Anti slip device for a wheel and a method for mounting the anti slip device

• US 8,991,454 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2012
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thule Sweden AB (Thule Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Thule Sweden AB (Thule Group AB)
• Inventors: Arrigoni Neri, Marco, Farina, Luigi, Necchi, Stefano
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jason C
• Application Number:
  US14/009,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20140053963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 152/213.R, 152/214, 152/242, 152/216, 152/217
• US Class Current: 152/213.R
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 27/062 provided with fastening means
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 27/10 having tensioning means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The present invention relates to an anti slip device (10) for a wheel (40) having a first side (40a), a second side (40b) and a tread (41). A securing arrangement (100) is used to secure the anti slip device (10) to the wheel (40). The securing arrangement (100) of the anti slip device (10) comprises a tensioning member (110) adapted to be foot operated by a user between a first position, in which the anti slip device (10) can be removed from the wheel (40), and a second position, in which the anti slip device (10) is substantially secured to the wheel (40). The present invention also relates to a method for operating the anti slip device (10).

Claims

1. An anti slip device for a wheel having a first side, a second side and a tread, said anti slip device comprising:

at least one anti slip member configured to provide said tread of said wheel with an anti slip surface;

a securing arrangement securing said anti slip device to said wheel, said securing arrangement comprising a tensioning member configured to be operated by a user between a first position, in which said anti slip device can be removed from said wheel, and a second position, in which said anti slip device is substantially secured to said wheel;

wherein said tensioning member comprises a foot pad configured to be foot operated by said user, said foot pad containing at least one substantially planar surface,

said securing arrangement comprises a rigid supporting unit, and

said tensioning member comprises a slide section configured to slide on said rigid supporting unit between said first and second position, and

said substantially planar surface is perpendicular to the remainder of the securing arrangement between said first position and said second position.

2. The anti slip device according to claim 1, wherein said securing arrangement comprises a housing, and said tensioning member is configured to be displaced with respect to said housing between said first and second position.

3. The anti slip device according to claim 2, wherein said housing is an elongated housing having a longitudinal axis, and said tensioning member is configured to be displaced substantially parallel with said longitudinal axis of said elongated housing.

4. The anti slip device according to claim 3, wherein said wheel comprises a rim and a tire and said elongated housing is configured to cooperate with parts of said rim or parts of said tire, when said tensioning member is displaced from said first position to said second position.

5. The anti slip device according to claim 1, wherein said anti slip device is configured to fit a wheel having a first diameter, and said housing has a first length, wherein said first length of said housing is at least 80% of said first diameter of said wheel.

6. The anti slip device according to claim 1, wherein said securing arrangement comprises a lock configured to lock said tensioning member in said second position.

7. The anti slip device according to claim 1, wherein said foot pad is arranged substantially perpendicular to said wheel when said foot pad is in said operable position and after said anti slip device has been mounted to said wheel.

8. The anti slip device according to claim 1, wherein said securing arrangement comprises at least one retraction member, the at least one retraction member configured to impart a flexible elongated member with a force component acting to tighten said flexible elongated member when said tensioning member has been displaced to said second position.

9. The anti slip device according to claim 1, wherein said securing arrangement comprises a housing and said tensioning member comprises a first and a second section, said first section being arranged inside of said housing and engaged with a retraction member, and said second section being arranged outside of said housing.

10. The anti slip device according to claim 1, wherein said tensioning member of said securing arrangement is in working cooperation with a flexible elongated member, and wherein when said tensioning member is displaced from said first position to said second position, said flexible elongated member secures said anti slip device to said wheel.

11. The anti slip device according to claim 10, wherein when said tensioning member is displaced from said second position to said first position, said flexible elongated member is at least partly relieved from stress, thereby permitting removal of said anti slip device from said wheel.

12. A method for attaching an anti slip device according to claim 1 to a wheel of a vehicle, the method comprising:

mounting said anti slip device to said wheel; and

imparting said tensioning member with a force component using a foot to displace said tensioning member from said first position to said second position,

wherein said tensioning member is slid on said rigid supporting unit.

13. An anti slip device for a wheel having a first side, a second side and a tread, said anti slip device comprising:

at least one anti slip member configured to provide said tread of said wheel with an anti slip surface;

a securing arrangement securing said anti slip device to said wheel, said securing arrangement comprising a tensioning member configured to be operated by a user between a first position, in which said anti slip device can be removed from said wheel, and a second position, in which said anti slip device is substantially secured to said wheel;

wherein said securing arrangement comprises a housing, and said tensioning member comprises a foot pad configured to be displaced with respect to said housing between said first and second position, said foot pad containing at least one substantially planar surface wherein said substantially planar surface is perpendicular to the remainder of the securing arrangement between said first position and said second position, and

said housing is an elongated housing having a longitudinal axis, and said tensioning member is configured to be displaced substantially parallel with said longitudinal axis of said elongated housing.

14. The anti slip device according to claim 13, wherein said anti slip device is configured to fit a wheel having a first diameter, and said housing has a first length, wherein said first length of said housing is at least 80% of said first diameter of said wheel.

15. The anti slip device according to claim 13, wherein said securing arrangement comprises a lock configured to lock said tensioning member in said second position.

16. The anti slip device according to claim 13, wherein said wheel comprises a rim and a tire and said elongated housing is configured to cooperate with parts of said rim or parts of said tire, when said tensioning member is displaced from said first position to said second position.

17. The anti slip device according to claim 13, wherein said tensioning member comprises a foot pad.

18. The anti slip device according to claim 17, wherein said foot pad is arranged substantially perpendicular to said wheel when said foot pad is in said operable position and after said anti slip device has been mounted to said wheel.

19. The anti slip device according to claim 13, wherein said securing arrangement comprises at least one retraction member, the at least one retraction member configured to impart a flexible elongated member with a force component acting to tighten said flexible elongated member when said tensioning member has been displaced to said second position.