Tire removal aid for large tires to minimize / eliminate scuffing of the wheel

• US 8,011,412 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2008
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Melzo Innovations
• Original Assignee: Melzo Innovations
• Inventors: Farley, J. Stephen, Spivey, Clay, Cropper, Bill
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas; David B
• Application Number:
  US11/969,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20080185106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 157/14, 157/1.1, 157/1.24, 157/16, 157/1
• US Class Current: 157/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 11/10 for wheels hub caps or the like B60B7/00; external spare wheel stowing, holding or mounting arrangements B62D43/02

Abstract

An apparatus for protecting the exterior or polished surface of wheels as tires are removed and placed on the wheel. The apparatus includes a substantially flat base having a plurality of stanchions extending out from the base. Each stanchion has a collar positioned adjacent to the base that includes a diameter greater than the stanchion. The stanchions are sized to fit through the bolt holes of the wheel in order to generally align each stanchion with one of those holes. Each collar is sized to be preferably slightly larger than the average bolt, or lug, hole on the wheel. Additionally, each collar is sized to cover substantially the same area as the lug nut or nut that normally attaches the wheels to the vehicle upon which they are used.

Claims

1. A device to aid in tire removal from and placement on a wheel, the wheel having a polished surface and a plurality of attachment orifices, each attachment orifice having an orifice diameter, the device comprising:

a base; and

a plurality of stanchions extending from the base, each stanchion including an expanded diameter proximate the base, each expanded diameter is greater than the orifice diameter and includes a substantially flat engagement surface positioned to engage the polished surface of the wheel proximate to and surrounding the orifice diameter, and each engagement surface positioned to space the wheel from the base during tire removal from and placement on the wheel, with the engagement surface positioned to eliminate contact of the wheel to the base.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the expanded diameter includes a wide portion positioned between the base and the engagement surface, the wide portion including a diameter greater than the diameter of the engagement surface.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the expanded diameter is frustoconical in shape.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the number of stanchions corresponds to the number of attachment orifices.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the engagement surface eliminates contact of the wheel to the base.

6. The device of claim 1, further including a threaded fastener and each stanchion includes a threaded end shaped to accept the threaded fastener, wherein the threaded fastener, threaded end, and engagement surface secure the wheel to the device.

7. The device of claim 1, further including a pin and each stanchion includes a stanchion aperture shaped to accept the pin, wherein the pin, stanchion aperture, and engagement surface secure the wheel to the device.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the expanded diameter is a lug nut.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the base is composed of plastic and the stanchion is composed of metal.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the base and stanchion are composed of a single piece of molded plastic.

11. A device to aid in tire removal from and placement on a wheel wherein the wheel includes a polished surface having a lug nut contact surface area and a plurality of attachment orifices, each attachment orifice having an orifice diameter, the device comprising:

a base shaped to space the wheel and tire from the ground;

a plurality of posts extending from the base, each post including a collar having a substantially flat collar contact surface area, wherein the collar contact surface area is less than the lug nut surface area for the polished surface of the wheel and greater than the orifice diameter; and

wherein the collar contact surface area engages the polished surface only in the lug nut surface area and spaces the polished surface and the wheel from the base during tire removal from and placement on the wheel.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the each post includes a post diameter and each collar includes a collar diameter greater that the post diameter.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the collar is frustoconical in shape.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the number of posts corresponds to the number of attachment orifices.

15. The device of claim 11, further including a threaded fastener and each post includes a threaded end shaped to accept the threaded fastener, wherein the threaded fastener, threaded end, and collar secure the wheel to the device.

16. The device of claim 11, further including a pin and each post includes a post aperture shaped to accept the pin, wherein the pin, post aperture, and collar secure the wheel to the device.

17. A device to aid in tire removal from and placement on a wheel, the wheel including a plurality of attachment orifices and a polished surface having a lug nut contact surface area, each attachment orifice having an orifice diameter, the device comprising:

a base shaped to space the wheel and tire from the ground;

a plurality of posts extending from the base, each post including a collar having a collar diameter defining a substantially flat collar contact surface area, each collar contact surface area is less than the lug nut surface area for the polished surface of the wheel and each collar diameter is greater than the orifice diameter; and

wherein each collar contact surface area is positioned to only engage the lug nut surface area of the polished surface of the wheel proximate to and surrounding the orifice diameter and space the wheel from the base during tire removal from and placement on the wheel.

18. The device of claim 17, further including a threaded fastener and each post includes a threaded end shaped to accept the threaded fastener, wherein the threaded fastener, threaded end, and collar secure the wheel to the device.

19. The device of claim 17, further including a pin and each post includes a post aperture shaped to accept the pin, wherein the pin, post aperture, and collar secure the wheel to the device.