The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 16, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 24, 1998
Charles L Cunningham, Nashville, TN (US);
David M Carpenter, Brentwood, TN (US);
Hennessy Industries, Inc., La Vergne, TN (US);
Abstract
A laminated clamp for use in connection with rim holding tire changers. The clamp includes a plurality of pliable gripping plates alternately disposed between a plurality of rigid support plates. The plurality of gripping plates provide multiple surfaces for effectively gripping the rim of a wheel and the support plates provide a rigid support structure for the clamp. The gripping plates are constructed of a material that is capable of gripping the rim without causing damage thereto. The gripping plates and support plates are configured to form claws for gripping the wheel rim from either the outside or the inside the rim. To prevent damage to the wheel, the edges of the gripping plates extend peripherally beyond the edges of the support plates thereby preventing the support plates from contacting the rim when the rim is operably seated in the clamp. Two of the support plates include base portions configured for attachment to the clamp carrier of the tire changer.