Tire Repairing Plug, Kit Comprising Multiple Such Plugs, and Method Thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a tire repairing plug, a kit comprising a plurality of such plugs with different dimensions and designs to fit different tires and different damages thereon, and a method of using the plug to repair a damaged tire in vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles, cars, and trucks etc. The plug incudes a cap and an elongated body, and a middle portion of the body is bigger than any other portions of the body. The invention exhibits numerous technical merits such as simpler operation, higher effectiveness and improved reliability in repairing a damaged tire, among others.

Claims

1. A plug for repairing a flat tire, comprising: a cap, and an elongated body extending from a proximal end that is connected to or integrated with the cap to a distal end, wherein the elongated body is circular in cross section and has a rotational axis along the elongation direction; wherein the elongated body has cross sectional diameter Dx at a position Px along the rotational axis; wherein distance Lx is defined as a distance from the proximal end to positon Px along the rotational axis, wherein the proximal end is at position P0 with L0=0 and has a cross sectional diameter D00, and the distal end is at position Pd with Ld and has a cross sectional diameter Dd which is near 0; wherein a cross sectional diameter Dm at position Pm with Lm is greater than cross sectional diameters at any positions other than Pm along the rotational axis; and wherein diameter Dm at position Pm remains unchanged after the flat tire repairing is completed.

2. The plug according to claim 1, wherein diameter Dx monotonously increases from D0 at the proximal end P0 to Dm at position Pm, and then monotonously decreases from Dm to Dd at distal end Pd.

3. The plug according to claim 1, the entirety of which is made of iron or steel.

4. The plug according to claim 1, wherein Lm is greater than 50% of Ld.

5. The plug according to claim 1, wherein Lm is greater than 60% of Ld.

6. The plug according to claim 1, wherein Lm is greater than 70% of Ld.

7. The plug according to claim 1, wherein Lm is greater than 80% of Ld.

8. The plug according to claim 1, wherein Lm is greater than 90% of Ld.

9. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the cap has a flat top.

10. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the cap has a drive design across the center of the top for driving or inserting the plug into a damaged site of a tire.

11. The plug according to claim 10, wherein the driving design is cross-shaped groove across the center of the top.

12. The plug according to claim 10, wherein the driving design is I-shaped groove across the center of the top.

13. A method of repairing a flat tire using the plug of claim 1, comprising: (1) providing a plug of claim 1, (2) applying a coating onto the elongated body of the plug, (3) inserting the elongated body into a damaged site of said flat tire from external side of the tire, wherein the cap remains at external side of the tire, (4) curing or solidifying the coating, and (5) inflating the repaired flat tire to normal pressure.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the damaged site is a nail hole.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the tire has a thickness TH, and the plug has a Lm value greater than 50% TH.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the tire has a thickness TH, and the plug has a Lm value greater than 60% TH.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the tire has a thickness TH, and the plug has a Lm value greater than 70% TH.

18. A kit for repairing a flat tire, comprising a plurality of the plugs according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the plugs have different Dm values and/or different Lm values.

19. The kit according to claim 18, further comprising a container containing a curable coating, material.

20. The kit according to claim 18, further comprising a tool such as a screw driver for driving the plug into a damaged site of the tire.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements. All the figures are schematic and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures and discussed below have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Well-known structures and devices are shown in simplified form, omitted, or merely suggested, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 1 shows various sealing nails in the prior art.

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates how to use the sealing nails of FIG. 1 in the prior art.

[0021] FIG. 3 shows a unitary threaded plug for emergency tire repair in the prior art.

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of a tire and another plugging device in the prior art.

[0023] FIG. 5 shows a plug or closing device being inserted in the puncture in a rubber-tube wheel-tire in the prior art.

[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates a flat tire repairing plug in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 7 demonstrates a flat tire repairing plug in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 8 depicts a method of repairing flat tire in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 9 schematically shows a flat tire repairing kit in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 10 illustrates two specific designs of flat tire repairing plug in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0029] In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It is apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details or with an equivalent arrangement.

[0030] Where a numerical range is disclosed herein, unless otherwise specified, such range is continuous, inclusive of both the minimum and maximum values of the range as well as every value between such minimum and maximum values. Still further, where a range refers to integers, only the integers from the minimum value to and including the maximum value of such range are included. In addition, where multiple ranges are provided to describe a feature or characteristic, such ranges can be combined.

[0031] It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. For example, when an element is referred to as being on, connected to, or coupled to another element, it can be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being directly on, directly connected to, or directly coupled to another element, there are no intervening elements present.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 6, plug 100 is designed for repairing punctured tubes or pipes of flexible material, like rubber (e.g. a flat tire) by closing the aperture therein. These tubes are usually expanded by air under pressure, and often become punctured in use at a distance from convenient facilities for repairing. The punctures in tubes usually occur in the form of slits or slots and are produced by winning over a fragment of glass or stone having a ragged cutting edge As will be explained in details, plug 100 enables a quick repair to a tire in side-of-the-road self-rescue, without the need for removing either the tire or the rim from the vehicle.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 6, plug 100 includes a cap 61 and an elongated body 60 extending from a proximal end 60P that is connected to or integrated with the cap 61 to a distal end 60d (or entering end into a tire). The elongated body 60 is circular in cross section (irregularity such as grooves, if any, on the body will be ignored or approximated for simplicity of this model and its description) and has a rotational axis RA along the elongation direction. Elongated body 60 has cross sectional diameter Dx at a position Px along the rotational axis RA. Distance Lx is defined as a distance measured from the proximal end 60P to positon Px along the rotational axis RA.

[0034] In this model, the proximal end 60P is at position P0 with L0=0 and has a cross sectional diameter D00, as shown in FIG. 7. The distal end 60d is at position Pd with Ld and has a cross sectional diameter Dd which is near 0. At position Pm with Lm (in other words, when Lx=Lm), there exists a corresponding cross sectional diameter Dm, which is greater than cross sectional diameters at any positions other than Pm along the rotational axis RA. In preferred embodiments, diameter Dm at position Pm remains unchanged after the flat tire repairing is completed. For example, the entire body 60 may be a single piece made of iron, steel or any other sufficiently rigid polymeric material, and it maintains its structural integrity after the tire repairing process. Therefore, when the plug 100 is driven inwardly into a tire, the mass in positon 60m region will not be peeled or rolled back, which is different from elastomer coating 23 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. There is no specific requirement for cap 61. Cap 61 and body 60 may be single integrated piece, or they may be two pieces secured to each other. For example, the cap 61 may be round with a thickness Tcap and a diameter Dcap. Generally, Dcap is greater than both D0 and the size of the hole on the tire that is to be repaired.

[0035] In various embodiments, diameter Dx monotonously increases from D0 at the proximal end P0 to Dm at position Pm, and then monotonously decreases from Dm to Dd at distal end Pd In other words, body 60 is tapering along two directions (up and down along RA) from position Pm In preferred amendments, Lm is greater than 50% of Ld, greater than 60% of Ld, greater than 70% of Ld, greater than 80% of Ld, or greater than 90% of Ld. Dm is greater than D0, for example, Dm may be greater than 1.5D0, 2.0D0, 2.5D0, 3.0D0, 3.5D0, or higher

[0036] FIG. 8 illustrates a method of repairing a flat tire 50 using the plug 100. The method includes (1) providing a plug 100, (2) applying a coating 70 such as rubber cement onto the elongated body 60, and (3) inserting the elongated body 60 into a nail hole 58 of said flat tire 50 from external side of the tire 50. Cap 61 remains at external side of the tire 50 after the insertion. Step (4) is curing or solidifying the coating 70, so that coating 70 adheres or bonds body 60 and the tire material together. Step (5) is inflating the repaired flat tire 50 to normal pressure

[0037] A suitable plug 100 may always be selected for a tire of any dimension and thickness. For example, if the tire 50 has a thickness TH, then a plug with Lm greater than 50% TH may be preferably selected to repair the flat tire. Lm may be greater than 50% TH, 60% TH, 70% TH, 80% TH, or 90% TH. As shown in FIG. 8, when Lm is greater than 50% TH, position Pm will pass the half thickness line of the tire TH/2. As a result, the force down from the elastic tire material imposed on body 60, which pushes the plug 100 inwardly, will be greater than the force up from the elastic tire material imposed on body 60, which pushes the plug 100 outwardly. Therefore, plug 100 is sturdily stabilized and maintained inside the tire material.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 9, the present invention also provides a kit like a tool box 200 comprising a plurality of the plugs 100a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, and etc. At least two of the plugs selected from 100a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i have different Dm values and/or different Lm values. The kit may further includes a container 201 containing a curable coating material 70, and a tool 202 for driving the plug 100 into the hole 58. Kit 200 occupies a small space, and can be quickly applied without the use of special tools, in exposed and otherwise inconvenient locations.

[0039] FIG. 10 illustrates two specific embodiments of plug 100 having a cap and a barrel formed body (as screw or pin, as example of body 60) wherein diameter of middle of said body (Dm) is wider than diameter of either end of said body. The cap may be a flat top, or it can have a drive design across the middle of the top, such as cross-shaped groove, I-shaped groove (as shown in top view of FIG. 9) across the middle of the cap top. FIG. 10 shows a barrel-forming screw 10 including cap 11, cross-shaped groove 12 or I-shaped groove 18 on the top of cap 11, and barrel forming crew body 13 (example of body 60). FIG. 10 also shows a barrel forming nail 14 including nail cap 15, cross-shaped groove 16 or I-shaped groove 18 on the top of nail cap 15, and barrel forming nail body 17 (another example of body 60).

[0040] Before the insertion of barrel formed screw 10 or barrel formed nail 14 into the nail hole of a flat tire, a user can apply coating material 70 such as super glue to barrel formed screw 10 or barrel formed nail 14 for lubrication to facilitate the insertion and to create an airtight sealing. Because of the form/shape of barrel of barrel formed screw 10 or barrel formed nail 14, and the adhesion of super glue it is very hard for barrel formed screw 10 or barrel formed nail 14 to become loose. By driving car forward or backward slowly inch by inch, one can turn nail hole on flat tire to face the back of car. Once turning nail hole on a flat tire to face the back of car, the user lubricates the barrel formed screw 10 or barrel formed nail 14 with super glue and inserts or hammers it into the nail hole of the flat tire while the tire is still on wheel. After the insertion of barrel formed screw 10 or barrel formed nail 14, the user can wait for a couple of minutes to let super glue set before he/she inflates the repaired flat tire. A flat tire repair kit (as example of kit 200) may contain a barrel formed screw, a barrel formed nail, a tube of super glue, and a screw driver. Barrel formed bolt can be of a variety of size, which is not shown in, but can be inferred from FIG. 9. The barrel formed screw or barrel formed nail can be used temporarily to repair a flat tire before the nail hole can be repaired by a machinist at auto body shop. The barrel shaped screw or barrel shaped nail can stay permanently on tire if air leakage of tire does not reoccur.

[0041] In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to numerous specific details that may vary from implementation to implementation. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense The sole and exclusive indicator of the scope of the invention, and what is intended by the applicant to be the scope of the invention, is the literal and equivalent scope of the set of claims that issue from this application, in the specific form in which such claims issue, including any subsequent correction.