Closure for opening and closing side ring of chains for vehicle tyres.

The invention relates to a closure for openable and closable side bracket of skid for vehicle tires, in which at each end of a side arm, a tail with a plate-shaped, in the mounted state aligned body is fixed substantially parallel to the side edge of the vehicle tire, wherein at each plate-shaped base body is formed a hook and a hooking hole is provided such that the hook of the one base body can be hooked in locking position into the hooking hole of the other base body.

There is a variety of closures for side bracket of skid known, the structure of the shutters partly also depends on the used design of the overall chain or the inner side strap. For example, clamps are known which operate are of the tire outer side (tension chain locks). In such closures is indeed avoided that the operator after placing the chain to the closing of the shutter must grip around the vehicle tire; On the other hand, however, these caps have the disadvantage that, after the first application and tightening the vehicle (even if only slightly) must be moved forward, after which a post-tensioning of the closure is necessary then.

but there are also other closures are known which need not be operated outside of the tire manufacture and the individual that two end pieces are expected number substantially consist in the hook in the closed position positively interengaging. In the simplest embodiment, this looks like that formed a tail as a hook, the plane within which the hook shape is formed, is directed substantially parallel to the clamping plane of the side bar, while the other end is present as a correspondingly shaped eyelet manually can be hung in the hook. Besides They also may vorgeschalgen, the eye itself as a form-fitting two-dimensional element on the sidewall and providing the hook also as a flat, but perpendicular to the trained eye level element. These known hook closures only lead but to a secure Verschließwirkung if not the eye during the merge of the two elements at the back of the hook is because then the desired entanglement does not occur, which in improper or thoughtless use can occur quite.

To remedy this drawback, already a hook fastener has been proposed in which the two end pieces attached to the ends of the side bar in each case, both comprise a hook, as well as yet a hook-in opening, so that it is unimportant in the closure movement, as the two end pieces relative to one another cover in the closed position. Since this end both the function of a hook, as well as a hook-in opening can assume a closing action is always guaranteed, regardless of how the two end pieces relatively adjacent come with the closure movement of assembly. In this known Verscluß the hooks are formed in that the main body of each end piece is bent at its the other end facing the end in the form of a hook such that calling the two hooks at the convergence of the two end pieces during the closing movement with its round front sides against each other and thereby lateral deflection of the hook so done that then juxtaposed run both end the remaining closing movement continues until the end lying on the sidewall engages with its hook in the formed in the adjacent end hooking hole. Although the known closure is safe and reliable, he has but a relatively large overall width; this should be reduced so shapes are required, the relatively complexly shaped parts, and thus require a more complicated construction.

Since in the course of the development of new vehicles increasingly less space between the tire walls on the one hand and other mechanical vehicle members is available on the other hand, so that the Verscluß the inner side strap lowest possible closure width (ie lateral extent of the tire wall away for the application of an anti-skid is intended to have), the invention is intended to develop further a closure of the aforementioned type such that it has a particularly small width in yet particularly simple construction. This is inventively in a closure of the type mentioned achieved in that each hook in shape is one formed by the plate-shaped base body of the tongue at an angle counter to the closing direction of the shutter projecting.

The closure according to the invention thus consists of two plate-shaped base bodies whose entire width (in the further above sense), ie, the extent of which is determined side of the tire wall away by the thickness of the plate-shaped base body and the projecting of this tongue. Since the tongue protrudes obliquely, it is no longer, as in the generic closure, necessary fully to bend an entire section of the base body in the form of a hook. The obliquely counter to the closing direction extending training of the tongue but simultaneously ensures that during the closing movement of the convergence of the two base body of one of them, depending on their relative position to each other, with its front end starts against the obliquely tongue of the other and to the side of this is deflected to its engagement into the mounting hole at the other base body. Attaching an obliquely projecting tongue on the base body is possible in a particularly simple manner, preferably about the fact that the tongue than from the base obliquely out folded body part is: this is only necessary vorzustanzen tongue shape in the body and then the pre-cut tongue from the basic body according to the desired slope or inclined shaping herauszuklappen or auszubiegen. Characterized in that the tongue obliquely projecting from the base body, during insertion, the edge of the hook-in opening in the other base body, which comes against the tongue in abutting contact, caused on the underside of the tongue a certain "Einkeil" effect, since this edge in the ever tighter nascent gap between the underside of the tongue and the plane of the main body is pulled, thus giving a somewhat more secure seat of the closure and a better safety against undesired opening of the same than with the use of a pure curved on its inner side hook yields of such a "wedge" effect does not have to obtain the desired wedge effect on the one hand and the length of the tongue on the other hand by the choice of a suitable angle of attack can be optimized for the tongue.

In order for the sake of a good Verrastungssitzes a relatively large surplus in Einhakungsbereich, ie between the protruding tongue on the one hand and the other body to achieve the other hand, while still obtaining the lowest possible the closure width, it is especially recommended if every tongue along a first, from body outgoing tongue portion is provided with an angle to the closing direction of the closure, which is greater than the angle of incidence of a subsequent second, expiring in the end of the tongue portion of the tongue. This configuration can be obtained by the stronger rising first tongue portion over a short distance of the required tongue protrusion for inserting the hooking or their locking edge of the other base body are gesschaffen, after which then a second to ngenabschnitt followed, which essentially only a covering of inserted portion serves the purposes of a good retention. In this case, the angle of attack of the second section is significantly lower than that of the first portion is preferably (seen relative to the closing direction of the closure) in a range between 0 ° and 20 °, so that by this second, terminating in the tongue end tongue portion a good guiding and can be carried out support or holder of the inserted portion of the other base body, without the width of the shutter would be increased appreciably by this overlap. Preferably, the slope angle in the first tongue portion extending from the base body, chosen in a range of 45 ° to 70 °, particularly preferably by 60 °.

A very advantageous embodiment of the closure according to the invention consists in the fact that both end pieces are mirror-symmetrical to each other, most preferably each end piece is also designed symmetrical to its longitudinal axis, which is to be used enables, identical to each other formed tails.

Preference is also the shape of the tongues is chosen so that the product has to its free end continuously decreasing width, thereby ensuring that in just the area that is the hooking most loaded edge (namely in the initial area behind the Vorspringstelle am base) present the greatest widths, while the end portion of the tongue, which only exerts a covering Haltefunktoin in which no major forces are produced, enough a decreasing width of the tongue. The width reduction may preferably be such that (when viewed in the plan view of each tongue, ie in a view perpendicular towards the main body) rounded the free end of each tongue, is particularly preferably rounded elliptical shape of a segment. This creates a pleasing appearance is not only achieved, but there are also unnecessary edges or corners avoided, which could result in adverse conditions when the buckle is a risk of injury.

A particularly preferred feature of the closure according to the invention can also be achieved in that each base body is provided on the side on which his tongue is expanded, within the range of overlaps in the closed state with the other body at a suitable location with a permanent magnet whose surface is flush with the surface of the end piece receiving it. This provides a "attraction" effect is additionally achieved by the two adjacent base body thereby, a particularly tight fit and a good safety against undesired opening is obtained in the closed state, pulled together by the magnet of the basic body, which forms the hook for the hook-and.

In another, likewise preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the closure can also be designed so that only one of the two base bodies, at a suitable point having, in turn, within the range of overlaps in the closed state with the other base body a suitable permanent magnet, this time in a through hole of the base body receiving it is mounted so that it is flush with the surfaces of both sides terminates this base body with its two end faces. This magnet can be effective on both sides of the base body, that is, it is ensured that these solenoid regardless of the position of the supporting it the base body relative to the other base body (in Versclußstellung) is always so effective that it attracts the two bodies together.

The point of the inclined going from the tongue respectively from the corresponding base upwards, can be provided in any suitable position. Thus, it may in certain circumstances be advantageous if the tongue st possible far protruding at the front end of the associated base body so that the body at its one base end facing as it "begins" with the sharply rising tongue. Similarly, it may also be desirable to place the tongue at a certain distance from the front end of the body, especially when the tongue -As described - is folded out as an integral element of the body itself from this, because this then a sufficiently large cross section of material between the junction point of the tongue in the base body and the respective ends present so as not to trigger unwanted damage to the tongue. In this case, it may also be advantageous to round off the front end of the body itself in a suitable manner via its plate thickness of time, so that in this way mutually confronting the closure front body ends can also deflect laterally. In general, the training DESR front end of each base body preferably like that of the tongue (as seen in a vertical plan view of the base body) exported in the form of a rounding to prevent not only unwanted edges and thus triggered a possible injury to the operator here, but also in particular during convergence of the base body during the closure process to exclude the possibility that the two base bodies with their front ends against one another can come to a halt.

The invention is described with reference to the drawing in principle by way of example no explained ch. Show it:<ul><li><b>Fig. 1</b> a closure according to the invention in closing position (in a perspective plan view);</li><li><b>FIG. 2</b> . A plan view of the illustrated in Figure 1 closure (viewing direction rotated by 90 °);</li><li><b>Fig. 3</b> another embodiment of a closure according to the invention with permanent magnets (in locking position), and</li><li><b>Fig. 4</b> a plan view of the closure shown in Fig. 3 (viewing direction rotated by 90 °).</li></ul>

Fig. 1 shows a closure in closed position with two end pieces 10, 11, each of which is secured via suitable fasteners 12 at the ends 3 and 4 of page ironing (not shown) anti-skid chains. For the attachment 12 can thereby all appropriate fasteners and fastening methods which are known to the expert and is not to dwell on the, are used.

The two end pieces 10 and 11 each have a plate-shaped base body 1 or 2, which is provided at its opposite end to attachment points 12 with a top view of rounded, oval in the illustrated embodiments, forming C. At a certain distance each of said end of each plate-shaped base body 1 or 2 a diagonally opposite the respective closing direction of the respective end piece 10 or 11 employees tongue is 7 or 8. As the figures show, are these tongues 7 or 8 of a portion of the respective base body 1 or 2, which has been pre-punched in the body and is then tongue-shaped folded out and swiveled in the manner shown in the plane of the base body. As shown in FIG. 2, while the tongue is 7 (the same applies to the tongue 8), in a first section 7a which emanates directly from the inlet point into the main body, employee α at an angle. On this first section 7a is then a second tongue portion includes 7b, which expires in the free end of the tongue and is made β in a considerably smaller angle, so that a "stepped" appointing as shown in Fig. 2 shows on referenced here EXPRESSLY. The angle α is preferably in a range of about 45 ° to 75 °, while the angle β only in a range of 0 m to 20 degrees is gewält.

How represent all characters clear the tongues 7 and 8, in plan view are formed so that its width B (see Fig.. 1) continuously up to the respective tongue end 14 or 15 (Fig. 3) decreases, each tongue end 14 , 15, in turn, rounded in plan view, preferably designed elliptical section is shaped, as is shown in Fig. 3 by arrow R.

The figures also show that in addition to the tongues 7, 8 in each plate-shaped base body 1 or 2 and each having a hooking hole is 5 or 6 is formed. In the closed position occurs in this case the relative position shown in the figures the two end pieces 10 and 11, respectively, except that (viewed in the direction of the viewer of the figures) equally well as the end piece 11 behind the end portion 10 could be forward. In any case, it is ensured that the end lying behind (in the figures: the end piece 10), which is on the (not shown) side of the tire through which the anti-skid chain, provided with this closure is slipped over, with its tongue (in the illustrated case: therethrough engages with the tongue 8) by the corresponding hooking hole 6 of the other end piece 11, whereby then facing of the opening voltage of the side bar, a plant of the respective tongue 8 termination edge 9 of the opening 6 takes place against the underside of the tongue 8 and thus the desired interlocking engagement occurs.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 also to each end piece 10 and 11 is a permanent magnet in addition to the example shown in Figs. 1 and 2, 13 is provided (in Figs. 3 and 4 only for end piece 11 ), within the range A (see. Fig. 4), within which the two end pieces 10 and 11 overlap in the closed position. The permanent magnets 13 are in a suitable position between the respective tongue 7 and 8 and the hook-in opening 6 of the respective base 1 and 2 inserted into a receiving opening and in this in a suitable way attached (eg bonded). The permanent magnet 13 respectively at the point at which the tongue concerned 7 and 8 runs out of the plane of the basic body, arranged as close as possible, so that the best possible concern of the two end pieces 10 and 11aneinander causes in the closed position just in switches. The permanent magnets 13 are respectively inserted into the respective base body 1 or 2, that they are flush with the surface with the corresponding surface 16 or 17 of the two plate-shaped base body 1 or 2 and not survive about.

Furthermore, 4 can be determined from Fig. Also recognize that the body is 1 or 2 provided at their free ends with respect to their thickness with a rounded, 10 and 11 have as ever, the end pieces a configuration such that in principle, edges or corners be avoided.

The base body can be made of any suitable sheet steel, with corresponding dimensioning but also of light metal or other suitable materials; the person skilled in the usable materials known in the art and it will select them accordingly.