Non-Woven Abrasive Pad for Vehicle Traction on Snow and Ice

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle tires often lose traction on snow or ice, leading to spinning or sliding, which can prevent vehicles from moving, as existing solutions fail to provide effective traction in these conditions.

Innovation Solution

A lightweight, non-woven friction-enhancing pad with coarse fibers and abrasive materials is designed to be placed between the tire and snow or ice, featuring concave and convex ends with protruding arms and protuberances to secure the pad under the tire, enhancing traction by providing a non-slip surface and allowing air circulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a friction-enhancing pad is placed between the tire and snow/ice to provide traction, then the tire can achieve slow movement and traction, but the pad must be lightweight and easy to handle while maintaining effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraction effectivenessVSAvoidpad weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pad utilizes a non-woven fabric construction with porous structure that allows snow penetration for stabilization while maintaining lightweight properties. The open construction enables air circulation during storage and quick drying after use, resolving the contradiction between reliability through snow engagement and light weight for ease of handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The pad combines non-woven fabric base material with integrated abrasive materials to create a composite structure that provides both structural integrity and enhanced friction. This composite approach achieves reliable traction on snow and ice while keeping the pad lightweight and manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the pad is made from non-woven construction with open structure to allow snow penetration for stabilization, then the pad can secure itself in snow or ice, but the pad must also dry quickly and allow air circulation when stored

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestabilization in snowVSAvoiddrying time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The non-woven open construction provides dual benefits: during use, the porous structure allows snow penetration for stabilization; during storage or after use, the same porous structure enables rapid air circulation and drying, resolving the contradiction between stabilization effectiveness and drying duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Reliability

If the pad uses coarse fibers with abrasive material to enhance friction, then the pad provides effective traction on snow and ice, but the pad must remain easy to handle and store

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefriction enhancementVSAvoidhandling ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The integration of abrasive materials with non-woven coarse fibers creates a composite pad that delivers effective friction enhancement on snow and ice surfaces while maintaining a lightweight, flexible structure that is easy to handle, deploy, and store in vehicle trunks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If the pad is designed with concave and convex ends with protruding arms to engage the tire, then the pad can be secured under the tire before movement, but the pad must be simple in construction for easy manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepad-tire engagementVSAvoidpad fabrication complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pad incorporates protruding arms or wings as segmented structural elements that extend from the main body. These segmented features provide reliable tire engagement points without requiring complex multi-component assembly, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving secure pad-tire engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The pad effectively increases friction between the tire and snow/ice, enabling slow movement by providing a dry surface for the tire to pull on, is easy to use and store, and does not create a slippery surface when snow melts, effectively addressing the traction issue.

Implementation Method 1

The pad promotes friction between the tire and the pad, and between the pad and a slippery support surface such as snow or ice

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

the non-woven open construction allows snow to penetrate the bottom of pad to facilitate stabilization

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS8215568B1Device for providing traction for a tire and method of use

Publication Date: 2012.07.10 PITSOLIS STACEY B

AI summary

A device for providing traction for a tire of a vehicle includes a pad which is fabricated from non-woven fibers which include an abrasive material. When the pad is placed in abutting relationship with the tire and a slippery surface of snow and/or ice, the abrasive material enhancing friction between said pad and the tire. Because the pad has an open non-woven construction, the snow or ice penetrates the pad and tends to hold it in place. In an embodiment of the invention, one end of the pad is convex and the opposite end is concave.