Tire changing system for vehicle

• US 8,359,690 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Willie L. Williams
• Original Assignee: Willie L. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Willie L.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCRUGGS, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US13/270,702
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 710/0, 152/415, 152/416
• US Class Current: 7/100
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 29/006 with electric or pneumatic drive power-driven nut setting or loosening tool per se B25B21/00

Abstract

A tire changing system for use on a vehicle having a frame and four wheel wells formed above corresponding wheels includes a jack movable between lowered and raised configurations and an impact wrench configured to move the jack therebetween when actuated. The system includes an air compressor and air storage tank. An elongate primary hose is connected to the storage tank and extends along the vehicle frame, the primary hose having a plurality of outlet ports situated adjacent to respective vehicle wheel wells. A secondary hose includes a first end selectively coupled to a respective outlet port and a second end selectively connected to the impact wrench such that the impact wrench receives air flow from the storage tank. With a connection to the storage tank, the impact wrench may be used to remove lug nuts from a respective vehicle wheel and operate the jack.

Claims

1. A tire changing system for use on a vehicle having a frame and four wheel wells formed above corresponding wheels, said tire changing system, comprising:

a jack movable between lowered and raised configurations;

an impact wrench configured to move said jack between said lowered and raised configurations when actuated;

an air compressor;

a storage tank in fluid communication with said air compressor and configured to store air under pressure;

an elongate primary hose operatively coupled to said storage tank and configured for air flow, said primary hose extending along the frame of the vehicle and having a plurality of spaced apart outlet ports;

wherein each outlet port is situated adjacent a respective wheel well and includes a length sufficient to extend into a wheel well area defined by the respective wheel well;

a secondary hose having a first end selectively coupled to a respective outlet port and a second end selectively coupled to said impact wrench such that said impact wrench selectively receives air flow from said storage tank when said secondary hose is coupled to said respective outlet port;

a lighting device including;

a housing;

a battery;

a light element electrically connected to said battery and configured to emit light from said housing when energized by said battery;

a magnet attached to said housing and configured to releasably couple said housing to a metal object when positioned thereon;

wherein;

said air compressor is electrically connected to a transmitter;

said air compressor having circuitry configured to cause said transmitter to transmit an activation signal when said air compressor is actuated;

said lighting device is electrically connected to a receiver; and

said lighting device includes circuitry configured to enable said battery to energize said light element when said receiver receives said activation signal.

2. The tire changing system as in claim 1, wherein said impact wrench includes an input device configured to actuate said impact wrench when said impact wrench is coupled to said secondary hose and said secondary hose is coupled to said respective outlet port of said primary air hose.

3. The tire changing system as in claim 2, wherein said input device is an input trigger.

4. The tire changing system as in claim 1, wherein said outlet port is tubing.

5. The tire changing system as in claim 1, wherein said primary hose is coupled to the frame of the vehicle substantially between a trunk of the vehicle and an engine compartment of the vehicle and along a left side and right side of the frame of the vehicle.

6. The tire changing system as in claim 1, wherein said air compressor and said storage tank are mounted inside a trunk of the vehicle.

7. The tire changing system as in claim 1, wherein said air compressor and said storage tank are mounted to a bottom of the vehicle frame.

8. The tire changing system as in claim 7, wherein said primary hose is operatively coupled directly to said air compressor and configured to obtain air therefrom.

9. The tire changing system as in claim 1, wherein said secondary hose includes an expansion section configured to have a selectively expandable length, said expansion portion being resilient and biased to return to an unexpanded condition.

10. The tire changing system as in claim 1, wherein:

said jack includes a force transfer input coupled to said jack; and

said impact wrench includes a socket configured to operatively connect with said force transfer input to actuate said jack to move between said lowered and raised configurations.

11. The tire changing system as in claim 1, wherein said impact wrench includes an input device configured to actuate said impact wrench when said impact wrench is coupled to said secondary hose and said secondary hose is coupled to said respective outlet port of said primary air hose.

12. The tire changing system as in claim 11, wherein said input device is an input trigger.

13. The tire changing system as in claim 12, wherein:

said primary hose is coupled along a left side and right side of the frame of the vehicle substantially between a trunk of the vehicle and an engine compartment of the vehicle; and

said air compressor and said storage tank are mounted inside a trunk of the vehicle.

14. The tire changing system as in claim 12, wherein said air compressor and said storage tank are mounted to a bottom of the vehicle frame of the vehicle.

15. The tire changing system as in claim 12, wherein said primary hose is operatively coupled directly to said air compressor and configured to obtain air therefrom.