Abstract:
A multiple application tire sealer and inflator. In a described embodiment, a system for dispensing a substance into a tire having a tire valve is provided. The system includes a container for the substance, a flexible conduit and an adaptor. The adaptor has an end configured for attachment both to the flexible conduit and to the tire valve.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to vehicle tire sealers and inflators and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides a tire sealer and inflator system which is configured for use in multiple applications.  
         [0002]     A tire sealer and inflator is used to seal a puncture or other leak in a vehicle tire, and to inflate the tire, so that it can continue to be used, at least temporarily. Tire sealers and inflators are generally available in two configurations. In one configuration, an aerosol can has a tire valve connector provided on the can, and the connector is threaded directly onto a tire valve to dispense the contents of the can into a tire through the tire valve. In another configuration, an aerosol can has one end of a hose connected to the can, and the other end of the hose is provided with a tire valve connector. The connector is threaded onto a tire valve to open the tire valve, and a user then depresses a valve on the can to thereby dispense the contents of the can into the tire through the hose.  
         [0003]     The first configuration is convenient for use in applications where the tire valve is readily accessible, the valve is properly positioned, and enough clearance is available for threading the can with its connector onto the tire valve. The second configuration is convenient for use in applications where the tire valve is not conveniently accessible, the tire valve is not properly positioned, or there is not enough clearance for the can directly opposite the tire valve. Thus, these two different configurations are available for different applications.  
         [0004]     However, it would be beneficial to be able to provide a tire sealer and inflator which is configured for convenient use in multiple different applications. For example, this would enable a consumer to purchase a single product which is suitable for multiple applications, without the necessity of knowing beforehand which of the applications the product will be used for. As another example, this would reduce the need for a retail store to inventory multiple different products for the different applications.  
         [0005]     Therefore, it would be desirable to be able to configure a tire sealer and inflator for use in multiple different applications. This concept would also be desirable for dispensing other substances into tires, such as tire balancers, etc.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     In carrying out the principles of the present invention, in accordance with an embodiment thereof, a system and method are provided which enable a substance to be dispensed into a tire from a container in multiple applications. An adaptor on the container permits use of a flexible conduit between the container and the tire valve, and also permits the adaptor to be connected directly to the tire valve.  
         [0007]     In one aspect of the invention, a system for dispensing a substance into a tire having a tire valve is provided. The system includes a container for the substance, a flexible conduit and an adaptor on the container. The adaptor has an end configured for attachment to the flexible conduit. The adapter end is also configured for direct attachment to the tire valve.  
         [0008]     In another aspect of the invention, a method of dispensing a substance into a tire is provided. The method includes the steps of connecting a flexible conduit to a tire valve for the tire, and then attaching a container of the substance to the flexible conduit.  
         [0009]     These and other features, advantages, benefits and objects of the present invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon careful consideration of the detailed description of a representative embodiment of the invention hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is an exploded side view of a system for dispensing substances into a tire, the system embodying principles of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged scale partially cross-sectional view of a coupler in the system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged scale partially cross-sectional view of an adaptor and a container valve in the system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a first configuration of the system; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a second configuration of the system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     Representatively illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a system  10  which embodies principles of the present invention. In the following description of the system lo and other apparatus and methods described herein, directional terms, such as “above”, “below”, “upper”, “lower”, etc., are used for convenience in referring to the accompanying drawings. Additionally, it is to be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention described herein may be utilized in various orientations, such as inclined, inverted, horizontal, vertical, etc., and in various configurations, without departing from the principles of the present invention.  
         [0016]     The system  10  includes a container  12  of a substance which is to be dispensed into a tire. The container  12  has a valve  40  which, when opened, permits the substance to flow out of the container. The substance may be provided under elevated pressure in the container  12 , so that when the valve  40  is opened, the substance is expelled out of the container.  
         [0017]     The system  10  also includes an adaptor  16  and a hose or flexible conduit  18 . The adaptor  16  has an end  20  which is configured for attachment to the container  12 . Preferably, the end  20  of the adaptor  16  is already attached to the container  12  when the end user purchases the system  10 . An opposite end  22  of the adaptor  16  is configured so that it may be attached either to the hose  18  or to a tire valve  44  (not shown in  FIG. 1 , see  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 ).  
         [0018]     The hose  18  has a coupler  24  attached at one end  26  of the hose, and a tire valve connector  28  attached at an opposite end  30  of the hose. When properly connected to the tire valve  44 , the connector  28  secures the hose  18  to the tire valve and opens the tire valve. The connector  28  is depicted as being of the type which is threaded onto a tire valve, but other types of connectors may be used if desired.  
         [0019]     It may now be appreciated that the system  10  permits the container  12  to be connected to a tire valve either using the adaptor  16  alone, or with the hose  18  interconnected between the adaptor and the tire valve. One application may permit convenient use of the container  12  attached to the tire valve without use of the hose  18 , while another application may permit convenient use of the hose interconnected between the container and the tire valve. Thus, the system  10  is configurable for use in multiple different applications.  
         [0020]     Referring additionally now to  FIG. 2 , the coupler  24  is representatively illustrated apart from the remainder of the system  10 . In this view it may be seen that an end  32  of the coupler  24  is internally threaded for attachment to the externally threaded end  22  of the adaptor  16 . An opposite end  34  of the coupler  24  is configured for attachment to the end  26  of the hose  18 .  
         [0021]     A check valve  36  is positioned between the ends  32 ,  34  of the coupler  24 . The check valve  36  permits flow from the end  32  to the end  34  of the coupler  24 , but prevents flow from the end  34  to the end  32 , for purposes which will be described more fully below. Note, also, that a generally tubular member  38  extends downwardly from the check valve  36 .  
         [0022]     Referring additionally now to  FIG. 3 , the adaptor  16  and an upper end of the container valve  40  are depicted apart from the remainder of the system  10 . In this view it may be seen that the end  22  of the adaptor  16  is also internally threaded. The internal threads are configured for threading the adaptor  16  onto a tire valve.  
         [0023]     With the end  20  of the adaptor  16  attached to the container  12 , a reciprocably disposed elongated member  39  within the adaptor is positioned in close proximity to the valve  40 . If the member  39  is displaced a sufficient distance downwardly as viewed in  FIG. 3 , the member will depress the valve  40 , thereby opening the valve and permitting the substance to be expelled from the container  12 .  
         [0024]     The adaptor  16  is preferably attached to the container  12  by snapping an outwardly projecting circumference  42  of the end  20  into a recess in the top of the container  12 . Other means of attaching the adaptor  16  to the container  12  may be used if desired. Alternatively, the adaptor  16  could be provided as an integral assembly with the container  12 .  
         [0025]     The coupler  24  may be threaded onto the adaptor  16 , and/or other connecting means may be used to attach the coupler to the adaptor, such as snapping the coupler to the adaptor, etc. The internal threads of the end  32  and the external threads of the end  22  may be configured so that they may be threaded or snapped together.  
         [0026]     When the coupler  24  is attached to the adaptor  16 , the member  38  contacts and displaces the member  39  downward, thereby opening the container valve  40 . This permits the substance to flow through the valve  40  from the container  12 , through the adaptor  16 , through the check valve  36  in the coupler  24  and into the hose  18 .  
         [0027]     Referring additionally now to  FIG. 4 , the system  10  is depicted in a configuration in which the hose  18  is interconnected between the container  12  and a tire valve  44 . Preferably, the tire valve connector  28  is first threaded onto the tire valve  44 . This opens the tire valve  44 , secures the hose  18  to the tire valve, and thereby provides fluid communication between the hose  18  and the tire (not shown) to which the tire valve is attached.  
         [0028]     Note that, at this point, the check valve  36  in the coupler  24  prevents any pressure in the tire from escaping through the hose  18 . The check valve  36  could perform this function if it were located elsewhere, for example, in the tire valve connector  28 , or interconnected between the hose ends  26 ,  30 , etc.  
         [0029]     With the adaptor  16  attached to the container  12 , the member  39  is in close proximity to the valve  40  (as depicted in  FIG. 3 ). When the coupler  24  is attached to the adaptor  16 , the container valve  40  is opened as described above, and the substance can now flow from the container  12 , through the hose  18  and into the tire through the tire valve  44 .  
         [0030]     When the substance has been dispensed into the tire, the coupler  24  is disconnected from the adaptor  16 . Again, the check valve  36  prevents pressure in the tire from escaping through the hose  18 . The tire valve connector  28  is then detached from the tire valve  44 .  
         [0031]     Referring additionally now to  FIG. 5 , the system  10  is depicted in a configuration in which the hose  18  is not interconnected between the container  12  and the tire valve  44 . Instead, with the adaptor  16  attached to the container  12 , the adaptor is then connected to the tire valve  44 , for example, by threading or snapping the adaptor onto the tire valve. When the adaptor  16  is connected to the tire valve  44 , the member  39  enters the tire valve and opens it, and the member is displaced by the tire valve so that it also opens the container valve  40 . Thus, the substance may now flow through the valve  40  from the container  12 , through the adaptor  16  and into the tire through the tire valve  44 .  
         [0032]     Of course, a person skilled in the art would, upon a careful consideration of the above description of representative embodiments of the invention, readily appreciate that many modifications, additions, substitutions, deletions, and other changes may be made to these specific embodiments, and such changes are contemplated by the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, the foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited solely by the appended claims and their equivalents.