CN117283906A

CN117283906A - Tire repair tool

Info

Publication number: CN117283906A
Application number: CN202310750243.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 布兰登·桑斯特; 凯里·克里斯托弗·科斯特尔; 赫里伯托·恩里克斯; 扎得·丹尼尔·埃尔曼
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Current assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 2022-06-23
Filing date: 2023-06-21
Publication date: 2023-12-26

Abstract

A tire repair tool includes a reamer and/or a cross drill having a hexagonal end for connection with a power tool.

Description

Tire repair tool

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/354,920 filed on day 23, 6, 2022. The co-pending provisional application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and forms a part of this document, including but not limited to the details of the latter.

Background

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a tire repair tool and kit, and in particular to a reamer (reamer) and a forklift (plug ger) for repairing a deflated tire.

Background

Tire repair kits are commonly used to repair a flat hole in a pneumatic tire. Rubber plugs are typically included in such kits and inserted into the holes to prevent further air leakage. A typical tire repair kit includes a reamer for enlarging and roughening the hole, a cross drill for inserting a rubber plug into the hole, one or more rubber plugs, and an adhesive for inserting into the hole. The method generally includes locating a hole in the tire by visual or audible inspection; reciprocating the reamer within the bore to prepare and roughen the bore for the plug: inserting the plug into the cross-drill with or without the use of an adhesive additive; inserting the cross drill into the hole; and removing the cross-drill while leaving the plug in the hole to leave Kong Wanhao intact, thereby repairing the hole.

Existing tire repair kits may include hand reamers and cross drills and plugs and adhesives. Separate reamer and cross-drill tools are typically provided, which may include a T-handle or a screwdriver handle. Such handles present difficulties for the user to insert the reamer or the forklift into the tire and/or rotate and/or remove the tool during use.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to a tire repair tool in the form of a reamer for enlarging a hole in a tire and an inter-digitated drill for feeding a plug into the hole, wherein one or both of the reamer and the inter-digitated drill comprises a hexagonal end for engagement with an electric drill or similar tool.

According to one embodiment, a tool is provided comprising at least one and preferably two tool bits (bits). These bits preferably include reamer bits and forklift bits, and/or combination reamer/forklift bits.

The reamer head preferably includes a shaft having a pointed distal end, a textured surface along the shaft for conditioning the inner surface of the hole to be repaired, and a hexagonal end at the proximal end of the shaft. The drill bit preferably comprises a shaft having a ring with a bifurcated or slotted distal end into which a plug may be inserted and released within the bore, and a hexagonal end at the proximal end of the shaft. The two bits may be included in a kit of parts together with the rubber plug and the adhesive.

The combination of the two tips may be unified into a single tip, wherein the shaft includes a tip ring having a bifurcated or slit-shaped distal end, and a textured surface along the shaft having a hexagonal end at the proximal end of the shaft. In the latter embodiment, a single tool may accomplish the repair task that previously required two separate tools.

Drawings

The foregoing and other features and objects of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a tire repair tool according to a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the tire repair tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the tire repair tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a tire repair tool according to a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the tire repair tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the tire repair tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the tire repair tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a tire repair tool according to a preferred embodiment; and

fig. 9 is a front view of a tire repair kit according to a preferred embodiment.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1-9 illustrate a tire repair tool 10, i.e., reamer 40 and/or forklift 50, according to a preferred embodiment. As used herein, the tire repair tool 10 may be a single bit, a multiple bit, and/or a kit for repairing a tire. In particular, the reamer 40 and the forklift 50 are preferably used cooperatively and in conjunction with the repair of a deflated or damaged tire. While the broad practice of the invention is not necessarily limited to use with or in connection with the repair of tires, the invention is believed to be particularly useful in connection with the repair of inflatable objects such as tires, tubes, boats, air cushions, inflatable flotation devices or similar inflatable devices (e.g., where common use may be found).

The tire repair tool as shown in fig. 1-9 preferably includes one or more tool bits, particularly a reamer 40 and/or an forklift 50. The tool bits 40, 50 each preferably include a shaft 20 having a distal end and a proximal end. As used herein, the distal end is the end of the cutter head 40, 50 that first engages the tire, and the proximal end is the end of the cutter head 40, 50 that engages the user/power tool. The tool bits 40, 50 are preferably made of a rigid material, such as steel, to withstand the high strength and repeated use of the tire repair tool 10.

The tool tips 40, 50 preferably include a hex end 30 formed at the proximal end of the shaft 20. The hex end 30 is preferably engageable with a power tool, particularly a rotary (as opposed to reciprocating) power tool such as a drill bit or rotary tool. The preferred power tool preferably includes a chuck for engaging the hex end 30 of the tire repair tool 10. Alternatively, a simple hex fitting may be engaged with hex end 30. The power tool and associated action of the power tool preferably allows for firm gripping engagement of the bit 40, 50 and generates torque, downward force, and/or upward force for use and operation of the tire repair tool 10.

The bit 40, 50 (such as shown in fig. 1-9) is preferably connected with respect to the power tool and preferably includes a shaft 20 having a hexagonal end 30 that is fixed in position at a proximal end of the bit 40, 50 within a standard releasable chuck of the power tool. The tool tips 40, 50 are preferably removably inserted into the chucks.

The reamer 40 (or "reamer element" or "reamer head") serves to roughen the inner perimeter of the hole in the tire and create a surface that can be bonded to the tire plug. As such, the reamer 40 preferably includes a surface texture 60 along at least a portion of the shaft 20. In particular, the surface texture 60 may be knurled or otherwise ridged, milled, or multi-sectioned to create a roughened surface that will create a surface area that aids in retention and attachment to the plug 110 when engaged with a tire.

According to a preferred embodiment, the reamer 40 includes a tip or tip 80 at the distal end of the shaft 20. The tip 80 allows for easy initial insertion of the reamer 40 into the tire. However, once initially inserted, standard hand tools may be difficult for some users to move within the tire. As such, in addition to the tip 80, the reamer 40 may include helical threads 85 extending from the tip 80, preferably in a direction toward the proximal end of the shaft 20. However, as explained below, the helical thread 85 does not extend entirely to the proximal end of the shaft 20. The helical thread 85 is preferably of a diameter greater than the diameter of the shaft 20 and the helical thread helps to urge the reamer 40 into the bore in the tire when driven and rotated by the power tool.

The textured surface 60 is preferably positioned at a desired location along the shaft 20 at a desired length to allow for an expansion operation while allowing sufficient space along the shaft 20 for engagement between the hex end 30 and the power tool. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, once the reamer 40 is fully inserted past the helical thread 85, the surface texture 60 on the shaft 20 preferably extends fully between the end of the helical thread 85 and the hex end 30.

The bur 50 (or "bur element" or "bur head") preferably includes an annular end 70 at the distal end of the shaft 20. It is desirable that the annular end 70 be elongated to allow insertion and removal of the tire repair tool 10 within the hole to be repaired while still allowing the plug 110 to be inserted into the annular end 70 and the plug 110 to be removed within the hole after the repair operation. The plug 110 is preferably inserted into the annular end 70 prior to insertion into the tire. The bur 50 may further include a furcation 75 at the distal end of the shaft 20. The prongs 75 are preferably configured to allow release of the plug 110 from the bur 50 after insertion of the plug into the hole in the tire. In this manner, the bur 50 preferably includes an open loop at the annular end 70. In a preferred operation, the plug 110 may be a single thickness or double thickness after insertion into the tire and removal of the cross-over 50.

Fig. 8 illustrates an embodiment wherein the tire repair tool 10 includes both reamer elements 40 and cross-drill elements 50. As shown, the tire repair tool 10 includes: a shaft 20 having a hexagonal end 30 at a proximal end; reamer elements 40 along the shaft; and an inter-digitated element 50 at the distal end of the shaft 20, wherein the reamer element 40 comprises a surface texture 60 and the inter-digitated element 50 comprises a narrow annular end 70.

The tire repair kit 100 as shown in fig. 9 accordingly includes both reamer heads 40 and forklift heads 50 for quickly and efficiently repairing a deflated tire. In practice, the associated method of repairing a tire comprises the steps of: locating a hole in the tire; coupling the reamer 40 to a power tool, the reamer 40 having a hexagonal end 30 at a proximal end for coupling to the power tool; activating the power tool and inserting the distal end of the reamer 40 into the hole and reciprocating the reamer 40 within the hole; removing reamer 49 from the power tool; connecting the bur 50 to the power tool at the hex end 30 and inserting the plug 110 into the annular end 70; and inserting the prongs 50 into the holes and releasing the plugs 110 into the holes. With the power tool (such as a drill bit) activated, both the reamer 40 and the forklift 50 may be pushed into the hole in the tire.

While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.

Claims

1. A tire repair tool, the tire repair tool comprising:

a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;

a hexagonal end formed at a proximal end of the shaft;

at least one of a reamer element having a surface texture along at least a portion of the shaft and an inter-digitated element having an annular end at the distal end of the shaft.

2. The tire repair tool of claim 1 wherein the texture comprises a knurled shaft.

3. The tire repair tool of claim 1 wherein the reamer element further comprises a tip portion at the distal end of the shaft and a helical thread extending from the tip portion.

4. A tire repair element as in claim 3, wherein the surface texture extends entirely between the end of the helical thread and the hexagonal end.

5. The tire repair tool of claim 1 wherein the cross-drill element further comprises a bifurcation at the distal end of the shaft.

6. The tire repair tool of claim 1 wherein the looped end comprises an open loop.

7. The tire repair tool of claim 1 wherein the hexagonal end is configured to engage a drill chuck.

8. The tire repair tool of claim 1 comprising both reamer elements and cross-drill elements.

9. The tire repair tool of claim 1 provided in a kit having a reamer element bit, an inter-drill element bit, and a rubber plug.

10. A tire repair tool, the tire repair tool comprising: a shaft having a hexagonal end at a proximal end; reamer elements along the shaft; and an inter-digitated element at the distal end of the shaft, wherein the reamer element comprises a surface texture and the inter-digitated element comprises a narrow annular end.

11. The tire repair tool of claim 10 wherein the surface texture of the reamer element comprises a knurled surface along the shaft.

12. The tire repair tool of claim 10 wherein the cross-drill element comprises a bifurcated opening at the distal end.

13. A method of repairing a tire, the method comprising the steps of:

locating a hole in the tire;

connecting a cutter head having a reamer element to a power tool, the reamer element having a hexagonal end at a proximal end for connection to the power tool, a surface texture along an axis of the cutter head, and a pointed distal end;

activating the power tool and inserting the distal end of the bit with the reamer element into the bore and reciprocating the reamer element within the bore;

removing the bit with the reamer element from the power tool;

connecting a bit having an inter-cutting element to the power tool, the inter-cutting element having a hexagonal end at a proximal end of the bit and an annular end at a distal end of the bit;

inserting a plug into the cross-drill element within an annular end at a distal end of the bit; and

inserting the distal end of the bit with the cross-drill element into the bore and releasing the plug within the bore.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the reamer element further comprises a ball-type thread, and the step of rotating the reamer element into the bore along the thread using the power tool until the surface texture of the shaft engages the bore.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the cross drill element is pushed into the bore by activating the power tool.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the power tool comprises a drill bit.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the distal end of the cross-drill element comprises a bifurcated annular end.