Back to results
US 12,491,735 B2Granted
Devices and methods for changing a vehicle tire
OwnerJeremiah W. Carvellinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are devices and methods for changing a vehicle wheel. The devices include an elongated shaft, a wrench portion coupled to a first end of the elongated shaft, a lever portion coupled to a second end of the elongated shaft, the lever portion including: a foot pedal configured to cause a socket to apply a first torque to a fastener; a hand grip configured to cause the socket to apply a second torque to the fastener; and a first opening and a second opening, the first opening and the second opening being configured to permit the hand of a user to grasp the hand grip. The disclosed methods include steps for using the devices to loosen and tighten lug nuts on a vehicle wheel.
Claims16
A device for changing a vehicle wheel, the device comprising:
- an elongated shaft;
- a wrench portion coupled to a first end of the elongated shaft, the wrench portion including a head and a socket, the socket being configured to engage a fastener;
- a lever portion coupled to a second end of the elongated shaft, the lever portion including:
- a foot pedal including a first portion and a second portion, the foot pedal being configured to cause the socket to apply a first torque to the fastener responsive to application of a first force to the foot pedal via a foot of a user, the foot pedal includes a plurality of protrusions configured to aid in maintaining engagement between the foot of the user and the foot pedal,
- a hand grip having a longitudinal axis that is coincident with a longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft and is configured to cause the socket to apply a second torque to the fastener responsive to application of a second force to the hand grip via a hand of the user, the hand grip being positioned within an outer perimeter of the foot pedal and being defined by a plurality of openings that are configured to allow the hand of the user to grasp the hand grip,
- wherein the first portion of the foot pedal includes (i) a first segment adjacent to and extending from the first end of the foot pedal, (ii) a second segment, adjacent to and extending from a second end of the foot pedal, the second end being opposite of the first end, and (iii) a third segment connecting the first segment and the second segment and being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft, wherein a length of the third segment is less than a length measured between the first end and the second end of the foot pedal.
3 more elements
A method for changing a vehicle wheel using a device comprising an elongated shaft, a wrench portion, and a lever portion, the method comprising:
- causing a socket of the wrench portion of the device to engage a first lug nut that engages a first threaded shaft on a portion of the vehicle for coupling a first wheel to the vehicle;
- applying a first force to a foot pedal of the lever portion of the device via a foot of a user to cause a first torque to be applied to the first lug nut to cause the first lug nut to rotate in a first rotational direction, wherein the foot pedal includes a plurality of protrusions that aid in maintaining engagement between the foot of the user and the foot pedal, wherein the first portion of the foot pedal includes (i) a first segment adjacent to and extending from the first end of the foot pedal, (ii) a second segment, adjacent to and extending from a second end of the foot pedal, the second end being opposite of the first end, and (iii) a third segment connecting the first segment and the second segment and being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft, wherein a length of the third segment is less than a length measured between the first end and the second end of the foot pedal, wherein a hand grip is positioned within an outer perimeter of the foot pedal and being defined by a plurality of openings that are configured to allow the hand of the user to grasp the hand grip;
- subsequent to causing the first lug nut to rotate, grasping, via a hand of the user, a hand grip of the lever portion of the device by inserting a hand through the plurality of openings, wherein the hand grip that is grasped by the hand of the user is coincident with a longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft;
- applying a second force to the hand grip of the lever portion of the device via the hand of the user to cause a second torque to be applied to the first lug nut to cause the first lug nut to be further rotated in the first rotational direction and removed from the first threaded shaft, wherein the second force and the second torque are less than the first force and the first torque;
- subsequent to removing the first lug nut from the first threaded shaft, removing the first wheel from the vehicle;
- subsequent to the removing the first wheel, positioning a second wheel adjacent to the first threaded shaft;
- subsequent to the positioning the second wheel, positioning the first lug nut on the first threaded shaft;
- and
- causing the socket to engage the first lug nut and applying a third force to the hand grip of the device to cause a third torque to be applied to the first lug nut, thereby causing the first lug nut to rotate in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.