TIRE REPAIR TOOL AND METHOD OF REPAIRING A TIRE PUNCTURE WITH TIRE PLUGS

Abstract

A tire repair tool assembly includes a tool body, at least one tire plug, a plug storage cap, and a hollow tube. The tool body may have a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the tool body having a storage compartment within the tool body, the storage compartment having an opening at the first end. The plug storage cap may be operably coupled to the first end of the tool body. The hollow tube may be sized to receive a first end of the at least one tire plug within the hollow tube, the hollow tube extending from the second end of the tool body and having a tip distal from the second end of the tool body. The tire repair assembly may further include a tool body case having a closed end and an open compartment within the tool body case.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A tire repair tool assembly comprising: a tool body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; at least one tire plug covered with adhesive; a member extending from the second end of the tool body and having a tip distal from the second end of the tool body, the tip configured to receive a first end of the at least one tire plug therein and defining a sharp point to penetrate a puncture hole in a tire; and a tool body case comprising a closed end and an open compartment within the tool body case, the open compartment sized to receive and enclose the member and the second end of the tool body within the open compartment while the member extends from the second end of the tool body, the tool body case configured to engage the tool body at a location between the first end of the tool body and the second end of the tool body to removably retain the second end of the tool body within the tool body case, wherein the at least one tire plug is disposed within the tool body case.

16. The tire repair tool assembly of claim 15, wherein the tool body is rotatably coupled or friction fit to the tool body case.

17. The tire repair tool assembly of claim 15, wherein the tool body further comprising a plug storage cap removably coupled to the first end of the tool body

18. The tire repair tool assembly of claim 15, wherein the tool body defines a storage compartment within the tool body, the storage compartment having an opening at the first end of the tool body.

19. The tire repair tool assembly of claim 18, further comprising a plug storage cap removably coupled to the first end of the tool body.

20. The tire repair tool assembly of claim 15, further comprising a second tire plug sheet coupled to the at least one tire plug so that the at least one tire plug is between the first tire plug sheet and the second tire plug sheet.

21. The tire repair tool assembly of claim 15, wherein the closed end of the tool body case comprises a removable end cap adapted to open the closed end of the tool body case and expose the sharpened tip of the member.

22. The tire repair tool assembly of claim 15, wherein the tool body case further comprises a bracket on a first external sidewall of the tool body case, the bracket forming a passage between the bracket and the tool body case, the bracket configured to receive a strap through the passage to attach the tool body case to a bicycle.

23. The tire repair tool assembly of claim 22, further comprising a strap sized to pass through the passage for mounting the tire repair tool assembly to a bicycle.

24. A tire repair tool assembly comprising: a tool body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; at least one tire plug covered with adhesive; a tube extending from the second end of the tool body and having a tip distal from the second end of the tool body, the tip configured to receive a first end of the at least one tire plug therein and defining a sharp point to penetrate a puncture hole in a tire; and a tool body case comprising a closed end and an open compartment within the tool body case, the open compartment sized to receive and enclose the tube and the second end of the tool body within the open compartment while the hollow tube extends from the second end of the tool body, the tool body case configured to engage the tool body at a location between the first end of the tool body and the second end of the tool body to removably retain the second end of the tool body within the tool body case, wherein the at least one tire plug is disposed within the tool body case.

25. The tire repair tool assembly of claim 24, wherein the tool body is rotatably coupled or friction fit to the tool body case.

26. The tire repair tool assembly of claim 24, wherein the tool body further comprising a plug storage cap removably coupled to the first end of the tool body

27. The tire repair tool assembly of claim 24, wherein the tool body defines a storage compartment within the tool body, the storage compartment having an opening at the first end of the tool body.

28. The tire repair tool assembly of claim 27, further comprising a plug storage cap removably coupled to the first end of the tool body.

29. The tire repair tool assembly of claim 24, further comprising a second tire plug sheet coupled to the at least one tire plug so that the at least one tire plug is between the first tire plug sheet and the second tire plug sheet.

30. The tire repair tool assembly of claim 24, wherein the closed end of the tool body case comprises a removable end cap adapted to open the closed end of the tool body case and expose the sharpened tip of the tube.

31. The tire repair tool assembly of claim 24, wherein the tool body case further comprises a bracket on a first external sidewall of the tool body case, the bracket forming a passage between the bracket and the tool body case, the bracket configured to receive a strap through the passage to attach the tool body case to a bicycle.

32. The tire repair tool assembly of claim 24, further comprising a strap sized to pass through the passage for mounting the tire repair tool assembly to a bicycle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Implementations will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, where like designations denote like elements, and:

[0015] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a part of a punctured tire and a tire repair tool assembly;

[0016] FIG. 1B shows the hollow tube of the tire repair tool assembly shown in FIG. 1A is partially pushed into the punctured tire;

[0017] FIG. 1C shows the tire is repaired after the hollow tube of the tire repair tool assembly shown in FIG. 1A is pulled out of the tire.

[0018] FIG. 2A is a side view of a tire repair tool assembly with its tool body case pulled apart from its tool body;

[0019] FIG. 2B is a side perspective view of the tire repair tool assembly shown in FIG. 2A with its tool body case partially enclosing its tool body;

[0020] FIG. 3A is a side view of a plug storage cap;

[0021] FIG. 3B is a side perspective view of a tool body and shows the tool body has a storage compartment, into which the plug storage cap shown in FIG. 3A can be inserted;

[0022] FIG. 4A is side perspective view of a tool body with the first end of a plug being inserted into the hollow tube of the tool body;

[0023] FIG. 4B shows the plug is partially inserted into the hollow tube of the tool body shown in FIG. 4A with the remaining part of the plug folded on the hollow tube;

[0024] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the closed end of a tool body case with the end cap of the tool body case pulled apart from the tool body case;

[0025] FIG. 5B is a rear view of the tool body case shown in FIG. 5A with the end cap placed on the tool body case;

[0026] FIG. 5C is a rear perspective view of the tool body case shown in FIG. 5B with a strip of the tool body case pulled apart from the tool body case;

[0027] FIG. 6A shows a tire repair tool assembly mounted on a bicycle with a strap of the tire repair tool assembly;

[0028] FIG. 6B is a rear view of the strap shown in FIG. 6A;

[0029] FIG. 6C shows the tool body of the tire repair assembly shown in FIG. 6A is pulled apart from the tool body case;

[0030] FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method of repairing a tire puncture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] While this disclosure includes embodiments in many different forms, they are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detailed particular embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the disclosed methods and systems, and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the disclosed concepts to the embodiments illustrated.

[0032] When a tire is punctured, it is never at a convenient location or time. Often it is at a remote location that is inconvenient for repairs. Tire repair tools that are small and light weight are more convenient to permit the tire to be repaired quickly to get the vehicle back into operation.

[0033] Contemplated as part of this disclosure is a tire repair tool assembly that is used to effectively and quickly plug a puncture in a tubeless tire, as well as a method of plugging a puncture to a tubeless tire. FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate an example of repairing a puncture, tire puncture, or puncture hole 102 to a tire 104 using a tire repair tool assembly, tire plug tool assembly, or tool assembly 100. FIG. 1A shows a tire repair tool assembly 100 loaded with a plug or tire plug 328, FIG. 1B shows the hollow tube 208 and the plug 328 are partially inserted into the tire 104 at the puncture 102, FIG. 1C shows the tire 104 with the plug 328 having filled the puncture 102 and blocking the air from leaking out of the tire after the hollow tube 208 is pulled out of the tire 104.

[0034] A tire plug tool assembly 100 comprises a tool body 202, at least one tire plug 328, a plug storage cap 222, and a hollow tube 208 (FIGS. 2A and 2B). The plugs 328 may be stored in the plug storage cap 222 (FIG. 3A) and the hollow tube 208 extends from the tool body 202 (FIG. 2A). The tire plug tool assembly 100 may further comprise a tool body case 216. In the particular embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, FIG. 2A shows a tool body 202 pulled out of the tool body case 216 and FIG. 2B shows the tool body 202 coupled with and partially enclosed by the tool body case 216. The tool body 202 may be rotatably coupled to the tool body case 216 or may be coupled with a friction fit or some other connection mechanism.

[0035] The tool body 202 has a first end 204 and a second end 206 opposite the first end 204. The tool body 202 has a storage compartment 330 (FIG. 3B) within the tool body 202. The storage compartment 330 has an opening 332 at the first end 204 of the tool body 202. A hollow tube 208 may extend from the tool body 202 at the second end 206.

[0036] The hollow tube 208 is sized to receive a first end 334 of at least one tire plug 328 (FIG. 4A). The hollow tube 208 has a tip 210 distal from the second end 206 of the tool body 202. The tip 210 may be angled such that the first side 236 is longer than the second side 238. An angled tip can provide a sharp point to penetrate a puncture hole in the tire and deliver the plug into the puncture.

[0037] A plug storage cap 222 may be removably coupled to the first end 204 of the tool body 202 and be used to store plugs. In the particular embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the plug storage cap 222 may be made of rubber or other flexible material and have grooves 240 on its circumference so that the body of the cap can be squeezed and inserted into the storage compartment 330 of the tool body 202 and then expand and couple with the tool body 202. The body of the cap also forms a pocket 338 for storing plugs 328. The plugs 328 may be coupled to a first tire plug sheet 324 within the storage compartment 330 (FIGS. 2A-3B). A second tire plug sheet 326 may be used in the tire plug tool assembly 100 and also coupled to the plugs so that the plugs are between the first tire plug sheet 324 and the second tire plug sheet 326. The first and second tire plug sheets 324 and 326 may be made of plastic, waxed paper, or any material that reduces the likelihood of the tire plug sticking to it. The plug sheets, together with the plugs, may be rolled up and stored in the pocket 338 of the plug storage cap 222 so that the plugs can be easily accessible.

[0038] A plug 328 may be covered with adhesive. A plug 328 may be a length of string covered with adhesive. The adhesive may be made of self-vulcanizing rubber. Before plugging a puncture, a plug may be loaded into the hollow tube 208 of the tool body 202 by inserting the first end 334 of the plug 328 into the hollow tube 208 with a portion of the plug 328 remaining outside of the hollow tube 208 and then folding the remaining portion 336 of the plug 328 on the hollow tube 208 (FIGS. 4A and 4B). The plug may be folded around the second side 238 of the angled tip 210 so that the first side 236 of the tip 210 extends beyond the folded tire plug 328 and the end 212 of the tip 210 is exposed. To plug the puncture 102, the tip 210 of the hollow tube 208 and the folded plug 328 is pushed into the tire 104 through the puncture 102 until only a portion of the plug 328 remains outside of the tire 104 and then the hollow tube 208 is quickly pulled out of the tire 104, leaving the folded plug 328 in the puncture 102 (FIGS. 1A-1C). Placing a plug in the puncture folded increases the size of the plug placed in the puncture for each repair, which saves time and increases the effectiveness of the plug and the efficiency of the repair.

[0039] In the embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the tool body case 216 comprises a closed end 220 and an open compartment 214 within the tool body case 216. The open compartment 214 is be sized to receive the hollow tube 208 and the second end 206 of the tool body 202 within the open compartment 214. The tool body case 216 is configured to engage the tool body 202 to removably retain the second end 206 of the tool body 202 within the tool body case 216. The closed end 220 of the tool body case 216 comprises an end cap 218. The end cap 218 is removable and adapted to open the closed end 220 of the tool body case 216 and expose the tip 210 (FIG. 5A). To save time, a plug or plugs may be preloaded in the hollow tube. Two or more plugs may be twisted or stuck together before being preloaded into the hollow tube. The preloaded plug or plugs may fall out of the hollow tube and onto the inside of the tool body case 216. To retrieve the fallen plug or plugs, the end cap 218 may be removed from the tool body case and expose the plug or plugs.

[0040] The tire repair tool assembly 100 can be stored inside a bag, pocket, or jersey, or even be mounted on a bicycle or other objects. For the specific embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the tool body case 216 further comprises a bracket 224 on a first external sidewall 228 of the tool body case 216. The bracket 224 forms a passage 226 between the bracket 224 and the tool body case 216. The tire repair tool assembly 100 further comprises a strap sized to pass through the passage 226 for mounting the tire repair tool assembly 100 to the bicycle 106 (FIG. 6A-6C) or an object such as a bar or loop (not shown). The strap 230 includes a first part 232 and a second part 234. The first part 232 and the second part 234 have corresponding hook-n-loop structures or sticky parts so that the first part 232 and the second part 234 stick to each other and the strap forms a loop and mounts the tire repair tool assembly 100 to a bicycle 106 or other objects. Mounting the tire repair tool assembly to a bicycle provides a quickly-accessible repair tool for a rider. When the tire repair tool assembly 100 is mounted to a bicycle 106, the tool body 202 can be conveniently removed from the tool body case 216 and be used to quickly repair the puncture. With the tire repair tool assembly 100 mounted, the rider can also avoid losing the tool assembly from riding over tough terrain. This quickly-accessible configuration of the tire repair tool assembly, together with preloaded plugs and easily-accessible spare plugs, save time and provide a tool to quickly and effectively block air from leaking through the puncture.

[0041] The tool body case 216 may further comprise a strip 502 disposed along a second external sidewall 242 of the tool body case 216 (FIG. 5C). The strip 502 may be made of foam, sponge, or rubber for increasing the grip of the tire repair tool assembly and dampening the movement of the tire repair tool assembly 100 during a ride if the tire repair tool assembly is mounted. The second external sidewall 242 may be concave to conform to the shape of the tube 108 of a bicycle 106 (FIGS. 5B and 6A) and further reduce the movement of the tire repair tool assembly 100 during a ride.

[0042] The tire repair tool assembly 100 can be used to repair any tubeless tire used in bicycles, unicycles, tricycles, motorcycles, automobiles, all-terrain vehicles, or any vehicles or mobile machines. The sizes and types of the plugs and the size of the tire repair tool assemblies may vary depending on the sizes and types of tires used on the vehicles or mobile machines.

[0043] Methods of repairing a tire puncture are also provided herein. FIG. 7 illustrates an additional example of a method of repairing a tire puncture (700). The method 700 comprises providing a tool body having a hollow tube (702), where the hollow tube is sized to receive a first end of a tire plug within the hollow tube, extends from the tool body, and has a tip distal from the tool body. The method 700 further comprises inserting the first end of the tire plug into the hollow tube (704), folding the tire plug at the tip of the hollow tube such that a remaining portion of the tire plug extends along the outer surface of the hollow tube for a length of the remaining portion of the tire plug (706), pushing the tip of the hollow tube and the folded tire plug into a tire through the tire puncture until only a portion of the remaining portion of the tire plug remains outside of the tire (708), and pulling the hollow tube out of the tire puncture and leaving the tire plug in the tire puncture (710).

[0044] In some embodiments, inserting the first end of the tire plug into the hollow tube (704) may further comprise inserting two tire plugs into the hollow tube. The tip may be an angled tip having a first side longer than a second side of the angled tip, and folding the tire plug at the tip of the hollow tube (706) may further comprise folding the tire plug around the second side of the angled tip so that the first side extends beyond the folded tire plug. The method 700 may further comprise removing the tire plug from a storage compartment within the tool body prior to inserting the first end of the tire plug into the hollow tube. The method 700 may further comprise exposing the tip of the hollow tube from within an open compartment of a tool body case enclosing the hollow tube prior to inserting the first end of the tire plug into the hollow tube.

[0045] This disclosure, its aspects and implementations, are not limited to the specific components or assembly procedures disclosed herein. Many additional components and assembly procedures known in the art consistent with the tire repair tool assemblies, and methods of repairing a tire puncture will become apparent for use with implementations of the apparatus and methods in this disclosure. In places where the description above refers to particular implementations of tire repair tool assemblies, it should be readily apparent that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and that these implementations may be applied to other tire repair tool assemblies. The presently disclosed implementations are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the disclosure being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning of and range of equivalency of the description are intended to be embraced therein. Accordingly, for example, although particular tire repair tool assemblies and methods of repairing a tire puncture are disclosed, such apparatus, methods, and implementing components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, class, grade, measurement, concentration, material, quantity, the like as is known in the art for such apparatus, methods, and implementing components, and/or the like consistent with the intended operation of the tire repair tool assemblies, and methods of repairing a tire puncture may be used.

[0046] The word exemplary, example, or various forms thereof are used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as exemplary or as an example is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Furthermore, examples are provided solely for purposes of clarity and understanding and are not meant to limit or restrict the disclosed subject matter or relevant portions of this disclosure in any manner. It is to be appreciated that a myriad of additional or alternate examples of varying scope could have been presented, but have been omitted for purposes of brevity.