Vehicle tire deflator

Abstract

An improved vehicle tire deflator that is a foldable and can be deployed by pushing it or pulling it to an extended attitude across at least one full traffic lane. The deflator includes a plurality of rocker arms that are each pivotally coupled to base supports, forming a frame that is collapsible and when extended, includes a stop arrangement for holding the rocker arms apart. The rocker arms each include a plurality of actuators that incorporate spaced center holed and countersunk spike base bosses, each boss to accommodate an end of a hollow spike and attached resilient grommet fitted therein. When a tire rolls onto a rocker arm actuator, that rocker arm is canted towards the rolling tire tread, directing a hollow spike sharp and into the tire tread to lodge therein as the tire continues to roll over the actuator, the resilient grommet absorbing forces as are exerted by the tire rolling over the hollow spike pointed end and the hollow spike is pulled out from its spike base boss seat and travels fully into the tire, allowing air from within that tire to vent therethrough. Alternatively, for penetrating a steel belted fire, or the like, an insert that is formed of a hard steel, or the like, and has a pointed end can be fitted-longitudinally into and maintained in which hollow spike, the insert pointed end to extend beyond the hollow spike pointed end to first contact the tread of a tire rolling thereover.

We claim: 
     
       1. An improved vehicle tire deflator comprising, a plurality of rocker arm means; means for pivotally interconnecting said rocker arm means to allow for movement of said rocker arm means to a side-by-side folded relationship and to an end-to-end extended configuration; a plurality of spike boss means mounted at intervals along an upper surface of said rocker arm means; hollow spike seat means formed in each said spike boss means that each include a hole formed longitudinally into said spike boss means through the top thereof for receiving an end of a hollow spike, and which said hole is countersunk longitudinally, forming a cushioning sleeve seat for receiving a hollow spike cushioning sleeve snugly fitted therein; a straight hollow spike having a flat end for fitting into said spike boss means hole, and an opposite pointed end; a resilient cushioning sleeve for snugly fitting into said straight hollow spike; and rocker arms actuator means connected to extend outwardly and upwardly from said rocker arm means, each said rocker arm actuator means including a shoulder that is for first contact with a pneumatic tire rolling thereon. 
     
     
       2. An improved vehicle tire deflator as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for pivotally interconnecting said rocker arm means includes a plurality of base supports that are pivotally connected in parallel to said rocker arms; pivot means arranged between said rocker arm means and said base supports; and stop means adjacent to said pivot means for limiting rotation of said rocker arm means relative to said base supports. 
     
     
       3. An improved vehicle tire deflator as recited in claim 2, wherein the stop means is a pair of opposing stops one each formed to extend from, respectively, the bottom surface of the rocker arm means and the base support top, said stops positioned to engage and block further movement of said rocker arm means across the base support at a point where the actuator of one rocker arm means could engage an adjacent rocker arm means. 
     
     
       4. An improved vehicle tire deflator as recited in claim 1, further including a ramp means formed on the bottom surface of the rocker arm means, proximate to its pivotal coupling to the base support, consisting of a pair of oppositely facing upwardly sloping surfaces positioned on opposite sides of said pivot, said sloping surfaces, when said rocker arm means is pivoted, to engage opposite edges of a base support whereto said rocker arm means is pivotally connected, lifting said rocker arm means away from said base support. 
     
     
       5. An improved vehicle tire deflator as recited in claim 1, wherein the cushioning sleeve is manufactured from a resilient material. 
     
     
       6. An improved vehicle tire deflator as recited in claim 1, further including a combination cushioning sleeve assembly and compression insert tool including, means for mounting the cushioning sleeve as a collar onto the hollow spike, and means for mounting said hollow spike and cushioning sleeve into the cushioning sleeve seat. 
     
     
       7. An improved vehicle tire deflator as recited in claim 6, wherein the combination cushioning sleeve assembly and compression insert tool is a ball wherein at least one hole is formed to receive the hollow spike fitted therein and includes a tube extending from which ball to receive said hollow spike therein, the tube end to engage a top surface of said cushioning sleeve. 
     
     
       8. An improved vehicle tire deflator as recited in claim 1, wherein the deflator base supports, rocker arm means and actuators connected thereto are formed from a plastic material. 
     
     
       9. A hollow spike for mounting in a vehicle tire deflator comprising, a hollow tube having one end formed into a point end and an opposite flat end, said flat end for seating in a hollow spike seat means of a vehicle tire deflator; and an insert means for fitting longitudinally in said hollow spike that is formed of a section of a hard material, has a pointed end that extends beyond the hollow tube pointed end, and includes means for maintaining said insert means in said hollow spike until said hollow spike is removed from its mounting in the vehicle tire deflator. 
     
     
       10. A hollow spike as recited in claim 9, further including a cushioning sleeve means formed of a resilient material and for arrangement as a collar to the hollow spike. 
     
     
       11. A hollow spike as recited in claim 9, wherein the means for maintaining the insert means in the hollow spike includes centrally slotting the end of said insert at its end opposite to its pointed end, forming base sections of said insert means that are bent oppositely into feet that extend across a bottom end of said hollow spike. 
     
     
       12. A hollow spike as recited in claim 9, wherein the insert means section of hard material has at least one longitudinally bend formed therein from pointed to bottom ends. 
     
     
       13. A hollow spike as recited in claim 12, wherein the insert means has two opposite longitudinal bends formed therein forming a corrugated section that resists bending. 
     
     
       14. A hollow spike as recited in claim 9, wherein the insert means is formed from a section of hard steel. .Iadd. 
     
     
       15.  A deflator for tires, the deflator comprising: a frame for supporting a plurality of spikes, the frame having an aperture extending a first depth and a first diameter;   a spike of the plurality of spikes positionable in the aperture the spike having a second diameter less than the first diameter;   a sleeve positionable around the spike to fit inside the aperture to resist distortion of the frame upon deflection of the spike. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. The deflator of claim 15 wherein the frame further comprises a boss extending away from a surface of the frame proximate the aperture. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. The deflator of claim 15 wherein the aperture extends in a longitudinal direction with respect to the spike, and wherein the sleeve is further comprised of a resilient material for selectively deflecting in response to a deflection of the spike in a transverse direction. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. The deflator of claim 15 further comprising a seat having a third diameter sized to receive a base end of the spike. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. The deflator of claim 18 wherein the seat further comprises a floor positioned to orient a pointed end of the spike to extend away from a distal end of the seat. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. The deflator of claim 18 wherein the seat further comprises a floor positioned to resist longitudinal movement in response to a force exerted on the spike. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. The deflator of claim 15 wherein the spike further comprises a channel for conducting air longitudinally with respect to the spike. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. The deflator of claim 21 wherein the channel further comprises a tube having an inner diameter sized to conduct air.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.23.  The deflator of claim 15 wherein the spike further comprises a spike wall fitted internally with an insert extending longitudinally along an inner surface of the spike wall. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. The deflator of claim 23 wherein the insert is formed to have a size effective to strengthen the spike. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. The deflator of claim 24 wherein the insert further comprises a member extending across the spike in a lateral direction for resisting buckling 
     
     
        of the spike. .Iaddend..Iadd.26.  The deflator of claim 23 wherein the insert comprises a corrugated member for conducting air in a longitudinal direction. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. The deflator of claim 23 wherein the insert is sized to support the spike with respect to the frame, and to release the spike upon engagement of the spike by a tire. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. The deflator of claim 23 wherein the insert further comprises a foot positionable proximate a base end of the spike for supporting the spike against penetration into the frame in response to a force applied in a longitudinal direction. .Iaddend..Iadd.29. The deflator of claim 23 wherein the insert further comprises a foot attached to one end thereof and securable to the seat for retaining the insert in the seat upon 
     
     
        removal of the spike from the seat. .Iaddend..Iadd.30.  The deflator of claim 15 wherein the frame further comprises a plurality of base supports associated with a plurality of arms, a base support of the plurality of base supports being pivotably connected to an arm of the plurality of arms to render the frame selectively extendible by pivoting the base support with respect to the arm. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. The deflator of claim 30 further comprising stops connected to the frame for positioning the base supports with respect to the arms. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. The deflator of claim 30 further comprising a first stop connected to the base support for engaging a second stop connected to the arm for limiting pivoting of the base support in a first direction with respect to the arm, toward an extended position. .Iaddend..Iadd.33. The deflator of claim 32 further comprising a first lifting ramp on the base support and a second lifting ramp on the arm for displacing the base support with respect to the arm upon pivoting of the base support in a second direction opposite the first 
     
     
        direction toward a folded position. .Iaddend..Iadd.34.  The deflator of claim 33 wherein the first stop is formed to include the first lifting ramp, and the second stop is formed to include the second lifting ramp. .Iaddend..Iadd.35. The deflator of claim 15 wherein the frame further comprises a lever connected to a base support for tilting the spike positioned in the base support toward a tire rolling over the lever. .Iaddend..Iadd.36. The deflator of claim 15 wherein the frame further comprises a base support for supporting the spike, and having a lever connected at a proximal end to the base support to extend away therefrom to a standoff formed at a distal end for receiving a tire thereon, the standoff being sized to urge the base support away from the tire for withdrawing with the tire the spike from the base support as the tire moves away from the base support. .Iaddend..Iadd.37. A deflator for tires the deflator comprising: a frame for supporting a plurality of spikes on a surface, the frame comprising a plurality of base supports associated with a plurality of arms, a base support of the plurality of base supports being pivotably connected to an arm of the plurality of arms to render the frame selectively extendible by pivoting the base support with respect to the arm;   a spike of the plurality of spikes supported by the base support to extend away therefrom for penetrating a tire rolling over the base support;   a first stop connected to the base support;   a second stop connected to the arm to engage the first stop for limitinq pivoting of the base support in a first direction, with respect to the arm, toward an extended position. .Iaddend..Iadd.38. The deflator of claim 37 further comprising a first lifting ramp on the base support and a second lifting ramp on the arm, the first lifting ramp and second lifting ramp being mutually engageable to displace the base support with respect to the arm upon pivoting of the base support in a second direction opposite the first direction and toward a folded position. .Iaddend..Iadd.39. The deflator of claim 38 wherein the first stop is formed to include the first lifting ramp, and the second stop is formed to   
     
     
        include the second lifting ramp. .Iaddend..Iadd.40.  A tire deflator for deflating a tire of a vehicle, the deflator comprising: a frame supporting a plurality of spikes;   a spike of the plurality of spikes positioned at an angle effective to penetrate the tire, the spike having an opening extending longitudinally to a distal end thereof; and   an insert sized to fit the opening and to extend from the distal end, the insert comprising: a first end sized to fit the opening,   a second end positioned to extend beyond the distal end to a point formed in a shape effective to penetrate into the tire,   a portion extending between the first end and the second end and comprising a material selected to have a strength effective to support the second end during said penetration. .Iaddend.