Lamintated clamp for a tire changer

1. A clamp for use in securing a wheel rim on a rim-holding tire changer, said clamp comprising:

a base portion including first and second side walls and a top portion, wherein the first and second side walls are interconnected by the top portion;

a body plate extending upwardly from said top portion at a location between said side walls and in a direction substantially opposite said side walls;

a pair of gripping plates removably secured to said body plate, a first portion of at least one gripping plate extending outwardly beyond said body plate along a longitudinal center axis of said base portion;

a pair of support plates removably secured to said body plate, a first portion of at least one support plate extending outwardly beyond said body plate along a longitudinal center axis of said base portion;

wherein each one of said pair of gripping plates is disposed between said body plate and a corresponding support plate;

wherein at least one gripping plate is configured to operably engage the wheel rim,

wherein the body plate, the top portion, and the first and second side walls are unitarily constructed.

2. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein at least one gripping plate comprises a semi-resilient material and at least one support plate and said base portion comprise a rigid material.

3. The clamp of claim 2 , wherein said semi-resilient material comprises one of a polymeric material, an elastomeric material and a high-density nylon.

4. The clamp of claim 2 , wherein said rigid material is a metal.

5. The clamp of claim 2 , wherein said first portion of said at least one gripping plate is disposed substantially opposite said first portion of said at least one support plate along a longitudinal center axis of said base portion.

6. The clamp of claim 2 , wherein said first portion of said at least one gripping plate further comprises a cupped surface and said first portion of said at least one support plate further comprises at least one pointed projection.

7. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein said first portion of said at least one gripping plate is configured to inwardly engage a rim flange and said first portion of said at least one support plate is configured to outwardly engage an inner surface of the rim.

8. A clamp for use in securing a wheel rim on a rim-holding tire changer, said clamp comprising:

a base portion including a body plate extending upwardly therefrom;

a first gripping plate secured adjacent a first side of said body plate of said base portion;

and

a first support plate secured adjacent said first gripping plate such that said first gripping plate is disposed between said body plate and said first support plate,

wherein said first gripping plate is comprised of a semi-resilient material and includes a first portion extending outwardly beyond said body plate and said first support plate to operably engage an outside surface of the rim, and

wherein said first support plate is comprised of a metal and includes a first portion extending outwardly beyond said body plate and said first gripping plate to operably engage an inside surface of the rim.

9. The clamp of claim 8 , wherein said semi-resilient material comprises one of a polymeric material, an elastomeric material and a high-density nylon.

10. The clamp of claim 8 , wherein said first portion of said first gripping plate is disposed substantially opposite said first portion of said first support plate along a longitudinal center axis of said base portion.

11. The clamp of claim 8 , wherein said first portion of said first gripping plate further comprises a cupped surface and said first portion of said first support plate further comprises at least one pointed projection.

12. The clamp of claim 8 , further comprising a second gripping plate secured adjacent a second side of said body plate and a second support plate secured adjacent said second gripping plate.

13. A clamp assembly for use in securing a wheel rim on a rim-holding tire changer, said clamp assembly comprising:

a clamp carrier;

a clamp comprising,

a base portion including first and second opposed side walls, wherein the base portion includes a top portion interconnecting the first and second opposed side walls;

the base portion including a body plate extending from the top portion at a location between the first and second opposed side walls, the body plate extending in a direction away from the first and second opposed side walls;

a first gripping plate secured adjacent a first side of said body plate of said base portion; and

a first support plate secured adjacent said first gripping plate such that said first gripping plate is disposed between said body plate and said first support plate,

wherein said first gripping plate is comprised of a semi-resilient material and includes a first portion extending outwardly beyond said body plate and said first support plate to operably engage the rim,

wherein the top portion, the body plate and the first and second opposed side walls comprise a one-piece construction.

14. The clamp of claim 13 , wherein said first support plate is comprised of a metal and includes a first portion extending outwardly beyond said body plate and said first gripping plate to operably engage an inside surface of the rim.

15. The clamp of claim 13 , wherein said semi-resilient material comprises one of a polymeric material and an elastomeric material.

16. The clamp of claim 13 , wherein said semi-resilient material comprises a high-density nylon.

17. The clamp of claim 13 , wherein said semi-resilient material is polyethylene.

18. A clamp for use with a clamp carrier in securing a wheel rim having a rim flange on a rim-holding tire changer, said clamp comprising:

a base portion including a top portion, a body plate extending upwardly therefrom, and a pair of opposed sidewalls extending downwardly therefrom, thereby forming a channel configured to slidably receive a portion of the clamp carrier;

a first gripping plate secured adjacent a first side of said body plate of said base portion;

a second gripping plate secured adjacent a second side of said body plate of said base portion;

a first support plate secured adjacent said first gripping plate such that said first gripping plate is disposed between said body plate and said first support plate; and

a second support plate secured adjacent said second gripping plate such that said second gripping plate is disposed between said body plate and said second support plate,

wherein each of said first and second gripping plates is comprised of a semi-resilient material and includes a first portion extending outwardly beyond said body plate and said first and second support plates, respectively, to operably engage the rim flange,

wherein each of said first and second support plates is comprised of a metal and includes a first portion extending outwardly beyond said body plate and said first and second gripping plates, respectively, to operably engage an inside surface of the rim, and

wherein said top portion, said body plate and said pair of opposed sidewalls are integrally formed.