A New or Improved Tool for Inserting the Stems of Inflation Valves in Pneumatic Tyres and for other like purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1899-Accepted, 29th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Tool for Inserting the Stems of Inflation Valves
in Pneumatic Tyres and for other like purposes.
I, ALBERT WHISLER, Gentleman, of Greentown, Howard County and State of
Indiana, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
1
The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and useful tool or
implement for inserting metal stems for inflation-valves or the like into pneu-¸
matic tires or other hollow rubber or fibre tubing.
The invention consists essentially in providing a holder for the valve stem
and a plunger adapted to engage the stem and force the latter into the opening
provided therefor in the tire.
Other objects and advantages of the device will be hereinafter more fully
described, shown in the drawing, and particularly pointed out in the claims.
The drawing hereto annexed and the description thereof show and set forth
the device as applied in use upon a bicycle tire, but it will of course be under-
stood that the device is capable of inserting similar parts into elastic tubing of
any character.
In the drawing,
Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention applied to a section of a bicycle tire
and holding a valve stem in the initial position for insertion.
+
Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the valve stem inserted in the tire.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the implement.
Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the casing and fingers.
Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line of Figure 2.
Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of
reference.
Referring to the accompanying drawing, the tool comprises a holder consisting
of a hollow casing 1 having fingers 2 and 3 provided at one end thereof, and a
plunger 4 adapted to be inserted at the other end of the casing. The casing is
preferably oblong or elliptical in cross-section, so as to provide a convenient
hand grasp for the operation of the device, and the finger 2 is preferably formed
as an integral portion thereof. The other fingers 3 are each pivoted to the
opposite side of the casing, as at 5, so as to be swung in the plane of the casing
and spread the fingers apart. Each of these fingers is reduced in width, as at 6,
for a suitable length of the outer ends thereof, and their extremities are bent
or formed into outwardly extending flanges 7. The integral finger 2 is also
formed with such a flange 7. By the disposition of the fingers upon opposite sides
of the casing, the flanges 7 will extend in opposite directions upon the inside of
the tire and serve to hold the device thereon.
The plunger 4 comprises a stem 8 having a head or handle 9, provided at
one end, and a shank 10 at the other end thereof. The stem is of a size and
shape to fit easily within the casing and be guided therein during the operation

page_text: of the device. The shank preferably tapers towards its end, and a concave
notch or seat 11 is formed therein. The plunger may be formed of a single
piece, or as shown with the stem 8, a hollow tube, and the shank 10 connected to
one end, and the handle 9 fitted to 'the other end thereof. The shank should
always be of metal to prevent wear or breakage, but the handle may be of wood
or other material, as desired.
In the operation of the device, the valve stem 12 is placed between the fingers
as shown in Figure 1, its head 13 seated therebetween with the finger 2 extending
diametrically across the top and the fingers 3 across the under side thereof and
embracing the stem, the body of which extends at approximately right angles
thereto. The free ends of the fingers are now placed in the opening, the reduced
portion thereof allowing the same to come close together for this purpose. The
plunger is then placed in the casing with the edge of the head 13 seated within
the notch 11, in the end of the shank 10. With the devices thus assembled, the
casing is grasped in one hand with the thumb thereof steadying the valve and
with the other hand pressing upon the handle 9 whereby the plunger forces the
stem against the tire, thus spreading the fingers 3 apart by reason of their
pivotal connection with the casing and stretching the opening to receive the head
of the valve stem. When the valve stem has been forced against the tire, a
fulcrum point is obtained at one side of the head, whereby the latter is turned
and forced edgewise into the opening in the tire by continued pressure of the
plunger, see Figure 2, and the valve stem assumes its proper position with its
head within the tire and its shank protruding from the opening and being
recived along side of the shank of the plunger and between the reduced portions
of the pivoted fingers 3. The device can then be easily removed by pulling the
same from the tire.
It will be observed that as the valve stem is forced against the tire, it spreads
the pivoted fingers apart and stretches the walls of the valve stem opening so
as to more easily receive the head of the stem, and that the flanges 7 overlap the
inner edges of the opening and prevent the tool from pulling away from the tire
until the valve stem is in place, when the tool may be easily removed.
"
A tool constructed in accordance with the present invention will provide an
exceedingly simple and useful device for placing valve stems and the like in
position without damaging the opening in the tire.
Changes in the form, proportion and minor details may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof,
and therefore I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise
construction and arrangement as herein set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A device of the character described, comprising a holder for supporting the
valve stem at approximately right angles thereto, and a plunger adapted to engage
with the stem and force the head thereof edgewise into and through the valve
stem opening of the tire, substantially as set forth.
2. A device of the character described, comprising a hollow casing, fingers
provided upon the casing forming a holder for supporting the valve stem at
approximately right angles thereto, and a plunger arranged within the casing
and adapted to engage and force the head of the valve stem edgewise into the
opening of the tire, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. A device of the character described, comprising a holder adapted to hold
the valve stem by the head thereof with the body of the stem at approximately
right angles to the holder, and a plunger adapted to engage the head of the stem
and force the head edgewise into and through the valve stem opening of the
tire, substantially as set forth.
.4. A device of the character described, comprising a hollow casing, fingers

page_text: provided upon one end of the casing, some of the fingers being pivoted forming a
holder for supporting the valve stem at approximately right angles thereto, and a
plunger adapted to engage with and force the stem into the opening, substantially
as set forth.
5. A device of the character described, comprising a hollow casing, fingers pro-
vided upon one end of the casing, the fingers upon one side thereof being fixed
and the fingers upon the other side thereof being pivoted to the casing, said
pivoted fingers receiving the valve stem therebetween, and a plunger carried by
the casing and adapted to extend between the fingers and engage the valve stem,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. A device of the character described, comprising a hollow casing having a
stationary finger at one end and a pair of fingers pivoted to the same end of the
casing and upon the opposite side thereof, the pivoted fingers being cut away
upon their opposing inner edges and adapted to receive the valve stem there-
between with its head between the stationary finger and the pivoted fingers, and
a plunger arranged within the casing and between the fingers and adapted to
engage the head of the valve stem, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. A device of the character described, comprising a holder having fingers
adapted to hold the valve stem therebetween, each of the fingers being provided
with an outwardly extending flange, and a plunger carried by the holder and
adapted to engage the valve stem, substantially as set forth.
8. A device of the character described comprising a holder having fingers
adapted to receive the head of the valve stem therebetween, and a plunger carried
by the holder, said plunger being provided with a concaved seat or notch in one
end thereof which is adapted to engage with the edge of the head of the valve
stem, substantially as set forth.
9. A device of the character described, comprising a hollow casing having
means for holding the valve stem at approximately right angles thereto, and a
plunger arranged within the casing, said plunger consisting of a stem having a
shank at one end adapted to engage the valve stem and an operating head or
handle at the other end thereof, whereby the head of the valve stem may be
inserted edge wise into and through the valve stem opening, substantially as set
forth.
10. A device of the character described, comprising a holder for the valve stem
and a plunger, the holder having movable fingers which are adapted to support
the valve stem at approximately right angles thereto and to be inserted in the
valve stem opening of the tire and stretch said opening during the operation of
the plunger, whereby the head of the stem may be inserted edgewise into and
through the valve stem opening, substantially as set forth.
11. In a device of the class described, the combination with the holder for the
valve stem to hold the stem at approximately right angles to the holder and in
position for insertion, of means for forcing the head of the stem edgewise from
the holder into the valve stem opening, substantially as described.
12. In a device of the class described, the combination with the holder for
supporting the valve stem at approximately right angles thereto and adapted to
be inserted into the valve stem opening, and expand the same, of means for forcing
the head of the stem edgewise from the holder into the opening, substantially as
described.
June 1899.
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.Mech. E., M.I.E.E..
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, London, WC.,
Chartered Patent Agent.