Tire plug for tubeless tires

Claim 2

A tire plug for insertion into the puncture of a tubeless tire, said plug comprising: (a) a rigid body member having a plurality of integrally formed portions extending longitudinally of said member, said portions comprising: (1) a pointed entrant portion located at one end of the body member; (2) a severable finger gripping portion located at the opposite end of said member, said finger gripping portion providing the sole leverage for threaded insertion of said plug into the tire without the need of any separate tool; (3) a tapered threaded portion located between said entrant portion and said gripping portion; and (4) a fracturable stem portion connecting said gripping portion to said tapered portion; (b) said entrant portion having a smooth surface extending from the pointed end in the direction toward said tapered portion to facilitate initial sliding insertion of said plug into the puncture of said tire to a position to support itself for threaded insertion therein; (c) the diameter of said tapered threaded portion increasing in the direction toward said gripping portion for exerting an increasingly compressive force on the tire material of the wall defining the puncture to seal said puncture upon threaded insertion of said plug; and (d) said stem portion fracturing in response to a predetermined force; whereby said gripping portion is severed from said body member after the puncture has been sealed.

Claim 3

The tire plug as recited in claim 1, wherein said body member further comprises another threaded portion located between said tapered threaded portion and said entrant portion, said other threaded portion being of constant cross section throughout its length and having a cross sectional dimension less than the corresponding dimension taken throughout the length of said tapered threaded portion, said non-tapered threaded portion being sized to permit threaded insertion of said plug into said tire.

Claim 4

The tire plug as recited in claim 2, where in said body member further comprises a tapered collar portion located between said threaded portions, the diameter of said collar portion increasing in the direction toward said tapered threaded portion to define a conical seat, said plug being threadedly inserted into the tire to locate said conical seat in contact with the inner plies of the tire casing surrounding said puncture for exerting a compressive force on said plies to seal said puncture.

Claim 5

The tire plug as recited in claim 3, wherein said body member further comprises retaining means to prevent inadverent removal of said plug from said tire after insertion, said retaining means comprising a spherically shaped portion located between said collar portion and said non-tapered threaded portion, said spherically shaped portion being sized to forcibly pass through the puncture of said tire upon insertion of said plug by compressing the tire wall defining said puncture whereupon the resilient inner plies of the tire casing surrounding said puncture expand to lock said spherically shaped portion within the casing of the tire.

Claim 6

The tire plug as recited in claim 1, wherein said stem portion has a cross sectional dimension substantially less than the corresponding dimension taken throughout the length of said tapered threaded portion, and wherein said stem portion fractures when the compressive force between said tapered portion and said tire wall exceeds a predetermined amount to automatically sever said gripping portion from said body member.

Claim 7

The tire plug as recited in claim 1, wherein said stem portion has a cross sectional dimension substantially less than the corresponding dimension taken throughout the length of said tapered threaded portion, and wherein said stem portion fractures in response to a predetermined bending force to sever said gripping portion from said body member.

Claim 8

The tire plug as recited in claim 1, wherein the smooth section of said body entrant portion is of constant cross section throughout its length.

Claim 9

A tire plug for insertion into the puncture of a tubeless tire, said plug comprising: (a) a rigid body member having a plurality of integrally formed portions extending longitudinally of said member, said portions comprising: (1) a pointed entrant portion located at one end of the body member; (2) a severable finger gripping portion located at the opposite end of said member; (3) a tapered threaded portion located between said entrant portion and said gripping portion; (4) another threaded portion of constant cross section located between said tapered threaded portion and said entrant portion; (5) a tapered collar portion located between said threaded portions; (6) a spherically shaped portion located between said collar portion and said non-tapered threaded portion; and (7) a fracturable stem portion connecting said gripping portion to said tapered threaded portion; (b) said entrant portion having a smooth surface of constant cross section extending from the pointed end in the direction toward said non-tapered threaded portion to facilitate initial sliding insertion of said plug into said tire. (c) said non-tapered threaded portion having a cross sectional dimension less than the corresponding dimension taken throughout the length of said tapered threaded portion, and being sized to permit threaded insertion of said plug into said tire; (d) the diameter of said tapered threaded portion increasing in the direction toward said gripping portion for exerting an increasingly compressive force on the tire material of the wall defining the puncture to seal said puncture upon threaded insertion of said plug; (e) the diameter of said collar portion increasing in the direction toward said tapered threaded portion to define a conical seat, said plug being threadedly inserted into the tire to locate said conical seat in contact with the inner plies of the tire casing surrounding said puncture for exerting a compressive force on said plies to seal said puncture; (f) said spherically shaped portion being sized to forcibly pass through the puncture of said tire upon insertion of said plug by compressing the tire wall defining said puncture whereupon the resilient inner plies of the tire casing surrounding said puncture expand to lock said spherically shaped portion within the casing of the tire; and (g) said stem portion having a cross sectional dimension substantially less than the corresponding dimension taken throughout the length of said tapered threaded portion, and fracturing in response to a predetermined force; whereby said gripping portion is severed from said body member after the puncture has been sealed.

Claim 10

A tire plug for insertion into the puncture of a tubeless tire, said plug comprising: (a) a rigid body member having a plurality of integrally formed portions extending longitudinally of said member, said portions comprising: (1) a pointed entrant portion located at one end of the body member; (2) a severable finger gripping portion located at the opposite end of said member; (3) a tapered threaded portion located between said entrant portion and said gripping portion; (4) another threaded portion of constant cross section located between said tapered threaded portion and said entrant portion; (5) a tapered collar portion located between said threaded portions; (6) a spherically shaped portion located between said collar portion and said non-tapered threaded portion; and (7) a fracturable stem portion connecting said gripping portion to said tapered threaded portion; (b) said entrant portion having a smooth surface of constant cross section extending from the pointed end in the direction toward said non-tapered threaded portion to facilitate initial sliding insertion of said plug into said tire. (c) said non-tapered threaded portion having a cross sectional dimension less than the corresponding dimension taken throughout the length of said tapered threaded portion, and being sized to permit threaded insertion of said plug into said tire; (d) the diameter of said tapered threaded portion increasing in the direction toward said gripping portion for exerting an increasingly compressive force on the tire material of the wall defining the puncture to seal said puncture upon threaded insertion of said plug; (e) the diameter of said collar portion increasing in the direction toward said tapered threaded portion to define a conical seat, said plug being threadedly inserted into the tire to locate said conical seat in contact with the inner plies of the tire casing surrounding said puncture for exerting a compressive force on said plies to seal said puncture; (f) said spherically shaped portion being sized to forcibly pass through the puncture of said tire upon insertion of said plug by compressing the tire wall defining said puncture whereupon the resilient inner plies of the tire casing surrounding said puncture expand to lock said spherically shaped portion within the casing of the tire; and (g) said stem portion having a cross sectional dimension substantially less than the corresponding dimension taken throughout the length of said tapered threaded portion, and fracturing in response to a predetermined force; whereby said gripping portion is severed from said body member after the puncture has been sealed.

Claim 11

The tire plug as recited in claim 8, wherein said stem portion fractures when the compressive force between said tapered thread portion and said tire wall exceeds a predetermined amount to automatically sever said gripping portion from said body member.

Claim 12

The tire plug as recited in claim 8, wherein said stem portion fractures in response to a predetermined bending force to sever said gripping portion from said body member.