Dual purpose clamp for rim holding tire changers

摘要

A dual purpose clamp for use in connection with rim holding tire changers. The clamp includes a base, a body and claws for gripping the rim of a tire. In the preferred embodiment, the base is generally L-shaped and includes perpendicular legs comprising spaced apart walls which define interior channels. Rails are mounted along a portion of the inner surface of the walls of each leg, and are configured to slidably engage oppositely disposed channels formed on the clamp carriers of the tire changer. Each leg of the base further includes a bore formed therein and configured to receive a locking pin for releasably securing the clamp to the clamp carrier in the desired position. First and second claws are attached to the body opposite the base. The first claw is configured to accommodate a first rim type, and the second claw is configured to accommodate a second rim type. The second claw is preferably disposed ninety degrees from the first claw so that the clamp may be reoriented to accommodate a different rim type by merely rotating the clamp and remounting it on the clamp carrier. Each of the claws comprises a generally J-shaped body having a hook portion for receiving the peripheral edge of a vehicle rim.