Replacement Valve Stem Assembly

Abstract

A valve stem assembly, incorporating an expansion part, having a tapered inner portion that can be forcefully applied into the rim aperture of a tire, and having an outer portion that and into which an insert is applied, and into which insert a valve stem threadedly engages, when assembling the valve stem assembly of this invention.

Claims

1. A replacement valve stem assembly, including for use for installation through an air valve aperture in a wheel rim with the valve extending out of its rim and tire when applied to a vehicle, the valve stem assembly comprising an expansion part, said expansion part having an inner portion that is tapered to facilitate its pressure fitting within the rim aperture of a vehicle wheel, an outer portion integrally formed with the inner portion of the assembly and provided for remaining exteriorly of the vehicle rim when installed, said inner portion having an outward extension that biases against the interior of the rim when said assembly is forcefully installed through the rim, said outer portion of said assembly forming an integral cylindrical flange for biasing against the rim when installed, and said cylindrical flange and said outward extension of the inner portion forming a groove there between to seat the apertured tire rim within said groove when said replacement valve assembly is installed; said valve stem assembly having a central channel extending through its longitudinal length to allow pressurized air to be injected into the tire or to be released from the inflated tire during operation; and a valve insert threadedly engaged within said outer portion of said expansion part, and a valve stem fitted within said valve insert and together forming a valve to allow for the flow of pressurized air into the associated tire, to retain the pressurized air within the tire, or to release the air from the tire as required during servicing.

2. The replacement valve stem assembly of claim 1 wherein said expansion part is formed of one of rubber and polymer.

3. A replacement valve stem assembly of claim 2, wherein said expansion part is formed having resiliency, and the durometer hardness of the resilient expansion part is between about 60 to 80.

4. The replacement valve stem assembly of claim 3, wherein the durometer hardness of the expansion part is approximately 70.

5. The replacement valve stem assembly of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the cylindrical flange of the outer portion of the expansion part, and the outward extension of the inner portion of the expansion part each having a diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture of the wheel rim through which the valve stem assembly is forcefully applied and installed during usage.

6. The replacement valve stem assembly of claim 2, wherein said expansion part is formed of silicone rubber.

7. The replacement valve stem assembly of claim 5 and including an adhesive applied to the groove of the expansion part of said assembly to enhance the adherence and seal of said replacement valve stem assembly to the wheel rim.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In referring to the drawings:

[0031] FIG. 1 provides an exploded view of the valve stem assembly of this invention, showing its expansion part, the insert, and the stem valve or core;

[0032] FIG. 2 is a side view of the expansion part of this invention, showing its insert applied therein;

[0033] FIG. 3 is a sectional view through just the expansion part of this invention;

[0034] FIG. 4 is a left end view of the expansion part of FIG. 3; and

[0035] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the entire assembly, showing the expansion part, its insert threadedly engaged therein, and the valve stem threadedly engaged within the insert.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0036] In referring to the drawings, and in particular FIG. 1, therein can be seen the valve stem assembly V of this invention. It includes it expansion part 1, as noted, and into which at its outer end, an insert 2 threadedly engages therein. Then, the valve stem or core 3, itself, threadedly engages within the insert, so as to complete the entire assembly. The entire assembly is made up of just these three parts.

[0037] As can be seen in FIG. 2, which is a side view showing the assembly completed, the expansion part 1 is made up, integrally, of three parts, an inner part 4, which when the assembly is installed, locates within the rim. Then, at its midpoint, it has a formed groove 5, and this groove is designed, and has dimensions, that allows for its snug application within the rim aperture, that tightly biases against the inner surface of the formed groove 5, as it is installed. Then, the contoured portion 4 has an outwardly extension, as at 6, and that biases against the interior of the rim, around the periphery of its aperture, and said part also includes a cylindrical flange, as at 7, integrally formed, and that biases against the exterior of the rim aperture, when the assembly is installed. Then, exteriorly of the expansion part is the integrally shaped and formed outer portion 8 of the assembly, and its expansion part, and that remains exteriorly of the rim, when the assembly is installed onto a tire. Then, as noted, an insert 2 threadedly engages within the outer portion 8 of the expansion part, during its assembly.

[0038] As can be seen in FIG. 3. The expansion part 1, in the cross sectional view provided herein, has a central channel 9 that extends longitudinally entirely through the full length of the part, as can be noted. The channel widens at the vicinity of its midpoint, as at 10, and then it is threadedly formed, as at 11, and the tire part accommodates the threaded engagement of the insert 2, within the same, during assembly.

[0039] The various contours for the expansion part, can be seen in FIG. 4.

[0040] There is also a widen opening, as at 12, outside of the integral threads 11, in order to allow for the insert 2 to be conveniently located therein, during its insertion and threaded application within the assembly.

[0041] FIG. 5, in longitudinal cross section, shows the entire valve stem assembly with all of its three components assembled together. The expansion part 1 has its insert 2 threadedly engaged therein, and the valve stem or core 3 threadedly engages within the insert as can be noted.

[0042] The expansion part 1, as previously explained, has resiliency, and may be made of rubber, a resilient polyurethane, or other polymer, and has a useful durometer hardness, so that when it is pressure fitted within the aperture of the rim, it can be compressed, until such time as the entire interior portion 4 of the part locates within the rim, so that the rim can be forced over the integral lip 6, and seat within the circular groove 5, when ready for further assembly and usage. The insert 2 may be formed of polymer, or metal, and preferably brass. The valve core 3 is the standard type of valve stem, and has been readily known and used in the art. An adhesive may also be applied into the groove 5 to further adhere and further seal the valve to the rim.

[0043] The expansion part 1 does have its insert to threadedly engaged therein, as can be seen in FIG. 5 and then the standard type valve stem 3 threadedly engages within the insert 2, and provides a valved mechanism, as at 13 which, when the valve stem 3 is forced inwardly, allows for the valve to open, and to allow for the admission of pressurized air through the central channel 9 into the tire, to provide for its inflation. Or, when it is desired to release pressurized air from within the associated tire, the valve stem 3 can still be pushed inwardly, to open its valve 13, and allow for air to escape from the tire, as is known in the art.

[0044] The most effective usage of the current invention is attained by utilizing a rubber or flexible polymer in the formation of the expansion part of the valve assembly. Usually, the expansion part will have sufficient resiliency so as to allow it to be forcefully applied into the rim of the vehicle, through its rim aperture, until the tire rim locates within the formed groove 5 of the assembly. It has been found that utilizing an expansion part, that has, for example, a durometer hardness made of rubber, between about 60 to 80 has been satisfactory during usage when applying the valve stem assembly into the rim of a vehicle. The preferable durometer hardness of the expansion part is believed to be around 70.

[0045] Variations or modifications to the subject matter of this invention may occur to those skilled in the art upon review of the invention as described herein. Such variations, if within the spirit of this invention, for providing a valve stem assembly that can be conveniently applied to the rim of a tire, without the removal from the vehicle, it is believed to be an advancement in this art, and any variations or modifications within the spirit of this invention are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the claims to patent protecting issuing herein. The description of the preferred embodiment herein and its depiction in the drawings, are set forth for illustrative purposes only.