AU2013100650A4 - Vehicle traction mat - Google Patents

Abstract

VEHICLE TRACTION MAT Avehicle tractionmat (1) includes: an elongate body (11) having a top surface (111) that is formed with a 5 central recess (112) defined by a bottom wall (113) and an inner surrounding wall (114); and a plurality of hollow ridges (12), each of which extends upward from the bottom wall (113) of the body (11) and is formed with multiple sawtooth-shaped traction projections [0 (122) on its top edge (121) . The top edges (121) of a first group of the ridges (12) are parallel to each other and transverse to those of a second group of the ridges (12). 15 Figure 1

Description

1 VEHICLE TRACTION MAT The invention relates to a traction mat, and more particularly to a vehicle traction mat. In the past, various vehicle traction mats have been 5 designed to provide traction of vehicle tires under conditions such as ice, snow, mud, sand, and the like. A conventional vehicle traction mat is usually in the form of a substantially flat body for sliding against and partially beneath a vehicle tire to provide traction 10 when in use. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel vehicle traction mat that differs from the prior art. According to the present invention, a vehicle 15 tractionmat comprises anelongate body, andaplurality of hollow ridges. The elongate body has a top surface formed with a central recess that is defined by a bottom wall and an inner surrounding wall. Each of the ridges has a top edge that is substantially flush with the top 20 surface of the body and that is formed with a plurality of sawtooth-shaped traction projections. The ridges are divided into a first group of the ridges, a second group of the ridges, and a third group of the single ridge. The top edges of the ridges of the first 25 group extend parallel to each other in a first direction nonparallel to a lengthwise direction of the body. The top edges of the ridges of the second group extend 2 parallel to each other in a second direction transverse to the first direction. The top edge of the ridge of the third group extends in the lengthwise direction. Other features and advantages of the present 5 inventionwillbecome apparent in the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a top perspective view showing the preferred embodiment of a vehicle traction mat according 10 to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the preferred embodiment; Figure 3 is a fragmentary, bottom perspective view of the preferred embodiment; and 15 Figure 4 is a schematic bottom view of the preferred embodiment. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of a vehicle traction mat 1 according to the present invention is shown to include an elongate body 11, a 20 plurality of hollow ridges 12, a skirt 13, a plurality ofreinforcingribs 14, andapairof ramps 15. Thevehicle traction mat I is adapted to be placed beneath a vehicle tire (not shown) which is intended to roll thereon in a lengthwise direction of the vehicle traction mat 1. 25 The elongate body 11 has a top surface 111 formed with a central recess 112 that is defined by a bottom wall 113 and an inner surrounding wall 114 (see Figure 3 2) The ridges 12 extend upward from the bottom wall 113 of the body 11 for supporting the vehicle tire thereon. Each of the ridges 12 has a top edge 121 that is 5 substantially flush with the top surface 111 of the body 11 and that is formedwithaplurality of sawtooth-shaped traction projections 122 for providing traction to the vehicle tire. In this embodiment, the ridges 12 are divided into a first group of the ridges 12, a second 10 group of the ridges 12, and a third group of the single ridge 12. The top edges 121 of the ridges 12 of the first group extend parallel to each other in a first direction (LI) that is nonparallel to a lengthwise direction (L) of the body 11 (i.e., the lengthwise direction of the 15 vehicle traction mat 1) . The top edges 121 of the ridges 12 of the second group extend parallel to each other in a second direction (L2) that is transverse to the first direction (L1) . The top edge 121 of the ridge 12 of the third group extends in the lengthwise direction 20 (L) . In addition, an intersection between the top edge 121 of each ridge 12 of the first group and the top edge 121 of a corresponding ridge 12 of the second group is located within the top edge 121 of the ridge 12 of the third group. Preferably, the top edge 121 of the ridge 25 12 of the third group substantially extends along a central line of the body 11 inthe lengthwise direction (L) . Compared to the conventional vehicle traction mat 4 disclosed in the prior art, the traction between the vehicle traction mat 1 and the vehicle tire is increased by virtue of the abovementioned configuration of the ridges 12. 5 The skirt 13 is formed on a perimeter of the body 11. In this embodiment, the skirt 13 consists of two skirt portions that extend respectively from opposite sides of the body 11 in a widthwise direction of the body 11 which is perpendicular to the lengthwise 10 direction (L) . Each skirt portion has a plurality of serrate edge sections in order to increase the length of a perimeter of the vehicle traction mat 1, thereby enhancing ground traction. The reinforcing ribs 14 are formed on a top surface 15 131 of the skirt 13, and extend in the lengthwise direction (L). Each of the reinforcing ribs 14 has a top surface 141 that is substantially flush with the top surface 111 of the body 11 and that is formed with a plurality of pyramid-shaped tire tread engaging 20 projections142 tofacilitate the grippingofthevehicle tire in use. The ramps 15 are formed respectively at opposing ends of the body 11 in the lengthwise direction (L). Each of the ramps 15 has a downwardly inclined surface 151. 25 It is noted that, in this embodiment, the inclined surfaces 151 of the ramps 15 and the top surface 111 of the body 11 are each formed with a plurality of 5 pyramid-shaped tire tread engaging projections 16 to facilitate the gripping of the vehicle tire in use. The tire tread engaging projections 16 on the top surface 111 of the body 11 are disposed around the central recess 5 112 in the body 11. Referring further to Figures 3 and 4, the vehicle traction mat 1 further includes a plurality of braces 17 formedon anunderside 115of the bodyll andextending between the inner surrounding wall 114 and the perimeter 10 of the body 11 to increase the structural strength of the traction mat 1. To sum up, due to the configuration of the ridges 12 with the sawtooth-shaped traction projections 122 , the vehicle traction mat 1 of this invention can 15 effectively provide traction to the vehicle tire supported thereon. In addition, due to the presence of the reinforcing ribs 14 with the tire tread engaging projections 142, thevehicle tire onthe vehicle traction mat 1 can be easily gripped to roll in the lengthwise 20 direction (L). For the purpose of this specification, it will be clearly understood that the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to," and that the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning. 25 It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms 6 a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Claims (6)

1. A vehicle traction mat comprising: an elongate body having a top surface that is formed with a central recess defined by a bottom wall and an 5 inner surrounding wall; and a plurality of hollow ridges extending upward from the bottom wall of the body, each of the ridges having a top edge that is substantially flush with the top surface of the body and that is formed with a plurality of sawtooth-shaped traction projections; wherein the ridges are divided into a first group of the ridges, a second group of the ridges, and a third group of the single ridge, the top edges of the ridges of the first group extending parallel to each other in a first direction that is nonparallel to a lengthwise direction of the body, the top edges of the ridges of the second group extending parallel to each other in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, the top edge of the ridge of the third group 20 extending in the lengthwise direction.

2. The vehicle tractionmat as claimedin Claiml, wherein an intersection between the top edge of each of the ridges of the first group and the top edge of a corresponding one of the ridges of the second group is located within the top edge of the ridge of the third group.

3. The vehicle tractionmat as claimed inClaiml, further comprising a skirt formed on a perimeter of the body, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs formed on a top surface of the skirt and extending in the lengthwise direction, each of the reinforcing ribs having a top surface that is substantially flush with the top surface of the body and that is formed with a plurality of tire tread engaging projections. 10

4. The vehicle traction mat as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a pair of ramps formed respectively at opposing ends of the body in the lengthwise direction, each of the ramps having a downwardly inclined surface; wherein the inclined surfaces of the ramps and the top surface of the body are each formed with a plurality of tire tread engaging projections, the tire tread engaging proj ections on the top surface of the body being disposed around the central recess in the body. 20

5. The vehicle traction mat as claimed in Claim1, further comprising a plurality of braces formed on an underside of the body and extending between the inner surrounding wall and a perimeter of the body.

6. The vehicle traction mat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.