Wheel chock adapter

Abstract

To provide an adapter for a wheel stopper capable of effectively using one kind of wheel stopper even on a normal road surface and a frozen road surface.SOLUTION: A bottom portion 52 that has an uneven non-slip portion side 52a and is grounded on a road surface in a use state, and an inclined surface that has a first end portion side 54a as an intersection with one end of the bottom portion 52 and is separated from the bottom portion 52 toward a second end portion side 54b side, the adapter 10 includes a first engagement portion 12 that engages with an intersection between a bottom portion 52 and a first end portion side 54a, a second engagement portion 14 that engages with a non-slip portion side 52a, and a base portion 16 provided between the first engagement portion 12 and the second engagement portion 14, and the base portion 16 includes a non-slip spike 18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wheel stopper for preventing the movement of vehicles such as automobiles, and particularly to an adapter suitable for using a wheel stopper in snowy areas in winter.

Background Art

[0002] As a wheel stopper for vehicles such as automobiles, for example, those disclosed in Patent Document 1 are known. The wheel stopper disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a bottom portion that contacts the road surface and a wheel contact portion that contacts the wheel. The wheel contact portion is provided such that one end has an intersection with the bottom portion and is spaced apart from the bottom portion as it extends toward the other end. The feature of the wheel stopper disclosed in Patent Document 1 is that a plurality of wheel stoppers can be joined in parallel. And, such a wheel stopper is configured to prevent the wheel stopper from shifting from the installation location by providing an anti-slip portion with irregularities on the bottom portion.

[0003] However, the anti-slip portion of such a wheel stopper generally has a structure with irregularities as a tread pattern on the bottom portion. Therefore, in snowy places such as snow-covered roads and ski resorts, or on ice rinks, etc., there is a possibility that it may not perform its role properly. To address such a problem, Patent Document 2 discloses driving pin-shaped spikes into the bottom portion of the wheel stopper so that the spikes can bite into the road surface even in slippery places such as snow-covered roads and ice rinks. By applying such a technique, it becomes possible to surely exhibit the function of the wheel stopper even in snowy areas in winter.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

[0005] However, on normal road surfaces, the contact area with the road surface is reduced, and the contact area with the tire is also lifted off the road surface, making it difficult to use. As a result, it may not be able to perform its function properly. Therefore, if wheel chocks are to be used on both normal road surfaces and icy road surfaces, it becomes necessary to prepare two types of wheel chocks. Preparing two types of wheel chocks will not only increase costs but also increase storage space.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a wheel chock adapter that enables the effective use of a single type of wheel chock on both normal road surfaces and icy road surfaces. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The wheel chock adapter according to the present invention for achieving the above objective is an adapter for use with a wheel chock that has a bottom portion that contacts the road surface when in use and has an inclined surface that has a first end pointing to the intersection of the bottom portion and one end pointing to the second end point and moving away from the bottom portion as it approaches the second end point, and has an inclined portion that contacts the wheel when in use, the adapter comprising a first engaging portion that engages with the intersection of the bottom portion and the first end portion, a second engaging portion that engages with the wheel chock, and a base portion provided between the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion, wherein the base portion is equipped with anti-slip spikes.

[0008] Furthermore, in a wheel stop adapter having the above-described features, the spike can be constructed by raising a tongue-shaped piece cut from the plate surface constituting the base. This feature makes it possible to integrally form the spike, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0009] Furthermore, in a wheel stop adapter having the above-described features, the spikes can be positioned perpendicular to the plate surface. This feature improves the strength of the spikes against vertical forces.

[0010] Furthermore, in a wheel stop adapter having the above-described features, the spikes can also be constructed by erecting pins on the plate surface that constitutes the base. Having these features allows for greater flexibility in the arrangement of the spikes. In addition, it becomes easier to concentrate stress at the tip of the spike, thereby improving its ability to grip the road surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] With the wheel chock adapter having the features described above, it becomes possible to effectively use one type of wheel chock on both normal road surfaces and icy road surfaces. Furthermore, since it can be made into a detachable spike adapter based on existing wheel chocks, it is possible to reduce manufacturing costs compared to manufacturing the entire wheel chock from scratch. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a side view showing the configuration of a wheel stop adapter according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a bottom view showing the configuration of the wheel stopper adapter according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a side view showing an example of a wheel chock to which the wheel chock adapter according to the embodiment can be applied. [Figure 4] This is a side view showing the wheel chock with the wheel chock adapter according to the first embodiment attached. [Figure 5] This is a side view showing the configuration of the wheel stopper adapter according to the second embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a side view showing the configuration of a wheel stop adapter according to the third embodiment. [Figure 7]This is a bottom view showing the configuration of the wheel chock adapter according to the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the wheel chock adapter of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view showing the configuration of the wheel chock adapter according to the first embodiment, and Figure 2 is a bottom view thereof. Figure 3 is a side view showing an example of a wheel chock to which the wheel chock adapter according to the embodiment can be applied.

[0014] [Components: Wheel chocks] First, an example of a wheel stopper 50 to which the wheel stopper adapter (hereinafter simply referred to as adapter 10) according to the first embodiment (the same applies to other embodiments) can be applied will be described with reference to Figure 3. A wheel stopper to which the adapter 10 according to the first embodiment can be applied only if it has at least a bottom portion 52 and an inclined portion 54. Here, the bottom portion 52 refers to the part that has an uneven anti-slip portion 52a and makes contact with the road surface when in use. The uneven shape that constitutes the anti-slip portion 52a may be a simple uneven shape, but in the example shown in Figure 3, it is a sawtooth-shaped unevenness with a vertical surface on the side facing the direction in which it is pressed by the wheel (the direction indicated by arrow A). This is because forming such an uneven surface makes it easier for the vertical surface to catch on the unevenness of the road surface, thereby enhancing the anti-slip effect.

[0015] Furthermore, the inclined portion 54 is a surface having a first end 54a and a second end 54b in the direction along the extending direction of the bottom portion 52, with the first end 54a intersecting one end of the bottom portion 52 to form a wedge portion 56. It also forms an inclined surface in which the distance from the bottom portion 52 increases as you move from the wedge portion 56 toward the second end 54b. The inclined portion 54 is the surface that contacts the wheel in the state of use, and may be configured not only as a flat surface but also as a concave surface that follows the arc of the wheel.

[0016] In the example shown in FIG. 3, by adopting a solid structure provided with a reinforcing portion 58 that connects the other end of the bottom portion 52 and the second end portion 54b of the inclined portion 54, the side surface shape is formed into a substantially triangular shape, and the reinforcing portion 58 is configured to include a handle 60. However, when the constituent material of the wheel stopper 50 has sufficient strength, it is not necessarily required to have a solid structure, and the reinforcing portion 58 etc. may not be provided either.

[0017] [Configuration: Adapter] Next, the adapter 10 according to the first embodiment will be described. The adapter 10 according to the present embodiment is an element used to stably use the wheel stopper 50 on snow or ice. Its configuration is based on the first engaging portion 12, the second engaging portion 14, the base portion 16, and the spikes 18. The first engaging portion 12 is an element that covers the wedge portion 56 formed by the intersection of one end of the bottom portion 52 and the first end portion 54a of the inclined portion 54 in the wheel stopper 50. The second engaging portion 14 is an element that engages with the concave portion of the uneven surface that constitutes the anti-slip portion 52a provided on the bottom portion 52 of the wheel stopper 50. In the example shown in FIG. 1, it is configured to engage with the vertical surface of the anti-slip portion 52a.

[0018] The base portion 16 is an element that connects the first engaging portion 12 and the second engaging portion 14. Generally, the base portion 16 may be a flat plate made of the same material as the first engaging portion 12 and the second engaging portion 14, but as long as it is possible to arrange the spikes 18, the details of which will be described later, its specific configuration is not limited.

[0019] Spike 18 is an element that, when the road surface is covered with snow or ice, bites into or pierces this road surface to exert an anti-slip effect. Regarding the specific configuration of spike 18, it is not limited as long as it can exert its function. As an example of the specific configuration of spike 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a U-shaped cut 20 is made in the plate surface of the flat plate constituting the base portion 16 to form a tongue piece 18a, and the free end of this tongue piece 18a is raised in a direction away from the bottom portion 52 of the wheel stopper 50. By forming the spike 18 in this way, the spike 18 can be integrally formed with the adapter 10 (base portion 16). Therefore, it is also possible to suppress the manufacturing cost.

[0020] [Function and Effect] Next, the application of the adapter 10 with the above-described configuration to the wheel stopper 50 and the usage method will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The adapter 10 with the above-described configuration engages the first engaging portion 12 with the wedge portion 56 of the wheel stopper 50, is arranged so that the base portion 16 is along the bottom portion 52, and engages the second engaging portion 14 with the vertical surface of the unevenness constituting the anti-slip portion 52a. By setting the adapter 10 in this way, it is possible to prevent the adapter 10 from falling off the wheel stopper 50 in the usage state.

[0021] After parking a vehicle (not shown) at a predetermined position, a wheel stopper 50 with the adapter 10 set on at least one of the front and rear of the tire (not shown) is arranged. At this time, it may be arranged while applying pressure so that the spike 18 pierces the road surface covered with snow or ice. However, when a force is applied to the inclined portion 54, since the spike 18 will be pressed against the road surface, it is not necessarily required to apply pressure during arrangement.

[0022] Thus, the wheel chock 50 with the adapter 10 attached can function as a wheel chock even if the road surface is covered with snow or ice. Furthermore, if the road surface is not covered with snow or ice (normal road surface), the adapter 10 can be removed from the wheel chock 50, allowing the wheel chock 50 to be used on its own. Therefore, one type of wheel chock can be effectively used on both normal road surfaces and so-called icy road surfaces. In addition, the adapter 10 is thin, and the second engaging portion 14 is configured to engage with the anti-slip portion 52a of the bottom portion 52, so its length is shorter than the length of the bottom portion 52 of the wheel chock 50. Therefore, when the adapter 10 is removed from the wheel chock 50, it can be stored compactly. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the thickness when stored can be reduced by rotating one of the two adapters 10 by 180 degrees so that the bottom surfaces of the base portion 16 face each other, and overlapping both spikes 18 so that they interlock into the opening from which the tongue piece 18a has been cut out.

[0023] [Second Embodiment] Next, the configuration of the adapter according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 5. The adapter 10A according to this embodiment has almost the same configuration as the adapter 10 according to the first embodiment described above. Therefore, parts with the same function will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0024] The difference between the adapter 10A according to this embodiment and the adapter 10 according to the first embodiment lies in the shape of the spike 18. Specifically, the spike 18 of the adapter 10 according to the first embodiment is raised perpendicularly to the base portion 16, whereas the spike 18 of the adapter 10A according to this embodiment is configured to have an acute angle θ.

[0025] Depending on the freezing conditions of the road surface and the force applied to the wheel stopper 50, making the rising angle θ of the spike 18 acute can improve grip on the road surface and enhance the anti-slip effect. The other configurations and functions are the same as those of the adapter 10 according to the first embodiment described above.

[0026] [Third Embodiment] Next, the configuration of the adapter according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The configuration of the adapter 10B according to this embodiment is almost the same as that of the adapters 10 and 10A according to the first and second embodiments described above. Therefore, parts with the same function will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0027] The difference between the adapter 10B according to this embodiment and the adapter 10 according to the first embodiment lies in the shape of the spike 18. Specifically, the spike 18 of the adapter 10 according to the first embodiment is formed by making a U-shaped cut 20 on the surface of the base portion 16, which is made of a flat plate, to form a tongue piece 18a, and then raising this tongue piece 18a.

[0028] In contrast, the spikes 18 of the adapter 10B according to this embodiment are formed by pins that are individually erected relative to the base portion 16. The shape, length, and mounting method of each pin are not limited, but any common method such as welding, riveting, or screwing may be used for mounting.

[0029] By forming the spikes 18 with pins, the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the spikes 18 can be improved. Also, when the spikes 18 are pin-shaped, the contact points with the road surface become points, which can increase the stress acting on the road surface. Therefore, it is possible to improve the grip on the road surface and enhance the anti-slip effect. In the case of the adapter 10B according to this embodiment, it is not possible to interpose the spikes 18 into the opening and overlap them, but the other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as those of the adapter 10 according to the first embodiment. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0030] 10, 10A, 10B...Adapter, 12...First engaging part, 14...Second engaging part, 16...Base part, 18...Spike, 18a...Tongue, 20...Notch, 50...Wheel stopper, 52...Bottom, 52a...Anti-slip part, 54...Inclined part, 54a...First end, 54b...Second end, 56...Wedge part, 58...Reinforcement part, 60...Handle.

Claims

1. An adapter for use as a wheel stopper, comprising a bottom portion that makes contact with the road surface when in use, having a non-slip surface with a textured surface, and an inclined surface that has a first end pointing to the intersection of the bottom portion and a second end pointing to the inclined surface that moves away from the bottom portion as it approaches the second end, and which contacts the wheel when in use, A first engaging portion that engages with the intersection of the bottom portion and the first end portion, A second engaging portion that engages with the anti-slip portion, It has a base portion provided between the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion, A wheel chock adapter characterized by having anti-slip spikes on the base portion.

2. The wheel stopper adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the spike is formed by raising a tongue-shaped piece cut from the plate surface constituting the base portion.

3. The wheel stopper adapter according to claim 2, characterized in that the spike is erected perpendicularly to the plate surface.

4. The wheel stopper adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the spike is constructed by erecting pins on the plate surface constituting the base portion.

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