Tire deflator and method of deflating a tire

• US 5,482,397 A
• Filed: 02/18/1994
• Issued: 01/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eagle Research Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eagle Research Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Soleau, Bert
• Primary Examiner(s): BUIZ, MIKADO RYAN
• Application Number:
  US08/198,279
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 404/6, 404/9-12, 256/14, 256/15, 256/17, 256/18
• US Class Current: 404/6
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/12 for forcibly arresting or disabling vehicles, e.g. spiked mats

Abstract

A tire deflator and method of deflating a tire of a moving vehicle includes at least one support mechanism and a spike secured to the at least one support mechanism such that upon the tire of the moving vehicle being penetrated by the spike, both the spike and support mechanism rotate with the tire so as to allow for rapid air depletion of the tire. The method includes the steps of securing the spike to the at least one support mechanism, positioning the support mechanism in a roadway and penetrating the tire with a spike such that the spike and support mechanism as an integral unit becomes secured to the tire and rotate with the tire after the tire is penetrated by the spike.

Claims

1. A tire deflator for deflating a tire of a moving vehicle, which comprises:

at least one support mechanism;

a spike secured to said at least one support mechanism; and

a base member upon which said at least one support mechanism is detachably mounted such that upon the tire of the moving vehicle being penetrated by the spike, both the spike and support mechanism rotate with the tire and said base member remains positioned in the roadway upon which the vehicle travels.

2. A tire deflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spike is hollow.

3. A tire deflator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said spike comprises a metal tube having a sharp point at an upper end portion thereof.

4. A tire deflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spike comprises a mechanism for securing said spike to said tire upon said tire being penetrated by said spike.

5. A tire deflator as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a securing mechanism securing said spike to said support mechanism.

10. A tire deflator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said support mechanism has a hollow passage for unobstructed flow of air therethrough from said spike and said tire after said tire is penetrated by said spike.

6. A tire deflator for deflating a tire of a moving vehicle, which comprises:

at least one support mechanism;

a spike secured to said at least one support mechanism such that upon the tire of the moving vehicle being penetrated by the spike, both the spike and support mechanism rotate with the tire; and

a base plate upon which said support mechanism is mounted such that said support mechanism is separable from said base plate upon said tire being penetrated by said spike.

7. A tire deflator as claimed in claim 6, which comprises a mechanism for detachably securing said support mechanism to said base plate.

8. A tire deflator as claimed in claim 7, wherein said mechanism detachably securing said support mechanism to said base plate comprises one of an adhesive and a frangible tab.

9. A tire deflator as claimed in claim 6, which comprises.

a contact surface member attached to a bottom portion of said base plate, said contact surface member preventing sliding of said base plate once said base plate is struck by the tire.

11. A tire deflator as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one support mechanism comprises a plurality of support mechanisms and which comprises a spacer mechanism positioned between adjacent support mechanisms and providing a predetermined spacing between the spike and each of the support mechanisms.

12. A tire deflator as claimed in claim 6, wherein said base plate has a groove formed therein to which said support mechanism is fitted.

13. A tire deflator as claimed in claim 6, wherein said spike and said support mechanism comprise a detachable integral unit separated from said base upon said tire being penetrated by said spike.

14. A tire deflator for deflating a tire of a moving vehicle, which comprises:

at least one support mechanism;

a spike secured to said at least one support mechanism wherein said spike comprises a mechanism securing said spike to said tire upon said tire being penetrated by said spike;

a base member upon which said at least one support mechanism is detachably mounted; and

a mechanism maintaining connection of said support mechanism to said spike upon rotation of said tire after said tire has been penetrated by said spike and passes air from said tire such that upon the tire of the moving vehicle being penetrated by the spike, both the spike and support mechanism rotate with the tire.

15. A tire deflator as claimed in claim 14, wherein said spike is hollow.

16. A method of deflating a tire of a vehicle, which comprises:

securing a spike to at least one support mechanism; and

detachably mounting said at least one support mechanism on a base plate;

positioning said base plate with said at least one support mechanism in a roadway for the vehicle; and

penetrating the tire of the vehicle with the spike such that the spike and support mechanism become secured to the tire and rotate with the tire after the tire is penetrated by the spike.

17. A method of deflating a tire as claimed in claim 16, wherein said spike comprises a hollow tubular spike and said support mechanism has a passage formed therein and wherein securing of the spike comprises securing the spike to the hollow passage of the support mechanism such that air in the tire flows freely through the spike and said passage in the support mechanism after penetrating of the tire with said spike.

18. A method of deflating a tire as claimed in claim 16, which comprises making the bottom portion of the base plate have a friction characteristic which prevents sliding of the base plate on the roadway upon penetration of the tire by said spike.

19. The method as claimed in claim 16, which comprises attaching to a bottom portion of said base plate a contact surface member having a greater friction characteristic than said base plate so as to prevent sliding of said base upon penetrating of the tire by said spike.

20. A method of deflating a tire as claimed in claim 16, which comprises forming a securing mechanism on said spike such that said securing mechanism secures said spike and support mechanism as an integral unit to the tire upon penetrating the tire with the spike.