# US 10,369,853 B2 · Bead seater apparatus and method for using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,853 B2 - Document ID: US10369853B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/637,406 - Filed: 2017-06-29 - Published: 2017-10-19 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-24 - Assignees: Android Industries LLC - Applicants: Android Industries LLC - Inventors: Lawrence J. Lawson; Barry Allan Clark - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369853B2 ## CPC - B60C 25/14: Apparatus or tools for spreading {or locating} tyre beads - B60C 25/12: for only seating the beads - Y10T 29/49492: Land wheel - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An apparatus for seating a bead of a tire adjacent a bead seat of a wheel is disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portion of an apparatus for processing an inflated tire-wheel assembly, comprising: a canopy portion including a body portion, and a plurality of tire-wheel-assembly-engaging legs extending away from the body portion, wherein the plurality of tire-wheel-assembly-engaging legs include at least: a first tire-wheel-assembly-engaging leg, and a second tire-wheel-assembly-engaging leg wherein the first tire-wheel-assembly-engaging leg and the second tire-wheel-assembly-engaging leg are spaced apart from each other at an angular orientation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portion of the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the angular orientation is equal to approximately about 180°. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The portion of the apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of tire-wheel-assembly-engaging legs further include: a third tire-wheel-assembly-engaging leg, and a fourth tire-wheel-assembly-engaging leg, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth tire-wheel-assembly-engaging legs are spaced apart from each other at an angular orientation equal to approximately about 90°. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The portion of the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth tire-wheel-assembly-engaging legs include: a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion of each of the first, second, third and fourth tire-wheel-assembly-engaging legs is attached to and extends away from a side surface of the body portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The portion of the apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the proximal portion and the intermediate portion supports an upper tire-sidewall-surface-engaging device, wherein the upper tire-sidewall-surface-engaging device includes: a first shock absorber, a second shock absorber, a vibrator, a support member, a roller member, and a roller supporter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The portion of the apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an upper surface of the first shock absorber is attached to a lower surface of the proximal portion, wherein an upper surface of the second shock absorber is attached to a lower surface of the intermediate portion, wherein a lower surface of the first shock absorber and a lower surface of the second shock absorber is attached to an upper surface of the support member, wherein a lower surface of the vibrator is attached to an upper surface of the support member, wherein the roller supporter extends away from a lower surface of the support member, wherein the roller member is non-rotatably-fixed to or rotatably-supported upon the roller supporter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The portion of the apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a conveyor portion including a first conveyor portion and a second conveyor portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The portion of the apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a controller connected to one or more motors, wherein the one or more motors is connected to the canopy portion, the first conveyor portion and the second conveyor portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The portion of the apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the controller includes a processor executing a program stored in memory, wherein the program contains instructions for automatically controlling the one or more motors that, in turn, automatically operates: the canopy portion, the first conveyor portion and the second conveyor portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The portion of the apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the controller includes one or more joysticks, levers, buttons or the like for manually controlling the one or more motors that, in turn, operates: the canopy portion, the first conveyor portion and the second conveyor portion. ### Claim 11 A method for processing an inflated tire-wheel assembly, comprising the steps of: compressing the inflated tire-wheel assembly directly adjacent a canopy portion; and actuating one or more motors that are connected to one or more of: a vibrator and a roller member for conducting work upon the inflated tire-wheel assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the vibrator vibrates at a frequency ranging between approximately about 5600 cycles-per-minute to approximately about 8000 cycles-per-minute. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein conducting work includes: vibrating the inflated tire-wheel assembly after the inflated tire-wheel assembly is compressed directly adjacent the canopy portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein conducting work includes vibrating the inflated tire-wheel assembly and rotating the inflated tire-wheel assembly after the inflated tire-wheel assembly is compressed directly adjacent the canopy portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of: lowering the inflated tire-wheel assembly away from the canopy portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of: presenting the inflated tire-wheel assembly to a conveyor portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of: actuating one or more conveyor motors for causing rotation of the conveyor portion for conveying the inflated tire-wheel assembly from a first orientation to a second orientation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of: arranging the unprocessed, inflated tire-wheel assembly upon a conveyor portion; actuating one or more conveyor motors for causing rotation of the conveyor portion for conveying the inflated tire-wheel assembly from a first orientation to a second orientation. ### Claim 19 A method for processing an inflated tire-wheel assembly, comprising the step of: compressing the inflated tire-wheel assembly directly adjacent a canopy portion, wherein the compressed inflated tire-wheel assembly includes a tire, wherein the compressed inflated tire-wheel assembly results in an upper sidewall surface and a lower sidewall surface of the tire being arranged in a pattern defined by a plurality of peaks and valleys. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the pattern defined by the plurality of peaks and valleys is a sinusoidal pattern. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the inflated tire-wheel assembly is compressed by a pressure. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, wherein the pressure includes an amount ranging between approximately about 500 psi to approximately about 1500 psi. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22, wherein the pressure includes an amount ranging between approximately about 500 psi to approximately about 1000 psi. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22, wherein the pressure includes an amount ranging between approximately about 1000 psi to approximately about 1500 psi. ### Claim 25 A method for processing an inflated tire-wheel assembly, comprising the steps of: compressing the inflated tire-wheel assembly between a tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and a canopy portion; rotating the inflated tire-wheel assembly after the inflated tire-wheel assembly is compressed between the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and a canopy portion; and seating a bead of a tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly adjacent a bead seat of a wheel of the tire-wheel assembly. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein the rotating step includes: actuating a motor connected to a roller member that engages the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly, wherein the roller member is connected to one of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, wherein the seating step includes: actuating a motor connected to a vibrator that engages the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly for vibrating the tire as the inflated tire-wheel assembly is rotated, wherein the vibrator is connected to one of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, wherein the seating step includes: actuating a motor connected to a vibrator that engages the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly for vibrating the tire, wherein the vibrator is connected to one of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein the rotating step includes: actuating a motor connected to at least one roller member of a plurality of roller members that engage the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly, wherein the at least one roller member is connected to one of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method according to claim 29, wherein the seating step includes: actuating a motor connected to a vibrator that engages the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly for vibrating the tire as the inflated tire-wheel assembly is rotated, wherein the vibrator is connected to one of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The method according to claim 29, wherein the seating step includes: actuating a motor connected to a vibrator that engages the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly for vibrating the tire, wherein the vibrator is connected to one of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, wherein the rotating step includes: actuating a motor connected to a wheel-engaging portion that engages the wheel of the inflated tire-wheel assembly, wherein the wheel-engaging portion is connected to the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method according to claim 32, wherein the seating step includes: actuating a motor connected to a vibrator that engages the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly for vibrating the tire as the inflated tire-wheel assembly is rotated, wherein the vibrator is connected to one of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The method according to claim 32, wherein the seating step includes: actuating a motor connected to a vibrator that engages the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly for vibrating the tire, wherein the vibrator is connected to one of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 35 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein prior to the compressing step, the method includes: arranging the inflated tire-wheel assembly upon the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion; elevating the inflated tire-wheel assembly from a non-elevated orientation upon the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion to an elevated orientation upon the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion; and arranging the inflated tire-wheel assembly in direct contact with the canopy portion for compressing the inflated tire-wheel assembly between the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 36 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein, after the seating step, the method further includes the step of: utilizing the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion for lowering the inflated tire-wheel assembly away from the canopy portion. ### Claim 37 A method for processing an inflated tire-wheel assembly, comprising the steps of: arranging a lower sidewall of a tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly adjacent a plurality of lower tire-sidewall-surface-engaging devices including at least: a first lower tire-sidewall-surface-engaging device of a tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion; and a second lower tire-sidewall-surface-engaging device of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion; arranging an upper sidewall of the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly adjacent a plurality of upper tire-sidewall-surface-engaging devices including at least: a first upper tire-sidewall-surface-engaging device of a canopy portion; and a second upper tire-sidewall-surface-engaging device of the canopy portion for compressing the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly between the plurality of lower tire-sidewall-surface-engaging devices and the plurality of upper tire-sidewall-surface-engaging devices for manipulating each of the lower sidewall of the tire and the upper sidewall of the tire from a substantially planar orientation to a non-planar orientation. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The method according to claim 37, wherein the non-planar orientation is defined by a plurality of peaks and valleys. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The method according to claim 37, wherein the non-planar orientation is defined by a sinusoidal orientation. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The method according to claim 37, wherein the plurality of lower tire-sidewall-surface-engaging devices are angularly offset from the plurality of upper tire-sidewall-surface-engaging devices. ### Claim 41 (depends on 37) The method according to claim 37 further including the steps of: rotating the inflated tire-wheel assembly after the inflated tire-wheel assembly is compressed between the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and a canopy portion; and seating a bead of a tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly adjacent a bead seat of a wheel of the tire-wheel assembly. ### Claim 42 (depends on 37) The method according to claim 37, wherein the rotating step includes: actuating a motor connected to a roller member that engages the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly, wherein the roller member is connected to one of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The method according to claim 42, wherein the seating step includes: actuating a motor connected to a vibrator that engages the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly for vibrating the tire as the inflated tire-wheel assembly is rotated, wherein the vibrator is connected to one of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The method according to claim 42, wherein the seating step includes: actuating a motor connected to a vibrator that engages the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly for vibrating the tire, wherein the vibrator is connected to one of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 45 (depends on 37) The method according to claim 37, wherein the rotating step includes: actuating a motor connected to at least one roller member of a plurality of roller members that engage the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly, wherein the at least one roller member is connected to one of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The method according to claim 45, wherein the seating step includes: actuating a motor connected to a vibrator that engages the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly for vibrating the tire as the inflated tire-wheel assembly is rotated, wherein the vibrator is connected to one of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 47 (depends on 45) The method according to claim 45, wherein the seating step includes: actuating a motor connected to a vibrator that engages the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly for vibrating the tire, wherein the vibrator is connected to one of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 48 (depends on 37) The method according to claim 37, wherein the rotating step includes: actuating a motor connected to a wheel-engaging portion that engages the wheel of the inflated tire-wheel assembly, wherein the wheel-engaging portion is connected to the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The method according to claim 48, wherein the seating step includes: actuating a motor connected to a vibrator that engages the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly for vibrating the tire as the inflated tire-wheel assembly is rotated, wherein the vibrator is connected to one of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The method according to claim 48, wherein the seating step includes: actuating a motor connected to a vibrator that engages the tire of the inflated tire-wheel assembly for vibrating the tire, wherein the vibrator is connected to one of the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 51 (depends on 37) The method according to claim 37, wherein prior to the compressing step, the method includes: arranging the inflated tire-wheel assembly upon the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion; elevating the inflated tire-wheel assembly from a non-elevated orientation upon the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion to an elevated orientation upon the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion; and arranging the inflated tire-wheel assembly in direct contact with the canopy portion for compressing the inflated tire-wheel assembly between the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion and the canopy portion. ### Claim 52 (depends on 37) The method according to claim 37, wherein, after the seating step, the method further includes the step of: utilizing the tire-wheel-assembly-lifting portion for lowering the inflated tire-wheel assembly away from the canopy portion.