초록 ▼

A tire cleaning device is provided that helps remove obstructions from the longitudinal grooves of a tire tread. The device can be configured to operate with different types of obstructions and with tires having longitudinal grooves incorporated within differing tread patterns. In certain exemplary

A tire cleaning device is provided that helps remove obstructions from the longitudinal grooves of a tire tread. The device can be configured to operate with different types of obstructions and with tires having longitudinal grooves incorporated within differing tread patterns. In certain exemplary embodiments, the device can be equipped to operate with a tire on vehicle that has a suspension system which allows the tire to move along the vertical direction during vehicle operation.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device for cleaning a tire of a vehicle, the tire having at least one longitudinal groove, the longitudinal groove having a curvature along a circumferential direction of the tire, the device comprising: a cleaning element carried by the vehicle and positioned within the groove of the tire, the

1. A device for cleaning a tire of a vehicle, the tire having at least one longitudinal groove, the longitudinal groove having a curvature along a circumferential direction of the tire, the device comprising: a cleaning element carried by the vehicle and positioned within the groove of the tire, the groove having a groove bottom, the cleaning element suspended over the groove bottom so as to create a gap between the cleaning element and the groove bottom, the cleaning element having a longitudinal axis that tracks the curvature of the groove along the circumferential direction. 2. A device for cleaning a tire having a longitudinal groove as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning element comprises an elongated strip. 3. A device for cleaning a tire having a longitudinal groove as in claim 1, further comprising a groove extending along a wheel spat and adjacent to the tire, wherein the cleaning element is removably received in the groove of the wheel spat. 4. A device for cleaning a tire having a longitudinal groove as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning element further comprises a plurality of laterally extending grooves spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis. 5. A device for cleaning a tire having a longitudinal groove as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning element further comprises a plurality of fingers separated from each other along the longitudinal axis by laterally extending grooves. 6. A device for cleaning a tire having a longitudinal groove as in claim 5, wherein each finger has a pair of opposing lateral sides, and wherein each finger defines a chamfered leading edge along at least one of the opposing lateral sides. 7. A device for cleaning a tire having a longitudinal groove as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning element defines a distal tip positioned directly over the groove bottom and having a plurality of micro-grooves configured to assist in removing obstructions from the longitudinal groove of the tire. 8. A device for cleaning a tire having a longitudinal groove as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning element defines a pair of opposing longitudinal sides, at least one longitudinal side having a projection that extends along a lateral direction from the cleaning element and is configured to assist in removing obstructions from the longitudinal groove of the tire. 9. A device for cleaning a tire having a longitudinal groove as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning element further comprises a plurality of fingers separated from each other along the longitudinal axis by laterally extending grooves, each finger defining a distal tip having a plurality of features positioned on the distal tip and that are configured to remove obstructions from the longitudinal groove of the tire. 10. A device for cleaning a tire having a longitudinal groove as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning element comprises a resilient material forming a body portion of the cleaning element; and,a hardened material forming at least one leading edge of the cleaning element. 11. A device for cleaning a tire having a longitudinal groove as in claim 1, further comprising a wheel spat positioned proximate to the tire and carried by the vehicle, wherein the cleaning element is removably positioned on the wheel spat. 12. A tire cleaning device, comprising: a wheel spat carried upon a non-sprung portion of a vehicle and positioned adjacent to a tire of the vehicle, the tire having at least one longitudinal groove with a groove bottom, the wheel spat providing a channel; anda cleaning element removably received into the channel of the wheel spat, the cleaning element configured as an elongated strip positioned in the longitudinal groove of the tire and suspended above the groove bottom over a portion of the longitudinal groove. 13. A tire cleaning device as in claim 12, wherein the wheel spat defines a plurality of channels, and further comprising a plurality of cleaning elements received into the plurality of channels. 14. A tire cleaning device as in claim 12, further comprising a gap defined between the cleaning element and the groove bottom, and wherein the cleaning element has a longitudinal axis that follows the curvature of the tire. 15. A tire cleaning device as in claim 12, wherein the cleaning element further comprises a plurality of laterally extending grooves spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal axis of the cleaning element. 16. A tire cleaning device as in claim 12, wherein the cleaning element further comprises a plurality of fingers separated from each other along a longitudinal axis of the cleaning element by laterally extending grooves. 17. A tire cleaning device as in claim 16, wherein each finger has a pair of opposing lateral sides, and wherein each finger defines a chamfered leading edge along at least one of the opposing lateral sides. 18. A tire cleaning device as in claim 12, wherein the cleaning element defines a distal tip positioned directly over the groove bottom, the distal tip having a plurality of micro-grooves configured to assist in removing obstructions from the longitudinal groove of the tire. 19. A cleaning element for a tire having at least one longitudinal groove, the longitudinal groove having a curvature along a circumferential direction of the tire, the cleaning element comprising: an elongated strip having a body portion comprising a resilient material, the elongated strip having a longitudinal axis that tracks the curvature of the longitudinal groove along the circumferential direction of the tire, the elongated strip configured to be suspended within the longitudinal groove of the tire so as to create a gap between the elongated strip and the groove. 20. A cleaning element for a tire as in claim 19, wherein the cleaning element further comprises a plurality of fingers separated from each other along the longitudinal axis of the elongated strip and by one or more laterally extending grooves.