# US 12,759,352 B2 · Sensor installation tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,352 B2 - Document ID: US12759352B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/923,863 - Filed: 2024-10-23 - Published: 2026-04-23 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2024-10-23 - Assignees: Rush Group Limited, L.L.C. - Applicants: Rush Group Limited, L.L.C. - Inventors: William Wheat; Eric Huck - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759352B2 ## CPC - B60C 25/18: Tools for mounting or demounting air valves - B25B 27/02: for connecting objects by press fit or detaching same {(B25D1/16 takes precedence)} - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES - B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING ## Abstract A tool for installing a sensor within a valve hole of a wheel is provided. The tool comprises a body having a handle portion and a head portion. A hook element and an insertion element are each pivotably coupled to the head portion. The insertion element comprises a pocket adapted to receive the sensor and an alignment nib for aligning the sensor in the valve hole. The handle portion is pivotable via lever action when the hook element is engaged with an outwardly facing wheel surface, and the insertion element is engaged with a barrel of the wheel, thereby facilitating insertion of the sensor through the valve hole. When the sensor is fully seated within the valve hole, the insertion element further contacts an inwardly facing wheel surface, thereby preventing over-insertion of the sensor and signaling that the sensor is fully seated in the valve hole. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tool for installing a sensor within a wheel, wherein the wheel defines an inwardly facing wheel surface and an outwardly facing wheel surface such that a mounting aperture is defined by the inwardly facing wheel surface, the tool comprising: a tool body comprising: a handle portion extending from a first end to a distal end; and a head portion operatively coupled to the handle portion at the first end, the head portion comprising a neck and a pair of arms, wherein the arms are spaced apart from one another and each arm extends substantially parallel to the other arm from the neck to a respective distal surface; a hook element comprising: an interface portion defining an inner profile surface, wherein a non-marring substrate is disposed in contact with and fixedly attached to the inner profile surface such that the interface portion is configured to selectively and releasably engage the outwardly facing wheel surface adjacent to the mounting aperture via the non-marring substrate; a hook element attachment portion integrally formed with the interface portion, wherein the attachment portion is disposed between the pair of arms of the head portion of the tool body; an insertion element comprising: an insertion element attachment portion disposed between the pair of arms of the head portion of the tool body and adjacent to the hook element attachment portion; and a guide portion operatively coupled to the attachment portion, the guide portion comprising a bottom surface and a plurality of sides, wherein the bottom surface and the plurality of sides collectively define a pocket configured to receive the sensor and align the sensor with the mounting aperture for insertion therethrough, and wherein one of the plurality of sides further defines at least one alignment nib that extends outwardly from the respective one of the plurality of sides. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1 wherein each of the tool body, the hook element, and the insertion element are comprised of a nylon material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tool of claim 2 wherein the nylon material is a carbon fiber-reinforced nylon material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tool of claim 3 wherein the non-marring substrate comprises one of a polymeric material and an elastomeric material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tool of claim 4 wherein the non-marring substrate comprises a polymeric material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The tool of claim 4 wherein the non-marring substrate comprises an elastomeric material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The tool of claim 4 wherein the handle portion extends from the head portion to a distal end, the handle portion further comprising a handle cover and a pommel disposed at the distal end. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tool of claim 7 wherein the handle cover comprises a thermoplastic material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The tool of claim 4 wherein the pair of arms defines a first set of attachment points disposed on a first lateral axis and a second set of attachment points disposed on a second lateral axis, wherein the first lateral axis is spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the second lateral axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The tool of claim 9 wherein the first set of attachment points comprises a first aperture defined by one arm and a second aperture defined by the other arm, and wherein the second set of attachment points comprises a third aperture defined by one arm and a fourth aperture defined by the other arm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tool of claim 10 wherein a bushing is received by each of the second aperture and the fourth aperture. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The tool of claim 10 wherein the hook element attachment portion further defines a hook element aperture that is disposed on the first lateral axis and aligned with the first set of attachment points, the tool further comprising a first pin feature configured to be received by the first aperture, the hook element aperture, and the third aperture to thereby operatively couple the hook element with the head portion of the tool body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tool of claim 12 wherein the insertion element attachment portion further defines an insertion element aperture that is disposed on the second lateral axis and aligned with the second set of attachment points, the tool further comprising a second pin feature configured to be received by the second aperture, the insertion element aperture, and the fourth aperture to thereby operatively couple the insertion element and the head portion of the tool body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The tool of claim 13 wherein the insertion element is pivotable about the second lateral axis and the tool body is pivotable about the first lateral axis between a first position and a second position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The tool of claim 14 wherein the plurality of sides of the insertion element further defines a top surface configured to selectively and releasably engage the inwardly facing wheel surface adjacent to the mounting aperture. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tool of claim 15, wherein, when the non-marring substrate of the hook element is engaged with the outwardly facing wheel surface, the handle portion of the tool body is rotated in a first direction, thereby transitioning the tool from the first position to the second position, wherein, in the second position, the top surface of the insertion element is engaged with the inwardly facing wheel surface, and the alignment nib is engaged with the wheel, to thereby fully seat the sensor within the mounting aperture. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The tool of claim 16 wherein each of the pair of arms comprises an arcuate pivot stop extending from the distal surface thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The tool of claim 17 wherein pivoting of the insertion element about the second lateral axis past a midpoint of the distal surfaces of the pair of arms is prohibited via engagement of the bottom surface of the insertion element with the arcuate pivot stops. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The tool of claim 18 wherein the handle portion of the tool body is integrally formed with the head portion at the first end. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The tool of claim 19 wherein the handle portion of the tool body is formed in a cylindrical shape.