CORD WRAP AND POWER PLUG RECEPTACLE ARRANGEMENT FOR INFLATOR

• US 20110094620A9
• Filed: 03/01/2010
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Jones, Darry L., Guan, Yingchao, Steele, Kimberly Ann
• Granted Patent: US 8,517,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/38
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/166 Devices or methods for introducing sealing compositions into articles
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 29/06 Accessories for tyre-inflating valves, e.g. housings, guards, covers for valve caps, locks, not otherwise provided for B60C23/0496 takes precedence; tools for screwing and unscrewing valve caps B25B27/0057; pump connectors F04B33/005
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/046 using electrical or electronical means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder

Abstract

A temporary mobility kit to minimize or prevent the inadvertent outflow of tire sealant is provided. The temporary mobility kit includes a switch-inflator assembly and a removable sealant assembly. The switch-inflator assembly includes a pump motor and an electrical plug assembly having a cord portion and a plug. The plug is adapted for use in the vehicle'"'"'s power unit. The housing includes a peripheral channel about which the cord portion of the electrical plug assembly is wrapped when the electrical plug assembly is not in use. A plug-receiving aperture is provided to receive and retain the plug when not in use.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A portable apparatus for sealing and inflating a tire, the apparatus comprising:

a switch-inflator assembly having an upper portion and a lower portion;

a sealant portion releasably attached to the switch-inflator assembly;

a peripheral channel defined between the upper portion and the lower portion of the switch-inflator assembly;

a cord passage gap defined between the sealant portion and the switch-inflator assembly, the cord passage gap adjoining the peripheral channel where the peripheral channel faces the sealant portion; and

a cord and plug assembly connected to the switch-inflator assembly,

wherein the cord and plug assembly is wrapped around the switch-inflator assembly by passage of the cord and plug assembly through the cord passage gap to the peripheral channel.

22. The portable apparatus of claim 21, further including a plug-receiving recess formed in the switch-inflator assembly.

23. The portable apparatus of claim 21, wherein the upper portion includes handle-defining recessed regions.

24. The portable apparatus of claim 23, wherein the plug-receiving recess is formed between the handle-defining recessed regions.

25. The portable apparatus of claim 21, wherein the sealant portion comprises a canister.

26. A temporary mobility kit configured to seal and fill a tire, the temporary mobility kit comprising:

a sealant portion;

a switch-inflator assembly connected to the sealant portion, the switch-inflator assembly comprising a housing, an inflator pump, and a cord assembly including a cord and a plug, the housing comprising a recess for accommodating the plug and a channel surrounding the housing and accommodating the cord so that the cord can be stored in the channel,

wherein a proximal end of the cord assembly is attached to the housing in or adjacent to the channel and the cord is stored in the channel by being wound around the housing and through a gap defined between the sealant portion and the switch-inflator assembly.

27. The temporary mobility kit of claim 26, wherein the housing has an upper portion and a lower portion, and the channel is formed between the upper portion and the lower portion.

28. The temporary mobility kit of claim 27, wherein the upper portion includes handle-defining recessed regions.

29. The temporary mobility kit of claim 28, wherein a recess for accommodating the plug is formed between the handle-defining recessed regions.

30. The temporary mobility kit of claim 26, wherein the sealant portion is removably attached to the switch-inflator assembly.

31. The temporary mobility kit of claim 26, wherein the sealant portion is spaced apart from the upper portion of the housing to define the gap through which the cord can pass to be wound around the housing.

32. The temporary mobility kit of claim 26, wherein the sealant portion comprises a canister.

33. The temporary mobility kit of claim 26, wherein the gap adjoins the channel where the channel faces the sealant portion.

34. A method for storing a portable tire repair apparatus comprising a power cord assembly and a sealant portion removably attached to a switch-inflator assembly, the switch-inflator assembly including a housing having a plug recess and a peripheral channel surrounding the housing, the method comprising:

winding the power cord assembly through a gap defined between the sealant portion and the switch-inflator assembly and into the peripheral channel; and

inserting a plug of the power cord assembly into the plug recess.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the housing comprises handle-defining recessed regions and the method comprises moving the portable tire repair apparatus by grasping the handle-defining recessed regions.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the plug recess is formed between the handle-defining recessed regions.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the sealant portion is spaced apart from the upper portion of the housing to define the gap.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the sealant portion comprises a canister.