Abstract:
A tire puncture repair apparatus may include a handle, a puncture repair screw, and an integral neck between the handle and the puncture repair screw. The puncture repair screw may include a screw head, a cylindrical shaft extending from the screw head opposite the neck, a partially threaded and solid cone that uniformly narrows from the shaft to a tip opposite the shaft, and a conic-helical thread coiled about the cone between the tip and the shaft. The diameter of the shaft may be approximately equal to the diameter of the cone at the widest point of the cone. The thread on the cone may include an angled ridge and may be coiled around the cone from the intersection of the shaft and the cone to before tip of the cone.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This document claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/585,583 entitled “TIRE PUNCTURE REPAIR TOOL” to Kong that was filed on Jan. 11, 2012, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    Aspects of this document relate generally to tire puncture repair apparatuses. 
         [0004]    2. Background Art 
         [0005]    Flat tires are a frustration to most, if not all drivers at some point in the life of an automobile. Flat tires are often the result of a puncture in the tire, a puncture caused by nails, screws, or other natural or manmade debris. Various tire puncture repair tools exist to repair tubeless tires. Conventional tire puncture repair tools able to be used at the site of the flat tire with the tire on the rim (as opposed to removing the tire from the rim in a repair shop), however, do not securely fasten within the tire. For screw types, the puncture repair screw may slip out of the puncture, or significant air loss may occur even when the puncture repair screw is within the puncture of the tire due to the structure of the screw-type device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A first aspect of a tire puncture repair apparatus, comprises a handle, a puncture repair screw, the puncture repair screw comprising a screw head, a cylindrical shaft extending from the screw head opposite the neck, an at least partially threaded and solid right circular cone that uniformly narrows from the shaft to a tip opposite the shaft, and a conic-helical thread coiled about the right circular cone between the tip and the shaft, and an integral neck, narrower than the screw head and positioned between the handle and the puncture repair screw coupled to the screw head, and wherein a shaft diameter is substantially equal to a cone diameter at the right circular cone&#39;s maximum diameter. 
         [0007]    In particular implementations and embodiments, the tire puncture repair apparatus may comprise one or more of the following. The thread may comprise an angled ridge. The thread may be coiled about the cone beginning at least at an intersection of the cone and the shaft and ending at a location before the tip. The handle may comprise a winged formation. An angled valley may be located between each coil of the conic-helical thread. A rounded valley may be located between each coil of the conic-helical thread. The conic-helical thread may comprise a right handed conic-helical thread. The handle may comprise at least two wings extending away from the puncture repair screw in mirrored opposing directions from each other to form the handle. At least one grip element may be on the at least two wings. The shaft may comprise a helical shaft thread coiled about the shaft. 
         [0008]    A second aspect of a tire puncture repair apparatus comprises a handle, a puncture repair screw coupled to the handle, the puncture repair screw comprising a screw head coupled to the handle and a uniformly tapered screw thread, the uniformly tapered screw thread comprising an angled ridge wrapped about a right circular cone in the form of a conic helix. 
         [0009]    In particular implementations and embodiments, the tire puncture repair apparatus may comprise one or more of the following. A breakable neck may be coupled between the puncture repair screw and the handle. The puncture repair screw may comprise a shaft coupled between the screw head and the uniformly tapered screw head, and a tip opposite the shaft. The uniformly tapered screw head may taper from the shaft such that a shaft diameter is equal to a cone diameter at the right circular cone&#39;s maximum diameter. The thread may be coiled about the cone beginning at least at an intersection of the cone and the shaft and ending at a location before the tip. The handle may comprise at least two wings extending away from the puncture repair screw in mirrored opposing directions from each other to form the handle. At least one grip element may be located on the at least two wings. An angled valley may be located between each coil of the conic-helical thread. A rounded valley may be located between each coil of the conic-helical thread. 
         [0010]    Aspects and applications of the disclosure presented here are described below in the drawings and detailed description. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given their plain, ordinary, and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. The inventors are fully aware that they can be their own lexicographers if desired. The inventors expressly elect, as their own lexicographers, to use only the plain and ordinary meaning of terms in the specification and claims unless they clearly state otherwise and then further, expressly set forth the “special” definition of that term and explain how it differs from the plain and ordinary meaning Absent such clear statements of intent to apply a “special” definition, it is the inventors&#39; intent and desire that the simple, plain and ordinary meaning to the terms be applied to the interpretation of the specification and claims. 
         [0011]    The inventors are also aware of the normal precepts of English grammar. Thus, if a noun, term, or phrase is intended to be further characterized, specified, or narrowed in some way, then such noun, term, or phrase will expressly include additional adjectives, descriptive terms, or other modifiers in accordance with the normal precepts of English grammar. Absent the use of such adjectives, descriptive terms, or modifiers, it is the intent that such nouns, terms, or phrases be given their plain, and ordinary English meaning to those skilled in the applicable arts as set forth above. 
         [0012]    Further, the inventors are fully informed of the standards and application of the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶ 6. Thus, the use of the words “function,” “means” or “step” in the Detailed Description or Description of the Drawings or claims is not intended to somehow indicate a desire to invoke the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶ 6, to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶ 6 are sought to be invoked to define the inventions, the claims will specifically and expressly state the exact phrases “means for” or “step for, and will also recite the word “function” (i.e., will state “means for performing the function of [insert function]”), without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material or act in support of the function. Thus, even when the claims recite a “means for performing the function of . . . ” or “step for performing the function of . . . ,” if the claims also recite any structure, material or acts in support of that means or step, or that perform the recited function, then it is the clear intention of the inventors not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶ 6. Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶ 6 are invoked to define the claimed aspects, it is intended that these aspects not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function as described in alternative embodiments or forms of the disclosure, or that are well known present or later-developed, equivalent structures, material or acts for performing the claimed function. 
         [0013]    The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent to those artisans of ordinary skill in the art from the DESCRIPTION and DRAWINGS, and from the CLAIMS. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, where like designations denote like elements, and: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tire puncture repair tool; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a tire puncture repair tool; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a tire puncture repair tool; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a tire puncture repair tool; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a tire puncture repair tool; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view taken along section line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7A-C  are a sectional views of a tire puncture repair tool in a tire; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a second implementation of a tire puncture repair tool. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    This disclosure, its aspects and implementations, are not limited to the specific components or assembly procedures disclosed herein. Many additional components and assembly procedures known in the art consistent with the intended tubeless tire puncture repair tools and/or assembly procedures for a tubeless tire puncture repair tool will become apparent for use with implementations of tire puncture repair tools from this disclosure. Accordingly, for example, although particular tire puncture repair tools are disclosed, such tire puncture repair tools and implementing components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, measurement, concentration, material, quantity, and/or the like as is known in the art for such tire puncture repair tool and implementing components, consistent with the intended operation of tire puncture repair tools. 
         [0024]    Implementations of a tire puncture repair tool  100  disclosed herein provide a puncture repair screw  150  configured to improve the functionality and effectiveness of the tire puncture repair tool. As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , an implementation of a tire puncture repair tool comprises a handle  100 , a puncture repair screw  150 , a neck  110  connecting the puncture repair screw  150  and the handle  105 . The handle  105  may comprise a variety of sizes, shapes, and configurations that allow a user to apply rotational force to the handle to rotate the puncture repair screw. 
         [0025]    In a particular implementation, the handle  105  comprises winged edges  155  that allow for greater torque when rotating the tire puncture repair tool  100 . Various implementations may further comprise at least one grip element  157  on or near the winged edges  155  of the handle. The at least one grip elements may comprise any size, shape or texture that gives the user an increased grip on the tire puncture repair tool when in use. In the illustrated implementations, the at least one grip element comprises rounded ridges. In other implementations, the at least one grip element  157  may comprise squared or pointed ridges. In still other implementation, the at least one grip element  157  may comprise a rough surface or any material that increases the friction between the user&#39;s hand and the handle  105  of a tire puncture repair tool  100 . 
         [0026]    An implementation of the tire puncture repair tool  100  may further comprise a support structure  159  positioned between and/or coupled to the opposing arms of the winged edges  155 . The support structure may, in various implementations, perform a variety of functions, including but not limited to: increased surface area for gripping the handle  105 ; support for the winged edges  155 , or a print location for names, logos, and the like. 
         [0027]    The neck  110  of the tire puncture repair tool may comprise any size, shape or configuration that allows a user to rotate the puncture repair screw  150  by rotating the handle  105  when the puncture repair screw  150  is at least partially within a tire, then separate the handle  105  from the puncture repair screw  150  once the puncture repair screw  150  is secure within the tire. In  FIG. 1 , the neck  110  comprises narrow extension between the handle  105  and the screw head  115 . Once the puncture repair screw  150  is within a tire, a user may either continue rotating the handle  105  until the neck  110  breaks, or may alternatively bend the handle  105  in various directions perpendicular to the puncture repair screw  150  until the neck  110  breaks. When the neck  110  breaks, the handle  105  may be removed from the puncture repair screw  110 , the puncture repair screw  110  remaining within the tire puncture. 
         [0028]    In an implementation, the puncture repair screw  150  comprises a screw head  115  coupled to the neck  110 , a shaft  120 , a screw thread  125 , a right circular cone  140 , and a tip  145  distal to the screw head  115 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in an implementation the shaft  120  extends from the screw head  115  in a direction distal to the neck  110 . The shaft  120  illustrated in  FIG. 1  comprises a cylindrical shaft  120 ; in other implementations, however, the shaft may comprise any shape or dimension. 
         [0029]    Implementations of a puncture repair screw  150  may further comprise a right circular cone  140  that narrows uniformly from the shaft  120  the tip  145 . The juncture or intersection of the cone  140  and the shaft  120  may comprise a rounded or angled intersection. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the cone  140  may comprise a maximum diameter  165  that is equal or substantially equal to a diameter  160  of the shaft  120 . In other implementations, the maximum diameter  165  of the cone  140  is greater than the diameter  160  of the shaft  120 . In still other implementations, the diameter  160  of the shaft may decrease as the shaft approaches the screw head  115 . 
         [0030]    Though not always completely visible due to the position of the screw thread  125 , the right circular cone  140  narrows at uniform rate from the shaft  120  to the tip  145 . The rate of narrowing may vary according to different implementations or designs for specific tires. In an implementation, the cone  140  is substantially solid. In other implementations, the cone  140  may comprise a hollow or filled cone  140 . 
         [0031]    The tire puncture repair tool  100  may further comprise a conical-helical thread  125  coiled or otherwise disposed on or about the cone  140  between the tip  145  and shaft  120 . In a particular implementation, the thread  125  continues at least partially onto the shaft. The thread  125  may similarly continue all the way to the tip  145  in some implementations. In the implementation shown in  FIG. 1 , the ridge  135  at the beginning of thread  125  is aligned with the intersection of the shaft  120  and the cone  140 . In some implementations, portions of the thread  125  extend beyond the intersection of the shaft  120  and the cone  140  so that the thread  125 , and in some implementations the ridge  135 , extend onto the shaft  120 . Where the thread  125  begins and/or ends, the thread  125  may begin perpendicular to the cone  140  at its ridge  135  radial height, or may gradually slope to meet the cone  140 . 
         [0032]    A puncture repair screw  150  that comprises a shaft  120  that continues to at least the beginning of the screw thread  125  is advantageous. Such a configuration lessons the likelihood of the screw  150  falling out of the tire or air leaking through the tire puncture when the puncture repair screw  150  is within the tire. In a particular implementation, the distance between the beginning of the screw thread  125  and the screw head  115  is less than the thickness of an average tire, or more particularly the tire into which the puncture repair screw  150  is designed to be inserted. Puncture repair screws  150  may be designed with differing distances between the beginning of the screw thread  125  and the screw head  115  to function best for differently sized tubeless tire tread and wall thicknesses. 
         [0033]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in some implementations, the valleys  130  between the ridges  135  of the screw thread  125  meet the slope or boundary of the right circular cone  140 . In  FIG. 3 , dashed lines represent the continued uniform slope  170  of the cone  140 . In the implementation of  FIG. 3 , the bottoms of the valleys  130  meet the slope  170  of the cone  140 . In other implementations, the valleys  130  may not reach the slope  170  of the cone, or may extend beyond the slope  170  of the cone. 
         [0034]    The thread  125  coils down or along the cone  140  in a uniform manner in an implementation, such that the ridges  135  of the thread  125  appear parallel to one another when viewed from the front or the side (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). Because the cone  140  tapers uniformly and the thread  125  coils along the cone  140  in a uniform manner in this implementation, a flat plane may be formed on the peaks of the screw thread in a cross-sectioned view, shown in FIG.  6 . Furthermore, when view from the front or side, the puncture repair screw  150  may comprise any number of ridges  135 . In the implementation of  FIGS. 1-6 , the puncture repair screw comprises six ridges  135 . 
         [0035]    As best illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the thread  125  of a puncture repair screw  150  may comprise an angled ridge  135 . The particular angle of the ridge  135  may comprise any angle, such as but not limited to a right angle, and obtuse angle, or an acute angle. The screw thread  125  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6  comprises a sharp-angled peak at the apex of the screw thread ridge  135 . In contrast, conventional screw type tire repair tools comprise a screw thread having a well rounded ridge. A sharp-angled peak is advantageous over rounded ridges because the sharp-angled peak lessens the likelihood of the screw falling out of the tire or air leaking through the tire puncture when the puncture repair screw is within the tire. 
         [0036]    In particular implementations, the angle of the walls forming the screw thread  125  is at approximately 30-60 degrees relative to the slope  170  of the cone  140 , and in particular implementations at approximately 40-50 degrees relative to the slope  170  of the cone  140 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  illustrates another implementation of a tire puncture repair tool  800 . In the illustrated implementation, the tire puncture repair tool comprises a handle  105  similar to implementations of handles  105  previously discussed in this document. A tire puncture repair tool may further comprise a more rounded neck  810  or a neck similar to the neck  110  previously discussed in relation to tire puncture repair tool  100 . As further illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a tire puncture repair tool may comprise a flat head  815  between the neck  810  and the shaft  820 , or alternatively a head  115  similar to head  115  described in relation to tire puncture repair tool  100 . 
         [0038]    Similar to the aspects of tire puncture repair tool  100 , tire puncture repair tool  800  may comprise a cylindrical shaft  820  that extends from the head  815  to a right circle cone  840 . The right circle cone  840  illustrated in  FIG. 8  narrows uniformly from the shaft  820  to the tip  845 . As previously described in relation to other implementations, the cone  840  comprises a maximum diameter that is equal to or substantially equal to a diameter of the shaft. In other implementations of tire puncture repair tool  800 , the maximum diameter of the cone  840  is greater than the diameter of the shaft  820 . In still other implementations, the diameter of the shaft  820  decreases or increases as the shaft approaches the screw head  815 . 
         [0039]    Though not completely visible due to the position of the cone thread  825 , the right circular cone  840  narrows at a uniform rate from an end of the shaft  820  to the tip  845 . Tire puncture repair tool  800  further comprises a conical-helical cone thread  825  coiled or otherwise disposed on or about the cone  840  between the tip  845  and the shaft  820 . While the cone thread  825  illustrated in  FIG. 8  comprises angle peaks  835  and rounded valleys  830 , other implementations of the tire puncture repair tool may comprise a cone thread  825  similar to that illustrated in relation to tire puncture repair tool  100 . Furthermore, while cone thread  825  continues all from the top of the cone  840  substantially to the tip  845 , in other implementations the cone thread  825  may begin at or near the top of the cone  840  and end before the tip  845 . 
         [0040]    Tire puncture repair tool  800  further comprises a helical shaft thread  855  coiled or otherwise disposed on or about the shaft  820  between the head  815  and the cone  840 . The shaft thread  855  may comprise angled or rounded peaks  860 , and angled or rounded valleys  865 . In the implementation illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the shaft thread  855  comprises angled peaks  860  and rounded valleys  865 . According to various aspects, the helical shaft thread  855  may be tightly coiled, resulting in more coils, or loosely coiled, resulting in fewer coils. In other implementations, aspects discussed in reference to tire puncture repair tool  100  may be combined with various aspects of tire puncture repair tool  800 . 
         [0041]    Implementations of a tire puncture repair tool  100 ,  800  may comprise of a variety of materials, including but not limited to plastic or metal-based solids. In an implementation, at least a portion of a tire repair puncture tool is comprised of glass infused plastic. This or other implementations may utilize a polypropylene or other thermoplastic polymers. 
         [0042]    In particular implementations, the tire puncture repair tool  100  may be utilized by first inserting the tip  145  into a puncture hole of a tire. Although utilization of tire puncture repair tool  100  is referenced, tire puncture repair tool  800  may be utilized in a similar fashion. The puncture repair screw  150  may then be pushed further into the tire by rotating the handle  105  such that the puncture repair screw correspondingly rotates. Once the screw head  115  is at the surface level of the tire, the handle  105  may be bent until the neck  110  breaks, separating the handle  105  from the repair screw  150 . 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7A-C , various implementations of a tire puncture repair tool  100  may be used to plug a puncture  215  in a tubeless tire  200 . In  FIG. 7A , a cross-sectioned view of a tread portion of a tire  200  is shown.  FIG. 7A  also illustrates an example of a tire puncture  215 , the tire puncture  215  extending from the outside surface  205  of the tire  200  through to the inside surface  210  of the tire  200 . Nails, screws or other construction material on the roads often cause tire punctures of this type. Although the puncture  215  is shown at a particular location on the tire  200  in  FIG. 7A , the tire puncture repair tool  100  may be utilized to at least temporarily repair a puncture  215  anywhere on a tire  200 .  FIG. 7B  illustrates the tire puncture repair tool  100  after been inserted into the puncture  215  on the tire  200 . According to aspects of various implementations, the tire puncture repair tool  100  may be inserted in to the puncture  215  by pressing the tip  145  of the puncture repair screw  150  into puncture  215  on the outside of the tire, then rotating the puncture repair screw  150  by rotating the handle  105  of the tire puncture repair tool  100 . 
         [0044]    The configuration of the tire puncture repair tool  100  in relation to the thread  125  assists in the insertion of the puncture repair screw  150  into the puncture  215 . For example, by providing a uniformly narrowing cone  140  and screw threads  125 , the puncture repair screw  150  is less likely to wobble or move about as the puncture repair screw  150  is inserted into the puncture  215 . Distinct from a conventional screw that has a consistent diameter for a majority of the length, the threaded portion of the puncture repair screw  150  includes a uniformly narrowing cone. The peak ridges  135  of the thread  125 , distinct from prior art approaches to designing a repair screw, provides increased grip or traction to draw the puncture repair screw  150  into the tire  200  as the tire puncture repair tool  100  is rotated from outside the tire  200 . 
         [0045]    As previously described and illustrated more fully  FIGS. 7B  and C, the length of shaft  120  of the puncture repair screw  150  between the start of the thread  125  and the neck of the tool, is configured to be substantially equal to but not greater than the distance between the inside surface  210  and the outside surface  205  of the tire  200 . This feature provides increased functionality to the tire puncture repair tool  100 . The initial ridge  135  of the screw thread  125  is, in various implementations, aligned with the end of the shaft  120 . This peaked ridge  135 , then, also acts to provide resistance against the puncture repair screw  150  slipping out of the puncture  215 . Shafts that are either too long or too short, certainly too long, may be less efficient in repairing the puncture because air may escape more easily even when the puncture repair screw is in place, or the puncture repair screw may more easily slip out of the puncture  215 . Accordingly, various implementations of a tire puncture repair tool  100  may comprise different lengthened shafts  120  sized to specifically fit a variety of tires  200 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 7C  illustrates a puncture repair screw  150  within a puncture  215  after the handle  105  has been separated from the puncture repair screw  150 . Once the puncture repair screw  150  is within a tire, a user may either continue rotating the handle  105  until the neck  110  breaks, or may alternatively bend the handle  105  back and forth in various directions until the neck  110  breaks. When the neck  110  breaks, the handle  105  may be removed from the puncture repair screw  110 , the puncture repair screw  110  remaining within the puncture  215 . 
         [0047]    It will be understood that implementations are not limited to the specific components disclosed herein, as virtually any components consistent with the intended operation of a method and/or system implementation for tire repair puncture tool may be utilized. Accordingly, for example, although particular tire repair puncture tools may be disclosed, such components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, class, grade, measurement, concentration, material, weight, quantity, and/or the like consistent with the intended operation of a method and/or system implementation for a tire repair puncture tool may be used. 
         [0048]    In places where the description above refers to particular implementations of a tire puncture repair tool, it should be readily apparent that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and that these implementations may be applied to other tire puncture repair tool. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure set forth in this document. The presently disclosed implementations are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the disclosure being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning of and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.