Patent US3649079A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3649079A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automotive wheel structure
Assignee: International Manufacturing Co Inc
•
Filing: 1971-02-19
•
Granted: 1972-03-14
•
Expires: 1991-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A wheel structure adapted to be mounted upon the drum and axle assembly of an automobile or the like and having a generally universal mounting arrangement so as to accommodate a variety of drum and axle assemblies having lug bolts thereabout describing circles of different diameter. The wheel structure includes a locator plate provided with alignment means adapted to establish a predetermined axially centered orientation between it and such drum and axle assembly upon which it is mounted, and the wheel structure further includes a wheel that defines with the locator plate centering structure by means of which the wheel has enforced thereon a condition of coaxiality with the axis of rotation defined by such drum and axle assembly prior to the installation of the lug nuts on the lug bolts.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank F English
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:02
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B3/00; B60B3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
321 words
A wheel structure, including: a first vehicle drum mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and provided with a plurality of lug bolt securing means, each including a threaded shaft of one diameter integral with said drum and a separate nut threaded on said shaft, said lug bolt means being disposed radially outwardly from the axis of rotation; a wheel having an outer rim for receipt of a tire thereon and an inner web structure rigid with the rim and provided with a plurality of angularly spaced lug bolt openings respectively receiving said lug bolt means therethrough without substantial angular play and being radially elongated for receiving lug bolt means of at least one other drum and axle assembly in which the lug bolt means thereof are at a different radial distance from such axis of rotation than said first assembly; a locator plate positioned between said drum and said wheel having a set of lug openings respectively receiving with a close fit and being of substantially the same diameter as said lug shafts and further having a different set of lug openings thereabout for respectively receiving without play the shafts of the lug bolts provided by a different vehicle drum; an axially extending alignment surface on said locator plate spaced from said lug openings, and said locator plate being fixedly held in a predetermined position relative to said drum axis of rotation by said lug bolt shafts and the corresponding lug opening set of said locator plate; and an axially extending centering surface means on said wheel web facing said drum and engaging said locator plate alignment surface to enforce upon said wheel a predetermined positional relationship of coaxiality thereof with said plate and with such axis of rotation of said drum, whereby said lug bolt securing means clamp said wheel in said position of coaxiality and include means preventing circumferential movement of said wheel with respect to said drum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
321 words
A wheel structure, including: a first vehicle drum mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and provided with a plurality of lug bolt securing means, each including a threaded shaft of one diameter integral with said drum and a separate nut threaded on said shaft, said lug bolt means being disposed radially outwardly from the axis of rotation; a wheel having an outer rim for receipt of a tire thereon and an inner web structure rigid with the rim and provided with a plurality of angularly spaced lug bolt openings respectively receiving said lug bolt means therethrough without substantial angular play and being radially elongated for receiving lug bolt means of at least one other drum and axle assembly in which the lug bolt means thereof are at a different radial distance from such axis of rotation than said first assembly; a locator plate positioned between said drum and said wheel having a set of lug openings respectively receiving with a close fit and being of substantially the same diameter as said lug shafts and further having a different set of lug openings thereabout for respectively receiving without play the shafts of the lug bolts provided by a different vehicle drum; an axially extending alignment surface on said locator plate spaced from said lug openings, and said locator plate being fixedly held in a predetermined position relative to said drum axis of rotation by said lug bolt shafts and the corresponding lug opening set of said locator plate; and an axially extending centering surface means on said wheel web facing said drum and engaging said locator plate alignment surface to enforce upon said wheel a predetermined positional relationship of coaxiality thereof with said plate and with such axis of rotation of said drum, whereby said lug bolt securing means clamp said wheel in said position of coaxiality and include means preventing circumferential movement of said wheel with respect to said drum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The wheel structure of claim 1 in which said alignment and centering surfaces include circumjacent cooperative annular abutment surfaces respectively provided by said wheel and locator plate in coaxial disposition with the axis of rotation, the abutment surface provided by said locator plate being adapted to seat thereon the abutment surface provided by said wheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The wheel structure of claim 2 in which said drum is further provided with an outwardly extending central hub coaxially circumjacent the axis of rotation, and in which said locator plate is provided centrally with a relatively large hub-receiving opening having a cylindrical edge coaxially aligned with the axis of rotation, said cylindrical edge constituting further alignment means engaging said central hub for interconnecting said locator plate with such drum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The wheel structurE of claim 1 in which said drum is further provided with an outwardly extending central hub coaxially circumjacent the axis of rotation, and in which said locator plate is provided centrally with a relatively large hub-receiving opening having a cylindrical edge coaxially aligned with the axis of rotation, said cylindrical edge constituting further alignment means engaging said central hub for interconnecting said locator plate with such drum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The wheel structure of claim 1, wherein said nuts angularly tightly engage only the lug bolt openings in said wheel to constitute the sole means for transferring torque and vertical forces between said wheel and said shafts of said bolt means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The wheel structure of claim 1, wherein said lug bolt openings of said wheel and said lug bolt means constitute the sole means for transferring torque and weight directly from said wheel to said drum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
211 words
A wheel structure, including: a first vehicle drum mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and provided with a plurality of lug bolt securing means, each including a threaded shaft of one diameter integral with said drum and a separate nut threaded on said shaft, said lug bolt means being disposed radially outwardly from the axis of rotation; a wheel having an outer rim for receipt of a tire thereof and an inner web structure rigid with the rim and provided with a plurality of angularly spaced lug bolt openings respectively receiving said lug bolt means therethrough without substantial angular play and being radially elongated for receiving lug bolt means of at least one other drum and axle assembly in which the lug bolt means thereof are at a different radial distance from such axis of rotation than said first assembly; a locator plate positioned between said drum and said wheel, first cooperating means on said plate and said drum centering said plate on said drum relative to said drum axis of rotation, and second cooperating means on said plate and said wheel centering said wheel on said plate when said lug bolt means extend through said angularly spaced elongated lug bolt openings and prior to the installation of said nuts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
211 words
A wheel structure, including: a first vehicle drum mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and provided with a plurality of lug bolt securing means, each including a threaded shaft of one diameter integral with said drum and a separate nut threaded on said shaft, said lug bolt means being disposed radially outwardly from the axis of rotation; a wheel having an outer rim for receipt of a tire thereof and an inner web structure rigid with the rim and provided with a plurality of angularly spaced lug bolt openings respectively receiving said lug bolt means therethrough without substantial angular play and being radially elongated for receiving lug bolt means of at least one other drum and axle assembly in which the lug bolt means thereof are at a different radial distance from such axis of rotation than said first assembly; a locator plate positioned between said drum and said wheel, first cooperating means on said plate and said drum centering said plate on said drum relative to said drum axis of rotation, and second cooperating means on said plate and said wheel centering said wheel on said plate when said lug bolt means extend through said angularly spaced elongated lug bolt openings and prior to the installation of said nuts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A wheel structure as set forth in claim 7 in which said first cooperating means includes a central opening in said plate engageable with an axial portion of said drum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A wheel structure as set forth in claim 7 in which said first cooperating means includes a set of lug openings respectively receiving with a close fit and being of substantially the same diameter as said lug shafts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A wheel structure as set forth in claim 7 in which said plate and said wheel have confronting surfaces, said second cooperating means including means extending from one of said surfaces and complementary receiving means on the other of said surfaces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A wheel structure as set forth in claim 7 in which said plate has a set of lug openings receiving with a close fit and being of substantially the same diameter as said lug shafts and further having a different set of lug openings thereabout for respectively receiving without play the shafts of the lug bolts provided by a different vehicle drum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-14 | 1975-09-13 | 1976-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-14 | 1979-09-13 | 1980-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-14 | 1983-09-13 | 1984-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |