Abstract:
An apparatus particularly designed to receive, support, transport and/or position tire and wheel assemblies of vehicles, particularly large vehicles, is described. One embodiment of the apparatus comprised a lower frame, an upright support coupled to the lower frame, a vertical positioning device, and a tire and wheel assembly support operably coupled to the vertical positioning device. Working embodiments included a lower U-shaped frame, generally having plural casters attached thereto, for easy positioning about tires attached to vehicles. A method for receiving, supporting, transporting and positioning tire and wheel assemblies also is described. The method comprises first providing a suitable apparatus. The apparatus is positioned adjacent a tire and wheel assembly of a vehicle. The vertical position of the tire and wheel support assembly is adjusted to engage the tire and wheel assembly. The tire and wheel assembly is then placed on the apparatus, which supports the tire and wheel assembly. This allows an operator to transport the assembly to another location, work on the assembly while it is supported by the apparatus, and/or rotate the assembly while supported by the device for inspection and repair.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention concerns an apparatus designed to receive, support, transport and/or position tire and wheel assemblies, and a method for using the apparatus to remove the assemblies from vehicles, inspect the assemblies, and/or attach the assemblies to vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Removing tire and wheel assemblies and reattaching such assemblies to vehicles is a difficult and laborious task, particularly when positioning the tire and wheel assembly correctly for mounting it to wheel studs of the vehicle. Although changing a tire and wheel assembly for a personal passenger automobile is not easy, it does not compare to the difficult task of changing single or dual tire and wheel assemblies of large vehicles, such as commercial trucks and semi-tractors and trailers. 
     Some devices are known that ostensibly were designed to receive and transport tire and wheel assemblies. These devices are little better than hand carts. Known devices, such as dual wheel caddies, provide a very limited vertical position adjustment range of less than 6 inches, and typically only about 4 inches. This means that tire and wheel assemblies supported by such devices cannot be moved to different vertical positions that allow positioning of the device to a lowest vertical position for removing or attaching a wheel assembly and to a highest vertical position that allows an operator to work on the assembly in a comfortable, upright position. Moreover, known devices include no hoist or lifting mechanism by which the vertical position of a tire and wheel assembly can be virtually infinitely incrementally changed to position the device appropriately to receive tire and wheel assemblies as they are removed from the vehicle, or to position the assembly correctly for attaching it to wheel studs of a vehicle. 
     Devices also are known that have specific structural features designed for removing brake drum and hub assemblies, as opposed to tire and wheel assemblies. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,004 (the &#39;004 patent) describes a device, referred to as the Back Buddy™, that is useful for coupling to and removing brake drum and hub assemblies. The Back Buddy™ has structural features specifically designed to receive brake drum and hub assemblies. For example, the &#39;004 patent discusses hub assembly attachment members that are designed specifically for coupling to hub assemblies. While the Back Buddy™ works quite well for removing brake drum and hub assemblies, it is of little use for removing, supporting and/or transporting tire and wheel assemblies. 
     The need for a device designed specifically for removing tire and wheel assemblies has persisted since the advent of vehicles. Despite this persistent need, no suitable device appears to have been developed for handling, positioning and transporting tire and wheel assemblies. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides an apparatus, and method for its use, that addresses the problems identified above in the Background. For example, a working embodiment of the device includes a tire and wheel support that eliminates the need to chain assemblies to the device, which generally is required with prior known devices. The apparatus also generally is easier to maneuver than known devices. And, the vertical position of the tire and wheel support can be adjusted to (1) a lowest position that allows removing a wheel assembly from a vehicle and placing it directly on the apparatus, or allows attaching the wheel assembly directly onto wheel studs of a vehicle from the apparatus, and (2) to a highest vertical position that allows one to work on the wheel assembly in a comfortable, upright position. Moreover, rollers on the tire and wheel support allow facile repositioning of the tire and wheel assembly, particularly rotating the assembly while it is supported by the apparatus, which is helpful for, amongst other things, inspecting a tire and wheel assembly. 
     One embodiment of the apparatus is particularly designed to receive, transport and position tire and wheel assemblies of vehicles, particularly large vehicles. This embodiment of the apparatus comprised a lower frame, an upright support coupled to the lower frame, a vertical positioning device, and a tire and wheel assembly support operably coupled to the vertical positioning device. Working embodiments included a lower U-shaped frame having plural casters attached thereto for easy positioning of the apparatus, particularly for positioning the apparatus under fender wells and about tires attached to vehicles. 
     Tire and wheel assemblies are supported on the apparatus using a tire support. One embodiment of the tire support included a tire support ring coupled to a tire support bracket. As used herein, “ring” refers to any geometric shape that can receive the hub (or other lateral projecting portion) of a tire and wheel assembly, such as, but not limited to, squares, rectangles, triangles and circles. A working embodiment of the tire support ring was substantially circular with a ring diameter sized to receive hubs. 
     The tire support bracket was designed to directly engage a tire with the tire supported by the apparatus. One embodiment of the tire support bracket included elongated tire support members extending from the support bracket. The terminal ends of the support members were angled upwardly from parallel to a surface supporting the apparatus. These inclined support members allow the tire and wheel assembly to recline slightly back from vertical to allow it to rest securely on the apparatus. 
     The apparatus also generally included plural support rollers for engaging a tire. For example, one embodiment of the apparatus included 3 rollers positioned at 120° intervals about the circumference of a substantially circular tire support ring. Additional tire-engaging rollers also can be coupled to the tire support members of the tire support bracket. 
     The apparatus also generally includes a floor stop. The floor stop allows the apparatus to be firmly locked into a desired position for removing or attaching the wheel assembly, or into a desired position for inspecting or working on the assembly. Working embodiments of the floor stop included a foot-actuated pedal for actuating the floor stop to lock the apparatus into a desired position, a foot actual release bar to release the stop so that the apparatus could be moved, or both. 
     The present invention also provides a method for receiving, supporting, transporting and/or positioning tire and wheel assemblies. The method involves providing an apparatus comprising a lower frame, an upright support coupled to the lower frame, a vertical positioning device, and a tire and wheel assembly support operably coupled to the vertical positioning device. A tire and wheel assembly is placed on this apparatus, which thereafter supports the assembly for, for example, inspection and/or repair. 
     The apparatus also can be used to remove and/or attach tire and wheel assemblies to vehicles. For these embodiments of the method, the apparatus is positioned adjacent a tire and wheel assembly of a vehicle. The vertical position of the tire and wheel support assembly is adjusted to a lowest vertical position to engage the tire and wheel assembly. The tire and wheel assembly is then removed from the vehicle and placed on the apparatus, which supports the tire and wheel assembly. This allows an operator to transport the assembly to another location, or work on the assembly while it is supported by the apparatus. Once the tire and wheel assembly has been inspected or repaired as needed, then the apparatus of the present invention is used to transport the assembly to a position adjacent the vehicle for reattaching the assembly to the wheel studs. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention supporting a tire and wheel assembly. 
     FIG. 2 is a side perspective exploded view of the opposite side of the embodiment illustrated by FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment illustrated by FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the embodiment illustrated by FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic cross sectional view of tire rollers threadedly coupled to one embodiment of a tire support. 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a vertical positioning device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to FIG. 1, apparatus  2  typically includes a frame  10 , an upright support and vertical positioning device  100 , and a tire and wheel support  200 . Each of these is discussed in detail below. Where different figures illustrate similar parts, identical reference numerals are used to identify such parts. 
     I. APPARATUS 
     A. Lower Frame Portion 
     FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an apparatus  2  having a lower U-shaped frame portion  10 . U-shaped frame  10  has a first end  12 , a substantially similar second end  14  and a middle section  16 . Working embodiments of apparatus  2  included a U-shaped frame  10  for several reasons. First, the U-shape allows personnel to position frame  10  about the tire while it is attached to an automobile. This feature can be accomplished using a frame having some shape other than a U-shape, such as a rectangular frame, and all such shapes are included in the term “frame.” A rectangular frame  10  has been made by welding several straight portions together. This weakens the frame at the weld-material interfaces. Moreover, it creates sharp angles and faces, which can cause injury to personnel, buildings or articles, or which require additional working to remove the sharp angles and/or faces. In contrast, the illustrated U-shaped frame  10  has smooth curves and faces. This is because it is made from a single piece of stock and is formed by pressing the stock into the desired shape. The illustrated frame was made from 2 inches×2inches×⅛ inch steel tubing. 
     The working embodiment of frame  10  illustrated in FIG. 1 had dimensions that allowed it to be positioned under fender wells and about tire and wheel assemblies of large vehicles. It will be appreciated that these dimensions can vary and still be within the scope of the present invention. For example, different sized frames  10  could be used for automobiles using tire and wheel assemblies having varying sizes and shapes. 
     Apparatus  10  preferably must be easily maneuvered in tight positions for receiving tire and wheel assemblies. The illustrated U-shape was used to make working embodiments of apparatus  2  for an additional reason, i.e. it provides better maneuverability relative to a rectangular frame. Illustrated frame  10  includes casters  20 ,  22  and  24 . Casters  20  and  24  were connected to frame  10  in a similar manner using two similar caster mounting plates  26  and  28 . The illustrated caster mounting plates  26  and  28  were welded to frame  10 . Caster mounting plates  26  and  28  define fastener receiving apertures therethrough. In the illustrated working embodiment of apparatus  2 , casters  20  and  24  were coupled to caster mounting plates  26  and  28 , respectively, using threaded fasteners  29 . 
     Apparatus  2  includes a third caster  22 . Caster  22  was coupled to middle section  16  of frame  10  and upright support  100  using a mounting plate  30 . Mounting plate  30  was welded to upright support  100  and gusset plate  40  in the illustrated working embodiment. Gusset plate  40  was made from {fraction (3/16)} inch steel and was 4 inches wide at its widest section, 1 inch wide at the top, and 12 inches high. Mounting plate  30  was further coupled to lower frame  10  using threaded fasteners  32 . Mounting plate  30  also defined apertures for receiving fasteners, and caster  22  was coupled to mounting plate  30  using threaded fastener  34 . 
     Working embodiments of apparatus  2  further included a foot-actuated floor stop  50 . The illustrated floor stop  50  was purchased from Colson Caster Corporation, model No. 9.06253.4, of Jonesboro, Ark. Floor stop  50  includes foot pedal  52 , a floor engaging stop  54  and a release bar  56 . Actuating floor stop  50  locks apparatus  2  into a desired position. With apparatus  2  in proper position, foot pedal  52  is actuated by depressing it downwardly, which lowers floor stop  54  to engage top surface S of the floor. Floor stop  50  can be released for subsequently moving apparatus  10  by actuating release bar  56 . FIGS. 1 and 2 show that release bar  56  extends outwardly from both sides of apparatus  2 . Thus, release bar  56  can be actuated from both sides of the apparatus  2 . 
     Frame portion  10 , and other components of apparatus  2 , can be made from any suitable material. Sturdy metals or metal alloys, such as steel and aluminum, are the most likely materials to be used for making apparatus  2 . The illustrated embodiment of apparatus  2  was made from steel, primarily for strength and cost reasons. It will be appreciated that other materials also could be used to make apparatus  2 , as long as such materials provide suitable physical properties. Polymeric materials are examples of materials, in addition to metal and alloys, that can be used to make the components of apparatus  2 . 
     B. Upright Support and Vertical Adjustment Mechanism 
     Apparatus  2  includes upright support  100 . Support  100  has a first end  102  and a second end  104 . First end  102  is coupled to lower frame  10  by mounting plate  30  and gusset plate  40 . Upright support  100  was made from square tubular steel stock, having 2 inches×2inches×⅛ inch dimensions. 
     A ratchet mechanism housing  106  was coupled to the upright support  100  by welding housing  106  to second end  104  of upright support  100 . Housing  106  comprised a wall having a flat top surface  108 . Personnel handle  110  was welded to the top surface  108  of the ratchet mechanism housing  106 . 
     Housing  106  houses portions of a ratchet lever hoist assembly  300 . The illustrated ratchet lever hoist is commercially available as a Jet Ratchet Lever Hoist, Model No. MM50 ½ ton, from Jet Equipment &amp; Tools, of Auburn, Wash. The illustrated ratchet hoist  300  comprises a hand-actuated ratchet handle  302 . Hoist  300  further includes a switch  304  (FIG.  1 ). Switch  304  can be toggled by an operator to select for either upward or downward movement of chain  306 . Actuating handle  302  actuates a ratchet and pawl system (see FIG. 7, and the written description provided below) that is operably coupled to chain  306 . The ratchet and pawl system provides virtually infinite incremental adjustment capability along the upright axis defined by upright support  100 . The ratchet and pawl system also can be locked in place at any given vertical position within the range of possible positions available. Working embodiments of hoist  300  provided a total vertical position adjustment range of about 18 inches. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a working embodiment of the Ratchet Lever Hoist Assembly  300 . Describing the elements of the Ratchet Lever Hoist Assembly  300  from right to left in FIG. 7, the device comprised a load sheave cover  310 , which defined fastener apertures  312  therethrough. Load sheave cover  310  further defined a load sheave receiving aperture  314 . 
     Operably coupled to load sheave cover  310  was a top hook pin  316 . Top hook pin  316  was received in pin receiving portion  318  of load sheave cover  310 . 
     The hoist assembly further included a gear slide plate  320 . Plate  320  defined fastener apertures  322 , top hook pin receiving aperture  324  and load sheave receiving aperture  326 . Top hook pin  316  was received through aperture  324 . 
     The illustrated ratchet assembly further included a chain guide  328 . A first side of chain guide  328  was positioned adjacent gear slide plate  320  and further adjacent chain leader  330 . Furthermore, chain guide  328  was operably positioned adjacent chain stripper  332 . On a second side of chain guide  328  was positioned chain leader  334 . Chain leaders  330  and  334  were coupled together by chain stripper  332 . Chain stripper  332  defined tabs  336 , which were inserted into tab receiving apertures defined in each of the respective chain leaders  330 ,  334 . 
     Load bearing sheave  338  was operably positioned adjacent chain leader  334 . Chain  306  passes around shaft  340  of load sheave  338  when the ratchet hoist  300  is assembled. 
     Steel pipe  344  was positioned between gear slide plate  320  and wheel side plate  342 . Steel pipe  344  spaced plate  320  from  342 . Wheel side plate  342  defined fastener receiving aperture  345  and load sheave receiving aperture  346 . Plural fasteners  348  were inserted through apertures  345  in wheel side plate  342  and gear side plate  320 . Furthermore, a first end  350  of ratchet pin  352  was inserted through similar aperture  345  defined by wheel side plate  342 . A second end  354  of ratchet pin  352  passed through a looped end of a ratchet spring  356 . Operably positioned adjacent wheel side plate  342  were disc hub  358  and brake  360 . 
     Ratchet pawl  362  was operably positioned adjacent ratchet spring  356 . Pawl  362  defined a fastener receiving aperture  364 . Second end  354  of ratchet pin  352  was inserted through aperture  364  and through washer  366 . Pawl  362  was operably positioned adjacent wheel side plate  342  for engaging wheel  368 . Pawl  362  and wheel  368  allow virtually infinite incremental adjustment of the vertical position of chain  306 . A second brake  370  was positioned adjacent wheel  368 . 
     Feed gear  372 , which defined load sheave receiving aperture  374 , was operably positioned adjacent brake  370 . Positioned adjacent to feed gear  372  was brake cover  376 . Brake cover  376  defined plural fastener apertures  378  and feed gear receiving aperture  380 . Threaded end  354  of ratchet pin  352  was inserted through fastener receiving aperture  378 , and coupled to brake cover  376  by nuts  382  and washers  384 . 
     A first feed gear receiving end  386  of handle  302  defined feed gear receiving aperture  388 . Feed gear  372  was inserted through feed gear aperture  380  of brake cover  376 , through feed gear receiving aperture  388  of handle  302 , and coupled to handle  302  using lever setter  390 , nut  392  and washer  394 . 
     Chain  306  was coupled to a horizontal extension and mounting device  400 . In the illustrated embodiment of apparatus  2 , chain  306  was coupled to device  400  by bolt  402  (FIG.  4 ), which extended through mounting plates  404 . Bolt  402  also was inserted through two spacers  406  (FIG.  4 ). Spacers  406  were used to keep chain  306  in a proper centered position on bolt  402  during operation. 
     Mounting plates  404  were coupled to horizontal extension member  408 . In the illustrated working embodiment a first end  410  of the extension member  408  was attached to mounting plates  404  using two threaded fasteners  412  (FIG.  5 ). Horizontal slider plate  414  was attached to a second end  416  of extension member  408 . In the illustrated embodiment, slider plate  414  was welded to the extension member  408 . Slider plate  414  defines plural fastener receiving apertures  418  therethrough (FIG.  2 ). 
     Commercially available plural cam followers  420  were coupled to mounting plates  404  using threaded fasteners. Mounting plates  404  were spaced apart to fit about upright support  100  with cam followers  420  operably engaging the external surface of upright support  100 . 
     Actuating handle  302  either extends or retracts chain  306 . Thus, actuating handle  302  varies the vertical position of horizontal extension and mounting device  400 . 
     C. Tire and Wheel Support 
     Apparatus  2  includes a tire and wheel support  200 . The illustrated embodiment of apparatus  2  included a support  200  comprising a tire support  500  and a tire support ring  600 . Tire support  500 , similar to lower frame  10 , was pressed into the desired illustrated shape from a single piece of stock steel tubing, which was 1 inch×1inch by 11 gauge tubing. 
     Plural support members were attached, such as by welding, to the support  500 . The illustrated working embodiment had two tire support ring positioning and support members  502  welded thereto at a suitable angle to engage and position tire support ring  600  appropriately for receiving wheels. A first end  504  of each support member  502  was cut at an angle of about 70° from horizontal, so that when member  502  was welded to support  500 , support members  502  extended at corresponding angles. This angle is not critical to the function of apparatus  2 ; support members at various angles will adequately support and position tire support ring  600 , and all such embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. 
     Mounting plates  506  were attached, such as by welding, to a second end  508  of each support member  502 . Mounting plates  506  were spaced apart a distance sufficient to receive tire support ring  600  therebetween. Moreover, mounting plates  506  defined apertures therethrough for receiving fasteners  510 . Fasteners  510  were used to couple support ring  600  to the support members  502 . 
     An upright support member  512  also was attached, such as by welding, at a first end  514  to tire support  500 . Mounting plate  516 , best shown in FIG. 2, was attached, again such as by welding, to a second end  518  of upright support member  512 . Mounting plate  516  defined fastener receiving aperture  520  (FIG.  2 ). Aperture  520  was aligned with a corresponding fastener receiving aperture on horizontal extension member  408 . Threaded fasteners  524  were threaded through fastener aperture  520  to secure the tire support  500  to horizontal extension arm  408 . 
     Rollers  526  were coupled to first end  528  and second end  530  of tire support  500 . In a working embodiment, rollers  526  were 6-inches long. Rollers  526  engage tire T during handling to make positioning the tire easier. As illustrated by FIG. 6, tire support  500  was threaded to receive threaded ends of roller studs  532 . Roller studs  532  were inserted through plural bushings  534 , through rollers  526  and thereafter threadedly mated with the threads of support  500 . Threaded nut caps  536  were threaded onto the threaded ends of roller studs  532 . 
     Tire support ring  600  included two roller support members  602  and a third roller support member  604  welded thereto. Roller support members  602  and  604  were positioned approximately 120° degrees one from another around the circumference of substantially circular tire support ring  600 . Tire support ring was made from the same stock used to make bracket  500 , and included one weld to form the substantial circular shape of tire support ring  600 . Rollers  606 , approximately 4.5 inches in length, were coupled to roller support members  602  and roller support member  604  using roller studs  608  substantially as described above with reference to FIG.  6  and roller stud  532 . Roller studs  608  were inserted through bushings (not shown), through rollers  606  and thereafter threadedly mated with the threads of roller support members  602  and  604 . 
     Roller support member  604  defined a fastener receiving aperture  610  (FIG. 2) therethrough. Fastener  612  was threaded through aperture  610  to further secure tire support ring  600  to extension arm  408 . Tire support ring  600  was further coupled to horizontal extension arm  408  by aligning fastener apertures  418  in slider plate  414  with fastener apertures  614 . Threaded fasteners  616  were inserted through these apertures  614  for firmly securing tire support ring  600  to slider plate  414  of horizontal extension arm  404 . 
     II. OPERATION 
     To retrieve a tire from an automobile, the vertical position of tire and wheel support  200  generally is first lowered to its lowest position by placing switch  304  in the proper position to extend chain  306  by actuating handle  302 . This allows apparatus  2  to be positioned under the fender well of a vehicle. An operator grasps handle  110  to position apparatus  2  adjacent the tire and wheel. U-shaped lower frame  10  is sized and shaped to make this positioning easy. Moreover, using three casters  20 ,  22  and  24  and locating them at the illustrated positions on lower frame  10  provides for efficient maneuverability of apparatus  2 . 
     The operator now removes, or has previously removed, the lug nuts so that the wheel and tire assembly can be separated from the automobile. Tire support  500  is positioned in the appropriate vertical position by actuating handle  302  so that rollers  526  fly engage the tire. The tire is canted slightly towards the operator (FIG. 3, and the angle θ) so that the wheel is positioned inside of the tire support ring  600 . This positioning, and the upward angle of ends  528  and  530  of tire support  500 , allow the tire to be sufficiently securely held on apparatus  2  by the operator so that the tire and wheel assembly can be moved away from the vehicle without having to firmly secure it to apparatus  2 , such as by using a chain to secure the assembly to apparatus  2 . 
     Once a tire and wheel assembly is placed on apparatus  2 , a further advantage of the invention is realized. Personnel must rotate the tire and wheel assembly for both inspection and repair. The tire and wheel assembly is easily rotated simply by spinning it by hand. The tire and wheel assembly is relatively free spooling because tire T rests against rollers  526  and  606 . 
     The present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments. The scope of the invention should not be limited to these described embodiments, but rather should be determined by reference to the following claims.