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The present invention relates to wheel chock apparatuses. Specifically, the wheel chock apparatuses of the present invention are utilized on railcars having automobile racks, known as “auto-rack railroad cars,” to hold in place a tire of an automobile thereon, restricting movement of the same during

The present invention relates to wheel chock apparatuses. Specifically, the wheel chock apparatuses of the present invention are utilized on railcars having automobile racks, known as “auto-rack railroad cars,” to hold in place a tire of an automobile thereon, restricting movement of the same during railroad transport of the same. The wheel chock apparatuses comprise a base, a ramp abutment at a front end thereof, lateral restraints at a front end thereof, and a floor grating engaging mechanism at a rear end thereof.

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1. A wheel chock apparatus for holding a vehicle tire when disposed adjacent to the vehicle tire in an auto-rack railcar comprising: a main body portion comprising a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side, the front end disposed adjacent a vehicle tire when in use;a ramp disposed on t

1. A wheel chock apparatus for holding a vehicle tire when disposed adjacent to the vehicle tire in an auto-rack railcar comprising: a main body portion comprising a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side, the front end disposed adjacent a vehicle tire when in use;a ramp disposed on the front end for contacting a vehicle tire;a lateral restraint disposed on one of the first and second sides, the lateral restraint extending away from the main body portion at the front end of the main body portion;a first set of teeth for engaging a grating, the first set of teeth disposed beneath the front end of the main body portion;a second set of teeth for engaging the grating, the second set of teeth disposed beneath the rear end of the main body portion, the second set of teeth having a retracted position and an extended position; anda lever disposed on one of the first and second sides, the lever linked to the second set of teeth, wherein movement of the lever moves the second set of teeth from the retracted position to the extended position;a pin disposed from the first side to the second side of the main body portion, wherein the second set of teeth are engaged with the pin;a plate linking the lever to the pin;a slot disposed within the plate, the pin freely movable through the slot, wherein the pin moves through the slot upon movement of the lever and the plate, thereby moving the second set of teeth from the retracted position to the extended position. 2. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lateral restraint is rotatable about an axis, and further wherein the lateral restraint has a retracted position and an extended position. 3. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first set of teeth are fixed in an extended position. 4. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an axis disposed from the first side to the second side of the main body portion, wherein the lever rotates about the axis. 5. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slot is curved. 6. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second set of teeth is biased into the extended position. 7. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: a torsion spring disposed on the axis for biasing the second set of teeth into an extended position. 8. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 7 wherein the torsion spring is connected to the axis and winds upon rotating of the axis, an end of the torsion spring contacting a torsion spring capture plate. 9. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 8 wherein the torsion spring capture plate is connected to the wheel chock apparatus main body portion. 10. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lateral restraint and the lever are disposed on the same side of the main body portion. 11. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second lateral restraint disposed on an opposite side of the main body portion from the first lateral restraint. 12. A method of using the wheel chock apparatus of claim 1 comprising the steps of: disposing a vehicle comprising at least one vehicle tire having tire tread on a grating within an auto-rack railcar;placing the wheel chock apparatus of claim 1 adjacent the vehicle tire and contacting the ramp to the tire tread;engaging the first set of teeth beneath the first end of the main body portion to the grating;moving the lever to extend the second set of teeth; andengaging the second set of teeth with the grating. 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of: moving the lever to retract the second set of teeth prior to placing the wheel chock apparatus of claim 1 adjacent the vehicle tire and contacting the ramp to the tire tread. 14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of: locking the second set of teeth into the extended position when engaging the second set of teeth with the grating. 15. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 1 wherein the main body portion comprises a handle comprising a bar running longitudinally between the front end and the rear end of the main body portion at a midpoint between the first side and the second side and having a first aperture between the handle and the first side and a second aperture between the handle and the second side, wherein the first and second apertures are configured to allow a user's hand to grasp the handle. 16. A wheel chock apparatus for holding a vehicle tire when disposed adjacent to the vehicle tire in an auto-rack railcar comprising: a main body portion comprising a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side, the front end disposed adjacent a vehicle tire when in use;a ramp disposed on the front end for contacting a vehicle tire;a lateral restraint disposed on one of the first and second sides, the lateral restraint extending away from the main body portion at the front end of the main body portion;a first set of teeth for engaging a grating, the first set of teeth disposed beneath the front end of the main body portion;a second set of teeth for engaging the grating, the second set of teeth having an axis disposed beneath the rear end of the main body portion, the second set of teeth having a retracted position and an extended position;a lever disposed on one of the first and second sides, the lever linked to the second set of teeth via an axis disposed from the first side to the second side of the main body portion, wherein the lever rotates about the axis, wherein movement of the lever moves the second set of teeth from the retracted position to the extended position,wherein the second set of teeth is biased into the extended position via a torsion spring disposed on the axis. 17. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 16 wherein the lateral restraint is rotatable about an axis, and further wherein the lateral restraint has a retracted position and an extended position. 18. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first set of teeth are fixed in an extended position. 19. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 16 further comprising: an axis disposed from the first side to the second side of the main body portion, wherein the lever rotates about the axis. 20. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 16 further comprising: a pin disposed from the first side to the second side of the main body portion, wherein the second set of teeth are engaged with the pin, wherein movement of the pin moves the second set of teeth from the retracted position to the extended position, wherein the lever is linked to the pin. 21. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 20 further comprising: a plate linking the lever to the pin, wherein movement of the lever moves the plate, thereby moving the pin, thereby moving the second set of teeth from the retracted position to the extended position. 22. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 21 further comprising: a slot disposed within the plate, the pin freely movable through the slot, wherein the pin moves through the slot upon movement of the lever and the plate, thereby moving the second set of teeth from the retracted position to the extended position. 23. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 22 wherein the slot is curved. 24. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 16 wherein the torsion spring is connected to the axis and winds upon rotating of the axis, an end of the torsion spring contacting a torsion spring capture plate. 25. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 24 wherein the torsion spring capture plate is connected to the wheel chock apparatus main body portion. 26. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 16 wherein the lateral restraint and the lever are disposed on the same side of the main body portion. 27. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a second lateral restraint disposed on an opposite side of the main body portion from the first lateral restraint. 28. A method of using the wheel chock apparatus of claim 16 comprising the steps of: disposing a vehicle comprising at least one vehicle tire having tire tread on a grating within an auto-rack railcar;placing the wheel chock apparatus adjacent the vehicle tire and contacting the ramp to the tire tread;engaging the first set of teeth beneath the first end of the main body portion to the grating;moving the lever to extend the second set of teeth; andengaging the second set of teeth with the grating. 29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of: moving the lever to retract the second set of teeth prior to placing the wheel chock apparatus of claim 1 adjacent the vehicle tire and contacting the ramp to the tire tread. 30. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of: locking the second set of teeth into the extended position when engaging the second set of teeth with the grating. 31. A method of using the wheel chock apparatus of claim 22 comprising the steps of: disposing a vehicle comprising at least one vehicle tire having tire tread on a grating within an auto-rack railcar;placing the wheel chock apparatus of claim 1 adjacent the vehicle tire and contacting the ramp to the tire tread;engaging the first set of teeth beneath the first end of the main body portion to the grating;moving the lever to extend the second set of teeth; andengaging the second set of teeth with the grating. 32. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of: moving the lever to retract the second set of teeth prior to placing the wheel chock apparatus adjacent the vehicle tire and contacting the ramp to the tire tread. 33. The wheel chock apparatus of claim 16 wherein the main body portion comprises a handle comprising a bar running longitudinally between the front end and the rear end of the main body portion at a midpoint between the first side and the second side and having a first aperture between the handle and the first side and a second aperture between the handle and the second side, wherein the first and second apertures are configured to allow a user's hand to grasp the handle.