DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE WHEEL

Abstract

A vehicle wheel traction assembly for use in freeing a stuck vehicle includes a plate having a plurality of edges hooked onto it and extending from a first face. A second face of the plate can be placed on a surface near a drive wheel of a vehicle to increase the drive wheel's traction relative to the drive wheel directly on the surface. A handle is engaged by a pivot pin to the second face of the plate near a first end. The pivot pin is angled toward a first end of the handle. The handle can rotate between an extended configuration, in which a second end of the handle is positioned distally from the plate, and a folded configuration, in which the handle extends between the first and second ends of the plate.

Description

[0001] The disclosure relates to drive assemblies and more particularly to a new drive assembly for freeing a stuck vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Description of the related technique, including information disclosed pursuant to 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

[0002] The prior art relates to traction assemblies, which may comprise interconnected roller plates in an articulated manner, plates with rollers on opposite faces, and mats having points extending therefrom. What is lacking in the prior art is a pair of traction plates having elongated handles, which can be used to position the plates and also to hook the plates together for storage when not in use. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0003] One embodiment of the disclosure satisfies the needs described above and generally comprises a plate having a plurality of edges attached thereto and extending from a first face thereof. The plate is configured so that a second face thereof is placed on a surface near a drive wheel of a vehicle to increase the traction of the drive wheel relative to that of the drive wheel directly on the surface.

[0004] A handle is attached by a pivot pin to the second face of the plate near a first end of the plate. The pivot pin is angled towards a first end of the handle. The handle can rotate between an extended configuration, qi bbnn / cznz / e / YiAi, where a second end of the handle is positioned distally from the plate, and a folded configuration, where the handle extends between the first and second ends of the plate.

[0005] Therefore, the most important features of the disclosure have been described in a rather general way so that the detailed description of the disclosure presented below may be better understood and the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the present disclosure that will be described later and which will constitute the subject of the appended claims.

[0006] The objects of the disclosure, together with the various novel features that characterize the disclosure, are noted in particular in the attached claims and which form part of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The disclosure will be better understood, and the objects other than those stated above will become evident, when the following detailed description is considered. This description refers to the attached figures where:

[0008] Figure 1 is an isometric perspective view of the top of a vehicle wheel drive assembly according to a disclosure modality.

[0009] Figure 2 is an isometric perspective view of the underside of a disclosure modality.

[0010] Figure 3 is a top view of one disclosure modality.

[0011] Figure 4 is a bottom view of one disclosure modality.

[0012] Figure 5 is a side view of a disclosure modality.

[0013] Figure 6 is a side view of a disclosure modality oi btrnn / cznz / e / YiAi configured for the folded form.

[0014] Figure 7 is an isometric perspective view of a disclosure modality configured for the folded form.

[0015] Figure 8 is a side view of a disclosure modality.

[0016] Figure 9 is a side view of a disclosure modality.

[0017] Figure 10 is a side view of a disclosure modality. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] With reference to the drawings, and in particular to Figures 1 to 10 thereof, a new traction assembly will be described that incorporates the principles and concepts of a modality of disclosure and generally designated by reference number 10.

[0019] As best illustrated in Figures 1 to 10, the wheel drive assembly of a vehicle 10 generally comprises a plate 12 having a plurality of edges 14 attached thereto and extending from a first face 16 thereof. The plate 12 has an elongated rectangular shape. Each edge 14 extends linearly between opposite sides 18 of plate 12. Each edge 14 has a respective height 20 such that the plurality of edges 14 comprises ridges 14 having a variety of heights 20. The heights 20 increase from a respective edge 14 positioned adjacent to a first end 22 of plate 12 to a respective edge 14 positioned adjacent to a second end 24 of plate 12, such that the plurality of edges 14 tapers upwards from the first end 22 to the second end 24 when viewed from a respective opposite side 18 of plate 12.

[0020] The plurality of borders 14 comprises from three to twelve borders 14. The plurality of borders 14 may comprise four borders 14, as shown in Figure 1. Each border 14 has a height 20 of 1.5 to 4.5 centimeters. The borders 14 are spaced between 10.0 and 25.0 centimeters. The borders 14 may be spaced at 14.8 centimeters.

[0021] Plate 12 is configured so that a second face 26 thereof is placed on a surface, close to a drive wheel of a vehicle, to increase the traction of the drive wheel in relation to that of the drive wheel directly on the surface.

[0022] A handle 28 is attached by a pivot pin 30 to the second face 26 of the plate 12 near the first end 22. The pivot pin 30 is angled toward a first end 32 of the handle 28. The handle 28 can rotate between an extended configuration, in which a second end 34 of the handle 28 is positioned distally from the plate 12, and a folded configuration, in which the handle 28 extends between the first end 22 and a second end 24 of the plate 12. The handle 28 in the extended configuration can assist in positioning the plate 12 near the wheel.

[0023] Handle 28 is dimensionally longer than plate 12 so that, in the folded configuration, the first end 32 and the second end 34 of handle 28 protrude from the first end 22 and the second end 24 of plate 12, respectively. A pair of connectors 36 are attached to handle 28 and are individually positioned close to the first end 32 and the second end 34. The connectors 36 selectively engage with each other.

[0024] Plate 12 is one of a pair of plates 12. Each plate 12 is configured to be placed on the surface adjacent to a respective drive wheel of the vehicle to increase the traction of the respective drive wheel relative to that of the respective drive wheel directly on the surface. The plates 12 can be stacked with the first faces 16 facing each other and the first ends 22 positioned opposite each other. With each handle 28 in the folded configuration, the connectors 36 of one of the handles 28 are positioned to selectively engage the connectors 36 of the other handle 28 to mutually engage the plates 12 for folding, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[0025] Each connector 36 comprises a hole 38, as shown in Figure 2. The hole 38 located near the first end 32 of one of the handles 28 is selectively aligned with the hole 38 located near the second end 34 of another of the handles 28. Thus aligned, the holes 38 are positioned for the insertion of a respective fastener 40 to mutually engage the plates 12 for folding them.

[0026] In use, the pair of plates 12 is removed from storage when it is necessary to increase the traction of the drive wheels of a stuck vehicle. The plates 12 are separated by removing the fasteners 40 from the holes 38. The handle 28 is used to position the plates 12 on the surface near each of the vehicle's drive wheels. The vehicle can then drive over the pair of plates 12 to reach firm ground.

[0027] Then, with respect to the above description, it should be noted that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of a modality enabled by the disclosure include variations in size, materials, shape, figure, function and mode of operation, assembly and use, are considered readily evident and obvious to a person skilled in the art and all relationships equivalent to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the descriptive memorandum are intended to be covered by a modality of the disclosure.

[0028] Therefore, the foregoing is considered merely illustrative of the principles of disclosure. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and consequently, recourse may be had to all suitable modifications and equivalents that fall within the scope of disclosure. In this patent, the word comprising is used in a non-limiting sense to refer to the elements following the word, but elements not specifically mentioned are not excluded.

[0029] Reference to an item by means of the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the items may be present, unless the context 5 clearly requires that there be only one of the items.

Claims

1. A vehicle wheel traction assembly characterized in that it comprises: a plate; a plurality of hooked edges extending from a first face of the plate, wherein the plate is configured to place a second face thereof on a surface adjacent to a drive wheel of a vehicle to increase the traction of the drive wheel relative to that of the drive wheel directly on the surface; and a handle hooked by means of a pivot pin to the second face of the plate adjacent to a first end thereof, the pivot pin being angled towards a first end of the handle, so that the handle can rotate between an extended configuration, wherein a second end of the handle is positioned distally from the plate, and a folded configuration, wherein the handle extends between the first and second ends of the plate.

2. The traction assembly for a vehicle wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate has an elongated rectangular shape; and each edge extends linearly between opposite sides of the plate.

3. The drive assembly for a vehicle wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that each edge has a respective height such that the plurality of edges comprises edges having a variety of heights, the heights increasing from a respective edge placed next to the first end of the plate to a respective edge placed next to the second end of the plate, such that the plurality of edges narrows upwards from the first end to the second end when viewed from a respective opposite side of the plate.

4. The drive assembly for a vehicle wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of edges comprises from three to twelve edges.

5. The drive assembly for a vehicle wheel according to claim 4, characterized in that the plurality of edges comprises four edges.

6. The traction assembly for a vehicle wheel according to claim 3, characterized in that each rim has a height of 1.5 to 4.5 centimeters.

7. The drive assembly for a vehicle wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that the edges are spaced from 10.0 to 25.0 centimeters.

8. The drive assembly for a vehicle wheel according to claim 7, characterized in that the edges are spaced 14.8 centimeters apart.

9. The drive assembly for a vehicle wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that it further includes: the handle being dimensionally longer than the plate, such that the first and second ends of the handle protrude from the first and second ends of the plate, respectively; a pair of connectors attached to the handle and individually positioned close to the first and second ends, the connectors being selectively connectable to each other;and the handle being one of a pair of plates, wherein each plate is configured to be placed on the surface near a respective drive wheel of the vehicle to increase the traction of the respective drive wheel in relation to the respective drive wheel directly on the surface, so that the plates can be stacked with the first faces facing each other and the first ends positioned opposite each other and so that, with each handle in the folded configuration, the connectors of one of the handles are positioned to selectively engage the connectors of the other of the handles, to mutually engage the plates and fold them.

10. The traction assembly for a vehicle wheel according to claim 9, characterized in that each connector comprises a hole, such that the hole located near the first end of one of the handles can be selectively aligned with the hole located near the second end of the other handle, positioning the holes for the insertion of a respective fastener to mutually engage the plates and fold them.

11. A vehicle wheel traction assembly, characterized in that it comprises: a plate, the plate being of an elongated rectangular shape; a plurality of edges attached to and extending from a first face of the plate, wherein the plate is configured to place a second face thereof on a surface near a drive wheel of a vehicle to increase the traction of the drive wheel relative to that of the drive wheel directly on the surface, each edge extending linearly between opposite sides of the plate, each edge having a respective height such that the plurality of edges comprises edges having a variety of heights, the heights increasing from a respective edge placed next to a first end of the plate to a respective edge placed next to a second end of the plate,so that the plurality of edges tapers upwards from the first end to the second end when viewed from respective opposite sides of the plate, the plurality of edges comprising from three to twelve edges, the plurality of edges comprising four edges, each edge having a height of 1.5 to 4.5 centimeters, the edges being separated from 10.0 to 25.0 centimeters; a handle hooked by a pivot pin to the second face of the plate, near the first end thereof, the pivot pin being angled towards a first end of the handle, so that the handle can be rotated between an unfolded configuration, wherein a second end of the handle is positioned distally from the plate, and a folded configuration, wherein the handle extends between the first and second ends of the plate, the handle being dimensionally longer than the plate,wherein the first and second ends of the handle protrude from the first and second ends of the plate, respectively; a pair of connectors attached to the handle and positioned individually near the first and second ends, the connectors being selectively mutually engaging; and the handle being one of a pair of plates, wherein each plate is configured to be placed on the surface near a respective drive wheel of the vehicle to increase the traction of the respective drive wheel relative to the respective drive wheel directly on the surface, such that the plates can be stacked with their first faces facing each other and their first ends positioned opposite each other, and such that, with each handle in the folded configuration, the connectors of one of the handles are positioned to selectively engage the connectors of the other of the handles,to mutually engage and fold the plates. Each connector comprises a hole, so that the hole located near the first end of one of the handles can be selectively aligned with the hole located near the second end of the other handle, positioning the holes for the insertion of a respective fastener to mutually engage and fold the plates.

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