Tire cover with adjusting means

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tire cover or casing that includes two flexible sides and a central member. The flexible sides have a width sufficient to essentially cover a sidewall of a tire, while allowing, when mounted on the tire, access to the inner opening of the tire; and a securing device for securing the side over the sidewall of the tire. The central member has sufficient length to essentially cover a tire tread; and an adjusting device for adjusting the size of the tire cover or casing to fit the tire. The present invention further includes methods for changing a flat tire, for storing a seasonal tire, and for covering tires for use in a show room or the ground. Additionally, the present invention relates to wheel assemblies and emergency roadside kits, both including the tire cover.

1 . A tire cover that comprises:
 a. two flexible sides, each side having:
 i. a width sufficient to cover most of a sidewall of a tire, while allowing, when mounted on the tire, access to the inner opening of the tire; and 
 ii. a securing means for securing a respective said side over each sidewall of the tire; 
   b. a central member, extending between the two flexible sides, having sufficient length to cover most of the tread of the tire;   c. an adjusting means that is disposed on the central member to adjust the circumference of the tire cover along the tread of the tire, wherein the adjusting means can be adjusted to fit more than one size tire; and   d. one or more handles attached to the cover.   
   
   
       2 . The tire cover of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting means can be adjusted to fit tires having a difference in diameter of at least about 10 cm. 
   
   
       3 . The tire cover of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the central member and the flexible sides are substantially constructed from a material that is at least one of soil-resistant and liquid-resistant. 
   
   
       4 . The tire cover of  claim 3 , wherein the central member and flexible sides are constructed from the same material. 
   
   
       5 . The tire cover of  claim 4 , wherein the central member and flexible sides are constructed from the same piece of material. 
   
   
       6 . The tire cover of  claim 1 , wherein the central member and flexible sides are constructed from different materials. 
   
   
       7 . The tire cover of  claim 1 , wherein the central member is attached to at least one of the flexible sides through a seam. 
   
   
       8 . The tire cover of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting means is selected from the group consisting of: a fastener, a strap, a snap, a buckle, a trap-lock, a button, a hook, an elastic member, a tie, a clip, a zipper, a drawstring and cord lock, a hook-to-hook arrangement, a hook and loop arrangement, a bungee cord and cord lock, a magnet, a slide, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       9 . The tire cover or casing of  claim 1 , wherein the securing means is selected from the group consisting of: a fastener, a strap, a snap, a buckle, a button, a hook, an elastic member, a tie, a clip, a zipper, a drawstring & cord lock, a hook-to-hook arrangement, a hook & loop arrangement, and a combination thereof. 
   
   
       10 . A tire cover that comprises:
 a. two flexible sides, each side having:
 i. a width sufficient to cover most of a sidewall of a tire, while allowing, when mounted on the tire, access to the inner opening of the tire, wherein the width has two outer edges; and 
 ii. a securable side member attached to each outer edge of each flexible side for securing said side over the sidewall of the tire; 
   b. a central member, extending between the two flexible sides, having sufficient length to cover most of the tread of the tire;   c. a fastener disposed on the central member to adjust the circumference of the tire cover along the tread of the tire, wherein the fastener can be adjusted to fit more than one size tire; and   d. one or more handles attached to the cover.   
   
   
       11 . A method for changing a flat tire; said method comprises:
 a. covering the flat tire with a tire cover, said tire cover or casing comprises:
 i. two flexible sides, each side having:
 (1) a width sufficient to cover most of a sidewall of a tire, while allowing, when mounted on the tire, access to the inner opening of the tire, wherein the width has two outer edges; and 
 (2) a securable side member attached to each outer edge of each flexible side for securing said side over the sidewall of the tire; 
 
 ii. a central member, extending between the two flexible sides, having sufficient length to cover most of the tread of the tire; 
 iii. a fastener disposed on the central member to adjust the circumference of the tire cover along the tread of the tire, wherein the fastener can be adjusted to fit more than one size tire; and 
 iv. one or more handles attached to the cover; and 
   b. removing the covered, flat tire; and   c. replacing said tire with a second tire;   wherein the soil that gets on the person changing the tire is prevented or reduced while performing steps a)-c), as compared to changing a tire without using said tire cover.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further includes placing the covered, flat tire in a storage area of the vehicle. 
   
   
       13 . A method for carrying or storing a tire; said method comprises:
 a. covering the tire with a tire cover, said tire cover or casing comprises:
 i. two flexible sides, each side having:
 (1) a width sufficient to cover most of a sidewall of a tire, while allowing, when mounted on the tire, access to the inner opening of the tire, wherein the width has two outer edges; and 
 (2) a securable side member attached to each outer edge of each flexible side for securing said side over the sidewall of the tire; 
 
 ii. a central member, extending between the two flexible sides, having sufficient length to cover most of the tread of the tire; 
 iii. a fastener disposed on the central member to adjust the circumference of the tire cover along the tread of the tire, wherein the fastener can be adjusted to fit more than one size tire; and 
 iv. one or more handles attached to the cover; and 
   b. carrying the covered tire, or placing the covered tire in a storage area;   wherein the soil that gets on the person is prevented, or reduced while performing steps a) and b), as compared to performing these steps without the tire cover.   
   
   
       14 . A wheel assembly that comprises:
 a. a tire having a tire tread and sidewalls;   b. a rim attached to the tire, said rim is used for securing the tire to a vehicle; and   c. a tire cover that comprises:
 i. two flexible sides, each side having:
 (1) a width sufficient to cover most of a sidewall of a tire, while allowing, when mounted on the tire, access to the inner opening of the tire, wherein the width has two outer edges; and 
 (2) a securable side member attached to each outer edge of each flexible side for securing said side over the sidewall of the tire; 
 
 ii. a central member, extending between the two flexible sides, having sufficient length to cover most of the tread of the tire; 
 iii. a fastener disposed on the central member to adjust the circumference of the tire cover along the tread of the tire, wherein the fastener can be adjusted to fit more than one size tire; and 
 iv. one or more handles attached to the cover. 
   
   
   
       15 . A tire kit that comprises:
 a. a tire cover that comprises:
 i. two flexible sides, each side having:
 (1) a width sufficient to cover most of a sidewall of a tire, while allowing, when mounted on the tire, access to the inner opening of the tire, wherein the width has two outer edges; and 
 (2) a securable side member attached to each outer edge of each flexible side for securing said side over the sidewall of the tire; 
 
 ii. a central member, extending between the two flexible sides, having sufficient length to cover most of the tread of the tire; and 
 iii. a fastener disposed on the central member to adjust the circumference of the tire cover along the tread of the tire, wherein the fastener can be adjusted to fit more than one size tire; and 
 iv. one or more handles attached to the cover; and 
   b. one or more tools used to change a flat tire.   
   
   
       16 . The emergency tire kit of  claim 15 , further comprises a kneeling pad. 
   
   
       17 . A tire cover that comprises:
 a. two flexible sides, each side having:
 i. a width sufficient to cover most of a sidewall of a tire, while allowing, when mounted on the tire, access to the inner opening of the tire; and 
 ii. a securing means for securing a respective said side over each sidewall of the tire; wherein the securing means is a clip and strap combination, or a clip and cord combination; 
   b. a central member, extending between the two flexible sides, having sufficient length to cover most of the tread of the tire; and   c. an adjusting means that is disposed on the central member to adjust the circumference of the tire cover along the tread of the tire, wherein the adjusting means can be adjusted to fit more than one size tire.