Tools – Repair tools for resilient tires – Plug or patch inserters
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-14
2001-01-09
Scherbel, David A. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Repair tools for resilient tires
Plug or patch inserters
C081S490000, C007S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170361
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
None.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to tools for repairing holes in pneumatic tires. More particularly, the invention relates to tools for inserting repair plugs into tubeless tires without the need to remove the tire from the rim on which the tire is mounted.
2. Description of Prior Art
Tubeless tires are tires which are mounted on a wheel wherein the wheel forms a part of the seal to hold in air under pressure. The side of the tire has a bead which butts against a corresponding portion of the wheel rim forming an air-tight seal. No tube is required in these types of tires.
However, as a result of the requirement that tubeless tires firmly seat against the wheel rim, they are difficult to remove from the wheel rim, even when they are flat. Special tools are generally required to remove the flat tire from the rim to enable a hole in the tire to be repaired. Therefore, it is desirable to have a tool which allows a hole in a tubeless tire to be repaired without removing the tire from the wheel rim.
Devices for repairing holes in tubeless tires without removing them from the rim are well known. A primary type of device for repairing holes in tubeless tires without removing them from the rim on which they are mounted employ a substantially cylindrical rubber “plug” and a tool for inserting the plug into a hole. The following patents disclosing devices using the plug-type repair mechanism, all of which are incorporated herein by reference, are relevant to the present invention:
YEAR
NO.
TITLE
PAT. NO.
ISSUED
INVENTOR
NOTE
1.
Tire Repair
5,746,851
1998
Smith
Discloses a specialized tire repair
Apparatus
plug, not a tool. The plug is
substantially cut in half by a slit, an
associated tool being inserted into the
slit and used to stretch the plug
(decreasing its diameter) whereupon
the plug and tool are inserted into a
hole, then the tool is withdrawn from
the slit.
2.
Tire Repair Plug and
5,062,323
1991
Roberts et
Discloses a tire repair tool and
Installation Tool
al.
specialized plug adapted to be used
therewith. The tool stretches the plug
which has two enlarged ends, then a
bulbous enlarged end is inserted into
the tire, whereupon the protruding
enlarged end is cut flush with the
surface of the tire.
3.
Tire Repair Plug and
4,802,388
1989
Roberts
Discloses a tire repair tool and
Tool
specialized plug adapted to be used
therewith. The plug has an enlarged
head which is pulled against the inner
surface of the tire by used of an
external loop attached to the plug and
an associated tool.
4.
Tire Repair Tool
4,716,792
1988
Hector
Discloses a tire repair tool and
Means
specialized plug adapted to be used
therewith. The plug has a hardened
head portion which is inserted first
and which prevents the plug from
being forced to back out of the hole.
5.
Tire Repair Tool
3,945,273
1976
Wolk
Discloses a tire repair tool with a
replaceable tube for insertion of a
typical repair plug.
6.
Tool for Inserting a
3,855,881
1974
Buckland
Discloses a tire repair tool and
Repair Plug and
specialized plug adapted to be used
Patch in a Wire Cord
therewith. To use this invention, the
Tire
tire is preferably removed from the
rim. The plug is a “mushroom-like”
shape, the head of the mushroom
forming a seal inside the tire and the
stem extending out through the hole.
The prior art tools are primarily designed to use specialized plugs. The specialized plugs required have not taken root in the market place. Rather, most repairs continue to use simple cylindrical plugs. Therefore, there is a need for an improved tool for installation of simple cylindrical plugs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide a tire repair plug installation tool that can be used from the outside without requiring the tire to be removed from the rim upon which it is mounted. It is further an object of the invention to provide an all-in-one tool which contains all of the various parts required to effect a repair in a tubeless tire. The objectives are accomplished by providing a handle including a compartment defined therein for storing extra plugs, a shaft drivingly engaging the handle with a plug hook means incorporated therein and a reamer at an end of the shaft opposite from the point where the shaft attaches to the ratchet means.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a tool with a ratchet means disposed in a housing on a lower surface of the handle, the shaft drivingly engaging the ratchet means so that the user may more easily turn the reamer.
It is further an object of the invention to provide a tool where more than one size of ratchet may be interchanged to allow a user to use the tool more effectively to repair a larger size range of holes in tire.
It is finally an object of the invention to provide a single tool which incorporates all of the elements required to patch a hole in a tubeless tire, including cutting means for trimming the plug after it has been inserted.
REFERENCES:
patent: 532960 (1895-01-01), Hitchcock
patent: 3783715 (1974-01-01), Niconchuk
patent: 3837243 (1974-09-01), Mays
patent: 3855881 (1974-12-01), Buckland
patent: 3945273 (1976-03-01), Wolk
patent: 4716792 (1988-01-01), Hector
patent: 4763546 (1988-08-01), Yeh et al.
patent: 4802388 (1989-02-01), Roberts
patent: 4930377 (1990-06-01), Lester
patent: 4951531 (1990-08-01), Nishio
patent: 5062323 (1991-11-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 5461945 (1995-10-01), Lee
patent: 5480166 (1996-01-01), Milsop
patent: 5515751 (1996-05-01), Lee
patent: 5746851 (1998-05-01), Smith
patent: 805007 (1958-11-01), None
Danganan Joni B.
Scherbel David A.
White Edward L.
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