Abstract:
A tire tool for facilitating the removal of a tire from a wheel rim having multiple radially spaced stud holes. The tire tool comprises a main body portion with two threaded bores at opposite ends of the main body portion. Secured to a first threaded bore of the main body portion is a means for driving the first end of the main body portion in a downward direction. The driving means is adapted to rest on the inner edge of a tire. Secured to the second threaded bore of the main body portion is a means for releasably securing the main body portion to the plurality of stud holes of the rim. The tire removal is accomplished by the downward driving force which causes the bead of the tire to break from the rim of the wheel.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to improvements in tire tools and, more particularly, to a tire tool for facilitating the removal of a tire from a wheel rim. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The removal of tires on wheel rims is a difficult and time consuming operation, particularly the removal of large diameter tires, such as found on large highway and off-highway vehicles. The usual passenger automobile tire is sufficiently small and light weight as to permit manually positioning thereof at an elevation above the normal floor or ground level and on a substantially horizontally disposed machine having a tool mounted thereon which may be utilized for breaking the seal between the tire and wheel rim. Once the seal has been broken between the bead of the tire and the wheel rim, the tool may be manually moved around the outer periphery of the tire bead for separating the tire from the wheel rim, and the application of a suitable manual pressure against the loosened tire permits the removal of the tire from the wheel rim. Large truck tires, and the like, however, are heavy and unwieldy and, as a rule, cannot be manipulated in this manner. The disadvantages will be readily apparent. 
     Many tools have been developed for facilitating the removal of tires from the associated wheel rims, such as the Threlfall Pat. No. 786,611; the Hussey Pat. No. 834,908; the Dickey et al. Pat. No. 1,587,634; the Wendelken Pat. No. 2,615,507; the Schulta et al. Pat. No. 3,029,860; and the McKinney Pat. No. 3,104,695. These tire tools, however, ride around the periphery of the tire and wheel rim and have not been found to be efficient or effective for the removal of the large tires in widespread use today. 
     In order to overcome these disadvantages, the tire tool shown in this application was developed whereby tires may be readily removed from the associated wheel rim with ease and in a matter of minutes. The small size of the present tire tool is advantageous over the heavy and cumbersome tire tools on the market. Another advantage is that the new tire tool is portable and can be adapted for use in any situation. As is readily apparent, the present tire tool has these and other advantages which will be described in the following sections. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The tire tool of the present invention is used to facilitate the removal of a tire from the wheel rim. The tire tool is adapted for use with rims that have a plurality of stud holes spaced outwardly from the center of the rim. The tire tool comprises a main body portion which has two bores at opposite ends of the main body portion. Secured to the first bore of the main body portion is a means for driving the first end of the main body portion in a downward direction. The driving means rests on the tire. Secured to the second bore of the main body portion is a means for releasably engaging the main body portion to one of the plurality of stud holes of the rim. After the tire tool is positioned on the tire and secured to the wheel rim, the driving means of the tire tool on the first end of the main body portion causes the tire bead to break from the rim of the wheel in a safe and efficient manner. 
     It is desired that the two bores of the main body portion be threaded bores. It is further desired that the main body portion be substantially planar, that the driving means be the combination of a first threaded bolt secured to a wheel socket, and that the engaging means be a second threaded bolt secured to a wing nut. The main body portion should be sized so that when the engaging means engages one of the stud holes of the rim, the driving means rests on the tire bead proximate the outer periphery of the wheel rim. The first threaded bolt may preferably have a horizontal extending threaded aperture near the bottom end thereof for removably securing a screw. This screw will prevent the first threaded bolt from moving downward so as to pierce the wheel socket and/or the tire. Thus, it is required that the screw, when removably secured to the horizontally extending threaded aperture of the first threaded bolt, be of a length greater than the length of the horizontally extending aperture. It is also desired that the first threaded bolt have a horizontal groove located below the horizontally extending threaded aperture. 
     The wheel socket is preferably adapted to rest on the inner periphery of the tire proximate the outer periphery of the wheel rim. As such, the first threaded bolt is removably secured to the wheel socket by way of being inserted into a vertically protruding hole in the wheel socket. The wheel socket should also have two opposing horizontally extending holes proximate the vertically protruding hole. A thrust ball bearing is first inserted into the vertically protruding hole of the wheel socket. Then, a pair of steel balls are inserted into the horizontally extending holes of the wheel socket, so as to contact the horizontal groove of the inserted first threaded bolt. Thereafter, a pair of screws is inserted into the horizontally extending holes of the wheel socket adjacent to the pair of steel balls. 
     A second threaded bolt is preferably first inserted vertically upward through a radially spaced stud hole of the rim before being inserted into the second threaded bore of the main body portion. To better secure the second threaded bolt to the main body portion, a wing nut can be removably secured to the second threaded bolt from above the main body portion at the location where the second threaded bolt extends upward from the second threaded bore of the main body portion. It is most preferred that, to prevent the loss or separation of the second threaded bolt from the main body portion when the second threaded bolt is not removably secured to the second threaded bore of the main body portion, a wire cable be adapted to permanently fasten the second threaded bolt to the main body portion. 
     The tire tool greatly facilitates the removal of the tire from the rim because it is small in size, is not cumbersome to use and is highly portable for use at any location. Thus, the tire tool of the present invention has numerous advantages over prior tire tools used for similar purposes. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a front elevational view of the tire tool when its components are not fully attached. 
     FIG. 2 displays the side elevational view of the tire tool with all of its components attached. 
     FIG. 3 shows the side cross-sectional view of the tire on line  3 — 3  displayed in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of the tire tool when it rests on the tire and is secured to the rim. 
     FIG. 5 displays the sectional elevational view of the tire and rim on line  5 — 5  from FIG. 4 when the tire tool rests on the tire and is secured to the rim. 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the tire tool breaking the tire bead from the wheel rim. 
     FIG. 7 shows the sectional elevational view of the tire and rim on line  7 — 7  from FIG. 6 when the tire tool causes the tire bead to break from the wheel rim. 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the impact gun as a device to facilitate the tire tool in breaking the tire bead from the rim. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a tire tool used to facilitate the removal of the wheel rim from a tire. The drawings accompanying this description depict various preferred embodiments of the invention which can be formed in a variety of ways. While the description will proceed with respect to the drawings, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that such descriptions and drawings are used to explain the novel features of the invention, rather than in any limiting sense. 
     Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly FIGS. 1 through 8, reference character  10  generally indicates a tire tool. FIG. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of the detached tire tool  10  invention which comprises a main body portion  12  having a first end  14  and a second end  16 . The main body portion  12  is most preferably a bracket plate  18 . The main body portion  12  has a first vertically extending bore  20  proximate the first end  14  of the main body portion  12  and a second vertically extending bore  22  proximate the second end  16  of the main body portion  12 . It is most preferred that the first vertically extending bore  20  and the second vertically extending  22  bore be threaded. Secured to the first bore  20  of the main body portion  12  is a means for driving  24  the first end  14  of the main body portion  12  in a downward direction. The preferred driving means  24  is a first threaded bolt  26  used in conjunction with a wheel socket  28 . 
     The first threaded bolt  26  has a top end  30  and a bottom end  32 . Located at the top end  30  of the first threaded bolt  26  is a head  34 . In facilitating the driving means  24 , it is also most preferred that the first threaded bolt  26  be defined with a horizontally extending threaded aperture  36  near its bottom end  32  and a horizontal groove  38  located below the horizontally extending threaded aperture  36 . In this way, once the first threaded bolt  26  is removably secured to the first threaded bore  20  of the main body portion  12 , a third screw  40  may be inserted through the horizontally extending threaded aperture  36  of the first threaded bolt  26 , so that the first threaded bolt  26  will not pierce through the wheel socket  28  and/or the tire  42  (shown in later figures) when force is exerted on the driving means  24 . As such, it is understood by one of ordinary skill in that art that the third screw  40  must be of a length greater than the length of the horizontally extending threaded aperture  36  of the first threaded bolt  26 . The most preferred third screw  40  is a third hexagon socket set screw  40 . The most preferred first threaded bolt is a first hexagon head bolt  26 . 
     In securing the driving means  24 , the first threaded bolt  26  is inserted from above the main body portion  12  down through the first threaded bore  20  thereof to meet the wheel socket  28  located below the main body portion  12 . It is readily understood by one of skill in that art that the wheel socket  28  typically has a vertically protruding hole  44  where the first threaded bolt  26  removably contacts the wheel socket  28 . It is further preferred that the wheel socket  28  have an arcuate edge portion  46  to substantially mirror the outer periphery  48  of the wheel rim  50  (shown in later figures). 
     It is most preferred that the wheel socket  28  have a horizontally extending first threaded hole  52  and a horizontally extending second threaded hole  54  proximate the vertically protruding hole  44  thereof. The first threaded hole  52  and second threaded hole  54  are most preferably in opposing positions on the wheel socket  28 . In this preferred embodiment, a thrust ball bearing  56  is first placed in the vertically protruding hole  44  of the wheel socket  28  before the first threaded bolt  26  contacts the wheel socket  28 . Thereafter, a first steel ball  58  and second steel ball  60  are inserted into the opposing horizontally extending first threaded hole  52  and second threaded hole  54  of the wheel socket  28  to contact the horizontal groove  38  of the removably inserted first threaded bolt  26 . Then, a pair of first screw  62  and second screw  64  are inserted into the opposing horizontally extending first threaded hole  52  and second threaded hole  54  of the wheel socket  28  adjacent to the first steel ball  58  and second steel ball  60 . In this way, the first threaded bolt  26  may freely rotate without moving in a downward motion. The most preferred first screw  62  and second screw  64  are a first hexagon socket set screw  62  and a second hexagon socket set screw  64 . 
     As for the second end  16  of the main body portion  12 , this second end  16  is removably secured to the wheel rim  50  (shown in later figures) by way of a releasably engaging means  66 . The engaging means  66  most preferably is a second threaded bolt  68  that is inserted upward from underneath one of a plurality of stud holes  70  of the rim  50  (shown in later figures) to engage the second threaded bore  22  of the main body portion  12 . It is even more preferred that the second threaded bolt  68  be a hexagon head bolt  68 . Once the second threaded bolt  68  is inserted upward through the second threaded bore  22  of the main body portion  12 , a wing nut  72  is removably secured to the now vertically protruding second threaded bolt  68 . 
     As FIG. 1 is the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, it also displays the permanent attachment of the second end  16  of the main body portion  12  to the second threaded bolt  68 . This attachment ensures that the second threaded bolt  68  will not be lost or separated from the main body portion  12  when the second threaded bolt  68  is not removably secured to the second threaded bore  22  of the main body portion  12 . This permanent attachment is accomplished by permanently securing a wire cable  74  to each of the second threaded bolt  68  and the second end  16  of the main body portion  12  with a fourth screw  76  and a fifth screw  78 . The fourth screw  76  is inserted into the second end  16  of the main body portion  12 , while the fifth screw  78  is inserted into the second threaded bolt  68 . The most preferred fourth screw  76  and fifth screws  78  are fourth and fifth hexagon socket set screws  76  and  78 . This permanent attachment further ensures that the complete tire tool  10  will be portable for ease of use at any location. 
     FIG. 2 shows a side elevational view of the tire tool  10  when all of its components are secured. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view on line  3 — 3  in FIG. 2 of the tire tool  10  when all of its components are secured. The same components displayed in FIG. 1 are also shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 with the matching parts numbers. 
     FIG. 4 shows the tire tool  10  resting on the tire  42  and secured to the wheel rim  50 . As FIG. 4 shows, the main body portion  12  should be sized so that when the second threaded bolt  68  of the engaging means  66  engages one of the stud holes  70  of the rim  50 , the wheel socket  28  of the driving means  24  rests on the tire bead  80  proximate the outer periphery  48  of the wheel rim  50 . The first end  14  of the main body portion  12  should be adapted for positioning above the tire  42 , while the second end  16  of the main body portion  12  should be adapted for positioning above the stud holes  70  of the wheel rim  50 . 
     FIG. 5 shows the cross-sectional view of the tire  42  and rim  50  when the tire tool  10  (shown in side elevational view) rests on the tire  42  and is secured to the rim  50 . In particular, FIG. 5 shows the sectional view of line  5 — 5  in FIG.  4 . The tire bead  80  has not been broken from the rim  50  in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     Once the tire tool  10  rests on the tire  42  and is fully secured to the rim  50  in the above-described manner, applying a force on the driving means  24  breaks the tire bead  80 . It should be readily understood that there are numerous ways for applying such force. However, it is preferred that a rotational force be applied to the head  34  of the first threaded bolt  26 ; this results in a downward motion of the driving means  24  relative to a counter-active upward motion of the engaging means  66  that is secured to the rim  50 . Such a motion and counter motion result in the breaking of the tire bead  80  from the rim  50  in a quick and safe manner; this is displayed in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 7 shows the cross-sectional view of the tire  42  and rim  50  when the tire tool  10  (shown in side elevational view) breaks the tire bead  80  from the rim  50 . In particular, FIG. 7 shows the sectional view of line  7 — 7  from FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 shows a conventional impact gun  82  as the device which imparts rotational force to facilitate the driving means  24  to accomplish the breaking of the bead  80  of the tire  42  from the wheel rim  50 . The impact gun  82  has a socket  84  adapted to engage the head  34  (not shown in FIG. 8) of the first threaded bolt  26 . In this embodiment, after the tire tool  10  is assembled and secured to the tire  42  and wheel rim  50 , as described above, the socket  84  of the impact gun  82  is removably secured to the head  34  (not shown in FIG. 8) of the first threaded bolt  26 . Then, the impact gun  82  is turned on, which results in a rotational force on the first threaded bolt  26 . This action forces the main body portion  12  to move in a counter-active upward motion, and results in the rim  50  being separated from the tire bead  80 . It is most preferred that the socket  84  of the impact gun  82  have an 1½ diameter, although it will readily be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention will be operable as long as the socket  84  of the impact gun  82  is sized to cooperatively engage the head  34  (not shown in FIG. 8) of the first hexagon head bolt  26 . 
     Other manual devices may be used to facilitate the driving means  24 , so as to break the tire bead  80  from the rim  50 . While these devices are not pictured, two such manual devices are a ratchet and a wrench. In each case, the rotational motion is the same as already described above for the impact gun  82 , except that manual force will be used, instead of mechanical motor force, to accomplish the breaking of the bead  80 . It is preferred that the ratchet and the wrench have sockets sized to fit the head  34  of the first threaded bolt  26 , so that each device is properly used to facilitate the driving means  24 . In particular, the sockets of each of the ratchet and wrench should preferably be 1½ inches in diameter to properly fit the head  34  of the first hexagon head bolt  26 . 
     It should also be readily understood by those skilled in the art that a grease-like substance, such as SUPER SLICK &#39;EM, TM, available from Gaither Tool Company, 2255 W. Monroe Ave., Jacksonville, Ill. 62650, may be applied on the tire  42  at a position between the outer periphery  48  of the wheel rim  50  and the tire bead  80  to facilitate the breaking of the bead  80  from the wheel rim  50 . The tire  42  can also be deflated before the removal technique is initiated; this allows removal of the rim  50  from the tire  42  to be accomplished even more quickly and easily. 
     Those of skill in the art will recognize that the tire tool  10  can be made of any strong, durable material. In particular, the most preferred material from which the tire tool  10  can be made is either iron or steel. But, one skilled in the art will further recognize that the tire tool  10  can be made from a variety of other materials and composites that are known to be strong and durable in the art. The present invention, therefore, will not be viewed by those skilled in the art as being limited in its composition to either steel or iron. 
     The foregoing discussion is illustrative of the invention. However, since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides wholly in the claims hereinafter appended.