Cushion for vehicle tyres

Abstract

A cushion (1) (1') for vehicle tyres comprising a body (2) (2") made of deformable plastic material that develops according to a given direction (D) (D") of engagement and disengagement for the vehicles; the body (2) (2") being prismatically shaped along a direction transverse to the direction (D) (D") a panel (7) (7") being housed inside said body (2) (2").

Description

[0001] CUSHION FOR VEHICLE TYRES

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention concerns a cushion for vehicle tyres . In particular, the present invention refers to a cushion for tyres of vehicles parked long term to prevent the deformation produced by the vehicle load discharged to the ground from becoming permanent .

[0004] DESCRIPTION OF STATE OF THE ART

[0005] It is known that the weight of every wheeled vehicle is supported, in use, by the wheels through interposition of the respective tyres . Whether the vehicle has two , three or four wheels , the relative tyres are deformed by the gravity load of the vehicle , and the impression that each tyre leaves on the ground di f fers according to its structural conformation and the current tyre inflation pressure ; tyre deformation also depends on the condition of the vehicle , in addition to a plurality of factors which are not discussed here since they are not relevant to the obj ect of the present invention .

[0006] In particular, it should be noted that the impression left by a tyre on the ground is a rectangular strip when a vehicle is parked; the greater the weight of the vehicle , the more said rectangular strip tends to become oval , after assuming the shape of a rectangle with rounded vertexes , generally symmetrical relative to a vertical plane that intersects the tyre vertically parallel to its rotation axis .

[0007] The term " flat spotting" describes permanently deformed tyres , generally following long-term parking . Said flat- spotted tyres can return to their original toroidal shape only after prolonged use , accompanied by bouncing, an ef fect of the vibrations triggered in the vehicle by the structure of the flat-spotted tyres , and reduced safety of the vehicle during travel .

[0008] In cases of particularly extens ive tyre flat spotting, replacement of the tyres is recommended for reasons of safety; although vintage car and motorbi ke tyre manufacturers exist , replacement may not be immediate , with negative consequences on the vehicle value .

[0009] This problem has been solved by separating the tyres of prestige cars from the ground when parked for long periods by using devices of various types . Some of these take the shape of the tyres supported once they have been inflated, as in the case o f the " flat-j ack®" products ; a limit of the latter is that they have to be inflated before use , hence they cannot be used in the absence of an inflation device for inflation to the required operating pressure , and then deflated before using the car .

[0010] The inflation problem is overcome by the products in the "Easyrise" range by Kuberth® for cars , produced using foam which, according to the manufacturer' s description on its website , is a painted sel f-skinning shape-memory polyurethane foam . Each Kuberth® product is sold in a kit with two gelpads , designed to anchor it to the ground to prevent movement during ascent and descent of the vehicle from a defined position .

[0011] Kuberth also markets a version called "Winterpad" for motorbike tyres , and all the Kuberth models have a concave central portion longitudinally delimited by a first inclined access portion, which has a length approximating the extension of the concave part , and by a second portion with inclined plane , shorter than the first portion, therefore with greater inclination, which is engaged when the parking portion is abandoned . The dimension of the concave central portion af fects compatibility with tyres of di f ferent dimensions , on the one hand due to the fact that the concave central portion can shape-couple only with tyres having the same curvature in a non-deformed condition; on the other hand, these products are not practical to use since they require utili zation of the gelpad, complicating the preparatory stages . Furthermore , it is important to correctly position the product on the ground to prepare it for use .

[0012] For the above reasons , the problem of vehicle tyre flat spotting during extended periods of inactivity is currently inef ficiently solved by the known products , some of which have been described above , and represents an interesting challenge for the applicant , in order to provide an alternative solution to said products which would become usable for wheeled and therefore tyred vehicles of di f ferent dimensions , at the same time enabling a user to use them in a practical immediate manner, in addition to stabili zing the chosen position on the ground for the phases of engagement and disengagement with the tyres .

[0013] In view of the situation described above , it would be desirable to have a product to be interposed between each tyre and the ground during extended periods of vehicle inactivity which, in addition to limiting and possibly overcoming the drawbacks typical of the state of the art illustrated above , defines a new standard for said product types . Consequently, said product would be more suitable for supporting vehicle tyres , in particular of vintage cars , which are normally rarely moved . SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0014] The present invention concerns a cushion for vehicle tyres . In particular, the present invention refers to a cushion for tyres of vehicles parked long-term to prevent the deformation caused by the vehicle load discharged onto the ground from becoming permanent .

[0015] The above drawbacks are solved by the present invention according to at least one of the following claims .

[0016] The main obj ect of the invention is to provide a cushion for tyres that not only uni formly distributes the load of the vehicle to prevent flat spotting, but also allows rotation of the cushion itsel f under load .

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a cushion for vehicle tyres is provided comprising a body made of deformable plastic material which extends in a given engagement and disengagement direction for said vehicles ; said body being geometrically shaped similar to a prism obtainable from the proj ection of a polygon having a substantially quadrilateral shape along a direction transverse to said direction; a panel being housed inside said body to guarantee the stability and planarity thereof . According to the main aspect of the invention, the cushion is characteri zed in that it further comprises a rotation plate , which is applied to the lower face of said body to allow rotation of the cushion under load . This combination of fers signi ficant advantages : the internal panel prevents the cushion from deforming or bending, guaranteeing a stable support , while the external rotation plate al lows the user to turn the vehicle steering wheels ( for example for maintenance or to lock the steering of a motorbike ) without the cushion moving or losing adherence , maintaining the operating conditions unchanged . According to an embodiment as described above , said body is delimited by a first rectangular base face , a second rectangular face identi fied with respect to said first face and having a given length, by an identical rectangular third face and fourth face which connect said first face to said second face and by two lateral faces parallel to said direction .

[0018] According to an embodiment as described above , said body has internally a housing for said panel in the area of said first flat face , said panel being adapted to maintain said body in a planar configuration during the approach, engagement and disengagement steps of said tyre .

[0019] According to an embodiment as described above , said body is delimited at the bottom by a covering member having given thickness and delimited externally by said third face to close said housing .

[0020] According to an embodiment as described above , said panel is rectangular, is structured similar to a wafer and comprises a panel made of plastic material contained between two metallic sheets .

[0021] According to an embodiment as described above , said panel has respective rounded vertex portions and thickness between 1 and 5 mm and said housing is shaped to house it j ust below said covering member .

[0022] According to an embodiment as described above , said covering member is made of material homogeneous to that of said body and is connected to said body and to said panel in an adhesive manner .

[0023] According to an embodiment as described above , said plate is applied to said first face symmetrically .

[0024] According to an embodiment as described above , said plate has a circular shape . According to an embodiment as described above , said plate is made , according to choice or in combination, using a fabric with low friction coef ficient with respect to resin, concrete industrial flooring, paved flooring, marble , granite or using PTFE , PVC, polyoxymethylene , polyester or other plastic materials having similar rheological characteristics .

[0025] According to an embodiment as described above , said given length is between 20 cm and 100 cm .

[0026] According to an embodiment as described above , said given length is between 35 cm and 75 cm and preferably measures 50 cm .

[0027] According to an embodiment as described above , said polygon is trapezium-shaped and said third and fourth faces are rectangular and inclined by equal opposite angles .

[0028] According to an embodiment as described above , said polygon has a rectangular shape and said third face and fourth face are rectangular and transverse to said first face and second face .

[0029] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] Further characteristics and advantages of the cushion for vehicle tyres according to the present invention will appear clearer from the following description, provided with reference to the attached figures , which illustrate at least one non-limiting embodiment example thereof , in which identical or corresponding parts of the cushion are identi fied by the same reference numbers . In particular :

[0031] - figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a cushion for vehicle tyres according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] - figure 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the cushion of figure 1 ; - figure 3 is a section view according to the line I I I-I I I of figure 2 ;

[0033] - figure 4 is a section view according to the line IV- IV of figure 2 ;

[0034] - figure 5 illustrates figure 3 in operating conditions ;

[0035] - figure 6 is a schematic perspective exploded view of the cushion of figure 1 upturned and with separate construction details for a better understanding; figure 7 is a lateral elevation view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] - figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a cushion for vehicle tyres according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0037] - figure 9 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the cushion of figure 8 .

[0038] DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0039] Before describing in detail the preferred embodiments of the present invention or details thereof , it is useful to point out that the relative protective scope is not limited to the particular embodiments described below . The disclosure and description in the present document are illustrative and explanatory of one or more currently preferred embodiments and variations , and it will be clear to persons skilled in the art that various changes in the design, organi zation, functioning order, functioning means , structures of the equipment and position, methodology and use of mechanical equivalents can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention .

[0040] Furthermore , it is important to understand that the attached figures have the purpose of clearly illustrating and disclosing embodiments currently preferred by a person skilled in the art , but they are not drawings that illustrate how said embodiments should be carried out in practice or real representations of final products ; on the contrary, said figures can comprise simpli fied conceptual views to facilitate comprehension or provide an easier quicker explanation . Furthermore , the relative dimensions and arrangement of the components can di f fer from those shown and still function in the spirit of the invention . Moreover, it is important to understand that various directions such as "upper" , " lower" , " left" , " right" , " front" , " rear" and so on are carried out only with respect to the explanation in combination with the drawings and that the components can be oriented di f ferently, for example during transport and production, and during operation . Since many di f ferent and distinct embodiments are possible in the context of the concepts taught herein, and since multiple modi fications can be made to the embodiments described herein, the details provided below shall be interpreted as illustrative and non-limiting of the spirit of the invention .

[0041] With reference to figures 1 to 6 , the number 1 indicates , overall , a cushion for vehicle tyres according to the present invention .

[0042] The cushion 1 extends along a given direction D and comprises a body 2 delimited by a plurality of rectangular faces . In particular, the body 2 is prismatically shaped by the proj ection of a polygon S which, in figure 1 , is shown for the sake of practicality on a lower face of the body 2 transverse to the direction D . Said polygon S is shaped substantially as an isosceles trapezoid, where a respective larger base 3 and a respective smaller base 4 are connected at respective end portions by inclined congruent shorter legs ( catheti ) 5 , 6 . The larger base 3 of the polygon S is connected to the catheti 5 and 6 by two perpendicular segments T having minimum length, such that the shape of the polygon S can be considered overall as trapezium-shaped . Accordingly, considering the polygon S , a first rectangular base face 3A corresponds to the respective larger base 3 , a second rectangular face 4A identi fied by the first face 3A corresponds to the respective smaller base 4 , said second rectangular face having a length between 20 cm and 100 cm based on design speci fications , in many cases between 35 cm and 75 cm and in some cases 50 cm; furthermore , a third face 5A and a fourth face 6A correspond to the sides 5 and 6 of the polygon S , said faces being rectangular, identical and inclined by equal opposite angles relative to the first face 3A and the second face 4A which connect said first face 3A to the second face 4A.

[0043] The body 2 of the cushion 1 is made of polyurethane foam, preferably high-density polyurethane foam, so as to of fer resistance to the load exerted by the weight of the vehicle on the cushion 1 , through the relative tyres P .

[0044] Due to the physical characteristics of the polyurethane foam used according to the invention to construct the body 2 of the cushion 1 , in particular the density, in use the distribution of the gravitational load of the vehicle exerted by a respective tyre on the cushion 1 through the second face 4A is substantially of hydrostatic type . For this reason, the second face 4A of the body 2 deforms locally to match the local conformation of the tyre P supported, hence the deformation of the latter is limited with respect to that on the ground . In particular, as shown in detail in figure 5 , an approximately 400% increase in the width of the impression on the ground corresponds to the lowering of the second face 4A. The lowering of the second face 4A depends on the weight of the vehicle supported and is around 20 mm .

[0045] Furthermore , the third and fourth faces 5A and 6A are inclined and yielding, to ensure gradual engagement and disengagement of the vehicle with / from the cushion 1 , facilitating approach and abandonment thereof , absorbing the movement transmitted from the tyre to the cushion 1 which, therefore , stays still . The same occurs during descent of the vehicle .

[0046] As shown in particular in figure 6 , inside the body 2 a housing 8 is obtained to contain a rigid panel 7 . The function of the panel 7 is to maintain the planarity of the cushion 1 overall both in the engagement phase and in the disengagement phase of the tyre P . The panel 7 is preferably a composite material , for example a panel made of plastic material contained between two metallic sheets . The body 2 is delimited at the bottom by a covering member 9 , which closes the housing 8 and stabili zes the panel 7 inside it , for example by adhesion .

[0047] The covering member 9 having thickness between 1 and 5 mm is delimited externally by the third face 3A. Furthermore , the panel 7 is made preferably but without limitation of composite material having particular rigidity structured similar to a wafer and comprising a panel made of plastic material contained between two metallic sheets such as , for example , but without limitation, DIBOND ® produced by 3A Composites GmbH or mechanical ly similar materials and has a thickness that falls within a range from approximately 1 mm to 20 mm . In particular, in use , the function of the panel 7 is to maintain the planarity of the cushion 1 overall both in the engagement phase and in the disengagement phase of the tyre P and the body 2 , therefore the cushion 1 , in a predefined position on the ground .

[0048] As shown in figure 6 , the sti f fening panel 7 shape-engages the body 2 in a matching housing 8 obtained ins ide the body 2 by moulding or milling from solid in a symmetrical position as can be easily seen from figure 2 . The housing 8 has a depth equal to that of the panel 7 and the panel 7 is stabili zed inside the housing 8 by adhesion, for example but without limitation through the use of an adhesive . The covering member 9 is made of plastic material homogeneous to that of the body 2 , is geometrically shaped like the larger base 3 and is stably connected in an adhesive manner to the outer face of the panel 7 and the body 2 .

[0049] As previously explained, the presence of the panel 7 advantageously prevents movements of the cushion 1 in a direction transverse to the direction D, in both the ascent and descent phases of the tyre P . In fact , as soon as the load approaches an end portion of the panel 7 during engagement of a tyre P through the third face 5A or the fourth face 6A, the progressive compression of said inclined portion transversely to the direction D functionally corresponds to locking of the body 2 to the ground which is increasingly ef fective due to transmission of the vehicle load onto the entire first face 3A by means of the sti f fening panel 7 ; the locking is completed when the tyre P is arranged centrally on the cushion 1 , resulting partially enveloped at the bottom by the polyurethane foam in a substantially hydrostatic manner proportionally to the vehicle load portion .

[0050] Analogously, in the disengagement phase , therefore as the tyre P progressively abandons the body 2 , indi f ferently from the area of the third face 5A or the fourth face 6A, the compression o f the body 2 produced by the load exerted follows the movement of the tyre P on the same inclined portion transversely to the direction D, increasingly involving the third face 5A or the fourth face 6A according to the travel direction of the vehicle , with the result that blocking of the cushion 1 on the ground is guaranteed until a terminal portion of the panel 7 is loaded by the tyre P, and is therefore able to transmit the load to the body 2 and from the latter to the ground .

[0051] The body 2 further comprises a plate 10 , which is applied, preferably centrally, to the first face 3A, in particular to the outer face of the covering member 9 .

[0052] Its function is to provide the only area of contact with the ground, minimi zing adherence and allowing plane rotation of the cushion 1 around a vertical axis X ( figure 5 ) with the vehicle at a standstill , when the cushion 1 , and therefore the body 2 , is under the load of the tyre P . The plate 10 is preferably made of a non-stick material , for example but without limitation a fabric with low friction coef ficient with respect to resin, concrete industrial flooring, paved flooring, marble , granite or using PTFE , PVC, polyoxymethylene , polyester or other plastic materials having similar rheological characteristics so as to present minimum adherence to the ground in the case of rotational forces acting on the cushion 1 combined with high shape stability .

[0053] In the embodiment illustrated, the plate 10 preferably has a cylindrical circular shape with reduced thickness , but it can have any other shape suitable for the purpose , for example a polygonal shape with at least 4 sides ( rectangular or square ) .

[0054] The use of the cushion 1 can be easily understood from the above description and does not require further explanation .

[0055] In particular, it is useful to point out that during use of the cushion 1 , the first face 3A of the body 2 is in contact with the ground, while the second face 4A of the body 2 is designed to support a tyre P of a wheeled vehicle . The third face 5A and the fourth face 6A have in use the function of facilitating engagement and disengagement of the cushion 1 according to the movement direction of the vehicle transversely to the direction D, allowing the tyres P to "enter" , locally deforming, the portions delimited by the third face 5A and fourth face 6A, making practically simultaneous the loading of the panel 7 , therefore stabili zation of the cushion 1 on the ground, where it had been positioned .

[0056] The presence of the plate 10 therefore allows a parked motorbike to be made safe with the front wheel arranged on a cushion 1 closing the relative steering lock after rotating the front wheel , an operation which the cushion 1 freely permits . The rotation can be performed also with the front tyres of a car when these are positioned on respective cushions 1 . The combination of the inner panel 7 , which guarantees structural stability of the cushion 1 , with the outer plate 10 , therefore solves the problem of simultaneously providing a stable rotatable support for the corresponding wheel of a supported vehicle .

[0057] Based on the above description, the cushion 1 allows distribution of the contact pres sure of each tyre over a larger surface than would be possible without the cushion 1 according to the extent of the local deformation of the cushion 1 determined by the corresponding portion of the vehicle weight discharged; the cushion 1 also al lows the vehicle weight to be discharged to the ground onto the plate 10 which, being constructed to minimi ze friction on the ground, allows rotation of the cushion 1 under load, therefore maintaining the operating conditions of the steering wheel tyres unchanged once the vehicle has engaged with and been parked on the cushion 1 at any orientation angle during the period of inactivity .

[0058] From the above it can be easily seen that the cushion 1 described above can be used to prevent flat spotting of tyres of di f ferent dimensions of vehicles with 2 and more wheels , at the same time being practical and quick for a user to implement . In fact , thanks to its particular shape and component material , the cushion according to the invention allows uni form distribution of the vertical load exerted by a vehicle , deforming so as to determine a housing shaped in a manner similar to the local undeformed shape of the tyre P supported by it . Furthermore , it is compact , and quick and easy for a user to implement .

[0059] Lastly it is clear that modi fications or variations can be made to the cushion 1 without departing from the protective scope of the present invention .

[0060] In particular, with reference to figure 7 , the body 2 of the cushion 1 is replaced by a body 2 ' of a cushion 1 ' with the addition of a first portion 30 having parallelepipedal shape below the first face 3A at the larger base 3 of the polygon S and a second rectangular portion 40 above the second face 4A at the smaller base 4 of the polygon S without this particular structural form adding anything particular to the present invention . This particular embodiment therefore falls within the protective scope of the present invention .

[0061] Furthermore , the shape of the cushion 1 can be modi fied as in figures 8 and 9 , which show a cushion 1 ' ' having parallelepipedal shape , so that the polygon S ' ' proj ected to generate the shape is a rectangular polygon S ' ’ , hence the third face 5A and fourth face 6A are rectangular and transverse to the first face 3A' ’ and second face 4A' ’ . This shape of the body 2 ’ ’ , and therefore of the cushion 1 ' , allows the vehicles to couple the outer surface of their tyres with a larger portion of the cushion 1 right from the first approach, resulting in greater stabili zation of the chosen position for said cushion 1 ' ' on the ground . In view of the above , the portion of material which the cushion 1 ' ' has at the front and rear with respect to the cushion 1 that integrates the shape of the third face 5A' ’ and fourth face 6A' ’ of the cushion 1 according to the direction D' ’ can be considered a means of stabili zation of the position o f the cushion 1 ' ' on the ground, in addition to simpli fying construction of the moulds to produce the components of the cushion 1 ' ' .

[0062] In the claims , any reference sign in brackets shall not be interpreted as a limitation of the claim . The word "which comprises" does not exclude the presence of other elements or phases beyond those listed in a claim . Furthermore , the term "one" , as used in this context , is defined as one or more than one . Furthermore , the use of introductory expressions such as "at least one" and "one or more" in the claims shall not be interpreted in the sense that the introduction of another claim element identi fied using the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim in which said claim element appears singly, even when said claim comprises introductory phrases such as "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles like "a" or "an" .

[0063] The same applies to the use of definite articles . Unless established otherwise , terms such as " first" and " second" are used to arbitrarily distinguish the elements described by said terms . Therefore , these terms are not necessarily intended to indicate the time priority or other priority of said elements . The simple fact that some dimensions are given in reciprocally di f ferent claims does not indicate that a combination of these dimensions cannot be used to advantage .

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cushion (1) (1' ) for vehicle tyres comprising a body (2) (2") made of deformable plastic material that develops according to a given direction (D) (D") of engagement and disengagement for said vehicles; said body (2) (2") being geometrically shaped in a manner similar to a prism obtainable from the projection of a polygon (S) (S") having a substantially quadrilateral shape along a direction transverse to said direction (D) (D") ; a panel (7) (7") being housed inside said body (2) (2") ; said body (2) (2") being delimited by a first rectangular base face (3A) (3A") intended to rest on the ground; characterized in that it comprises a plate (10) (10") applied to said first face (3A) (3A") to allow the rotation of said body (2) (2") under load with respect to the ground.

2. The cushion according to claim 1, characterized in that said body (2) (2") is further delimited by a second rectangular face (4A) (4A") identified with respect to said first face (3A) (3A") and having a given length, by a third face (5A) (5A") and fourth face ( 6A) (6A") , rectangular and identical, which connect said first face (3A) (3A") to said second face (4A) (4A") and by two lateral faces (20, 22) parallel to said direction (D) (D") .

3. The cushion (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said body (2) (2") comprises internally a housing (8) (8") for said panel (7) (7") in the area of said first flat face (3A) (3A") , said panel (7) (7") being adapted to maintain said body (2) (2") in a planar configuration in the phase of approach, engagement and disengagement of said tyre (P) .

4. The cushion (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said body (2) (2") is delimited at the bottom by acovering member (9) (9") of given thickness and is delimited externally by said third face (3A) (3A") in order to close said housing (8) (8") .

5. The cushion (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said panel (7) (7") is rectangular, structured similar to a wafer and comprises a panel made of plastic material contained between two metallic sheets.

6. The cushion according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said panel (7) (7") has respective rounded vertex portions (7A) and thickness between 1 and 20 mm; said housing (8) (8, f) being shaped to house it just below said covering member (9) (9") .

7. The cushion (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said covering member (9) is made of material homogeneous to that of said body (2) (2") and is connected to said body (2) (2") and to said panel (7) (7") in an adhesive manner.

8. The cushion according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate (10) (10") is applied to said first face (3A) (3A") symmetrically.

9. The cushion (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate (10) (10") has a circular shape.

10. The cushion (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate (10) (10") is made, according to choice or in combination, using a fabric with low friction coefficient with respect to resin, concrete industrial flooring, paved flooring, marble, granite or using PTFE, PVC, polyoxymethylene, polyester or other plastic materials having similar rheological characteristics .

11. The cushion according to any one of the preceding claims 2-10, characterized in that said given length is between 20 cm and 100 cm.

12. The cushion according to claim 11, characterized in that said given length is between 35 cm and 75 cm and preferably measures 50 cm.

13. The cushion according to any one of the claims 2-12, characterized in that said polygon (S) is trapezium-shaped and said third face (5A) (5A") and fourth face ( 6A) (6A") are rectangular and inclined by equal opposite angles.

14. The cushion according to any one of the claims 2-12, characterized in that said polygon (S") has a rectangular shape and said third face (5A") and fourth face (6A") are rectangular and transverse to said first face (3A") and second face (4A") .

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