AU763803B2 - Device for lifting wheels/tyres - Google Patents

Description

1 "DEVICE FOR LIFTING WHEELS/TYRES" The present invention relates to a device which simplifies changing of vehicle wheels/tyres, for all types of vehicles.

There is a reasonable degree of physical exertion involved in mounting a wheel or tyre on a vehicle axle, during a tyre changing operation. The vehicle is jacked up to enable the damaged wheel to be removed and the spare wheel to be mounted.

Therefore, the spare wheel must be lifted an appreciable distance from ground level and located in the correct position, so as to enable it to be bolted in place. This operation can be strenuous, even for a fit person, particularly if the tyre is a large, heavyweight tyre for a 4-wheel drive vehicle, truck or other large vehicle.

Furthermore, if the person changing the tyre is not very fit, or has restricted lifting ability due to medical or physical problems, then even changing the tyre of an ordinary car may be a physical impossibility.

It is the object of the present invention to provide means whereby the effort involved in lifting a tyre, during a tyre changing operation, is reduced.

The wheel/tyre handling device of the present invention comprises a tyre/wheel handling device comprising: a transverse bar; a handle attached to the transverse bar and extending at substantially rightangles therefrom; two longitudinally extending members, each having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal ends being attached adjacent to respective ends of the transverse bar, the longitudinally extending members extending at substantially right-angles therefrom, in the opposite direction to the handle, and the distal ends each having a ground-engaging portion operable as a fulcrum about which the handle may be rotated so as to lever the tyre/wheel upwards; and la at least one roller mounted remote from the ground-engaging portion on each longitudinally extending member such that the rollers can rotatably support a tyre/wheel about a horizontal axis; wherein the ground-engaging portions are offset vertically below the proximal ends of the longitudinally extending members.

Preferably, the ground-engaging portion of each longitudinally extending member is flattened. The device acts as a lever, whereby the spare tyre is raised and adjusted into the correct position for mounting, with reduced energy expenditure as compared to the energy which would be required to raise the tyre without mechanical assistance.

goi ,oooo .:.ooi WO 00/10815 PCT/AU99/00642 2 Preferably, the device is demountable or foldable when not in use, for ease of storage.

The present invention will now be described in more detail with respect to accompanying Figs 1, 2 and 3, which are perspective views of preferred embodiments of the tyre handling device. A tyre, supported on the rollers of the tyre handling device, is shown in dashed outline in Fig 1. These embodiments are illustrative, but not restrictive, of the present invention.

As shown in Fig 1, the device comprises two longitudinal metal members 11, a roller 12 mounted on a rod between brackets 13 on each longitudinal member 11, and a handle portion 14.

The rollers 12 may be formed from either steel or nylon, if the device is to be used for lifting wheels/tyres of relatively light vehicles, such as cars, caravans or trailers. For heavier vehicles, such as 4-wheel drive vehicles, the rollers are preferably steel rollers on bearings. Other components of the device are formed from a strong, and preferably metallic, material such as steel. A handle grip, preferably formed from a plastic or rubber material, will be provided on handle portion 14, for comfort and ease of use.

The two longitudinal members 11 are preferably attached at either end of a transverse bar 15. For convenience, and in particular to simplify assembly and dismantling of the device, each longitudinal member 11 is attached to bar 15 via spring loading attachment means 16. The spring loading attachment means 16 comprises an extension 17 of the rod on which roller 12 is mounted, extending beyond one end of the longitudinal member 11, said extension 17 being encompassed by a coil spring 18. A fixed pin 19 at the end of said extension 17 distal from the longitudinal member and at right-angles to said extension is inserted through a keyhole slot in transverse bar 15, against tension provided by spring 18 pushing against bar 15. The longitudinal member 11 and rod are then rotated to locate the WO 00/10815 PCT/AU99/00642 3 pin 19 in locking position with respect to the keyhole slot of bar 15, with the tension provided by spring 18 ensuring that the longitudinal member and bar remain locked together. Alternatively, the longitudinal members 11 can be attached to bar 15 by means of bolts, screws or other fastening means. For easy storage, the longitudinal members 11, and also handle 14, can be detached from bar 15, when the device is not in use.

Fig 2 illustrates minor variations in the way in which the various components of the device are joined together. Rather than using a spring loading attachment means 16 to join each longitudinal member 11 to the transverse bar 15, the extension 17, of the rod on which roller 12 is mounted, is fitted and extends through a hole in transverse bar 15, the longitudinal member and rod being rotated to locate a pin 19' on extension 17 in locking position in a slot formed between an L-shaped member 21 and transverse bar 15 (to which L-shaped member 21 is attached). Fig 3 shows the means of attachment between extension 17 and transverse bar 15 in more detail.

Handle 14' is pivotably attached, preferably by means of a bolt 22, to transverse bar In use, handle 14' will extend at right-angles to transverse bar 15. For storage (and as shown in dashed outline in Fig handle 14' will be folded back over transverse bar A further and particularly simple method of attaching each longitudinal member 11 to the transverse bar 15 is merely to pass extension 17 through a hole in transverse bar 15. A linchpin is then passed through a hole near the end of extension 17, on the other side of the transverse bar from the portion of longitudinal member 11 bearing the roller, to thereby hold the longitudinal member in place.

In order to use the device to lift a wheel, during a wheel changing operation, the longitudinal members 11 of the device are inserted beneath the spare wheel, and the spare wheel is positioned on rollers 12. A portion 20 at the end of each longitudinal member 11, distal from the handle 14 or 14', is offset downwards, thus enabling the WO 00/10815 PCT/AU99/00642 4 longitudinal members to be readily positioned under the spare wheel, without digging into the underlying ground surface. Depending on the amount of curvature, portion 20 may also act as a fulcrum, as the handle is lifted, thereby lifting the spare wheel supported between rollers 12. If it is found that the spare wheel is incorrectly aligned with the axle of the vehicle, the spare wheel is merely rotated into position by means of rollers 12.

The device provides a simple and relatively effortless means for changing the tyre of a vehicle.

While the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments in order to facilitate better understanding of the invention, it should be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modifications within its scope.

For example, although Figs 1, 2 and 3 illustrate specific means for attachment of the various components of the device to each other, the invention is not restricted to those means of attachment.

Claims (7)

1. A tyre/wheel handling device comprising: a transverse bar; a handle attached to the transverse bar and extending at substantially right- angles therefrom; two longitudinally extending members, each having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal ends being attached adjacent to respective ends of the transverse bar, the longitudinally extending members extending at substantially right-angles therefrom, in the opposite direction to the handle, and the distal ends each having a ground-engaging portion operable as a fulcrum about which the handle may be rotated so as to lever the tyre/wheel upwards; and at least one roller mounted remote from the ground-engaging portion on each longitudinally extending member such that the rollers can rotatably support a tyre/wheel about a horizontal axis; wherein the ground-engaging portions are offset vertically below the proximal ends of the longitudinally extending members.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the handle is attached to the transverse 20 bar substantially midway between the points of attachment of the two longitudinally ooo• extending members. S

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the ground-engaging portion of each longitudinally extending member is flattened.

4. A device according to claim 1, which is demountable or foldable when not in use.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rollers are formed from nylon or steel.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the rollers are steel rollers on bearings.

7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, substantially as described herein and with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 17th day of April, 2003. MICHAEL JOHN COOPER By his Patent Attorneys MADDERNS e