HK40012644B - Tire lever - Google Patents

Description

Tire crow bar

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to tools, such as crowbars. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tire crowbar having a bead retaining device for adjusting a tire on a wheel rim.

Background

When mounting a tire, it is often difficult to position the top bead of the tire on the rim. This is because the top bead is generally rigid and difficult to manipulate. Failure to properly position the top bead of the tire on the rim may result in damage to the tire or failure to maintain tire pressure. Existing tools and techniques for mounting tires include complex mechanical devices or milling of conventional tire crowbars.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention broadly comprises a tool, such as a tire crow bar, having a bead holder with a rounded head and a receiving area. In one embodiment, the tool has: a first end comprising a tapered tip; and a second end coupled to the bead holder. The receiving area of the bead holder fits over the flange of the tire rim such that the rounded head pushes the bead of the tire toward the well of the rim while using the flange as a fulcrum.

In another embodiment, the invention broadly comprises a method of mounting a tire. The method includes engaging a flange of a tire rim with a bead holder. For example, the bead holder includes a circular head and a receiving area. The method further includes pivoting the bead holder against a bead of the tire using the flange as a fulcrum. The method also includes pushing the bead of the tire toward the well of the rim with the rounded head of the bead holder.

In another embodiment, the invention broadly comprises a system comprising a wheel rim, a tire, a crowbar, and a bead holder coupled to the crowbar. The crow bar includes: a first end having a tapered tip; and a second end coupled to the bead holder. The bead holder includes a circular head and a receiving area. For example, the receiving area of the bead holder fits over the flange of the rim, and the rounded head pushes the bead of the tire toward the well of the rim while using the flange as a fulcrum.

Drawings

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are shown in the drawings embodiments thereof, from a review of the embodiments shown in the drawings, and from a consideration of the subject matter sought to be protected in connection with the following description, the construction and operation of which, and many of the advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a tool and wheel according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tool shown in FIG. 1 engaging a typical rim or tire;

FIG. 3A is a side view of a bead holder of the tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the bead holder shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a side view of a crowbar of the tool shown in FIG. 1;

fig. 4B is a bottom view of the crow bar shown in fig. 4A.

Detailed Description

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail embodiments of the invention, including the preferred embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to any one or more of the embodiments illustrated herein. As used herein, the term "present invention" is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but is used merely for purposes of explanation to discuss exemplary implementations of the invention.

The present invention comprises a tool, such as a tire crowbar, broadly comprising a bead holder having a rounded head and a receiving area. In one embodiment, the tool has a crow bar or handle portion having: a first end comprising a tapered tip; and a second end coupled to the bead holder. The receiving area of the bead holder fits over the flange of the tire rim so that the rounded head pushes the bead of the tire towards the drop center of the rim while using the flange as a fulcrum.

Referring to fig. 1, a tool 100, such as a tire crowbar, includes a crowbar 102 and a bead holder 104. The crowbar 102 includes a first end 106 and a second end 108. The first end 106 includes a tapered tip 110. According to one aspect of the invention, the tapered tip 110 may be curved or flat. The body of the crowbar 102 may also be curved or flat. In an example, the body of the crowbar 102 has a curvature and the tip 110 has a curvature that is opposite the curvature of the body of the crowbar 102. The tapered tip 110 can be used to facilitate the disassembly or removal of the tire from the rim by using the tapered tip 110 to pry the bead of the tire above the flange of the rim.

Second end 108 of tool 100 is coupled to bead holder 104. For example, bead holder 104 may be coupled to second end 108 of tool 100 via fastener 112. According to one aspect of the invention, the fastener 112 may comprise a screw, such as a cap screw. Of course, it should be understood that this is exemplary only, and other fastening means, such as rivets, nails, adhesives, welding, etc., may be used. The bead holder 104 and the crow bar 102 may also be integrally formed as a single piece.

Bead holder 104 includes a circular head 114, a receiving area 116 (e.g., mouth), and a lip 120. For example, the rounded head 114 may be arcuate to facilitate smooth contact with the tire. The rounded head 114 may also have flat sides. The receiving area 116 may be an opening or recess located below the circular head 114. The receiving area 116 may be adapted to fit over the flange of the rim without damaging the rim. The circular head 114 includes: beak 118 formed on a first side of receiving area 116; and a lip 120 formed on a second side of the receiving area 116. Receiving region 116 is defined in the space between beak 118 and lip 120. Beak 118 may be rounded to avoid damage to the rim. Similarly, lip 120 may be rounded and curved upwardly toward beak 118 to provide an engagement surface adapted to engage the rim's flange.

Bead holder 104 can also include a neck 122 adapted to couple to crow bar 102. Neck 122 can be located near circular head 114, and bead holder 104 can be coupled to second end 108 of crowbar 102 via neck 122. According to one aspect of the invention, the neck 122 may be thicker than the crowbar 102 and thinner than the circular head 114. For example, the circular head 114 may include a constricted portion 124 forming a neck 122.

Referring to fig. 2, the tool 100 engages a conventional rim 200 and tire 202 to mount the tire 202 to the rim 200 or to remove the tire 202 from the rim 200. Tire 202 includes beads 210 and beads 206 (e.g., first bead 210 and second bead 206). The rim 200 includes a flange 204 and a central recess 208. In one example, the receiving area 116 is received and/or fitted over the flange 204 of the rim 200, and the rounded head 114 pushes the bead of the tire 202 toward the well 208 of the rim 200 while using the flange 204 as a fulcrum.

For example, in operation, receiving area 116 of bead holder 104 engages flange 204 of rim 200. The rounded head 114 of bead retainer 104 is positioned against a bead 206 of tire 202. Using the flange 204 as a fulcrum, the tool 100 pivots away from the axis of the rim 200. As a result, the circular head 114 pushes against the bead 206 of the tire, causing the bead 206 to move over the flange 204 and be positioned in the well 208 of the rim 200. First bead 210 may be positioned on rim 200 in a manner similar to bead 206. Another means may be used to push the bead 206/210 onto the generally opposite side of the rim 200 above the flange 204 as the rounded head 114 pushes the bead 206/210 toward the well 208. This may be a second tool 100, a tire crow bar, a tire mounting machine mounting/dismounting head, a bead holder, etc., or any combination thereof, which enables an operator to work on the bead 206/210 circumferentially above the flange 204 until the bead 206/210 is fully above the flange 204.

Referring to fig. 3A and 3B, bead holder 104 further includes an attachment surface 300 on the bottom of neck 122 for attaching bead holder 104 to crow bar 102. For example, the coupling surface 300 may be substantially planar and may include a hole 302 (e.g., a fastener hole) adapted to mate with a screw (e.g., a cap screw). Although two apertures 302 are illustrated, it should be understood that at least one or more apertures may be included.

Bead holder 104 also includes jaws 304. For example, jaw 304 is disposed adjacent neck 122 and below rounded head 114 of bead holder 104. The jaw 304 may project downward at, for example, a 90 degree angle below the neck 122 and the rounded head 114. Of course, other angles may be used. Jaw 304 may also be bent upward toward beak 118 to form lip 120.

According to an aspect of the invention, as shown in fig. 3B, the beak 118 may protrude further from the bead holder 104 than the jaw 304/lip 120 when viewed from below. For example, beak 118 may be offset from lip 120 by 13.3% of the overall length of bead holder 104.

Referring to fig. 4A and 4B, the crow bar 102 includes a first end 106 opposite a second end 108 and distal from the second end 108. The first end 106 includes a tapered tip 110. The crowbar 102 also includes an aperture 400 (e.g., a fastener aperture), the aperture 400 adapted to align with the aperture 302 of the bead holder 104. The aperture 400 is disposed at the second end 108 of the crow bar 102. For example, when hole 400 of crowbar 102 is aligned with hole 302 of coupling surface 300 of bead holder 104, fastener 112 can couple bead holder 104 to crowbar 102. While two holes 400 are illustrated on the crowbar 102, it is understood that at least one or more holes may be included. Additionally, the number of holes on crow bar 102 can match the number of holes on bead holder 104.

The crowbar 102 may be substantially straight or slightly curved. The tapered tip 110 may have a curvature opposite to the curvature of the crow bar 102. In this manner, leverage may be provided by the crow bar 102. In operation, crow bar 102 may be used as a handle for bead holder 104. According to one aspect of the invention, the width of the crow bar 102 can be equal to, greater than, or less than the width of the bead holder 104. For example, the width of the crowbar 102 differs from the width of the bead holder 104 by only a few inches or centimeters. Additionally, the length of the bead holder may be 17.39% of the length of the crow bar 102.

Advantages of tool 100 include the elimination of the need to mill crowbar 102 to couple bead holder 104 to crowbar 102. Bead holder 104 is mounted to crowbar 102 via fasteners 112. This results in lower cost and more efficient manufacturing, which is an improvement over conventional devices and methods that require complicated mechanical devices or milling of conventional tire crowbars for similar purposes.

As used herein, the term "couple" and its functional equivalents are not intended to necessarily be limited to a direct mechanical connection of two or more components. Rather, the term "couple" and its functional equivalents are intended to mean any direct or indirect mechanical, electrical, or chemical connection between two or more objects, features, workpieces, and/or environmental elements. In some examples, "coupled" also means that one object is integrated with another object.

The matters set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not in a limiting sense. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of the inventors' contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the claims which follow, when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.

Claims (21)

1. A tool for installing or removing a tire having beads on a rim having a flange and a central recess, the tool comprising:

a crowbar having a first end and a second end; and

a bead retainer coupled to the second end, wherein the bead retainer includes a receiving area and a head having a rounded surface, wherein the head includes a beak and a lip, the beak and the lip forming the receiving area, the receiving area adapted to engage the flange of the rim, and the rounded surface of the head adapted to engage the bead of the tire proximate the flange to urge the bead toward the well of the rim using the flange as a fulcrum.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the crow bar is curved.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the head includes a flat side.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the rounded surface of the head is arcuate.

5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the bead holder comprises a neck.

6. The tool of claim 5, wherein the neck is proximate the head.

7. The tool of claim 5, wherein the neck comprises a fastener hole.

8. The tool of claim 1, wherein the bead holder is coupled to the crow bar via a fastener.

9. The tool of claim 8, wherein the fastener is a cap screw.

10. The tool of claim 1, wherein the receiving area comprises a rounded opening.

11. The tool of claim 1 wherein the lip portion curves upwardly toward the beak portion.

12. The tool of claim 1 wherein the beak is offset from the lip by about 13.3% of the length of the bead holder.

13. A method of mounting a tire having beads to a rim having a flange and a central well, the method comprising:

disposing the flange of the rim within a receiving area of a bead holder, the bead holder having a head with a rounded surface, wherein the head includes a beak and a lip, the beak and the lip forming the receiving area;

pivoting the circular surface against the bead of the tire proximate the flange using the flange as a fulcrum; and

urging the bead of the tire toward the well of the rim with the rounded surface of the head of the bead holder.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising rotating the rim and the tire while pushing against the bead of the tire with the circular surface of the head until the tire is seated on the rim.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the receiving area of the bead holder engages the flange.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the bead holder pivots away from an axis of the rim.

17. A system for mounting or removing a tire on a rim, comprising:

a rim including a flange and a central recess;

a tire comprising beads, wherein the beads are disposed proximate to the flange;

a crowbar having a first end and a second end, the first end including a tapered tip; and

a bead holder coupled to the second end, the bead holder including a receiving area and a head having a rounded surface, wherein the head includes a beak and a lip, the beak and the lip forming the receiving area, the receiving area adapted to engage the flange, and the rounded surface of the head adapted to engage the bead to urge the bead toward the concavity using the flange as a fulcrum.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the crow bar is curved.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the head comprises a flat side.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the rounded surface of the head is arcuate.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the bead holder comprises a neck coupled to the second end of the crowbar.