Tire lever
AssigneeSnap-on Incorporated
InventorScott A Bendorf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool, such as a tire lever, with a bead holder having a rounded head and a receiving area. In an embodiment, the tool has a first end that includes a tapered tip and a second end that is coupled to the bead holder. The receiving area of the bead holder fits over a flange of a rim such that the rounded head pushes a bead of a tire toward a drop center of the rim while using the flange as a fulcrum.
Claims21
A tool for installing or removing a tire having a bead on a rim having a flange and a drop center, the tool comprising:
- a lever having first and second ends;
- and
- a bead holder coupled to the second end, wherein the bead holder includes a receiving area and a head having a rounded surface, wherein the head includes a beak portion and a lip portion forming the receiving area, and the receiving area is adapted to engage the flange of the rim and the rounded surface of the head is adapted to engage the bead of the tire proximal to the flange to push the bead towards the drop center of the rim using the flange as a fulcrum.
A method of mounting a tire having a bead to a rim having a flange and a drop center, the method comprising:
- disposing the flange of the rim in a receiving area of a bead holder, the bead holder having a head with a rounded surface, wherein the head includes a beak portion and a lip portion forming the receiving area;
- pivoting, using the flange as a fulcrum, the rounded surface against the bead of the tire proximate to the flange;
- and
- pushing, with the rounded surface of the head of the bead holder, the bead of the tire towards the drop center of the rim.
A system comprising:
- a rim including a flange and a drop center;
- a tire including a bead, wherein the bead is disposed proximal to the flange;
- a lever having first and second ends, the first end includes a tapered tip;
- and
- a bead holder coupled to the second end, the bead holder includes a receiving area and a head with a rounded surface, wherein the head includes a beak portion and a lip portion forming the receiving area, and the receiving area is adapted to engage the flange and the rounded surface of the head is adapted to engage the bead to push the bead towards the drop center using the flange as a fulcrum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.