Patent ID: 9272588
Filing Date: 2016-03-01
CPC Classification: B60C

Claim Text:
1. A method for replacing a leaking valve stem that does not require having to raise the vehicle, remove the wheel, or tire from the wheel or separation of a rubber tire from a metallic wheel, comprising the steps of: cutting a part of said leaking valve stem that is external to a hollow interior of said tire at or near the external surface of a wheel/rim so that a base of said leaking valve stem falls under the influence of gravity into the hollow interior of the tire and so that a wheel aperture formed in said wheel/rim is exposed; providing a non-leaking valve stem having a radially expandable base and a main body of frusto-conical shape; said radially expandable base having an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration; said radially expandable base forming an annular step with said frusto-conical main body when said expandable base is in said unexpanded condition; forming wrench-engageable flats in a narrow end of said frusto-conical main body; forming an externally threaded boss integrally with said wrench-engageable flats so that said radially expandable base, said frusto-conical main body, said wrench-engageable flats and said boss share a common lumen having a common longitudinal axis of symmetry; inserting said expandable base in its unexpanded configuration into said wheel aperture so that said expandable base in its unexpanded configuration is positioned in the hollow interior of said tire and so that said annular step abuts an exterior surface of said wheel/rim; expanding said radially expandable base until said wheel/rim is tightly sandwiched between said radially expandable base in its expanded configuration and said annular step.