IP Library Granted Patent US 11,203,228
Granted Patent B2
US 11,203,228 · App. 17/192,976 · Granted Dec 21, 2021

Lug nut holder and method of use

Inventors: Eric Mica (Mountain View, CA); Victor Darolfi (Canton, MI)
Assignee: RoboTire, Inc.
B60B7/068B23P19/002F16B37/041F16B37/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,203,228
App. No.
17/192,976
Granted
Dec 21, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus and method for holding a lug nut. The apparatus includes a base ( 150 ), a barrel ( 140 ), a lug nut engagement assembly ( 130 ), a plunger and a cam guide ( 170 ). The barrel ( 140 ) is coupled with the base ( 152 ) in a manner allowing the barrel ( 140 ) to move upwardly or downwardly within the base ( 150 ). The barrel ( 140 ) has an internal cam track portion ( 145 ). The lug nut engagement assembly ( 130 ) includes retractable fingers ( 132 ). The lug nut engagement assembly ( 130 ) is removeably affixed to the barrel ( 140 ). The plunger ( 160 ) is disposed within a portion of the lug nut engagement assembly ( 130 ), the barrel ( 140 ) and the cam guide ( 170 ). The plunger ( 160 ) has a tip for engagement with the retractable fingers ( 132 ). The cam guide ( 170 ) is disposed and moveable within a bottom portion of the barrel ( 140 ). The cam guide ( 170 ) has longitudinal rails ( 172 ) for engagement with the internal cam track ( 145 ) of the barrel ( 140 ).

Claims (20)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a base;

a barrel, wherein the barrel is coupled with the base in a manner allowing the barrel to move upwardly or downwardly within the base, the barrel having an internal cam portion comprising an internal cam track;

a lug nut engagement assembly comprising retractable fingers, wherein the lug nut engagement assembly is removeably affixed to the barrel;

a plunger, the plunger having a rod with a tip for engagement with the retractable fingers, and the plunger having a lip portion disposed about the rod;

a cam guide, the cam guide having longitudinal rails for engagement with the internal cam track of the barrel, wherein the internal cam track has alternating positions spaced about the internal cam track, and wherein the cam guide is rotatable within the barrel and moveable upwardly and downwardly as the longitudinal rails move through the alternating positions; and

a first spring disposed between the cam guide and the lip portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , the base comprising base mounting holes, and one or more protrusions disposed about an interior surface wall of the base.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , the barrel comprising one or more external longitudinal barrel recessed portions, wherein the one or more external longitudinal barrel recessed portions are configured to engage with the one or more protrusions.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , the cam guide comprising an opening longitudinally disposed internally throughout the cam guide, the opening configured for receiving the plunger.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tip is a cone-shaped tip, wherein when the cone-shaped tip engages with the retractable fingers, the retractable fingers are pushed outwardly for engagement with a lug nut.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second spring disposed around a first portion of the plunger and above the lip portion of the plunger.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , the lug nut engagement assembly further comprising a top portion having a hole disposed therein, and a slot disposed in the top portion, a pin positioned within the hole for securing the retractable fingers within the slot and allowing the retractable fingers to move inwardly and outwardly in the slot.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the alternating positions have a first depth and a second depth.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , the internal cam track further comprising multiple edges disposed in alignment with a vertical plane of the barrel, and multiple edges disposed in an angular alignment with the vertical plane of the barrel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the barrel has a threaded portion, and the lug nut engagement assembly has a thread portion, the threaded portion of the barrel and the thread portion of the lug nut engagement assembly being configured for removeably attaching the barrel to the lug nut engagement assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plunger is disposed within a portion of the lug nut engagement assembly, within a portion of the barrel and within a portion of the cam guide.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lip portion engages with a top portion of the cam guide.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises an internal ring of teeth configured to set the longitudinal rails.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the alternating positions comprise alternating upper positions and lower positions, and when the longitudinal rails are engaged in the alternating upper positions the retractable fingers are moved to an extended position, and when the longitudinal rails are engaged in the alternating lower positions the retractable fingers are moved to a retracted position.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2024
From: ROBOTIRE, INC.
To: THE REINALT-THOMAS CORPORATION D/B/A DISCOUNT TIRE
Reel/Frame 067676/0391 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2023
From: ROBOTIRE, INC.
To: THE REINALT-THOMAS CORPORATION DBA DISCOUNT TIRE
Reel/Frame 065935/0843 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2023
From: ROBOTIRE, INC.
To: THE REINALT-THOMAS CORPORATION DBA DISCOUNT TIRE
Reel/Frame 062962/0438 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2021
From: MICA, ERIC; DAROLFI, VICTOR
To: ROBOTIRE, INC.
Reel/Frame 055503/0311 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62989807 · Mar 15, 2020
Related Publication 20210283948A1 · Sep 16, 2021
Cited By (3)
US 12,553,788 US 12,566,099 US 12,638,356