, wherein the tire grip member comprising ductile iron step irons, grate tread, serrated step, fencing, chain, stampings, elastomeric bands, friction band, wire or a combination thereof;

and

wherein the tire grip member materials comprise stainless steel, plastic, carbon steel, galvanized steel, high strength plastics, aluminum, wrought iron, fiber-reinforced synthetic material, nano-materials, elastomeric materials, and spring steel;

wherein the tire rim center opening attachment component materials comprise stainless steel, plastic, carbon steel, galvanized steel, high strength plastics, aluminum, wrought iron, fiber-reinforced synthetic material, nano-materials, elastomeric materials, and spring steel.

16. A method of increasing tire friction, the method comprising:

(a) determining that a vehicle is struck due to ground surface conditions;

(b) removing a tire friction device from storage, if the device has first and second hinge gripper members then go to (c), else got to (d);

(c) rotating the first and the second hinge grip members so that the first and the second members are locked into position at approximately ninety degrees to a sub-frame assembly;

(d) selecting proper friction elements if the device has interchangeable friction elements, else go to (f);

(e) attaching chosen friction elements to the first and second grip members;

(f) grasping the device by a handle of the adjusting mechanism;

(g) placing the device near or against the outer sidewall of the tire;

(h) 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;

(i) placing the device against an outer sidewall of the tire;

(j) readjusting the sub-frame assembly so that the first and second grip members grip firmly and transversely against the tire/tire tread;

(k) locking the device in place with the length fixing/releasing mechanism;

(l) determining if there is enough traction to move the vehicle successfully;

(m) ending the method if the vehicle is moved successfully go to (o) or go to (n);

(n) adding additional tire friction devices to additional tires;

(o) ending the method.

17. The method of increasing tire friction of claim 16, wherein the tire first and second grip members comprising ductile iron step irons, grate tread, serrated step, fencing, chain, stampings, elastomeric bands, friction band, wire or a combination thereof;

and

wherein the tire grip member materials comprise stainless steel, plastic, carbon steel, galvanized steel, high strength plastics, aluminum, wrought iron, fiber-reinforced synthetic material, nano-materials, elastomeric materials, and spring steel;

wherein the tire rim opening attachment component materials comprise stainless steel, plastic, carbon steel, galvanized steel, high strength plastics, aluminum, wrought iron, fiber-reinforced synthetic material, nano-materials, elastomeric materials, and spring steel.

18. A method of increasing tire friction of claim 16, wherein end components comprise fabric straps, plastic straps, woven straps, I-beams, rods, tubes, angle iron, bar stock, threaded rod, structural elements of square cross section, structural elements of round cross section, 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.

19. A method of increasing tire friction of claim 16, wherein grip members are interchangeable based upon the surface conditions comprising, snow, ice, mud, gravel and sand;

and wherein the tire friction device comprises different grip members on arm components.

20. The method of increasing tire friction of claim 16, wherein the length adjustment assembly, the first grip member and the second grip member have components comprising hinges, threaded rod, a cam and handle bar, quick release and attachment mechanisms, links, pins and telescoping arms for ease of storage.