Abstract:
An environmentally conscious method for repurposing or reusing tires. In lieu of shredding, burning, or burying otherwise non-biodegradable spent tires, they are repurposed for advertising, marketing, or decorative purposes, including covering the tires or painting and affixing additional elements to same to simulate generally any round, circular, or disk shaped object.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    There are no related applications. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
       [0003]    None. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention generally relates to methods for repurposing or recycling tires. More specifically, this invention combines used tires with specialty advertising and marketing products and services wherein the tires are incorporated into the marketing campaign. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    By most estimates, Americans dispose of 190 million automobile, truck, and equipment tires every year and at any given time, approximately 2 billion of these used tires are languishing in various dumps and scrap yards around the country. Because they are manufactured from petrochemicals, disposal or recycling is difficult. They cannot easily be burned because of the tremendous amounts of hydrocarbons released into the atmosphere, nor can they be reliably retreaded, thereby allowing them to be reused. More problematically, they are not biodegradable. What is needed is a method to repurpose used tires in an environmentally friendly manner. Preferably, this method entails no significant expenditure of additional energy and can be accomplished with little or no additional cost. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is a method for repurposing used tires whereby the spent tire is used in its entirety to create a marketing display. The tire is used as a base whereby it is covered or otherwise decorated in some manner to create an aesthetically pleasing display. In one version, the tire is mounted to a base and a tire cover, similar to those used on SUVs and other vehicles with externally mounted spare tires, is affixed in a conventional manner. A flower box or other open container is then affixed atop the tire and tire cover combination to create an aesthetically pleasing display. Alternatively, Greek or any language letters and/or numbers may be affixed to the tires. In yet another version, the circular shape of the tire itself is utilized to simulate another round object, for example, a life preserver, a coin, a ship&#39;s wheel, a hat, a clock, a bagel, a donut, a plate, a pizza, foodstuffs in a “takeout” canister, various warning signs, or a slice of fruit. 
         [0007]    It is an object of the invention to repurpose used or spent tires to create an aesthetically pleasing display; 
         [0008]    It is still another object of this invention to reduce to level of used or spent tires in landfills; 
         [0009]    It is another object of this invention to repurpose used or spent tires in an environmentally friendly manner; and, 
         [0010]    It is yet another object of this invention to repurpose used or spent tires in a manner that requires insignificant additional energy or cost. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an elevation view of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an elevation view of yet another alternate embodiment of the present invention; and, 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view of still another alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The preferred embodiments and best modes of the invention are shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . While the invention is described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended that the present invention be so limited. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalent arrangements as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0016]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show the present invention in a conformation simulating a life preserver  10 ,  11 . The tire  21 ,  31  is preferably painted in a primary color similar to those used with regard to life preservers. For example, in  FIG. 2  the tire  31  is painted white. Alternatively, the tire  21 ,  31  may be painted such that its color coordinates with the decor of the environment in which it will be place. Turning to  FIG. 1 , in lieu of a traditional color used for life preservers, the tire  21  is painted blue in order to coordinate its color with that of the surrounding environment. Similarly, contrastingly colored retention straps  22 ,  32  are affixed at approximately 90 degree intervals about the periphery of the tires  21 ,  31  in order to secure a length of cable  20 ,  30  similar to those affixed about a genuine life preserver for use as a handhold. In  FIG. 1  the strap  22  is yellow to contrast with the blue color of the tire  21 . In  FIG. 2 , which is configured to closely simulate the appearance of an actual life preserver, the strap  32  is red, as would be the case with regard to the genuine article. In a preferred embodiment, the interior volume  24 ,  34  defined by the sidewalls  25 ,  35  and the tread  26 ,  36  of the tires  21 ,  31  is partially or completely filled with flowers  23 ,  33  or other aesthetically pleasing item. Thereafter, the now-repurposed tires, in this case simulating a life preserver  10 ,  11 , are affixed to a wall in a conventional manner. 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is an alternative embodiment showing the invention mounted to a base. This embodiment may be used to simulate any generally disc-shaped item, for example a penny, whereby the simulation is generally larger-than-life size as dictated by the diameter of the tire  41  being repurposed. The tire  41  is mounted to a base  45  thereby permitting the apparatus  12  to be free standing. An insert  40  is then mounted in the diameter defined by the inside diameter  49  of the tire  41 . The tire  41  is then painted in a color scheme that is complimentary to the insert  40 . In practice, the insert  40  is generally sized to occlude the tire&#39;s inside diameter  49 , but may be sized to range up to and including the outside diameter  44  of the tire  41 . In  FIG. 3 , the insert  40  is formed to simulate the appearance of a penny. The tire  41  is painted in a similar copper color such that the entire apparatus  12  simulates an enlarged penny. This penny simulation is an ideal marketing device for use by, for example, a bank. Additionally, inserts  40  may be manufactured to simulate any round item. For example, a whole pizza, a dinner plate with the meal plated onto it, or a top view of a take-out food container may be used to promote a restaurant. Similarly, a cross sectional slice of an orange or apple may be used to promote a grocery or market. Thereafter, the tire  41  is painted in a manner that completes the effect of simulating the various items depicted in the insert  40 . In a preferred embodiment, a stanchion  46  is mounted to the base such that the stanchion  46  is partially hidden by the tire  41 . A display adjunct, for example a shelf  47 , is then mounted atop the stanchion  46 . Marketing materials  48  may be carried on the shelf  47 , and the entire device  12  can thereby by used for promotional purposes. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  shows yet another embodiment wherein the apparatus  13  simulates a spare tire and its cover similar to what might be found affixed to the rear of many sport utility vehicles (SUVs). In this version, a readily available tire cover  51  is simply mounted about the tire  50  in a conventional manner and the cover  51  and tire  50  combination are mounted to a base  52  that supports the apparatus as a free-standing device. Tire covers  51  are widely available and are commonly used to advertise various automobile, vehicle, and merchandise brands, and are easily obtained with any customized design. Thereafter, a display adjunct is mounted atop the tire  50  and cover  51  combination. Such adjuncts may comprise a shelf, or as shown in  FIG. 4 , comprise a flower box  53  dressed to complement the cover to which it is affixed. Flowers  54  are then placed in the box  53 , thereby creating a pleasing decorative object from the previously spent tire. 
         [0019]    The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular embodiments which have been described above. Instead, the embodiments described here should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims: