US 12,304,256 B1
Air chuck with leak-prevention and single rotary attachment function
Richard Midtlyng, Robbinsdale, MN (US)
Filed by Richard Midtlyng, Robbinsdale, MN (US)
Filed on Dec. 17, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/984,862.
Int. Cl. B60C 29/06 (2006.01); B60C 29/00 (2006.01); F16K 15/20 (2006.01); F16L 29/02 (2006.01)
CPC B60C 29/066 (2013.01) [B60C 29/002 (2013.01); F16K 15/20 (2013.01); F16L 29/02 (2013.01); Y10T 137/3724 (2015.04)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An air-chuck system with single rotary attachment, sealing and valve-actuation function for use with a tire stem having a Schrader valve, the air-chuck system comprising:
an air chuck that includes:
a twist-on cap; and
a pneumatic seal-and-valve-actuator core held partially within the twist-on cap,
wherein the twist-on cap has a first end that is open and an opposite second end having an interior ledge that engages with an exterior ledge of the pneumatic seal-and-valve-actuator core, and having interior threads that engage outer threads of the tire stem to allow a user to attach the air chuck to the tire stem with a rotational motion of the twist-on cap,
wherein the pneumatic seal-and-valve-actuator core includes an air passageway extending from an outer end to an inner end of the pneumatic seal-and-valve-actuator core,
wherein no part of the inner end of the pneumatic seal-and-valve-actuator core extends beyond a plane defined by the first end of the twist-on cap,
wherein a cylindrical first portion of the pneumatic seal-and-valve-actuator core includes an elastomeric seal positioned around the first portion of the pneumatic seal-and-valve-actuator core to seal against an inner circumference of the tire stem to form a seal of the air passageway to the tire stem,
wherein the first portion of the pneumatic seal-and-valve-actuator core includes a Schrader-valve-actuation surface that is recessed within the pneumatic seal-and-valve-actuator core further from the first end of the twist-on cap than a proximal edge of the elastomeric seal, and
wherein the first portion of the pneumatic seal-and-valve-actuator core is configured to be progressively urged into the tire stem as the twist-on cap is rotated relative to the tire stem to engage successive ones of the outer threads of the tire stem, such that upon rotation of the twist-on cap by a sufficient number of turns, the elastomeric seal seals to an inner circumference of the tire stem before the Schrader-valve actuation-surface opens the Schrader valve, and upon further rotation of twist-on cap, the pneumatic seal-and-valve-actuator core actuates the Schrader valve to open after the seal is established.