Apparatus for transporting and positioning tire and wheel assemblies

• US 6,382,644 B1
• Filed: 11/05/1999
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tire Service Equipment Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Safe Tools Shop Incorporated
• Inventors: Rawlings, Clifford Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN, JUDY J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Divine, David
• Application Number:
  US09/435,090
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 280/763.1, 280/766.1, 280/79.11, 280/79.4, 280/47.35, 280/35, 280/38, 280/47.131, 280/47.27, 280/47.28, 188/5, 254/8.B, 254/2.R, 254/5.R, 414/427, 414/428, 269/17
• US Class Current: 280/79.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 29/002 provided with a dolly

Abstract

An apparatus particularly designed to receive, support, transport and/or position tire and wheel assemblies of vehicles, particularly large vehicles, is described. One embodiment of the apparatus comprised a lower frame, an upright support coupled to the lower frame, a vertical positioning device, and a tire and wheel assembly support operably coupled to the vertical positioning device. Working embodiments included a lower U-shaped frame, generally having plural casters attached thereto, for easy positioning about tires attached to vehicles. A method for receiving, supporting, transporting and positioning tire and wheel assemblies also is described. The method comprises first providing a suitable apparatus. The apparatus is positioned adjacent a tire and wheel assembly of a vehicle. The vertical position of the tire and wheel support assembly is adjusted to engage the tire and wheel assembly. The tire and wheel assembly is then placed on the apparatus, which supports the tire and wheel assembly. This allows an operator to transport the assembly to another location, work on the assembly while it is supported by the apparatus, and/or rotate the assembly while supported by the device for inspection and repair.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving, transporting and positioning tire and wheel assemblies, each assembly having a circumferential tire tread surface, adjoining side surfaces extending generally radially inwardly from the tread surface and a hub portion radially centered about an axis and projecting axially beyond an adjacent one of the side surfaces, the apparatus comprising:

a lower frame;

an upright support coupled to one side of the lower frame;

a vertical positioning device coupled to the upright support; and

a tire and wheel assembly support slidingly engaged with the upright support and vertically movable with the vertical positioning device, the tire and wheel assembly support being cantilevered from the upright support to extend over the frame and having a lower portion against which the tread surface of a received assembly rests and a side portion extending upwardly from the lower portion, the side portion having a circular opening generally coaxial with and sized to receive the hub portion of the received assembly and at least one attached roller at a height above the axis of the received assembly,

wherein the lower and side portions are positioned relative to each other such that the received assembly is inclined to rest against the support at an angle offset from vertical by contact of one side surface in an area above the axis with the upper portion of the support, the hub portion extending at least partially through the opening, and the tread surface contacting the lower portion of the support, the axis of the received assembly being inclined relative to horizontal by the same angle, and

wherein the lower and side portions maintain the received tire and wheel assembly inclined at the same angle throughout raising and lowering of the tire and wheel assembly.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 where the lower frame is U-shaped and sized for positioning about tires attached to vehicles.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 where the lower frame further includes a plurality of casters attached thereto.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 where the lower portion of the tire and wheel assembly support includes elongated tire support members extending from the support, the terminal ends of the support members being angled upwardly from parallel to a surface supporting the device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 where the terminal ends of the support members are angled upwardly at an angle of from about 3°

to about 10°

.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 where the terminal ends of the support members are angled upwardly at an angle of about 5°

from horizontal.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 where the tire and wheel assembly support includes plural support rollers for engaging a tire.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 where the upper portion of the tire and wheel assembly support includes three rollers positioned about a circumference of the opening at substantially equally spaced intervals.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further including a floor stop.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 where the floor stop includes a foot-actuating pedal, a foot actuated release bar, or both.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a handle operably connected to the upright support.