Tire lifting and mounting tool

The present invention, a tire mounting device, is a lifting and transporting device for the facilitating the removing and replacing of a tire. The tire mounting device comprises a cross assembly, handle assembly, left fork assembly, and right fork assembly. The handle assembly is perpendicularly rigidly attached to the cross assembly. The left fork assembly and right fork assembly are rigidly attached to opposing ends of cross assembly which extends horizontally. An obtuse angle is disposed in an intermediate position with each fork assembly. Tire supports the underside of each fork assembly to allow for the transporting the tire upon the tire mounting device.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a tire lifting tools. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tire mounting device which is capable of lifting a wheel and allowing the wheel to be rotated to align the studs with the wheel for mounting on a vehicle.

The prior art describes several patents capable of transporting a tire from one location to another. For example; U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,226 relates to a tire dolly capable relocating a tire from one location to another. However, the present invention provides a unique tire mounting device design.

SUMMARY

One objective of the present invention is to provide a safe and efficient method of lifting and mounting a tire with less strain when repairing or removing a new or repaired tire on a vehicle.

The present invention, a tire mounting device, is a lifting and transporting device for the facilitating the replacement or removal of a tire. The tire mounting device comprises a cross assembly, handle assembly, left fork assembly, and right fork assembly. The handle assembly is perpendicularly rigidly attached to the cross assembly. The left fork assembly and right fork assembly are rigidly attached to opposing ends of cross assembly which extends horizontally. An obtuse angle is disposed in an intermediate position with each fork assembly. A tire is disposed below the obtuse angle and supports the underside of each fork assembly to allow for the lifting of tire upon the tire mounting device. A bar support is interiorly and pivotally mounted to the lower end of each fork assembly to support a wheel. Each bar support pivots and rotates to allow a wheel to be rotated in alignment with the studs so that the wheel can be mounted upon the hub of a vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1there is shown a perspective view of the present invention. As shown, tire mounting device10further comprises a cross assembly15, handle assembly20, left fork assembly40, and right fork assembly60.

Cross assembly15further includes an axle member extending in a horizontal relation to handle assembly20. Axle member25is defined by a left end30and an opposing right end32. Left fork assembly40is attached to the left end30of axle member25, and right fork assembly60is attached to the opposing right end32of axle member25.

Right fork assembly60is defined by an upper end80and a lower end82. Upper end80is attached to the right end32of axle member25. Disposed at an intermediate position in right fork assembly60is obtuse angle41facing upward with right apex point83facing downward toward ground level. Obtuse angle41segments right fork assembly60into upper shaft portion62and lower shaft portion63. Upper shaft portion62extends substantially linearly upward to the right end32of axle member and rigidly attaches thereto.

Referring toFIG. 5, there is shown a side view of both right fork60, and left fork assembly40. As shown inFIG. 5, lower shaft portion63slopes at a predetermined elevation level designated as ER from right apex point83downward to ground level terminating in lower end82of right fork assembly60.

As depictedFIG. 3, right axle bracket66is adapted to mount right wheel member65to the bottom surface area of lower shaft portion63near right apex point83. Right axle bracket66extends downward from the predetermined elevation level ER to near ground level allowing right wheel member65to rotate during transport of tire. Right axle66extends 5.1 centimeters forcing lower portion to slope downward. Right axle bracket66further comprises two parallel bracket members with right wheel member65securely and pivotally bolted therebetween.

Right bar support member70is pivotally and interiorly mounted to the lower end82of right fork assembly60through bolt member72. As shown in the preferred embodiment, right bar support member70is a rectangular shape polyhedron pivotally bolted to the lower end82of right fork assembly60. Right bar support member70pivots as well as rotates to allow the user to load a tire onto the tire mounting device assembly10.

Left fork assembly40is defined by an upper end90and a lower end92. Upper end90is attached to the left end30of axle member25. Disposed at an intermediate position in left fork assembly40is obtuse angle41facing upward with left apex point93facing downward toward ground level. Obtuse angle41segments left fork assembly40into upper shaft portion62and lower shaft portion63. Upper shaft portion62extends substantially linearly upward to the left end30of axle member25and rigidly attaches thereto. As shown, lower shaft portion63slopes at a predetermined elevation level designated as ER from left apex point93downward to ground level terminating in lower end92of left fork assembly40.

As depicted inFIG. 3, left axle bracket96is adapted to mount left wheel member95to the bottom surface area of lower shaft portion63near left apex point93. Left axle bracket96extend downward from the predetermined elevation level ER to near ground level securing right allows left wheel member95to rotate during transport of a tire. Left axle96extends at least 2 inches forcing lower portion to slope downward. Left axle bracket96further comprises two parallel bracket members with left wheel member95securely and pivotally bolted therebetween.

Left bar support member100is pivotally and interiorly mounted to the lower end92of left fork assembly60. As shown in the preferred embodiment, Left bar support member100is a rectangular shape polyhedron pivotally bolted to the lower end92of left fork assembly40. Additionally left bar support member100can rotate 360 degrees for lifting the tire upon the mounting device.

The obtuse angle offset allows for greater stability during transport of the load. The right bar support member70and the left bar support member100pivot for lifting the tire.

Handle assembly20is further defined by an upper end22and a lower end23. The lower end23of handle assembly20is rigidly and perpendicularly mounted upon and substantially near the center27of axle member25of cross assembly15. As shown, obtuse angle31, formed near the center of handle assembly20, faces downward and segments handle assembly20into upper shaft portion32and lower shaft portion33. Upper shaft portion32is relatively longer than lower shaft portion33. Upper shaft portion32can be extended as long as required. For ease of handling, padded grip34can be attached to the upper end22.

As depicted in theFIG. 1 and 2, the lower shaft portion63is relatively longer than upper shaft portion62for both right fork assembly60and left fork assembly40. This configuration allows for supporting the tire upon the lifting and mounting device l0. In the preferred embodiment the length of the lower shaft portion63is approximately at least 16.8 centimeters.

Right bar support member70and left bar support member100further include U-shaped brace101which receives a cylindrical roller member102therebetween and is affixed thereto. The U-shaped brace101is pivotally attached to the lower end of the right fork assembly60and the left fork assembly40. In the preferred embodiment the length of the each bar support member (70,100) is approximately at least 5and 1.6 centimeters. Each cylindrical roller member102can support a tire (not shown) thereon and rotates allowing the tire to be rotated in alignment with the studs so that the wheel can be mounted upon the hub of a vehicle.

In alternative embodiments, the tire mounting device can be adapted to disassemble for storage purposes. In one embodiment, the handle assembly20(illustrated inFIG. 1) can be collapsible or removable from the cross assembly15for easy storage. In other embodiments the right fork assembly60and left fork assembly40can be adapted to be removable from the ends of the cross assembly15.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a tire mounting device it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the inventions