# US 2008/0185106 A1 · Tire Removal Aid For Large Tires To Minimize / Eliminate Scuffing Of The Wheel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185106 A1 - Document ID: US20080185106A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/969,828 - Filed: 2008-01-04 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-01-04 - Assignees: Simpson County Tire - Inventors: J. Stephen Farley; Bill Cropper; Clay Spivey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185106A1 ## CPC - B60J 11/10: for wheels (hub caps or the like B60B7/00; external spare wheel stowing, holding or mounting arrangements B62D43/02) - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) ## Abstract An apparatus for protecting the exterior or polished surface of wheels as tires are removed and placed on the wheel. The apparatus includes a substantially flat base having a plurality of stanchions extending out from the base. Each stanchion has a collar positioned adjacent to the base that includes a diameter greater than the stanchion. The stanchions are sized to fit through the bolt holes of the wheel in order to generally align each stanchion with one of those holes. Each collar is sized to be preferably slightly larger than the average bolt, or lug, hole on the wheel. Additionally, each collar is sized to cover substantially the same area as the lug nut or nut that normally attaches the wheels to the vehicle upon which they are used. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device to aid in tire removal from and placement on a wheel, the wheel having a polished surface and a plurality of attachment orifices, each attachment orifice having an orifice diameter, the device comprising: a base; and a plurality of stanchions extending from the base, each stanchion including an expanded diameter proximate the base, each expanded diameter is greater than the orifice diameter and includes an engagement surface positioned to engage the polished surface of the wheel proximate the orifice diameter, and each expanded diameter spaces the wheel from the base during tire removal from and placement on the wheel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the expanded diameter includes a wide portion positioned between the base and the engagement surface, the wide portion including a diameter greater than the diameter of the engagement surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the expanded diameter is frustoconical in shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the number of stanchions corresponds to the number of attachment orifices. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the engagement surface eliminates contact of the wheel to the base. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further including a threaded fastener and each stanchion includes a threaded end shaped to accept the threaded fastener, wherein the threaded fastener, threaded end, and engagement surface secure the wheel to the device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further including a pin and each stanchion includes a stanchion aperture shaped to accept the pin, wherein the pin, stanchion aperture, and engagement surface secure the wheel to the device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the expanded diameter is a lug nut. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the base is composed of plastic and the stanchion is composed of metal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the base and stanchion are composed of a single piece of molded plastic. ### Claim 11 A device to aid in tire removal from and placement on a wheel wherein the wheel includes a polished surface having a lug nut contact surface area, the device comprising: a base shaped to space the wheel and tire from the ground; and a plurality of posts extending from the base, each post including a collar having a collar contact surface area, wherein the collar contact surface area is less than the lug nut surface area for the polished surface of the wheel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the collar spaces the polished surface and the wheel from the base during tire removal from and placement on the wheel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the each post includes a post diameter and each collar includes a collar diameter greater that the post diameter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the collar is frustoconical in shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the number of posts corresponds to the number of attachment orifices. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, further including a threaded fastener and each post includes a threaded end shaped to accept the threaded fastener, wherein the threaded fastener, threaded end, and collar secure the wheel to the device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, further including a pin and each post includes a post aperture shaped to accept the pin, wherein the pin, post aperture, and collar secure the wheel to the device. ### Claim 18 A device to aid in tire removal from and placement on a wheel, the wheel including a plurality of attachment orifices and a polished surface having a lug nut contact surface area, each attachment orifice having an orifice diameter, the device comprising: a base shaped to space the wheel and tire from the ground; a plurality of posts extending from the base, each post including a collar having a collar diameter defining a collar contact surface area, each collar contact surface area is less than the lug nut surface area for the polished surface of the wheel and each collar diameter is greater than the orifice diameter; and wherein each collar contact surface area is positioned to engage the lug nut surface area of the polished surface of the wheel proximate the orifice diameter and space the wheel from the base during tire removal from and placement on the wheel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, further including a threaded fastener and each post includes a threaded end shaped to accept the threaded fastener, wherein the threaded fastener, threaded end, and collar secure the wheel to the device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, further including a pin and each post includes a post aperture shaped to accept the pin, wherein the pin, post aperture, and collar secure the wheel to the device.