Tire service hammer

1. A tire service hammer comprising:

a handle portion; and

a head portion that comprises:

a sledge portion;

a relief portion formed in a peripheral portion of the sledge portion;

a wedge portion; and

a body portion connecting the sledge portion and the wedge portion, wherein the wedge portion includes a bead breaking wedge and a hook extension.

2. The tire service hammer of claim 1 , wherein the body portion comprises a through-hole for coupling the handle portion to the head portion.

3. The tire service hammer of claim 1 , further comprising a transverse axis, wherein the body portion and the sledge portion are configured to be substantially centered about the transverse axis.

4. The tire service hammer of claim 3 , further comprising a longitudinal axis, wherein the transverse axis and the longitudinal axis are substantially perpendicular.

5. The tire service hammer of claim 4 , wherein the wedge portion further comprises an upper sloping surface that extends from the bead breaking wedge to the hook extension.

6. The tire service hammer of claim 5 , wherein the upper sloping surface extends generally in a plane that forms an oblique angle with both the transverse axis and the longitudinal axis.

7. The tire service hammer of claim 5 , wherein the upper sloping surface has a lateral dimension that is widest at a distal end of the bead breaking wedge and that tapers to a narrower lateral dimension at the hook extension.

8. The tire service hammer of claim 5 , wherein the upper sloping surface is configured with grooves.

9. The tire service hammer of claim 8 , wherein the bead breaking wedge is convex to assist the grooves in conveying a lubricant.

10. The tire service hammer of claim 3 , wherein the wedge portion is configured to be substantially situated above a horizontal plane that intersects the transverse axis.

11. The tire service hammer of claim 1 , wherein the relief portion is a semi-circular trough formed through the peripheral portion of the sledge portion in a direction perpendicular to the transverse axis.

12. The tire service hammer of claim 11 , wherein the relief portion includes a flat sloping rear surface.

13. The tire service hammer of claim 1 , wherein the hook extension defines a lateral channel.

14. The tire service hammer of claim 13 , wherein the lateral channel is semicircular in shape.

15. A method of manufacturing a tire service hammer comprising:

providing a handle portion; and

providing a head portion that comprises:

a sledge portion, wherein a relief portion is formed in a peripheral portion of the sledge portion;

a wedge portion; and

a body portion connecting the sledge portion and the wedge portion, wherein the wedge portion includes a bead breaking wedge and a hook extension.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the handle portion is joined to the head portion by welding, screw thread, fasteners, or press fit.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the body portion and the sledge portion are configured to be substantially centered about a transverse axis.

18. A tire servicing system for repositioning a wheel having a tire mounted on a rim, comprising:

a first grasping portion for securing a portion of the rim while repositioning the wheel; and

a breaking portion for breaking a tire bead formed between the tire and the rim, the breaking portion comprising:

an impact surface configured to handle external impacts;

a relief portion formed in a peripheral portion of the impact surface; and

a wedge portion configured to be driven between the tire and the rim by the impacts delivered against the impact surface.

19. The tire servicing system of claim 18 , further comprising:

a second grasping portion for securing a portion of the rim while repositioning the wheel.