Apparatus for sealing, inflating, and repairing tires

• US 6,789,581 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accessories Marketing Incorporated (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdynamics Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cowan, David, Trachtenberg, Saul, Schäpers, Jochen
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US10/285,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20040159365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 141/38, 141/65, 141/67, 141/286, 141/9, 141/100, 152/415, 156/75, 222/630, 222/637
• US Class Current: 141/38
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/166 Devices or methods for introducing sealing compositions into articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2030/00 Pneumatic or solid tyres or parts thereof conveyor belts B29L2031/7092; drive belts B29L2031/7094; fourdrinier belts B29L2031/733

Abstract

A tire repair device is provided. A receptacle/port is in communication with the air flow path; the receptacle/port is adapted to sealingly receive a container of tire sealant. When the air compressor is activated and a container of tire sealant is received in or secured to the receptacle or port, air from the air compressor is forced into the container and pushes tire sealant out of the container, into and out of the receptacle, into the air flow path, and into a tire. Preferably, the receptacle includes a piercing projection disposed in the receptacle adapted to pierce a seal on a container of tire sealant secured in the receptacle. Preferably, the intake and the exhaust are configured in the receptacle so that both the intake and the exhaust are opposite substantially the same opening of a container of tire sealant received in or secured to in the receptacle.

Claims

1. A tire repair device, comprising:

a housing;

an air compressor disposed within said housing;

an air flow path from said air compressor adapted to be connected to a tire; and

a receptacle formed in said housing in communication with said air flow path adapted to sealingly receive a container of tire sealant,

wherein when said air compressor is activated and a container of tire sealant is received in said receptacle, air from said air compressor is forced into the container and pushes tire sealant out of the container, into said receptacle, into said air flow path, and into the tire.

2. A tire repair device according to claim 1, wherein said receptacle comprises:

an intake that receives air from said air flow path upstream of said receptacle; and

an exhaust that returns air to said air flow path downstream of said receptacle.

3. A tire repair device according to claim 2, wherein when a container of tire sealant is received in said receptacle, said intake directs air from said air flow path substantially into the container, and said exhaust receives air and tire sealant from the container and directs the air and tire sealant into said air flow path.

4. A tire repair device according to claim 3, further comprising a check valve disposed on said intake to prevent air and tire sealant form entering said intake.

5. A tire repair device according to claim 1, further comprising a piercing projection located in said receptacle adapted to pierce a seal on a container of tire sealant that is receivable in said receptacle.

6. A tire repair device according to claim 3, further comprising a piercing projection located in said receptacle adapted to pierce a seal on a container of tire sealant that is receivable in said receptacle.

7. A tire repair device according to claim 6, wherein said intake is located within said piercing projection and communicates with an outside of said piercing projection.

8. A tire repair device according to claim 1, wherein said air flow path terminates in a hose which terminates in a chuck adapted to sealingly engage with a conventional tire valve.

9. A tire repair device according to claim 8, further comprising a chuck holder formed on an exterior of said housing, having a substantially annular depression and a central projection shaped to sealingly fit inside said chuck when said chuck is in a storage configuration and not in use.

10. A tire repair device according to claim 2, wherein said intake and said exhaust are configured in said receptacle so that both said intake and said exhaust are opposite substantially the same opening of a container of tire sealant received in said receptacle.

11. An unpressurized container of tire sealant for use with the tire repair device of claim 1, comprising a plastic container housing and sufficient tire sealant within said container housing to repair a flat conventional automobile tire.

12. An unpressurized container of tire sealant according to claim 11, further comprising an opening in said housing and a membranous seal covering said opening.

13. An unpressurized container of tire sealant for use with the tire repair device of claim 2, comprising:

a plastic container housing and sufficient tire sealant within said container housing to repair a flat conventional automobile tire, wherein when said container is received in said receptacle, said opening substantially opposes said intake and said exhaust.

14. An unpressurized container of tire sealant for use with the tire repair device of claim 5, comprising a plastic container housing having an opening;

a membranous seal covering said opening; and

sufficient tire sealant within said housing to repair a flat conventional automobile tire,

wherein when said container is received in said receptacle, said piercing projection pierces said membranous seal on said container to allow air from said intake to enter said opening and air and said tire sealant to exit said opening and enter said exhaust.

15. An unpressurized container according to claim 11, wherein said container is disposable.

16. An unpressurized container according to claim 12, wherein said container is disposable.

17. An unpressurized container according to claim 13, wherein said container is disposable.

18. An unpressurized container according to claim 14, wherein said container is disposable.

19. An unpressurized container according to claim 12, said membranous seal comprising a thin sheet of at least one of paper, plastic, rubber, and metal foil.

20. An unpressurized container according to claim 14, said membranous seal comprising a thin sheet of at least one of paper, plastic, rubber, and metal foil.

21. A tire repair device according to claim 1, wherein when no container is received in said receptacle, said device functions like a conventional air compressor and can inflate tires.

22. A tire repair device according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure relief valve, disposed in said air flow path, to limit the air pressure to a predetermined level in said device when said air compressor is operating.

23. A tire repair device according to claim 22, wherein said predetermined level is below a burst pressure of a container of tire sealant to be used with said device.

24. A tire repair device according to claim 21, further comprising a pressure relief valve, disposed in said air flow path, to limit the air pressure to a predetermined level in said device when said air compressor is operating.

25. A tire repair device according to claim 24, further comprising a pressure relief override switch mechanically engageable with said pressure relief valve, wherein operation of said pressure relief override switch disables said pressure relief valve and allows the air pressure to exceed said predetermined level.

26. A tire repair device according to claim 1, further comprising a clamp projecting from a side of said housing, said clamp adapted to secure a bottle of tire sealant to said side of said housing.

27. A tire repair device, comprising:

a housing;

an air compressor disposed within said housing;

an air flow path from said air compressor adapted to be connected to a tire;

a receptacle formed in said housing in communication with said air flow path; and

a port disposed in said receptacle in communication with said air flow path adapted to sealingly receive a bottle of tire sealant,

wherein when said air compressor is activated and a bottle of tire sealant is received in said receptacle, air from said air compressor is forced into the bottle and pushes tire sealant out of the bottle, into said receptacle, into said air flow path, and into the tire.

28. A tire repair device according to claim 27, wherein said port comprises:

an intake that receives air from said air compressor upstream of said port; and

an exhaust that returns air to said air flow path downstream of said port.

29. A tire repair device according to claim 28, further comprising a hose connected to said exhaust, wherein air exiting said port enters said hose.

30. A tire repair device according to claim 29, wherein when a bottle of tire sealant is secured to said port, said intake directs air from said air flow path substantially into the bottle, and said exhaust receives air and tire sealant from the bottle and directs the air and tire sealant into said air flow path.

31. A tire repair device according to claim 29, said port comprising:

an intake nozzle in communication with said air compressor; and

an exhaust nozzle in communication with said hose.

32. A tire repair device according to claim 31, said port further comprising:

threads adapted to matingly engage threads on a bottle of tire sealant; and

a projection in communication with said intake nozzle adapted to pierce a seal of a bottle of tire sealant threaded into said port.

33. A tire repair device according to claim 32, wherein said intake and said exhaust are configured in said port so that both said intake and said exhaust are opposite substantially the same opening of a bottle of tire sealant threaded into said port.

34. An unpressurized bottle of tire sealant for use with the tire repair device of claim 27, comprising a plastic bottle housing and sufficient tire sealant within said bottle housing to repair a flat conventional automobile tire.

35. An unpressurized bottle of tire sealant according to claim 34, further comprising an opening in said bottle housing and a membranous seal covering said opening.

36. An unpressurized bottle of tire sealant for use with the tire repair device of claim 28, comprising:

a plastic bottle housing and sufficient tire sealant within said bottle housing to repair a flat conventional automobile tire, wherein when said bottle is secured to said port, said opening substantially opposes said intake and said exhaust.

37. An unpressurized bottle of tire sealant for use with the tire repair device of claim 32, comprising a plastic bottle housing having an opening;

a membranous seal covering said opening; and

sufficient tire sealant within said bottle housing to repair a flat conventional automobile tire,

wherein when said bottle is secured to said port, said projection pierces said membranous seal on said bottle to allow air from said intake to enter said opening and air and said tire sealant to exit said opening and enter said exhaust.

38. A tire repair device, comprising:

a port adapted to sealingly receive a bottle of tire sealant;

an intake that receives air from an air compressor upstream of said port;

an exhaust downstream of said port; and

an air flow path from said exhaust adapted to be connected to a tire;

wherein when a bottle of tire sealant is secured to said port, said intake directs air from the air compressor substantially into the bottle, and said exhaust receives air and tire sealant from the bottle and directs the air and tire sealant into said air flow path and into the tire.

39. A tire repair device, comprising:

a housing;

an air compressor within said housing;

an air flow path from said air compressor adapted to be connected to a tire; and

a port in communication with said air flow path adapted to sealingly receive a bottle of tire sealant,

wherein when said air compressor is activated and a bottle of tire sealant is sealingly received in said port, air from said air compressor is forced into the bottle and pushes tire sealant out of the bottle, into said port, into said air flow path, and into the tire.

40. A tire repair device according to claim 39, wherein said port is seated in a receptacle formed in said housing.

41. A tire repair device according to claim 39, wherein said port is in communication with said air flow path via a hose and is extendable from said housing.

42. A tire repair device, comprising:

a housing;

an air compressor within said housing;

an air flow path from said air compressor adapted to be connected to a tire; and

a reservoir formed in said housing in communication with said air flow path adapted to receive tire sealant,

wherein when said air compressor is activated and tire sealant is received in said reservoir, air from said air compressor is forced into said reservoir and pushes tire sealant out of said reservoir, into said air flow path, and into the tire.

43. A tire repair device, comprising:

a housing;

an air compressor within said housing;

an air flow path from said air compressor adapted to be connected to a tire; and

a receptacle formed in said housing in communication with said air flow path adapted to sealingly receive a container of tire sealant,

wherein when said air compressor is activated and a container of tire sealant is received in said receptacle, tire sealant leaves the container and is entrained into said air flow path, and enters the tire.

44. A tire repair device according to claim 43, further comprising a pressurized container of tire sealant sealingly receivable with said receptacle, said pressurized container having an activation switch for selectively allowing the tire sealant to be expelled,

wherein when said air compressor and said activation switch are activated, the tire sealant is expelled from said pressurized container and is entrained along with the air from said air compressor.

45. A disposable tire repair device, comprising:

a container of tire sealant;

a port sealingly secured to said container of tire sealant, said port including an intake that receives air from an air compressor upstream of said port, and an exhaust downstream of said port; and

an air flow path from said exhaust adapted to be connected to a tire;

wherein the air compressor is activated, said intake directs air from the air compressor substantially into said container, and said exhaust receives air and tire sealant from said container and directs the air and tire sealant into said air flow path and into the tire.

46. A disposable tire repair device according to claim 45, wherein said air flow path comprises a hose attachable to a tire valve.

47. A disposable tire repair device according to claim 45, wherein said air flow path comprises a tire valve adaptor stem.