Wheel adaptation means

Claim 2

A wheel structure comprising a centrally located wheel mounting portion having a central axis for supporting a tire thereabout, said mounting portion having tapered surfaces defining tapered apertures each of which is sized to accommodate one of a plurality of lug bolts circularly arranged in bolt circles of different radii, tapered insert means insertable in that end of each said aperture which is located on the inside of said wheel and which is tapered to receive said tapered insert means so that the tapered surfaces of said tapered insert means may slidingly wedge against said tapered surfaces of said wheel mounting portion defining said apertures so that said tapered surfaces of said tapered insert means and said tapered surfaces defining said apertures are substantially parallel to each other when said tapered insert means are wedged into said apertures, each said tapered insert means defining a hole through which one of such lug bolts may extend, cooperating means between said tapered insert means and said tapered apertures whereby each said insert means may have its hole oriented different radial distances from said central axis.

Claim 3

A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which said tapered insert is an element with a non-centrally located hole therein for accommodating said bolt lug.

Claim 4

A vehicle wheel assembly which is adaptable to wheel mounting bolt patterns of different radii, comprising: a wheel having a central hub portion defining a plurality of radially spaced apertures sized to accommodate mounting bolts disposed in circular patterns of different radii, the surfaces of said central hub portion defining said apertures being tapered a substantial portion of their length and at an angle with respect to the axis of said wheel apertures to define tapered wedging surfaces for each said aperture adjacent one side of said wheel; and apertured inserts having a cross-sectional shape substantially conforming to that of said wheel apertures and sized to be received by said wheel apertures and tapered substantially uniformly end to end to be wedged against said tapered wedging surfaces of said wheel apertures, each said insert defining a hole sized to slidably receive a mounting bolt, the tapered surfaces of said tapered inserts and said tapered wedging surfaces of said wheel apertures (a) being substantially parallel to each other when said tapered inserts are wedged in said wheel apertures to tighten said wheel onto said mounting bolts when nuts are threaded thereon and (b) being configured relative to each other and to said holes in said inserts so that said holes may be positioned different radial distances from said central axis when said inserts are located in different positions in said wheel apertures.

Claim 5

A vehicle wheel assembly which is adaptable to wheel mounting bolt patterns of different radii, comprising: a wheel having a central hub portion defining a plurality of radially spaced apertures sized to accommodate mounting bolts disposed in circular patterns of different radii, the surfaces of said central hub portion defining said apertures being tapered a substantial portion of their length and at an angle with respect to the axis of said wheel apertures to define tapered wedging surfaces for each said aperture adjacent one side of said wheel; and apertured inserts having a cross-sectional shape substantially conforming to that of said wheel apertures and sized to be received by said wheel apertures and tapered substantially uniformly end to end to be wedged against said tapered wedging surfaces of said wheel apertures, each said insert defining a hole sized to slidably receive a mounting bolt, the tapered surfaces of said tapered inserts and said tapered wedging surfaces of said wheel apertures (a) being substantially parallel to each other when said tapered inserts are wedged in said wheel apertures to tighten said wheel onto said mounting bolts when nuts are threaded thereon and (b) being configured relative to each other and to said holes in said inserts so that said holes may be positioned different radial distances from said central axis when said inserts are located in different positions in said wheel apertures.

Claim 6

The wheel assembly of claim 3 wherein said hole in each said tapered insert is eccentrically positioned with respect to the center of said insert, whereby turning said insert within said wheel aperture accommodates said wheel to bolt patterns of different radii.

Claim 7

The wheel assembly of claim 3 in which said tapered portions of said surfaces defining said wheel apertures are adjacent the inner side of said wheel to define tapered inner end sections for each said wheel aperture.

Claim 8

The wheel assembly of claim 5 which includes means engageable with the outer side of said wheel, said means being apertured to slidably receive said mounting bolts.

Claim 9

The wheel assembly of claim 6 wherein said means are washers and wherein said outer side of said wheel is recessed about said wheel apertures to receive said washers.

Claim 10

The wheel structure of claim 3 wherein each said tapered insert is tapered along its entire length.

Claim 11

The wheel structure of claim 3 wherein said tapered inserts are completely insertable in said apertures.