Patent ID: 7044188

Claim:
An apparatus for mounting a tire having a pair of beads on a wheel having a pair of seats to form a tire and wheel assembly and inflating the tire and wheel assembly, said apparatus comprising: a tool for rotating around the tire for forcing one of the beads of the tire between the seats of the wheel; an inner concentric member for supporting the tire and wheel assembly; an outer concentric member surrounding said inner concentric member and defining an alignment axis with said tool; an actuator operably connected to said outer concentric member to move said outer concentric member telescopingly relative to said inner concentric member for forcing the other of the beads of the tire between the seats of the wheel thereby forming a fluid passage; a work surface for supporting said inner and outer concentric members; and a carriage mechanism operably connected to and supporting said inner and outer concentric members for moving said inner and outer concentric members with the tire and wheel positioned thereon along said work surface from an isolated position to said alignment axis and retracting said inner and outer concentric members back to said isolated position as the tire and wheel assembly is inflated.