Tire chain assembly having a tension adjustment function

Abstract

A tire chain assembly includes a chain body having a first side having a first end provided with a first snapping member and a second end provided with a second snapping member detachably engaged with the first snapping member. The chain body has a second side having a first end provided with a rack and a second end provided with an adjustment locking mechanism detachably engaged with the rack. Thus, the adjustment locking mechanism is adjustably movable on the rack to change the relative position between the adjustment locking mechanism and the rack so as to adjust the tension of the chain body so that the tire chain assembly is available for tires of different sizes.

1 . A tire chain assembly, comprising: 
 a chain body having a first side having a first end provided with a first snapping member and a second end provided with a second snapping member detachably engaged with the first snapping member;    the chain body having a second side having a first end provided with a rack and a second end provided with an adjustment locking mechanism detachably engaged with the rack; wherein the rack has a plurality of engaging teeth;    the adjustment locking mechanism includes:    a support base attached to the chain body to allow insertion of the rack;    a locking member pivotally mounted on the support base and engaged with the engaging teeth of the rack to lock the rack on the support base so as to lock the rack on the adjustment locking mechanism;    a driving handle pivotally mounted on the support base and detachably engaged with the engaging teeth of the rack to drive the rack to move toward the locking member.    
   
   
       2 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the driving handle of the adjustment locking mechanism has an end portion formed with a plurality of ratchet pawls engaged with the engaging teeth of the rack to drive the rack to move toward the locking member.  
   
   
       3 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the locking member of the adjustment locking mechanism has a first end formed with a locking portion engaged with the engaging teeth of the rack.  
   
   
       4 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the locking member of the adjustment locking mechanism has a second end protruding outward from an opening of the driving handle.  
   
   
       5 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the driving handle of the adjustment locking mechanism has a mediate portion formed with an opening to allow passage of the locking member.  
   
   
       6 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the support base of the adjustment locking mechanism has two side plates each having a first end formed with a guide slot, a mediate portion formed with a recess and a protrusion protruding from the recess and a second end formed with a through hole.  
   
   
       7 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the guide slot of the support base is substantially arc-shaped.  
   
   
       8 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the driving handle of the adjustment locking mechanism has an end portion having two opposite sides each formed with a pivot hole, and the adjustment locking mechanism further includes a first restoring spring mounted in the driving handle and biased between the end portion of the driving handle and the support base to push the end portion of the driving handle outward from the rack to disengage the ratchet pawls of the driving handle from the engaging teeth of the rack normally, and a first pivot shaft extended through the guide slots of the support base, the pivot holes of the driving handle and the first restoring spring.  
   
   
       9 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the first restoring spring has an extension end rested on the respective protrusion of the support base.  
   
   
       10 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the locking member of the adjustment locking mechanism has a mediate portion formed with pivot hole, and the adjustment locking mechanism further includes a second restoring spring mounted on a side of the locking member and biased between the locking member and the support base to push the locking portion of the locking member toward the rack to engage the locking portion with the engaging teeth of the rack normally, and a second pivot shaft extended through the through holes of the support base, the pivot hole of the locking member and the second restoring spring.  
   
   
       11 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the second restoring spring has an extension end rested on the respective recess of the support base.  
   
   
       12 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the chain body including a plurality of net-shaped plates connected with each other.  
   
   
       13 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the net-shaped plates are connected with each other by a plurality of connecting members.  
   
   
       14 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the each of the net-shaped plates includes a net body having a plurality of extension arms, and a plurality of connecting arms each having a first end pivotally connected with a respective one of the extension arms of the net body and a second end pivotally connected with a respective one of the connecting members.  
   
   
       15 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the second side of the chain body has a separated mediate portion having a first section provided with the rack and a second section provided with the adjustment locking mechanism.  
   
   
       16 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment locking mechanism is adjustably movable on the rack to change a relative position between the adjustment locking mechanism and the rack so as to adjust a tension of the chain body.  
   
   
       17 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rack is movable relative to the adjustment locking mechanism by driving the driving handle.  
   
   
       18 . The tire chain assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rack is detached from the adjustment locking mechanism by pressing the locking member.