Patent ID: 8109312

Claim:
An apparatus for applying a patch to an interior surface of a tire, the apparatus comprising: a tire, a patch, and a patch holder comprising an applicator plate having a length, a width, and a thickness and a non-flat top surface generally extending along the length and width of the applicator plate and shaped to facilitate application of the patch to a curved interior surface of the tire, the patch holder further including: a patch receptacle at least partially recessed from the top surface and shaped to receive the tire patch for application to the curved interior tire surface; and a plurality of orifices positioned within the receptacle and extending into the thickness of the holder structure and being in fluid communication with a vacuum source; an adhesive barrier surrounding the patch receptacle and defining an adhesive-receiving area above the patch receptacle, the barrier extending outwardly from the top surface of the applicator plate by a desired height to retain a desired thickness of adhesive within the adhesive-receiving area of the patch holder; and, means for forcibly placing the patch holder into contact with the interior tire surface, said means arranged to translate the patch holder into engagement with the interior tire surface, the patch holder extending from a pre-tire-engagement position until engaging the tire in a tire-engagement position; and a counter-pressure assembly including the resistive member toward the patch holder.