GB2224964A

GB2224964A - Tyre valve cap removal device

Info

Publication number: GB2224964A
Application number: GB8826999A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter George John Collins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-11-18
Filing date: 1988-11-18
Publication date: 1990-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-18
Also published as: GB2224964B; GB8826999D0

Abstract

A valve cap removal device 1 comprises an elongate body 2 having at least one end of which an inwardly tapering recess 3 adapted to interengage with a tyre valve cap having a taper complementary to the recess. A snug fit is formed between the device and a valve cap facilitating the transmittal of torque from the device to the cap during disengagement or engagement of the cap from a valve, and the detached cap is retained in the device. The recess may be bounded by a hollow rubber insert 4 having ridges 5 on the surface thereof. A larger recess 6 may be provided at the other end of the device. <IMAGE>

Description

VALVE CAP REMOVAL DEVICE The present invention relates to a valve cap removal device and to a method of removing a valve cap.

Inflation of pneumatic tyres of vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, etc. generally involves removal of the valve cap followed by inflation of the tyre by attachment of a pump to the valve and then re-securing the valve cap onto the valve casing. Such valve caps generally screw on to the valve casing.

There are, however, problems associated with the removal of the valve cap. Thus, once the cap has been removed there is a danger of losing it since the cap is such a small object. Furthermore, when a car wheel incorporates a wheel trim, there is limited protrusion of the valve cap through an aperture in the trim and so it is difficult for a person to remove the valve cap using their fingers. It is generally the case that the wheel trim must be removed before inflation of the tyre can be attempted.

There is therefore a clear need for a device which allows the effective removal of a valve cap without the need to remove any wheel trim and which substantially reduces the chances of losing the valve cap once removed from the valve.

Viewed from one aspect, therefore, the invention provides a tyre valve-cap removal device comprising an elongate member having at at least one end thereof an inwardly tapering recess adapted to interengage with a tyre valve cap having a substantially complementary taper to said recess, whereby a snug fit is formed between the device and cap to facilitate transmittal of torque from the device to the cap during engagement or disengagement of the cap to or from a valve, the recess retaining the valve cap therein whilst detached from a valve.

The elongate member may conveniently be gripped between forefinger and thumb and the recess pushed on to the valve cap. Once there is a snug fit between the device and the cap, the device may be turned so as to unscrew the cap. When fully removed from the valve, the cap remains firmly lodged in the recess; since the cap is retained in a much larger body it will be less readily lost.

Once the tyre has been inflated, the capretained in the device-may be screwed back onto the valve body, after which the device may be disengaged.

The use of an elongate member allows easier access to the valve cap when wheel trim is present; this avoids the need to remove the wheel trim before inflating a tyre.

The device of the present invention may conveniently be substantially tubular in shape, although the outer surface may be shaped so as to allow the device to be gripped easily by human fingers.

Although the length of the device is not critical, a length of 3-8cm, more preferably 4-6cm is convenient.

The external diameter of the device, if cylindincal, may typically be 1.5-2.Scm.

Inwardly tapered recesses may preferably be provided at each end of the valve-cap removal device. The taper of the or each recess improves the engagement with standard valve-caps which are traditionally tapered. The tapered recess may be formed by placing a resilient tapered insert into a cylindrical recess in one end of the elongate member, the insert being broadly a hollow cylinder of material the outer surface of which conforms with the inner surface of the recessed elongate member and to which it is adhered using a suitable adhesive. The inner surface of the resilient insert aids the push-fit with the valve-cap. Typically, the resilient material will be, for example, rubber, a synthetic compound or a similar material.

The tapered recess does not, however, have to be formed by a resilient insert. The tapered recess may be cut directly into an elongate member formed of rigid plastics material. The tapered walls will thus be substantially rigid, and in this case the resilience of the valve cap itself may aid in the push-fit.

The surface of the tapered recess, whether it is formed using a resilient insert or not, may preferably be roughened to aid the interengagement with the valve-cap for the transmittal of torque thereto. It is preferred that the inner surface be provided with ridges on the surface thereof running substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member, in order to aid interengagement with the valve-cap which will also generally include longitudinal ridges.

The internal diameter of the tapered recess will vary according to the intended use. Thus, a smaller diameter will be required in order to remove a bicycle tyre valve cap than when removing a car tyre valve cap. For removal of a car tyre cap the internal diameter may typically be 1.1cam tapering to 0.6cm, for example.

Typically, the elongate member may be made of any rigid material e.g. plastic or metal.

When a resilient insert is used, an adequate fit for torque transmittal and retention of the cap may be achieved when the resilient insert is not tapered. Thus, viewed from a further aspect, the invention provides a tyre valve-cap removal device comprising an elongate member having at at least one end thereof a recess having mounted therein a resilient insert adapted to interengaqe with a tyre valve cap, whereby a snug fit is formed between the device and cap to facilitate transmittal of torque from the device to the cap during engagement or disengagement of the cap to or from a valve the recess retaining the valve cap therein whilst detached from a valve.

Viewed from a yet further aspect, the invention provides a method for the removal of a tyre valve cap, which comprises interengaging a recess formed at one end of an elongate member with a tyre valve cap, thereby forming a snug fit between the elongate member and the cap, disengaging the cap from a valve by transmittal of torque from the elongate member to the cap, and retaining the cap in the elongate member whilst the cap is disengaged from the valve. The cap may subsequently be engaged to the valve by transmittal of torque from the elongate member to the cap.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the logitudinal axis of an embodiment of the device of the present invention, Fig 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the device of fig. 1 along the line XX, and Fig 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the device of Fig 1 along the line YY.

Referring to Fig 1., there is shown a plastic tyre valve-cap removal device 1 comprising an elongate member 2 of cylindincal shape. At one end thereof lies a recess 3 bounded by a hollow cylindincal rubber insert 4, tapering inwardly and having ridges 5 on the surface thereof. Fig 2. shows a crosssectional view along the line XX. The diameter D is greater than d. Particularly useful for removing car tyre valve-caps is a device wherein D is 1.1cam and d is 0.7cm.

Again referring to Fig 1., at the alternate end of the elongate member 2 is another recess 6. Fig.3 shows a cross-sectional view along the line YY. Recess 6 is bounded by a rigid tapering wall 7 of the elongate member 2 itself. Again, ridges 8 extend along the surface in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member. The recess 6 is larger than the recess 3.

In use, the elongate member 2 is gripped between forefinger and thumb and either recess 3 or recess 6 is placed over the valve-cap. If recess 3 is used, the valve cap will interengage with the ridges 5 of the surface of the rubber insert 4. Once the valve-cap is firmly held, the device 1 is turned'so as to unscrew the valve-cap.

When fully unscrewed from the valve body, the valvecap remains firmly lodged in the recess 3 of the device 1. Thus, the cap is unlikely to be misplaced or lost since it is retained in a much larger body.

Once the tyre has been inflated, the cap1 held in the device, can be screwed back onto the valve body and may be tightened firmly before pulling the device off the cap.

The device of the invention is of particular utility when a car wheel has a wheel trim. In such a situation the valve cap is generally located in an aperature in the trim, the sides of the aperture hindering removal of the valve cap using one's fingers. The device may be used without hindrance and without the need to remove the wheel trim before inflating the tyre.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A tyre valve-cap removal device comprising an elongate member having at at least one end thereof an inwardly tapering recess adapted to interengage with a tyre valve cap having a substantially complementary taper to said recess, whereby a snug fit is formed between the device and cap to facilitate transmittal of torque from the device to the cap during engagement or disengagement of the cap to or from a valve, the recess retaining the valve cap therein whilst detached from a valve.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 which is substantially tubular in shape.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 having an outer surface which is shaped so as to allow said device to be gripped easily by human fingers.

4. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims having a length of 3 to 8 cm.

5. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims having an external diameter of 1.5 to 2.5 cm.

6. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims having inwardly tapered recesses at both ends thereof.

7. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said tapered recess has been formed by placing a resilient tapered insert into a recess in at least one end of said elongate member, the insert being a hollow cylinder of material the outer surface of which conforms with the inner surface of the recessed elongate member and to which it is adhered.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said resilient insert is of rubber.

9. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said tapered recess is formed directly in an elongate member formed of rigid plastics material.

10. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the surface of said tapered recess is roughened to aid the interengagement with a valve cap for the transmittal of torque thereto.

11. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the surface of said tapered recess is provided with ridges on the surface thereof running substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

12. A tyre valve-cap removal device comprising an elongate member having at at least one end thereof a recess having mounted thereon a resilient insert adapted to interengage with a tyre valve cap, whereby a snug fit is formed between the device and cap to facilitate transmittal of torque from the device to the cap during engagement or disengagement of the cap to or from a valve, the recess retaining the valve cap therein whilst detached from a valve.

13. A tyre valve-cap removal device substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.

14. A method for the removal of a tyre valve cap, which comprises interengaging a recess formed at one end of an elongate member with a tyre valve cap, thereby forming a snug fit between the elongate member and the cap, disengaging the cap from a valve by transmittal of torque from the elongate member to the cap, and retaining the cap in the elongate member whilst the cap is disengaged from the valve.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 substantially as herein described.