Tire chain and components thereof

Abstract

A link member for a tire chain, comprising a body including a cavity for receiving a portion of a ring element therein, the body also including an opening for inserting the ring element into the cavity, said body further being adapted to receive a retaining member for closing the opening and retaining the ring element in the cavity.

1 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . A tire chain unit comprising:
 (i) a link member for a tire chain, comprising a body including a cavity for receiving a portion of a seamless ring element therein, the body also including an opening for inserting the ring element into the cavity, said body including a threaded bore for receiving a threaded retaining member for closing the opening and retaining the ring element in the cavity; and   (ii) at least one seamless ring element slidably attached to the link member.   
     
     
         47 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 46  wherein the body includes a ground engaging portion incorporating wear material that is adapted to contact the ground, in use. 
     
     
         48 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 46  wherein the ground engaging portion of the link member comprises at least about 45%-60% of the overall height of the link member. 
     
     
         49 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 46  wherein the cavity in the link member is adapted to enable the entire seamless ring element to slide through it. 
     
     
         50 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 46  wherein the retaining member is adapted to removably engage with the link member. 
     
     
         51 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 46  wherein the retaining member comprises a cap portion and a shaft portion and wherein said cap portion of the retaining member is flush with the surface of the link member when the retaining member is engaged therein. 
     
     
         52 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 46  wherein the retaining member comprises a cap portion and a shaft portion and wherein the cap portion of the retaining member is counter sunk relative to the surface of the link member when the retaining member is engaged therein. 
     
     
         53 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 51  wherein the cap portion includes a tool engaging portion. 
     
     
         54 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 53  wherein the tool engaging portion is compatible with a hex key or screw driver. 
     
     
         55 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 46  wherein the link member further comprises a sleeve member for co-operating with the retaining member. 
     
     
         56 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 55  wherein the sleeve member extends at least partially into the body of the link member. 
     
     
         57 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 55  wherein the sleeve member is an elongate body having a bore provided along its length, said bore being adapted to receive the retaining member therethrough. 
     
     
         58 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 55  wherein the sleeve member is adapted to removably engage with the link member. 
     
     
         59 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 55  wherein the sleeve member is configured such that when the sleeve member is received in the body of the link member it closes the opening for the ring element and, once the retaining member is inserted through the sleeve member the ring element is retained in the cavity. 
     
     
         60 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 55  wherein the sleeve member includes a countersunk portion such that when the retaining member is inserted to retain the ring element in the cavity the retaining member is flush or countersunk from the surface of the link member. 
     
     
         61 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 46  wherein the cavity in the link member has an internal curved surface, portions of which define internal curved surface segments. 
     
     
         62 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 61  wherein the internal curved surface segments are curved in all dimensions to cooperate with the radius of curvature of the seamless ring element. 
     
     
         63 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 46  wherein the seamless ring element is weldless. 
     
     
         64 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 46  wherein the seamless ring element is a unitary member. 
     
     
         65 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 64  wherein the seamless ring element has been forged, machined or forged and machined. 
     
     
         66 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 46  wherein the seamless ring element has a non-circular cross section. 
     
     
         67 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 46  wherein the seamless ring element has a generally semi-circular cross section. 
     
     
         68 . A tire chain unit according to  claim 46  comprising four seamless ring elements. 
     
     
         69 . A tire chain comprising a tire chain unit according to  claim 46 . 
     
     
         70 . A method of forming a tire chain, the method including the step of assembling a plurality of tire chain units according to  claim 46 . 
     
     
         71 . A tire comprising a tire chain unit according to  claim 46 . 
     
     
         72 . A tire comprising a tire chain according to  claim 69 . 
     
     
         73 . A method of fitting a tire chain to a tire comprising the steps (i) providing a tire chain according to  claim 69  and (ii) fitting the tire chain to the tire. 
     
     
         74 . A method for servicing a tire chain including a tire chain unit according to  claim 46 , the method comprising the steps of (i) removing the retaining member from the link member; and (ii) detaching the link member from the seamless ring element.