US 6,178,814 B2 · Portable motorized tire support

Abstract

A tire support device for automobile racing tires is a self contained unit which can be conveniently transported and used at a race track or other location for mounting the tire for enabling a person to conveniently and easily perform various procedures on the tire, such as measuring the circumference, run out, and wear of an automobile tire or for preparing the surface of the tire. The mount includes an elongated member for elevating the tire above the ground. The tire support device further includes a mount having a rotatable member for rotating the tire while supported by the mount. A motor can be connected to the rotatable member for rotating the tire and improving the efficiency of the process. A clutch attached to the motor and to the rotatable member enables the tire to be automatically or manually rotated. The mount may be pivotally attached to the base for enabling the tire to be positioned in either a horizontal or vertical position. The tire is secured to the rotatable member by alignment pins inserted through holes in a cap and a tire base of the tire support device and through holes in the wheel of the tire.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A portable, rotatable tire support for mounting a tire, comprising:

a base having a first arm, a second arm, and a first extension, said first and second arms resting on a support surface and having said second arm removably attached to said first arm and positioned substantially perpendicular to said first arm, said first extension attached to said first arm and extending substantially perpendicular to and vertically upwardly from said first arm;
a mount removably attached to said first extension of said base and having an elongated member attached to said first extension and extending substantially vertically upwardly for supporting said tire in spaced apart relation to said support surface, a rotatable member rotatably attached to said elongated member for rotating said tire about an axis;
and
a fastener coupled to said rotatable member and rotatable with said rotatable member for securing said tire between said elongated member and said fastener and enabling rotation of said tire, said fastener and said rotatable member.

1 more element

A portable motorized tire support for supporting a tire including a wheel having at least one hole therethrough, comprising:

a base for supporting said tire support on a support surface;
an elongated member pivotally attached to said base for supporting said tire in spaced apart relation to said support surface;
a rotatable member rotatably attached to said elongated member for rotating said tire about an axis;
a tire base having at least one hole alignable with said at least one hole of said wheel of said tire, said tire base rotatably attached to said elongated member;
a cap having at least one hole alignable with said at least one hole of said wheel of said tire;
and
an alignment pin sized and adapted to be disposed through each of said aligned holes of said cap, said wheel of said tire, and said tire base for coupling said tire and said rotatable member together when said tire is positioned on said rotatable member and positioned between said cap and said tire base.

4 more elements

A portable motorized tire support for mounting a tire, comprising:

a base having a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, and a first extension, said first, second and third arms positioned resting on a support surface, said second and third arms removably attached to said first arm and positioned substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to said first arm, said first extension attached to said first arm and extending substantially perpendicular to and vertically upwardly from said first arm;
a mount removably attached to said extension of said base and having an elongated member with a bore at least partially therethrough for supporting a tire in spaced apart relation to said support surface, a rotatable member disposed within said bore of said elongated member and rotatably attached to said elongated member for rotating said tire about an axis, and a fastener coupled to said rotatable member and to said tire for securing said tire to said mount, said mount pivotally attached to said base enabling said tire to be positioned substantially parallel to said support surface while said mount is positioned upright in a non-pivoted position and to be pivoted through approximately 90° for positioning said tire substantially perpendicular to said support surface while said mount is positioned in a pivoted position;
a motor attached to said rotatable member for rotating said rotatable member and said tire;
and
a clutch attached to said rotatable member and to said motor and having a first position for enabling said rotatable member to be manually rotated and having a second position for enabling said rotatable member to be rotated automatically with said motor.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Portable motorized tire support

Life of this patent

Portable motorized tire support

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20