US3552469A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tire bead seater
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-02-19
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Granted: 1971-01-05
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Expires: 1989-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for inflating tubeless tires on a vehicle wheel is provided. The apparatus comprises an annular tube of larger diameter than the wheel to be received over the wheel adjacent to the rim of the wheel. Orifice means are provided on the periphery of the tube for injecting air under pressure through the space between the wheel rim and the bead of an uninflated tubeless tire mounted on the wheel. Inlet means are provided on the tube for supplying air under pressure to the interior of the tube. The method comprises first mounting a noninflated tubeless tire on a vehicle wheel. The annular tube is then placed on the wheel and air under pressure is injected into the tire from the annular tube through the space between the wheel rim and the adjacent tire bead to partially inflate the tire and cause the tire sidewall and bead to almost make sealing contact with the wheel rim. The tire is then completely inflated by injecting air under pressure through the conventional tire valve.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee M Corless
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:28
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C25/00; B60C25/14; B60C25/145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for inflating tubeless tires on a vehicle wheel comprising an annular tube of larger diameter than the wheel to be received over the wheel adjacent to the rim thereof, orifice means around the inner periphery of the tube for injecting a substantially continuous ring of air under pressure through the space between the wheel rim and the bead of a noninflated tubeless tire mounted on the wheel, and inlet means on the tube for supplying air under pressure to the interior of the tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for inflating tubeless tires on a vehicle wheel comprising an annular tube of larger diameter than the wheel to be received over the wheel adjacent to the rim thereof, orifice means around the inner periphery of the tube for injecting a substantially continuous ring of air under pressure through the space between the wheel rim and the bead of a noninflated tubeless tire mounted on the wheel, and inlet means on the tube for supplying air under pressure to the interior of the tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that the orifice means is aimed at an angle of substantially 45* with respect to a plane parallel to the sidewall of the wheel and tire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that the orifice means comprises a plurality of openings spaced around the inner periphery of the tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that the orifice means comprises a plurality of spaced apart nozzles on the inner Periphery of the tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that said annular tube includes adjustment means to vary the diameter thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 and further characterized in that said adjustment means comprises a turnbuckle, said annular tube being discontinuous and having a pair of free opposed plugged ends, the turnbuckle extending between said ends and adapted to move said ends closer together or further apart to vary the diameter of the annular tube as desired.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 and further characterized in that said orifice means includes nozzles adjacent each of said tube ends, said nozzles being aimed to direct a stream of air in the peripheral space occupied by the turnbuckle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 and further characterized in that said adjustment means includes a discontinuity in the annular tube defining a pair of adjacent free tube ends, one of said tube ends being received in the other of said tube ends in telescopic fashion whereby the annular tube may be enlarged or reduced in diameter by telescoping the ends apart or together.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, and further characterized in that one of said ends includes an elongated plug telescopically received in the other of said ends and slidable therein to result in said telescopic action, said plug forming an air tight seal with said other end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further characterized in the provision of an auxiliary apparatus for inflating tubeless tires comprising an annular substantially rigid band of greater diameter than the diameter of the wheel to be received over the wheel adjacent the rim thereof, a layer of compressible material on the inner surface of the band to form a sliding, airtight seal with the wheel rim, an edge portion of said layer projecting beyond the edge of the band for sealing engagement with the sidewall of a tire mounted on the wheel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further characterized in that said annular tube is circular in cross section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further characterized in that said annular tube is substantially rectangular in cross section, said orifice means being provided at substantially the apex of the inner sidewall and bottom wall of the tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for inflating tubeless tires as defined in claim 1, and further characterized in that said annular tube has a triangular cross section, one wall of said triangular cross section forming a bottom wall which is in substantially a horizontal plane when the apparatus is received over a wheel which is oriented in the horizontal plane, said orifice means being located at substantially the apex of the bottom wall and the inner sidewall of the tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13, and further characterized in that said bottom wall slants slightly downwardly towards the inner wall thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus for inflating tubeless tires as defined in claim 1, and further characterized in that said annular tube has a substantially oval cross section, the longitudinal axis of said oval slanting upwardly from the inner diameter thereof to the outer diameter thereof with the apparatus oriented in a horizontal plane, said orifice means being provided substantially at the lowermost portion of the inner periphery of the tube.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
87 words
The method of inflating a tubeless tire on a vehicle wheel comprising the steps of mounting a noninflated tubeless tire on a vehicle wheel, injecting air under pressure as a substantially continuous ring into the tire peripherally around the tire through the space between the wheel rim and the adjacent tire bead to partially inflate the tire and cause the tire bead to almost make sealing contact with the wheel rim, and then completely inflating the tire by injecting air under pressure through the conventional tire valve.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
87 words
The method of inflating a tubeless tire on a vehicle wheel comprising the steps of mounting a noninflated tubeless tire on a vehicle wheel, injecting air under pressure as a substantially continuous ring into the tire peripherally around the tire through the space between the wheel rim and the adjacent tire bead to partially inflate the tire and cause the tire bead to almost make sealing contact with the wheel rim, and then completely inflating the tire by injecting air under pressure through the conventional tire valve.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as defined in claim 16, and further characterized in that injection of air unDer pressure into the tire peripherally around the tire through the space between the wheel rim and the adjacent tire bead is discontinued substantially simultaneously with injection of air under pressure through the conventional tire valve.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as defined in claim 17, and further characterized in that the step of claim 17 is automatically accomplished by means of a valve device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as defined in claim 16, and further characterized in the step of providing a reservoir of air under pressure as a source for the initial peripheral injection of air into the tire.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as defined in claim 16, and further characterized in the step of sealing the space between the wheel rim and the adjacent tire bead for the major portion of the time necessary to partially inflate the tire.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for inflating tubeless tires on a vehicle wheel comprising an annular tube of larger overall diameter than the wheel to be received on the wheel, orifice means around the periphery of the tube and spaced radially outwardly from the periphery of the wheel for injecting air under pressure as a substantially continuous ring through the space between the wheel rim and the bead of a noninflated tubeless tire mounted on the wheel, and inlet means on the tube for supplying air under pressure to the interior of the tube.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for inflating tubeless tires on a vehicle wheel comprising an annular tube of larger overall diameter than the wheel to be received on the wheel, orifice means around the periphery of the tube and spaced radially outwardly from the periphery of the wheel for injecting air under pressure as a substantially continuous ring through the space between the wheel rim and the bead of a noninflated tubeless tire mounted on the wheel, and inlet means on the tube for supplying air under pressure to the interior of the tube.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 21, and further characterized in that the inner diameter of said annular tube is of larger diameter than the wheel to be received over the wheel adjacent to the rim thereof, said orifice means being provided around the inner periphery of the tube for injecting air under pressure through the space between the wheel rim and the bead of a noninflated tubeless tire mounted on the wheel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 21, and further characterized in that the outer diameter of the annular tube is greater than the diameter of the wheel rim while the inner diameter of the annular tube is less than the diameter of the wheel rim whereby the annular tube is received on the wheel and rests on the rim thereof, said orifice means being provided adjacent the outer periphery of the tube for injecting air under pressure through the space between the wheel rim and the bead of a noninflated tubeless tire mounted on the wheel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 23, and further characterized in the provision of an auxiliary apparatus for inflating tubeless tires comprising an annular substantially rigid band of greater diameter than the outer diameter of the annular tube to be received over the annular tube in sealing engagement with the sidewall of a tire mounted on the wheel for further sealing the space between the wheel rim and adjacent tire bead.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 24, and further characterized in that said rigid band is spaced a slight distance from the outer surface of the annular tube to prevent sliding contact therebetween during inflation of a tire.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 23, and further characterized in the provision of an annular sealing element on the lower surface of the annular tube for sealing engagement with the rim of a wheel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 24, and further characterized in the provision of an annular sealing element on the lower edge of the rigid band for sealing engagement with the sidewall of a tire.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-04 | 1974-07-06 | 1975-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-04 | 1978-07-06 | 1979-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-04 | 1982-07-06 | 1983-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |