Tire Rotation Device

Abstract

The device will be placed on the outside surfaces of the tire of a car or truck in the event that the car or truck is stuck either in sand or other soft surface or pothole. On either end of the device will be a pair of shoes or flat surfaces that will grip the surface as the tire begins to rotate. Once the tire is safely out of the problem area and back on a sold road surface, the device is removed and then stowed. The device can be used on any tire of any type of vehicle.

Claims

1. A tire traction device, which is comprised of a pair of shoes wherein the pair of shoes are a predetermined shape; wherein the pair or shoes are positioned opposite from each other; wherein the pair of shoes are hollow; a rigid member; wherein the rigid member connects the pair of shoes; a non-skid surface; wherein the non-skid surface is placed on the interior surface of the pair of shoes; said non-skid surface contacts a truck tire when the device is in use; a plurality of rounded surfaces; wherein the plurality of rounded surface are placed on the exterior surfaces of the pair of shoes; a band; wherein the band is a predetermined shape; wherein the band connects the pair of shoes; said band passes through the hollow portion of the pair of shoes; a means to tighten wherein the means to tighten provides pressure on the pair of shoes on the outside of the tire.

2. The tire traction device as described in claim 1 wherein the means to tighten is a ratchet assembly.

3. The tire traction device as described in claim 1 wherein the means to tighten is a pulley assembly.

4. The tire traction device as described in claim 1 wherein the rigid member telescopes.

5. A method to use the tire traction device comprised of the following steps: a. placing the device over a tire; wherein the shoes contact the surface of the tire; b. tightening the device on the tire; c. moving the tractor trailer cab with the device attached; wherein the amount of movement is dictated by the distance required to free the stuck vehicle d. loosening the device from the tire; e. stowing the device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0024] The device 5 is used as a temporary measure to enable the driver of a vehicle to become dislodged from a ground surface. This device can be used on any tire, whether that vehicle is stuck in sand, mud of holes in pavements. The device is designed to be portable and relatively lightweight so that all individuals can use the device. The device can be used on passenger vehicles and tractor trailers. While the device is relatively lightweight and is meant to be portable, it must be made from material that can withstand enormous forces in all environmental extremes. While the device can be used with any type of vehicle, for purposes of the patent application, the use of the device with a tractor trailer will be discussed.

[0025] Tractor trailers are commonplace on the highways and are often used to transport containers, which are either empty or full of goods; the combination of tractor trailer cab and attached tractor trailer can be in excess of 40,000 pounds. As you might expect it is important that the tractor trailer remains in motion most of the day. If the truck is idle the shipper is losing the opportunity to transport goods and lose money and the driver is also not earning any money. These tractor trailers are extremely heavy and they are commonly used in and around ports of railyards. Unfortunately, the road surfaces at ports and railyards will often have potholes of other soft spots due to the wear and tear on the road surface that is caused by the tractor trailer cab and attached load. If any part of the tractor trailer gets stuck in a pothole or other soft spot, the owner of the truck must call a towing service. The call to a towing service will result in more down time for the truck and additional costs and loss of revenue for the driver or owner.

[0026] In the event a tire of the tractor trailer gets stuck, the driver can wrap this device 5 around the tire 1 of the tractor trailer such as depicted in FIG. 4. The device which is depicted in FIG. 1 has a pair of shoes 10 on opposite ends of the device. The shoes, which are hollow are connected by a rigid member 30; the rigid member may telescope to accommodate any sized tire. A band 15 will loop through the hollow portion of the shoes 10 and wrap completely around the tire surface as depicted in FIG. 4. A rounded surface 11 is placed on the sides of the shoes so that when the tire is rotated it will enable traction for the device and tire on the ground surface.

[0027] The user of the device 5 will place the device around the tire such as depicted in FIG. 3 tighten the band 15 around the tire 1 using the tightening means 20. There are many ways to tighten and a ratchet assembly of pulley assembly may be used. Regardless of the type of tightening means that is used, the tightening means must be usable by all persons regardless of the person's physical strength. There are many ways to tighten a band and no specific means is being claimed with this application. In order to ensure that the shoes remain on the tire surface a non-skid plate 12 is placed on the interior of the shoes and contact the tire surface when the device is in use.

[0028] The user places the device on the tire such as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4. As the driver of the vehicle rotates the tire the rounded surface 11 contacts the ground and the truck or tractor trailer can move forward and be freed from the soft spot or pothole. Once the driver knows that the truck has moved past the dangerous spot the driver removes the device from the tire by loosening the device and stowing it in the truck.