GB2135964A

GB2135964A - A device for assisting in the changing of a running wheel of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2135964A
Application number: GB08305277A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm D Corner
Original assignee: CORNER AND ASSOCIATES Ltd
Current assignee: CORNER AND ASSOCIATES Ltd
Priority date: 1983-02-25
Filing date: 1983-02-25
Publication date: 1984-09-12
Also published as: GB8305277D0

Abstract

The device comprises a planar base and carriage which receives a generally vertical wheel and which is movable e.g. by sliding upon the base (2) in a direction generally axially of the wheel. The carriage (4) may includes pair of parallel wheel-supporting rollers (6) which may be cylindrical (as shown) or V-shaped. The top of each side wall (3) of the base (2) may constitute a ramp (8) to enable the carriage (4) to be offered up to the wheel. The carriage may be provided with a handle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wheel changing device This invention relates to a device for assisting in the changing of a running wheel of a vehicle, such as, the tyred wheel of an automobile.

The changing of an automobile wheel, as the result of a puncture in the tyre thereof, is an awkward and tiresome operation, mainly due to the low, ground level location of the wheel to be changed and the cumbersome nature of both the punctured tyre wheel and the replacement wheel.

Such an operation is made even more difficult when a wheel has to be changed "on the road".

An object of the present invention is to provide a device which facilitates the changing of an automobile running wheel. Thus, a device in accordance with the invention comprises a generally planar base and means which is arranged to receive a wheel lying in a generally vertical plane and which is mounted upon the base for movement with respect thereto in a direction extending generally perpendi cular to the vertical plane in which a wheel, received on said means, lies.

Preferably, said wheel receiving means comprises a pair of rollers which are spaced apart by a distance sufficient to permit a wheel to be received therebetween and whose axes lie generally parallel to the direction in which said means is movable with respect to the base. Also, said means may be slidably movable with respect to the base, although any other suitable arrangement may be provided, for instance, said means may be mounted on castors or wheels running on the base.

Advantageously, the spacing of the wheelreceiving rollers may be adjustable to accommodate wheels of different diameters.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rollers may have V-shaped grooves for supporting a wheel in a generally vertical plane, when received therebetween.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred embodiment of wheel changing device, in accordance therewith, will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from one end of a wheel changing device; Figure 2 is a partial elevational side view of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of wheel receiving means of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a plan view of a pair of rollers constituting a modification of said wheel receiving means of the device shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawing, a wheel-changing device 1 comprises a generally rectangular and planar base 2, having a pair of opposed, upstanding side walls 3, and a carriage 4 extending between the two side walls 3. Each side 5 of the carriage 4 is bent over the top edge of the corresponding side wall 3 of the base 2, such that the carriage is mounted upon the base for sliding movement with respect thereto in a direction which is generally parallel to the respective rotational axis 7 of a pair of parallel spaced, cylindrical rollers 6.

At the front end of the base 2, which faces towards an automobile whose wheel is being changed, in the region of the corresponding wheel arch thereof, the top edge of each base side wall 3 has an upwardlyextending ramp portion 8 for offering up the carriage 4 and associated rollers 6 to the automobile wheel to be changed.

A pivotable, cranked handle 9 is provided on the carriage 4 for assisting in the reciprocal sliding movements thereof upon the base 2.

In operation of the device 1, an automobile, whose punctured tyred wheel has to be changed, is jackedup in the appropriate position, such that the device can be slid under the wheel. The generally planar configuration of the device 1 means that the automobile does not have to be jacked-up too far to enable to device to be located in the correct position with respect to the wheel to be changed. In this initial position, the carriage of the device is located generally centrally with respect thereto, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.Then, the carriage 4, with the assistance of the handle 9, which has now been pivoted into a generally vertical position, is moved in the direction of the arrow A, as shown in Figure 2, such that the carriage rises up the ramp portions 8 of the respective side walls 3, whereby the pair of spaced rollers 6 are located immediately below the automobile wheel to be removed. The associated wheel nuts are then completely removed and the wheel is slid off its studs, whilst being received upon the rollers 6, in a generally vertical plane. The carriage 4 is then slid away from the automobile, in the direction of the arrow B, as shown in Figure 2, with the removed wheel being held generally vertical by the user, so that the wheel is now clear of the automobile. Then, the wheel is removed from the supporting rollers 6, and the replacement wheel is received thereon.Now, the carriage 4 is moved again in the direction of the arrow A, such that the replacement wheel confronts the appropriate wheel studs of the jacked-up automobile. To align the stud holes in the replacement wheel with the automobile studs, the wheel is rotated quite easily upon the supporting rollers 6 and is then finally pushed on to its studs, with the carriage 4 located on the ramp portions 8 of the base 2. The wheel nuts are then loosely applied to the wheel studs and, the carriage 4 is slid away from the automobile, in the direction of the arrow B, after which the device 1 is removed for subsequent storage, preferably, in the boot of the automobile. The wheel nuts can then be tightened firmly upon the wheel studs and the automobile jacked down.

Alternatively, the wheel nuts can be tightened upon the studs immediately after the wheel has been pushed thereon, with the carriage 4 still in position beneath the wheel. In this case the automobile would have to be jacked-up a little further to permit the carriage 4 to be released from underneath the wheel before it can be slid away from the automobile in the direction of the arrow B.

Although the carriage 4 of the embodiment described above with regard to Figures 1 to 3 has a pair of cylindrical rollers 6, it may also be provided with a pair of V-shaped rollers 10, as shown in Figure 4, which can assist in supporting the wheel in a vertical plane, when the latter is received upon the device.

Also, the spacing between the rollers 6 (or 10) may be adjusted, as shown in chain dotted lines at 6' in Figure 3, to accommodate wheels of different diameters. In this particular case, the carrier is provided with a plurality of spaced notches for receiving the rotational axes 7,7' of the respective rollers 6,6'.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the sliding arrangement of the carriage 4 with respect to the side walls 3 of the base 2 can be replaced by any other suitable arrangement for allowing the carriage to be moved with respect to the base, for instance, by means of castors or small wheels attached to the carriage 4 and running on appropriate components of the base 2.

Claims

1. A device for assisting in the changing of a running wheel of a vehicle, which device comprises a base and means which is arranged to receive a wheel lying in a generally vertical plane and which is mounted upon the base for movement with respect thereto in a direction extending generally perpendicularto the vertical plane in which a wheel, received on said means, lies.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which said wheel receiving means comprises a pair of rotatable members which are spaced apart by a distance sufficient to permit a wheel to be received therebetween and whose rotational axes are generally parallel to each other and to the direction in which said means is movable with respect to the base.

3. A device according to claim 2, in which the rotatable members are rollers.

4. A device according to claim 2 or 3, in which the rotatable members have V-shaped grooves for supporting a wheel in a generally vertical plane when received therebetween.

5. A device according to claim 2,3 or 4, in which the spacing between the rotatable members is adjustable to accommodate wheels of different diameters.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, in which said wheel receiving means is slidably movable with respect to the base.

7. A device according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which said wheel receiving means is mounted on castors or wheels running on the base.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the base is generally planar.

9. A device for assisting in the changing of a running wheel of a vehicle, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

10. A method of changing a running wheel of a vehicle using a device according to any preceding claim.