Method And Apparatus For Mounting A Tire
OwnerNeel K. Mani, John L. Turnerinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tire mounting device is configured to mount a tire to a wheel having a wheel well. The tire mounting device includes a plurality of tire engaging members including a first tire engaging member, a second tire engaging member, and a third tire engaging member. Each of the plurality of tire engaging members is configured to move into and out of engagement with a sidewall of the tire. The tire mounting device further includes a tire rotating device configured to rotate the tire about an axis. At least one member rotating apparatus is configured to rotate the second tire engaging member and the third tire engaging member about the axis.
Claims21
1-15. (canceled)
An apparatus for mounting a tire to a wheel, the apparatus comprising:
- a tire rotating device configured to rotate a tire about an axis of rotation;
- a plurality of tire engaging members, including at least a first tire engaging member and a second tire engaging member, each tire engaging member being configured to engage a sidewall of the tire;
- a plurality of arms, including at least a first arm connected to the first tire engaging member and a second arm connected to the second tire engaging member,
- wherein each of the plurality of arms is configured to move a respective connected tire engaging member into engagement with the sidewall of the tire, thereby moving a proximal section of a bead of the tire into a well of the wheel,
- wherein each of the plurality of arms is further configured to move the respective connected tire engaging members out of engagement with the sidewall of the tire;
- and
- an arm rotating device configured to rotate the second arm about the axis of rotation.
A tire mounting device configured to mount a tire to a wheel having a wheel well, the tire mounting device comprising:
- a plurality of tire engaging members including a first tire engaging member, a second tire engaging member, and a third tire engaging member, each of the plurality of tire engaging members being configured to move into and out of engagement with a sidewall of the tire;
- a tire rotating device configured to rotate the tire about an axis;
- at least one member rotating apparatus configured to rotate the second tire engaging member and the third tire engaging member about the axis.
A method of mounting a tire to a wheel, the method comprising:
- providing a wheel;
- providing a tire;
- rotating the tire about an axis of the tire at a first speed;
- moving a first member into engagement with a sidewall of the tire, such that a proximal section of a bead of the tire is placed in a well of the wheel;
- and
- moving a second member into engagement with the sidewall of the tire, such that the section of the bead of the tire is retained in the well of the wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.