US 12,233,615 B2
Tire sensor install tool
Raymond Cotton, Travelers Rest, SC (US); and Philippe Barreaud, Greenville, SC (US)
Assigned to Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
Appl. No. 18/044,530
Filed by COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
PCT Filed Oct. 6, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/054379
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 8, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/075973, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 14, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0321935 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. B29D 30/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29D 30/0061 (2013.01) [B29D 2030/0072 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for installing a sensor into a tire, comprising:
a housing that has a housing base that defines a housing base opening, wherein an axis extends through the housing base opening and has an axial direction, wherein the housing has a first finger that extends from the housing base such that a first finger inner surface extends both away from the housing base in the axial direction and towards the axis upon initial extension from the housing base to be located towards the axis without external force applied to the first finger, wherein a first finger edge extends from the housing base to a terminal first finger end, wherein the housing has a second finger that extends from the housing base, wherein a second finger inner surface extends both away from the housing base in the axial direction and towards the axis upon initial extension from the housing base, wherein a second finger edge extends from the housing base to a terminal second finger end, wherein a gap is defined between the first finger edge and the second finger edge and continuously grows in size upon extension of the first and second finger away from the housing base in the axial direction; and
a push rod that has a push rod base and a rod that extends from the push rod base, wherein the rod has an operative end configured for engagement with the sensor, wherein the rod is configured for moving through the housing base opening such that the operative end is configured for moving through the housing base opening, wherein the operative end has a terminal face and a depression that extends into the rod from the terminal face that is configured for receiving the sensor, and wherein the depression opens at the terminal face and opens at a side of the rod that is spaced from the terminal face.