Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention is directed toward a device usable to break a bead of a tire from a rim of a wheel. More particularly, the present invention is directed toward a bead breaking device that breaks a tire bead through application of a rotational force. Specifically, the present invention is directed toward a bead breaking device usable for all types of wheels, including ATV wheels. The device is designed to apply a radial force to its own axis to provide the energy required to break the bead. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In breaking tire beads from wheels, prior art bead breakers generally utilize application of force in an axial plane, that is, in a plane that includes the axis of the wheel. While this method works acceptably for breaking tire beads from most types of wheels, breaking a tire bead from an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) wheel is more difficult due to certain features of ATV wheels and tires. 
     Balloon-like ATV tires have flexible walls that absorb much of the force applied during bead breaking with prior art devices. The flexible tire walls of ATV tires deflect through much of the range of motion of prior art bead breakers, thus absorbing most of the applied force and reducing the amount of force directed to the tire bead. In addition, ATV wheels include a safety rib adjacent to the wheel rim to retain the tire bead in place during normal tire usage. As compared with other types of wheels, breaking a tire bead from an ATV wheel takes additional force to push the tire bead over the safety rib. These two characteristics, flexible tire walls and the safety rib, together increase the difficulty of successful bead breaking utilizing many of the prior art bead breakers. 
     Several prior art bead breakers are directed toward ATV wheels and to overcoming the difficulty in breaking ATV tire beads. Each of these prior art bead breakers utilize application of bead-breaking force in an axial plane. Callas (U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,354), Sheets (U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,498), and Reeves (U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,257) each utilize a conventional lever-mounted design along with a specialized device intended to maintain engagement of a bead-breaking foot with a tire bead during bead breaking. Wicklund (U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,934) uses a rim-mounted device wherein a bead-breaking foot is forced downward by progression of a rigidly-mounted screw; a leading edge of the foot is offset from the rim to allow progression of the foot over an ATV safety rib. 
     Complete tire changing requires bead breaking followed by tire demounting and mounting on a wheel. Such complete tire changing is facilitated through use of a center-post tire changer with an included bead breaker, as exemplified in Beemer (U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,335). For reasons discussed above, however, breaking beads from ATV wheels is problematic in many such prior art devices. Moreover, rim-secured bead breakers such as the Wicklund device are not easily securable on a wheel secured to a center-post tire changer, and cannot fully exploit the ease of tool movement allowed by a center post. 
     While the prior art has progressed in providing devices capable of breaking ATV tire beads from wheels, there is a need for a bead breaker usable on a center-post tire changer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a bead breaking device suitable for breaking all types of tire beads, including ATV tire beads. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a bead breaking device to break a tire bead through application of a force radial to the axis of the device to provide the energy required to break the bead. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a bead breaking device suitable for use on a center-post tire changer. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method to break a tire bead from an ATV wheel. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method to break a tire bead from a wheel through application of a force radial to the axis of the device to provide the energy required to break the bead. 
     At least one of the foregoing objects, together will the advantages thereof over the known art relating to bead breaking devices, which shall become apparent to one skilled in the art from the specification which follows, are accomplished by the invention as hereinafter described and claimed. 
     In general, the present invention provides a bead breaking device to break a bead from a rim of a wheel, comprising an assembly for mounting the device upon a wheel; a first arm pivotally connected to the assembly; means for rotating the first arm; and a breaking tool, carried at one end of the first arm and rotatable therewith relative to the assembly. 
     The present invention also provides a method for breaking a tire bead from a rim of a wheel, comprising the steps of mounting a wheel and a tire on a bead breaking machine; locating a bead breaking device on the machine, the device providing a bead breaking tool and at least a first arm carrying the tool at one end; forcing the bead breaking tool between the bead of the tire and the rim at one point on the circumference of the rim; and rotating the first arm and bead breaking tool sufficiently to cause the tool to separate the seal between the bead and the rim. 
     The present invention also provides a bead breaking device to break a bead from a rim of a wheel, comprising a mounting assembly for mounting the device upon a wheel; a first arm pivotally connected to the mounting assembly; and a breaking tool, carried at the one end of the first arm and rotatable therewith relative to the mounting assembly. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting a bead breaking device according to the present invention mounted on a center-post tire changer and positioned with respect to the rim of a tire and mounted wheel; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the bead breaking device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a bead breaking device of the present invention in raised position, mounted on a center-post tire changer and depicting the initial forcing of the bead breaking tool between the rim of an ATV wheel and the bead of a flush-mounted ATV tire; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial side elevation of the bead breaking device of the present invention in lowered position, mounted on a center-post tire changer, with the bead breaking tool fully engaged with the wheel rim and tire; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the bead breaking device, taken substantially along the lines  5 — 5  of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is an end view taken substantially along the lines  6 — 6  of FIG. 5, from the perspective of the center post, in which one of the arms has been raised; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial side elevation similar to FIG. 4, in which one arm of the device has been raised and rotated; 
     FIG. 8 is an end view taken substantially along the lines  8 — 8  of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a top plan view of alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the device, taken substantially along the lines  10 — 10  of FIG. 9; and 
     FIG. 11 is a partial enlarged top plan view depicting the breaking tool component of the bead breaking device. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A preferred embodiment of the bead breaking device of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral  10  in the accompanying drawings. With reference to FIG. 1, a bead breaking device  10  is shown in position for bead breaking of a tire  70  from a wheel  80  mounted on a conventional center post  85  of a center post tire changer (not shown). 
     An exploded view of the bead breaking device  10  is depicted in FIG.  2 . The bead breaking device  10  includes an assembly, generally  20 ; a first arm or positioning bar  40 , pivotally connected to said mounting assembly; optionally, a second arm or means for rotating  50 , which may also be pivotally connected to the assembly  20 ; and a breaking tool, generally  60 . 
     The assembly  20  includes a mounting bracket  21 , a clevis  22 , and means for joining  23  said bracket and clevis together. Mounting bracket  21  comprises a U-shaped member having a neck  24  and opposed arms,  25 ,  26 , extending therefrom. Means for joining bracket and clevis can include a rod  27  and an adjusting nut  28 . At the end of arms  25  and  26 , the adjusting nut  28  is suitably affixed, as by welding, and provides a threaded bore  29 , engageable with rod  27  which is free to pass between the arms toward and away from neck  24 . Clevis  22  provides a base  30 , and opposed arms  31 ,  32 , each carrying a bore  33 , in alignment for receipt of a clevis pin  34 . An internal nut  35  is carried on the inside of base  30  and provides a threaded bore  36  also engageable with the rod  27 . 
     Although a threaded rod is depicted in the drawings, it is to be appreciated that a rod with a threaded end or ends can be employed and, that preferably only the clevis  23  must be threaded for the assembly and device  10  to be adjustable, thereby facilitating use with a variety of wheels. Additionally, while a rod  22  has been depicted, it is to be understood that the an unthreaded rod could be employed, where adjustability is not required, or the use of a cable, rope, chain or other component could be employed to join together the clevis and the mounting bracket. 
     The bracket  21  is positionable about the center post  85  of the tire changer, as depicted in FIG. 1, and allows the bead breaking device  10  to be adjustably mounted with respect to a variety of sizes of ATV wheel rims, as will be explained hereinbelow. Moreover, the bracket is rotatable about the center post  85 . It is to be appreciated that the device  10  can be positioned on the wheel in other manners, not shown. Thus, with appropriate modifications to the assembly  20 , the device could be hooked or attached to the center hole of the rim or to one or more of the lug holes. One such alternative manner of attachment is disclosed in FIGS. 10 and 11, hereinbelow, for purposes of exemplification. 
     Returning to FIG. 2, the first arm  40  is preferably a metal bar, or other suitable material capable of exerting force without bending, and is of a suitable length to provide good mechanical advantage to the operator during use of the device  10 . Near the end  41 , a pair of ears  42 ,  43 , are affixed, as by welding. The ears extend perpendicularly from arm  40  and are provided with opposed, aligned bores  44 , for receipt of clevis pin  34 . The relative dimensions or spacing of the clevis arms  31  and  32  and spacing of the ears  42  and  43  is such that the latter fit within clevis arms  31  and  32 , so as to be pivotal therebetween. As should be apparent from FIG. 2, a significant mechanical advantage is created at the end  41  of arm  40 , when the distal end  45  is moved, owing to the relative position of the ears  42 ,  43  upon arm  40 . Preferably, the length of arm  40  and position of the ears  42 ,  43  is such to provide a mechanical advantage of greater than 5:1, up to about 15:1 and most preferably, greater than 10:1. 
     The second arm, or means for rotating,  50  is likewise, preferably a metal bar, or other suitable material, capable of exerting force without bending, and is also of a suitable length to provide good mechanical advantage to the operator during use of the device  10 . The arm  50 , provides opposed ends  51 ,  52  and at one end  51 , a yoke, generally  53 , is affixed, as by welding a pair of ears  54 ,  55 . Owing to the diameter of the arm  50 , the ears are bent outwardly sufficiently to permit their opposed inner surfaces to engage the outer surfaces of the clevis arms  31 ,  32 . Ears  54  and  55  are likewise provided with opposed, aligned bores  56 , for receipt of clevis pin  34  and it should be appreciated that the pin provides for the articulation of the first and second arms relative to each other as well as with the assembly  20 . 
     A brief review of FIGS. 1,  3  and  4  reveals that when the assembly  20  is mounted on the center post  85  of the tire changer, the arms  40  and  50  can be raised together (FIG.  3 ), lowered (FIG. 4) or moved independently (FIG. 1, phantom view). As will become apparent hereinbelow, the second arm  50  is also rotatable about the threaded rod  22 , thereby imparting a significant mechanical advantage in the rotation of first arm  40 . Thus, with reference to FIG. 8, when the second arm has been raised approximately 90° from the first arm  40 , a lever arm of about two feet is employed to assist in the rotation of first arm  40 . 
     Before proceeding further with the description of the preferred embodiment, it should be noted that the means for rotating  50 , need not be limited to a second arm, as depicted in the drawings. Thus, it is within the art to provide other means for rotating first arm  40  with a mechanical advantage. One such means would be to provide a locking pliers or clamp of sufficient length to supply adequate twisting torque. To accommodate such tools, the arm  40  could be provided with a built-up area for receipt of the jaws or, it could be hexagonal or square in cross-section to receive the end of a long handled wrench. Another expedient would be to provide one or more holes radially through the arm  40  through which a narrow bar could be inserted at a 90° angle to twist or rotate the first arm. While none of these alternatives have been depicted, it will be appreciated that the first arm is usually positioned and held by the operator with one hand while the other hand positions, raises or the like, the second arm or tool to rotate the device. 
     Returning to the device  10 , the breaking tool  60  is depicted in several of the views, particularly FIGS. 2 and 11. It is a single component fabricated from steel providing a foot or plate  61  and a leg  62  extending perpendicularly therefrom. The leg  62  is suitably affixed to the proximal end  41  of arm  40 , as by welding, so that the foot is thrust forwardly, as depicted in FIG.  2 . The foot  61  carries a notch  63  and a curved leading toe  64  which extends outwardly from the notch. A first perpendicular flange  65  is carried along a portion of the notch  63 , and can be formed by bending a section from the upper part of the foot upwardly. In the lower half of the foot  61 , the rear side, closer to the leg  62 , is cut-away at an obtuse angle from the leg and, a second flange  66  is also bent upwardly and perpendicular to the foot  61 . These flanges can also be separate and then attached as by welding. Alternatively, the tool can be strengthened in other manners, as known in the art. 
     The toe  64  should also have a fairly significant width  67  across the front, curved edge, on the order of one to three inches, so as to ensure separation of the tire bead  71  from the rim sufficiently to break down the tire for changing or repair. The operation of the toe  64  in this manner will be described hereinbelow. Finally, the toe  64  provides a leading edge, or tire engaging surface  68  and a rearward edge, or rim engaging surface  69 , which cooperate to break the tire  70  away from the wheel  80  during operation of the device  10 . It is important that the degree of curvature (radius) of the toe  64  be such that the forwardmost edge  68 A thereof engages or substantially engages the annular surface  82  of the wheel, while the rearwardmost edge  69 A can also engage as shown, or it can be spaced slightly away from annular surface  82 . 
     While both first and second flanges stiffen and strengthen the foot  61 , it will be appreciated that the first flange  65  also provides an initial alignment and positioning means for the tool  60  against the wheel rim. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 11 in particular, the tool  60  is initially positioned against the annular rim  81  of a wheel  80 , and then the curved toe  64  is driven between the rim  81  and bead  71  of the tire  70 . When the tool is in place for breaking (FIG.  11 ), the first perpendicular flange  65  is abutted against the rim  81 . 
     Having thus described the device  10  in detail, the operation thereof in breaking a bead shall be discussed next. With reference to FIG. 3, the device is positioned on the center post  85  of a tire changer upon which a tire  70  and wheel  80  have already been mounted. The mounting bracket  21  of assembly  20  is lowered onto the post  85 , after the bracket  21  and adjusting nut  28  have been suitably rotated as necessary around the rod  22  to accommodate the diameter of the wheel  80 . To establish the initial positioning and break, the arms  40  and  50  may be raised in unison and the curved toe  64  of the tool  60  is inserted between the bead  71  and rim  81 . 
     The arm  40  or the arms  40  and  50  are then lowered, toward the tire, while urging both and the tool  60  radially inward so that the tool, specifically the toe  64  is positioned between the bead  71  and rim  81 , as depicted in FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 . When the arm  40 , or the arms  40  and  50  are brought into substantially horizontal position, the first perpendicular flange  65  abuts against the rim  81  to maintain alignment of the bead breaking tool  60  such that the arm  40  is substantially parallel with a radial line from the ATV wheel  80 . In the engaged position, the forward edge  68  of toe  64  will butt against the ATV wheel  80  at a point between the rim  81  and the bead keeper  82 , as seen in FIG. 4, and the forward edge  68  is slightly offset from the ATV wheel  80 , as seen in FIGS. 5 and 11. The slight concave curvature  67  of the toe  64  between the edge  68  and notch  63 , as well as the offset, facilitate movement of the edge  68  over the bead keeper  83  during rotation of the bead breaking tool  60 . 
     After the toe  64  of tool  60  has been located, the second arm  50  is raised vertically away from first arm  40 , by pivoting around clevis pin  34 . Once separated, the second arm  50  is rotated radially downward, in the direction of the arrow  72  in FIGS. 7 and 8. It should first be apparent that during such rotation of the arm  50 , that arm  40  and tool  60  are also rotated in a counter-clockwise fashion, as viewed from the center post  85 . The toe  64  operates in a key-like fashion to pry the bead  71  away from the rim  81  as the rearward edge  69  of toe  64  lodges against the rim and the forward edge  68  of toe  64  urges the bead away from the underside of the rim, thereby “breaking” the bead. 
     More particularly, while the forwardmost edge  68 A engages the tire bead  71  and the annular surface  83  of wheel  80 , it must be retracted radially therefrom in order to clear the bead keeper  82 . This can be facilitated by pulling upwardly slightly on the end  45  of first arm  40 , as the second arm  50  is being rotated so that the edge  68 A will not interfere with the bead keeper  82  and the bead  71  can be driven underneath it. Thus, the bead  71  is broken from rim  81  through an application of force radial to the axis of the device  20 , causing the tool  60  to rotate under the influence of force applied by the second arm  50 . Application of this force moves through an arc defined by the movement of the tool  60 , relative to the tire  70  and the ATV wheel  80  which is generally no more than about 45°. This is in contrast with prior art bead breakers that generally use an axial application of force, concentrated on one point of a tire. 
     Upon breaking the bead from the rim, it may be necessary to repeat the process at another point along the circumference of the rim. Disengagement of the bead breaking device from the wheel and center post, followed by repositioning, re-engagement, and subsequent bead breaking can be performed as many times as necessary to completely detach the bead from the rim. 
     The preferred embodiment of the bead breaking device  10  is directed toward use on ATV wheels and tires, but the use of the bead breaking device should not be construed as limited thereto. In its preferred embodiment, the bead breaking device is suitable for use on all types of wheels, including but not limited to ATV wheels, straight wheels, bearing wheels, and automobile lug wheels. 
     The preferred embodiment of the bead breaking device is further directed toward use while anchored on a center post tire changer, but the use of the bead breaking device should not be construed as limited thereto. In an alternative embodiment as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the bead breaking device  10  employs a modified assembly, indicated generally by the numeral  90 . Assembly  90  includes all of the components of assembly  20 , except for the bracket  21 , which can be substituted for by twin bars  91 , which are oriented substantially parallel to the axis of adjusting nut  28  and welded thereto at one end of each bar. At the opposite end of bars  91 , hook members  92  are provided, the engagement of which is seen in FIG.  10 . To strengthen the bars and maintain their alignment, a cross bar  93  may be welded or otherwise suitably mounted. Of course, only one bar  91  can be employed in lieu of twin bars where, for example, adjustability is not required. In such instance, the assembly would not require an adjusting nut  28 , or cross bar  93 . Moreover, the means for joining  23 , need not be a rod but, as noted hereinabove, could be a cable, rope, chain or other component for joining together the clevis and the bar  91 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 10, hook members  92  insert between the bead  71  and the rim  81 , to anchor the bead breaking device  10  in place for bead breaking. To operate the device  10 , employing the assembly  90 , the adjustment nut  28  is first rotated to bring the assembly into conformity with the diameter of the wheel  80 , that is, sufficient for the hooks  92  to engage the rim  81  and for the toe  64  to separate the bead  71  from the rim  81  when the device  10  is positioned, beginning with the raised position in FIG.  3 . 
     The further operation of the bead breaking device in this embodiment is the same as for the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-8 and  11  and thus, shall not be repeated here. 
     Having thus described the bead breaking device  10  and its operation, it should be evident that the use thereof will fulfill the objects noted hereinabove. Although the device  10  has been described in conjunction with bead breaking of an ATV tire from a wheel, it is to be understood that it can be employed for substantially any other bead breaking operation. Thus, while the device is particularly useful in conjunction with ATV tires, it is to be understood that the apparatus and method of the present invention are not necessarily limited thereto. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. As an example, other means of affixing the device to the wheel are contemplated so long as the breaking tool is engageable with the rim at the tire bead and can be rotated as described herein to break the bead. 
     It is, therefore, to be understood that any variations evident fall within the scope of the claimed invention and thus, the selection of specific materials for the manufacture of the device or its component elements and the like can be determined without departing from the spirit of the invention herein disclosed and described. Moreover, as noted hereinabove, other forms of the component elements described herein can be substituted for those chosen to illustrate practice. Thus, the scope of the invention shall include all modifications and variations that may fall within the scope of the attached claims.

Technology Category: 7