US3885292A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for cutting mounted tires from the wheels of junked vehicles
Assignee: AL JON Inc
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Filing: 1974-06-24
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1994-06-24
Abstract
Abstract An improved apparatus and method for cutting wheel mounted tires so as to facilitate removal of the tires from the wheels of junked vehicles, such as automobiles, trucks and the like, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pair of parallel, fixed blade members that are separated to form a slot and a movable blade member that is pivotally connected with the fixed blade members and that rotates about an axis of rotation. The movable blade member is guided and supported in the slot between the two fixed blade members during movement of the movable blade member toward and away from the fixed blade members. The cutting or shearing surfaces of the blade members are arranged so that the tire is urged toward the axis of rotation as the movable blade member is moved toward the fixed blade members. A spring-biased grip is mounted on the blade members to grip the tire so as to permit a cut tire to be separated from the wheel on which it had been mounted by moving the wheel with respect to the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Allen B Sharp
- 👤 Richard A Hull
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 00:29
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26D; B26D3/00; B26D3/003; B26D3/005; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49481; Y10T29/49492; Y10T29/49538; Y10T29/49751; Y10T29/49755; Y10T29/49815; Y10T29/49821; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5147; Y10T29/5148; Y10T29/5176
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for cutting and removing a tire from a rim of a wheel on which the tire is mounted comprising: a first member of preselected thickness forming a first cutting surface having an upper end and a lower end; a second member forming a second cutting surface having an upper end and a lower end; a third member forming a third cutting surface having an upper end and a lower end arranged adjacent the second member to form a slot in which the first member is movable between the second and third members in a first plane; and operating means for moving the first member relative to the second and third members into an open position in which the upper end of the first cutting surface is displaced from the upper ends of the second and third cutting surfaces by a first space sufficiently large to receive the width of the tire to be cut and for moving the first member relative to the second and third members into a closed position in which the second and third cutting surfaces cooperate with and guide the first cutting surface to cut the tire from the rim.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for cutting and removing a tire from a rim of a wheel on which the tire is mounted comprising: a first member of preselected thickness forming a first cutting surface having an upper end and a lower end; a second member forming a second cutting surface having an upper end and a lower end; a third member forming a third cutting surface having an upper end and a lower end arranged adjacent the second member to form a slot in which the first member is movable between the second and third members in a first plane; and operating means for moving the first member relative to the second and third members into an open position in which the upper end of the first cutting surface is displaced from the upper ends of the second and third cutting surfaces by a first space sufficiently large to receive the width of the tire to be cut and for moving the first member relative to the second and third members into a closed position in which the second and third cutting surfaces cooperate with and guide the first cutting surface to cut the tire from the rim.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating means comprises means for moving the first cutting surface at least partially into the slot when the members are in the closed position so that the tire is completely severed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of the first space is always less than the width of the maximum space separating the first cutting surface from the second and third cutting surfaces as the cutting surfaces are moved relative to each other between the open and closed positions, whereby the tire is urged away from the upper ends of said cutting surfaces toward the lower ends of said cutting surfaces so that the tire is completelY retained between and cut by the cutting surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first cutting surface defines a first center line, the second cutting surface defines a second center line, the third cutting surface defines the third center line and the second and third center lines lie in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the operating means comprises means for rotating the first member with respect to the second and third members around an axis of rotation positioned below the upper ends of the cutting surfaces so that the tire to be cut can be lowered into the first space between the first cutting surface and the second and third cutting surfaces when said members are in the open position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising a cleaning finger movable within the slot as said members are moved relative to each other between the open and closed positions, whereby debris is removed from the slot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cleaning finger is rigidly connected to the first member so that the cleaning finger is positioned in the slot adjacent the second and third cutting surfaces when said members are in the open position and so that the the cleaning finger moves into the slot away from the second and third cutting surfaces as said members are moved from the open position to the closed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising grip means for gripping the tire when the members are moved to the closed position, whereby the tire may be removed from the rim by pulling the wheel away from the apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the grip means comprises: a first clamp connected to the first member and having a first gripping surface; and a second clamp connected adjacent one of the second and third members and having a second gripping surface adapted to co-mate with the first gripping surface, whereby the first and second gripping surfaces clamp the tire when the members are in the closed position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second clamps is resiliently biased.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating means includes a remote control means for moving the members between the open and closed positions from a remote location.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of removing a tire from a rim of a wheel mounted on a vehicle to be junked by using a first cutting surface having an upper end and a lower end adapted to move within a slot formed by a second cutting surface having an upper end and a lower end and a third cutting surface having an upper end and a lower end, said method comprising the steps of: raising the vehicle over the cutting surfaces; moving the cutting surfaces to an open position in which the upper end of the first cutting surface is displaced from the upper ends of the second and third cutting surfaces by a first space at least as wide as the width of the tire; lowering the vehicle so that the tire is moved into the first space between the first cutting surface and the second and third cutting surfaces; and moving the first cutting surface relatively toward the second and third cutting surfaces to a closed position in which the tire is severed by the cooperation of the cutting surfaces.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of removing a tire from a rim of a wheel mounted on a vehicle to be junked by using a first cutting surface having an upper end and a lower end adapted to move within a slot formed by a second cutting surface having an upper end and a lower end and a third cutting surface having an upper end and a lower end, said method comprising the steps of: raising the vehicle over the cutting surfaces; moving the cutting surfaces to an open position in which the upper end of the first cutting surface is displaced from the upper ends of the second and third cutting surfaces by a first space at least as wide as the width of the tire; lowering the vehicle so that the tire is moved into the first space between the first cutting surface and the second and third cutting surfaces; and moving the first cutting surface relatively toward the second and third cutting surfaces to a closed position in which the tire is severed by the cooperation of the cutting surfaces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of moving said cutting surfaces to the closed position comprises the step of arranging said cutting surfaces so that said first space is always less wide than the width of the maximum space between the first cutting surface and the second and third cutting surfaces, whereby the tire is retained completely between the cutting surfaces and is completely severed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of moving the cutting surfaces to an open position comprises the step of cleaning the slot.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method, as claimed In claim 12, and further comprising the steps of: gripping the severed tire; and moving the vehicle relative to the cutting surfaces so that the tire is removed from the rim as the vehicle and the cutting surfaces are moved apart.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |