Tire Lever Adapter

Abstract

A tire lever head physically adapted to couple to an end of a 16-gram or 25-gram CO.sub.2 cartridge, but to not pierce the CO.sub.2 cartridge. Rather than using the CO.sub.2 cartridge for its nominally intended purpose of inflating a tire or tube, the tire-lever head functions as the handle portion of a tire lever. That is, the CO.sub.2 cartridge is gripped by a user, and is manipulated to apply the force that is required for tire removal/installation.

Claims

1. An article comprising a tire lever head, the tire lever head physically adapted to couple to an end of a 16-gram or 25-gram CO.sub.2 cartridge, but to not pierce the CO.sub.2 cartridge, the tire lever head including: a first end, the first end physically adapted to receive the CO.sub.2 cartridge, wherein the first end of the tire lever head has a first thickness; a second end, the second end of the tire lever head having a second thickness, wherein the second thickness is less than the first thickness; a first surface disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first surface is curved; and a second surface disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first surface is flat, wherein the first surface and the second surface are disposed on opposite sides of the tire lever head.

2. The article of claim 1 comprising the CO.sub.2 cartridge, the tire lever head including a cavity accessible from the first end of the tire lever head, wherein a narrowed end of the CO.sub.2 cartridge is received by the cavity of the tire lever head.

3. The article of claim 2 wherein the cavity includes a plurality of female threads sized to engage threads disposed on the narrowed end of the CO.sub.2 cartridge.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein the tire lever head includes a cavity accessible from the first end of the tire lever head.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein the cavity includes a plurality of female threads sized to engage an externally threaded narrowed end of the CO.sub.2 cartridge.

6. The article of claim 4 wherein the cavity receives a threaded insert sized to engage a ⅜ inch -24 TPI externally threaded narrowed end of the CO.sub.2 cartridge.

7. The tire lever head of claim 2 wherein a depth of the cavity is greater than a length of the narrowed end of the CO.sub.2 cartridge.

8. The tire lever head of claim 4 wherein a depth of the cavity is greater than a length of a narrowed end of the CO.sub.2 cartridge.

9. The tire lever head of claim 1 wherein the tire lever head has a length of about 1.5 inches or less.

10. A kit comprising: a CO.sub.2 cartridge, the CO.sub.2 cartridge having a narrowed end; and a tire lever head, wherein the tire lever head has a first end that is physically adapted to couple to the narrowed end of the CO.sub.2 cartridge, but to not pierce the CO.sub.2 cartridge.

11. The kit of claim 10 comprising an inflator head, wherein the inflator head is physically adapted to couple to the narrowed end of the CO.sub.2 cartridge and pierce the CO.sub.2 cartridge.

12. The kit of claim 11 comprising a tire tube.

13. The kit of claim 12 including a multi-tool.

14. The kit of claim 10 wherein the tire lever head includes a cavity accessible from the first end of the tire lever head, wherein the narrowed end of the CO.sub.2 cartridge is received by the cavity of the tire lever head.

15. The kit of claim 14 wherein the cavity includes a plurality of female threads sized to engage threads disposed on the narrowed end of the CO.sub.2 cartridge.

16. The kit of claim 14 wherein the cavity receives a threaded insert sized to engage ⅜ inch -24 TPI threads on the narrowed end of the CO.sub.2 cartridge.

17. The kit of claim 14 wherein a depth of the cavity is greater than a length of the narrowed end of the CO.sub.2 cartridge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1A depicts a CO.sub.2 cartridge attached to a tire lever head in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The figure depicts the tire lever head in use and oriented to remove the tire from the rim of the wheel.

[0013] FIG. 1B depicts the CO.sub.2 cartridge and attached tire lever head of FIG. 1 in use, but oriented to install a tire on the rim of the wheel.

[0014] FIG. 2A depicts a three-quarters perspective view of a CO.sub.2 cartridge connected to the tire lever head in accordance with the present teachings.

[0015] FIG. 2B depicts a side view of a CO.sub.2 cartridge connected to a tire lever head.

[0016] FIG. 3A depicts a tire lever head in accordance with the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 3B depicts a view of the back of the tire lever head.

[0018] FIG. 3C depicts a conventional threaded CO.sub.2 cartridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] FIG. 1A depicts tire lever head 100 coupled to conventional CO.sub.2 cartridge 102, forming cartridge-based tire lever 104. Tire lever head 100 is positioned between bead/lip 112 of tire 110 and rim 108 of wheel 106 (the wheel including a hub, spokes, and rim 108). In FIG. 1A, tire lever head 100 is oriented for removing tire 110 from rim 108. For tire removal, curved surface 212 (FIGS. 2A/2B) of tire lever head 100 is in an upward/outward facing orientation. Attached as it is to tire lever head 100, CO.sub.2 cartridge 102 serves as a handle for cartridge-based tire lever 104. CO.sub.2 cartridge 102 thus enables a user to manipulate tire lever head 100, such as to force it between rim 108 and tire 110, and to apply the requisite force to decouple the two.

[0020] FIG. 1B depicts cartridge-based tire lever 104 oriented for installing tire 110 on rim 108 of wheel 106. For tire installation, curved surface 212 of tire lever head 100 is in a downward/inward facing orientation, whereas flat surface 216 (FIG. 2B) of tire lever head 100 faces upward/outward. In this orientation, and when in use, curved surface 212 stays in contact with rim 108. With flat side 216 facing upward/outward, the flat side tapers downwardly towards tip 214. This enables lip/bead 112 of tire 110 to slide off flat side 216 and onto rim 108 of wheel 106.

[0021] FIGS. 2A and 2B depict respective three-quarters perspective and side views of cartridge-based tire lever 104. Tire lever head 100 removably couples to CO.sub.2 cartridge 102. FIG. 3A depicts tire lever head 100 in an uncoupled state. Cavity 318 of tire lever head 100, depicted end-on in FIG. 3B, receives narrowed end 320 of CO.sub.2 cartridge 102, depicted in FIG. 3C. As previously noted, one surface of tire lever head 100 includes curved surface 212, whereas a surface on the opposite side of the tire lever head includes flat surface 216.

[0022] The nature of the coupling between tire level head 100 and CO.sub.2 cartridge 102 is a function of the design of the CO.sub.2 cartridge. In some embodiments, the narrowed end of CO.sub.2 cartridge 102 is threaded (see FIG. 3C). The thread on a 16-gram or 25-gram CO.sub.2 cartridge as used for inflating bicycle tires is ⅜ inch - 24 UNF (Unified National Fine Thread): major diameter of 0.375 inches (9.525 mm), 24 TPI (threads per inch), and 1.058 mm pitch. In such embodiments, tire lever head 100 must have corresponding internal female threads to securely engage the CO.sub.2 cartridge. The internal threads can be provided as an internally threaded insert, such as a brass insert, which is received in cavity 318 of the tire lever head. Alternatively, the threads can be formed directly on the surface of cavity 318.

[0023] The length of the narrow, threaded end of the CO.sub.2 cartridge is 0.436″. The depth of cavity 318 is slightly greater than that, such as between 0.484 and 0.5 inches. The diameter of the CO.sub.2 cartridge increases with distance from the threaded end until it reaches a maximum diameter, but readily exceeds the diameter of the perimeter of cavity 318. Therefore, when the cartridge is fully threaded into tire lever head 100, the tire level head tightens against the CO.sub.2 cartridge, making for a secure fit.

[0024] In some other embodiments, the CO.sub.2 cartridge does not have a threaded end, and for such embodiments, tire lever head 100 does not include threads; rather, the cartridge and tire lever head engage via a press fit. Once again, the increasing diameter of the CO.sub.2 cartridge creates a snug fit between cavity 318 and the unthreaded CO.sub.2 cartridge. Thus, there are two versions of tire lever head 100; one that is internally threaded, and one version that is not threaded.

[0025] Some embodiments of the invention provide a kit, which includes plural CO.sub.2 cartridges and plural tire lever heads. Generally, but not necessarily, two tire levers are used for tire removal. This is true whether the tire levers are conventional, or the cartridge-based levers in accordance with the invention. Consequently, kits in accordance with the invention preferably, but not necessarily, include at least two tire lever heads, and at least two CO.sub.2 cartridges. In some embodiments, the kit also includes an inflator head. In some further embodiments, the kit also includes a tire tube. And in some further embodiments, the kit includes, in addition to any or all of the foregoing items, a multi-tool.