Tire valve stem cover

A valve stem cover includes a cylindrical cap open at a bottom end thereof and threaded with threads on an inside surface thereof. The cylindrical cap is adapted for threaded engagement with a threaded tire valve stem that projects through a wheel rim. A skirt projects downwardly from the bottom end of the cylindrical cap and is adapted to cover substantially a lower portion of a threaded tire valve stem that projects through the wheel rim. A decorative top portion projects upwardly from a top end of the cylindrical cap and can be removable for interchangeability.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to wheel air valve stem caps found on land vehicles, and more specifically to an air valve stem cap that protects a valve stem cap against dust, weather elements & road debris encountered when the land vehicle is in motion.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Air valve stem caps have been used in land vehicles for many years. Typically, an air valve stem cap is installed over a valve stem to protect the air valve on top of the valve stem.

One primary problem with conventional air valve stem caps covers is that they are decorative caps and they are not designed to protect the valve stem itself, and in fact they can end up damaging the valve stem itself. Such caps only protect the air valve portion of the air valve stem assembly, leaving the stem portion of the air valve unprotected and vulnerable to dust, weather elements and road debris that can cause damage to the valve stem assembly.

While regular valve stem air caps are suitable to the purpose they address, they are not suitable for reducing any potential valve stem damage due to dust, weather elements and road debris. In these respects, the air valve stem cap invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of traditional valve stem caps, and in doing so provides an apparatus for the purpose of a complete air valve stem assembly that protects a land vehicle valve stem cap against dust, weather elements and road debris.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a valve stem cover that includes a cylindrical cap open at a bottom end thereof and threaded with threads on an inside surface thereof. The cylindrical cap is adapted for threaded engagement with a threaded tire valve stem that projects through a wheel rim.

A skirt projects downwardly from the bottom end of the cylindrical cap and is adapted to cover substantially all of the threaded tire valve stem that projects through the wheel rim. Preferably the skirt is integrally formed with the cylindrical cap.

A decorative top portion projects upwardly from a top end of the cylindrical cap. In some embodiments, the decorative top portion includes a knurled surface to facilitate gripping of the decorative top portion to unscrew or otherwise detach the decorative top portion from the cylindrical cap. In the first embodiment the decorative top portion is integrally formed with the cylindrical cap.

In use, with the cylindrical cap threadedly fixed with the threaded tire valve stem, the skirt covers substantially the exposed threaded tire valve stem projecting through the wheel rim, thereby protecting the threaded tire valve stem from road hazards such as dirt, debris and the like.

In a second embodiment, the cylindrical cap includes a threaded shaft projecting upwardly from the top end thereof. The decorative top portion in such an embodiment includes a cooperative threaded aperture in a bottom end thereof. As such the decorative top portion is interchangeable on the cylindrical cap. In such an embodiment, the decorative top portion can further include a second skirt projecting downwardly from the bottom end to cover at least a portion of the cylindrical cap when the decorative top portion is fully engaged with the threaded shaft.

While the threaded shaft and the cooperative threaded aperture represent one type of fastening mechanism that is preferred, clearly the decorative top portion could be attached to the cylindrical cap with some other fastening mechanism known in the art, such as a friction-fit post and recess (not shown), preferably having an elastomeric O-ring contacting the post and recess to increase the force required to overcome friction therebetween. Such a mechanism would allow the user to simply push the decorative top portion onto the post of the cylindrical cap or pull the decorative top portion off of the post of the cylindrical cap without using a turning or screwing action. A pair of strong magnets (not shown), one in the top end of the cylindrical cap and one in the bottom end of the decorative top portion could also be used, for example.

The present invention is a valve stem cover that substantially completely covers the threaded tire valve stem that projects through a wheel rim, protecting the valve stem from dust, debris, dirt and other road hazards. The present device is adjustable such that it can cover valve stems of varying lengths and still be effective. Further, the present invention allows for a variety of different decorative top portions to be interchanged as desired by the user. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a valve stem cover10for a threaded tire valve stem20projecting through a wheel rim30, such as a tire valve stem20of an automotive or bicycle wheel rim30for example.FIG. 1illustrates a first embodiment of the valve stem cover10that includes a cylindrical cap40open at a bottom end42thereof and threaded with threads50on an inside surface44thereof. The cylindrical cap40is adapted for threaded engagement with the threaded tire valve stem20and is preferably made from a rigid or semi-rigid metallic or plastic material from an injection-molding, casting, or milling process.

A skirt50projects downwardly from the bottom end42of the cylindrical cap40and is adapted to cover substantially all of the threaded tire valve stem20that projects through the wheel rim30. Preferably the skirt50is integrally formed with the cylindrical cap40and made from the same rigid or semi-rigid metallic or plastic material.

A decorative top portion60projects upwardly from a top end48of the cylindrical cap40. In some embodiments, the decorative top portion60includes a knurled surface90(FIGS. 4 & 5) to facilitate gripping of the decorative top portion60to unscrew or otherwise detach the decorative top portion60from the cylindrical cap40. In the first embodiment the decorative top portion60is integrally formed with the cylindrical cap40.

In use, with the cylindrical cap40threadedly fixed with the threaded tire valve stem20, the skirt50covers substantially the exposed threaded tire valve stem20projecting through the wheel rim30, thereby protecting the threaded tire valve stem20from road hazards such as dirt, debris and the like.

In a second embodiment, illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the cylindrical cap40includes a threaded shaft70projecting upwardly from the top end48thereof. The decorative top portion60in such an embodiment includes a cooperative threaded aperture80in a bottom end62thereof. As such the decorative top portion60is interchangeable on the cylindrical cap40. In such an embodiment, the decorative top portion60can further include a second skirt65(FIG. 5) projecting downwardly from the bottom end62to cover at least a portion of the cylindrical cap40when the decorative top portion60is fully engaged with the threaded shaft70.

While the threaded shaft70and the cooperative threaded aperture80represent one type of fastening mechanism that is preferred, clearly the decorative top portion60could be attached to the cylindrical cap40with some other fastening mechanism known in the art, such as a friction-fit post and recess (not shown), preferably having an elastomeric O-ring contacting the post and recess to increase the force required to overcome friction therebetween. Such a mechanism would allow the user to simply push the decorative top portion60onto the post of the cylindrical cap40or pull the decorative top portion60off of the post of the cylindrical cap40without using a turning or screwing action. A pair of strong magnets (not shown), one in the top end48of the cylindrical cap40and one in the bottom end62of the decorative top portion60could also be used, for example.

In a third embodiment of the invention, the threaded shaft70is replaced with the threaded tire valve20, such that the cylindrical cap40and skirt50are threaded onto the threaded tire valve20until the skirt50contacts the wheel rim30or at least covers most of a lower portion of the threaded tire valve20. The decorative top portion60is likewise threaded onto the threaded tire valve20until the second skirt65covers at least a portion of the cylindrical cap40, whereby the entire threaded tire valve20is covered either by the skirt50, cylindrical cap40, second skirt65, or decorative top portion60. As such tire valve stems20of varying length can be covered by the valve stem cover10of the present invention.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the cylindrical cap40may alternately be hexagonal in shape in cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis of thereof, or take some other shape. The term cylindrical, therefore, should be read as being generally cylindrical. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.