Charles F Leeper

US Patent:

41967666, Apr 8, 1980

Filed:

Jan 17, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/870086

Inventors:

Charles G. Leeper - Antioch TN
John F. Wood - Nashville TN

Assignee:

Hennessy Industries, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

B60C 2506

US Classification:

157 126

Abstract:

A tire changer including a base adapted to be supported upon an underlying surface, a tire supporting table disposed in an elevated position on the base and comprising at least three radially outwardly extending arms, a plurality of hook-shaped notches in the upper surfaces of two of the arms and opening upwardly to define hooks directed towards the center of the table, a plurality of rim clamps, each comprising a pair of spaced plates with aligned hook formations adapted to engage the rim of a wheel placed on the table and interconnected by two spaced rods, the plates being spaced sufficiently so as to straddle a corresponding arm with one of the rods received in a selected one of the notches in the other of the rods in substantial abutment with the upper surface of the corresponding arm to locate the associated hook formation above the corresponding arm in a position opening toward the center of the table at a location generally radially outwardly with respect to the arm of the pin received in the notch, at least two of the clamps being removably received on respective ones of the two arms, a movable mount for another of the clamps so that the same may move in a generally radial path on the third arm and an operator for selectively positioning the additional clamp along that path of movement.

US Patent:

43939147, Jul 19, 1983

Filed:

May 22, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/266153

Inventors:

Charles G. Leeper - Antioch TN

Assignee:

Hennessy Industries, Inc. - LaVergne TN

International Classification:

B60C 2506

US Classification:

157 12

Abstract:

A device for clamping a wheel and loosening the bead of a tire having a plurality of converging, movable shoes. The shoes move simultaneously toward the axis of the wheel for engagement of the rim, a tongue is extended from each shoe between the rim and the tire bead to loosen the bead from the wheel whereupon the wheel is clamped between the shoes.

US Patent:

42930200, Oct 6, 1981

Filed:

Sep 7, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/940831

Inventors:

Charles G. Leeper - Antioch TN
John F. Wood - Nashville TN

Assignee:

Hennessy Industries, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

B60C 2506

US Classification:

157 128

Abstract:

A tire changer including a base having a lower extremity to support the base on an underlying surface, a tabletop having wheel grippers, a pivot mounting the tabletop on the base for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis between a generally horizontal, tire changing position and a generally vertical, wheel loading and unloading position whereat the wheel gripper is in sufficiently close proximity to the underlying surface supporting the base so as to be engageable with and securable to an upright wheel and tire on an underlying surface, a motor for selectively pivoting the tabletop between the two positions thereof, a bead loosening device connected to the base and defining a tire and wheel receiving space for receipt of an upright tire and wheel, the bead loosening device including at least one bead loosening shoe generally horizontally movable across the space in a direction generally transverse to the horizontal axis.

US Patent:

43242820, Apr 13, 1982

Filed:

Mar 26, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/134305

Inventors:

Charles G. Leeper - Antioch TN

Assignee:

Hennessy Industries, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

B60C 2508

US Classification:

157 122

Abstract:

A tire changer including a base mounting a tabletop provided with wheel securing clamps. The tabletop is mounted on the base for movement between tire changing positions and a generally vertical wheel loading and unloading position. The tabletop is provided with a tire changing tool driving fixture and a tool is receivable in the fixture and includes a head for engaging a tire bead for changing positions and a tire support surface spaced from the tool head for suppporting a tire during the initial stages of a mounting operation eliminating any need for the operator of the changer to provide such support.