DESCRIPTION
[0001] The present invention refers to packaging for snow chains.
[0002] Snow chains are designed to be mounted on the tyres of vehicles to bite into the
snow and/or the ice deposited on the road surface, increasing traction on the tyre
tread and allowing the vehicle tyres to achieve a good grip.
[0003] As is known, a snow chain generally consists of two side members (chains, flexible
cables, steel wires, ropes or the like) which during use are closed in a ring on the
inner side and the outer side of the wheel, respectively, and which will be referred
to herein as the inner ring and outer ring. These side members are connected by a
series of chain portions variously disposed to achieve tread traction, the whole being
completed by a tensioning device for said members, known as a tensioner.
[0004] In order to mount the snow chains, the user must spread the snow chain out near the
vehicle wheel, position the wheel on the chain, close the inner and outer rings and
tighten the chains.
[0005] Snow chains are generally packaged in hard plastic packaging with a flattened cylindrical
shape. This leads to drawbacks because often the snow chains become tangled inside
the packaging. Consequently the user must waste a lot of time untangling the chains
and then placing them in a spread-out configuration near the vehicle tyre.
[0006] In any case this operation is awkward because the road surface is often muddy and
consequently the user finds it difficult to avoid coming into contact with the ground
and in any case dirtying his hands to spread the snow chains adequately.
[0007] The aim of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by
providing a packaging for snow chains that is versatile, practical and able to allow
easy, straightforward mounting of the snow chains by the user.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a packaging for snow chains
that has a pleasing aesthetic appearance and at the same time is compact, occupies
little space and is easy for the user to transport.
[0009] These objects are achieved in accordance with the invention with the characteristics
listed in appended independent claim 1.
[0010] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims.
[0011] The packaging for snow chains according to invention comprises a support able to
support at least one snow chain in an open, spread-out configuration. In this manner,
the snow chain is ready to be mounted on the vehicle wheel and thus the user is not
obliged to waste time untangling the chain and placing it in its spread-out configuration.
The support furthermore acts as a base on which to rest the chain and thus avoids
all the problems related to the difficulty in positioning the chains on the road surface
dirty with mud, snow and the like.
[0012] This support also provides a base on which the user can rest his knees and hands,
thus avoiding dirtying himself on contact with the ground.
[0013] The support is made of foldable material to enable it to be rolled into a space-saving
configuration. In this manner the packaging in its space-saving, rolled-up configuration
can easily be handled, transported and placed inside the vehicle.
[0014] The support advantageously takes the form of a closable case, so as to create inside
it at least one compartment to accommodate at least one snow chain in an open, spread-out
configuration.
[0015] Further characteristics of the invention will be made clearer by the detailed description
that follows, referring to a purely exemplifying and therefore non-limiting embodiment
thereof, illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating a packaging for snow chains according to the
invention in an open, spread-out configuration, with the intermediate layer partially
folded;
Figure 2 is a view like Fig. 1, in which the snow chains have been inserted in the
packaging;
Figure 3 is a view like Fig. 2, in which the intermediate layer is completely spread
out;
Figure 4 is a view like Figure 2, in which the intermediate layer is superimposed
on the top layer;
Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating the packaging according to the invention spread
out and closed;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the packaging according to the invention during
rolling thereof; and
Figure 7 is a front view of the packaging for snow chains according to the invention,
in its closed, space-saving condition.
[0016] The packaging for snow chains according to the invention, indicated as a whole with
reference numeral 1, is described with the aid of the figures.
[0017] As shown in Figure 2, the packaging 1 comprises three layers or strips or panels
A, B, C: that is to say a bottom layer A, an intermediate layer B and a top layer
C. The layers A, B, C are substantially rectangular and have a surface able to receive
a snow chain in an open, spread-out configuration, ready to be fitted to the tyre
of a wheel.
[0018] The layers A, B, C are made of any type of soft, flexible material, such as, for
example, fabric, non-woven fabric, synthetic material such as plastic film and the
like. The layers A, B and C which form the packaging 1 are preferably made of washable
material, since the packaging 1 is destined to become dirty since it must be positioned
on the road surface, acting as a base on which to rest the chains.
[0019] The three layers A, B, C are connected to each other along a fold line 2 which follows
the edge of their major sides, by means of any known type of connection, such as stitching,
heat-sealing, gluing and the like.
[0020] The bottom layer A and the top layer C have along their perimeter, except for the
fold line 2, reciprocal engagement means 3A, 3C which can engage with each other to
form the book-type closure of the packaging 1, with the three layers A, B, C one on
top of the other as illustrated in Figure 5. In this manner the packaging 1 takes
on the form of a case with two compartments separated by the intermediate layer B.
The reciprocal engagement means 3A, 3C can be disposed continuously or discontinuously
on the peripheral edges of the bottom layer A and of the top layer C and can be of
different types, such as for example, zips, Velcro, buttons, hooks and the like.
[0021] The layer B, on the other hand, has along its perimeter, except for the fold line
2, a strip or insert of reflecting material 4B, in accordance with road safety regulations,
to enable it to be seen from a distance by vehicle drivers, even in conditions of
poor visibility. As shown in Figure 5, such a strip of reflecting material 4 is also
disposed along the fold edge 2 on the outer surface of the top layer C and of the
bottom layer A, to enable it to be seen when the packaging is closed.
[0022] Retaining means 5A and 5B are provided on the upper surface of the bottom layer A
and of the intermediate layer B, variously disposed to retain respective snow chains
100A and 100B disposed in an open configuration on the bottom layer A and on the intermediate
layer B, as shown in Figure 2.
[0023] The retaining means 5A and 5B can be, for example, Velcro strips or hooks 40 which
have one end connected to the respective layer by means of rivets 41 or other similar
systems such as stitching, heat-sealing or gluing.
[0024] As better shown in Figure 3, the retaining means 5B are disposed on two rows near
to the edges of the major sides of the layer B, so as to be able to block the inner
ring 101B and the outer ring 102B of the snow chains, which are disposed respectively
near the fold line 2 and near the reflecting strip 4B.
[0025] A retaining means 5B' is provided on the intermediate layer B, in a central position,
to block the terminal portion 103B for tensioning the outer ring 102B. Four pockets
6B are provided near the four corners of the intermediate layer B to receive respectively
the two end hooks of the inner ring 101B and the two end hooks of the outer ring 102B.
[0026] As shown in Figure 4, the retaining means 5A on the bottom layer A have an arrangement
similar to the retaining means 5B on the intermediate layer B. The only difference
is represented by the fact that the second snow chain 100A is disposed on the bottom
layer A, with the inner ring 101 A facing towards the engagement means 3A and the
outer ring 102A facing towards the fold line 2.
[0027] In this case also, a retaining means 5A' is provided in a central position on the
bottom layer A to block the terminal portion 103A for tensioning the outer ring 102A
and four pockets 6A are provided near the four corners of the bottom layer A to receive
respectively the two end hooks of the inner ring 101A and the two end hooks of the
outer ring 102A.
[0028] A window 20C in which the mounting instructions for the chains are printed is provided
on the inner surface of the top layer C. In this manner, when the packaging is open
and ready for mounting of the chains, the instructions are always readily visible
to the user.
[0029] As shown in Figure 5, the packaging 1 has a pocket 7 on the outer surface of the
top layer C or of the bottom layer A. The instructions for use of the snow chains
and other tools for mounting thereof, such as gloves for the user and a spare parts
kit can be placed in the pocket 7.
[0030] At one end of the packaging 1, near the two corners, are provided two strips 9, 9'
which can be closed in a ring configuration to receive inside them the packaging 1,
which is rolled as shown in Figure 6 and then blocked in its space-saving configuration
as shown in Figure 7. The closing strips 9, 9' are preferably joined to the end of
the bottom layer A and can be elastic bands, Velcro or laces provided with a sliding
buckle.
[0031] A handle 10 is fixed between the two closing strips 9, 9', at the end of the packaging
1, for transporting the packaging 1. The handle 10 can be formed, for example, by
a strip of material, which is preferably fixed at its ends to the bottom layer A of
the packaging 1. The handle 10 is provided with a hook 11 to attach a label 12 bearing
the measurements of the snow chain.
[0032] Even if in the detailed description and in the drawings a packaging 1 in the form
of a case with two compartments separated by the intermediate layer B has been described,
it must be understood that the invention also extends to a packaging made from a folding
support on which is disposed at least one snow chain in an open, spread configuration.
[0033] Numerous variations and modifications of detail within the reach of a person skilled
in the art can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of
the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.
1. Packaging for snow chains, characterized in that it comprises a support (1) able to support at least one snow chain (100A, 100B) in
an open, spread out configuration, said support (1) being made of foldable material
to enable it to be rolled into a space-saving configuration.
2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that said support (1) is in the form of a closable case, so as to give rise to at least
one compartment to receive said at least one snow chain (100A, 100B) in an open, spread-out
configuration.
3. Packaging according to claim 2,
characterized in that said case (1) comprises:
- a bottom layer (A) destined to receive a first snow chain (100A) in an open, spread-out
configuration,
- a top layer (C) that can be coupled to said bottom layer (A) so as to close said
case (1) and
- an intermediate layer (B) disposed between said bottom layer (A) and said top layer
(C) so as to define a second compartment within the case to receive a second snow
chain (100B) in an open, spread-out configuration.
4. Packaging according to claim 3, characterized in that on said bottom and intermediate layers (A, B) there are respectively retaining means
(5A, 5A', 6A, 5B, 5B', 6B) able to retain said snow chains (100B, 100B) in an open,
spread-out configuration.
5. Packaging according to claim 4,
characterized in that said retaining means comprise:
- Velcro strips or hooks (5A, 5B) disposed in two rows on the respective layers (A,
B) to retain respectively the inner ring and the outer ring (101A, 102A, 101B, 102B)
of said snow chains, and/or
- Velcro strips or hooks (5A', 5B') disposed in a central position on the respective
layers (A, B) to retain the tensioning end portion (103A, 103B) of the outer ring
of the snow chains, and/or
- pockets (6A, 6B) disposed near the corners of said layers (A, B) to receive the
end hooks of the inner and outer rings of the snow chains.
6. Packaging according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that on the outer surface of the case (1) and/or in at least one peripheral portion of
the intermediate layer (B) are provided respectively a strip or insert of reflecting
material (4, 4B) to be enable it to be seen from a distance by the driver of a vehicle.
7. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two strips that can be closed in a ring (9, 9') disposed at one end
of the case (1) to block the packaging in its rolled, space-saving configuration.
8. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a handle (10) disposed at the end of the case (1) to allow the packaging
to be gripped by the user when is in its rolled, space-saving configuration.
9. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a pocket (7) able to accommodate the instructions (8) for use of the
snow chains and other tools for mounting, such as gloves for the user and a spare
parts kit.
10. Packaging according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that on the inner surface of said top layer (C) of the case (1) is provided a window (20C)
on which are printed the mounting instructions for the snow chains.