US4214792A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wheel adapter
Assignee: ROCKY JORDACHE ORLANDO FL
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Filing: 1978-07-10
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Granted: 1980-07-29
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Expires: 1998-07-10
Abstract
Abstract A wheel adapter is provided which enables dual or tandem wheels to be attached to the hub of a vehicle axle which has been designed for a single wheel. The wheel adapter includes an elongated housing having an annular mounting flange at one end and a plurality of axially aligned, circumferentially spaced tubular members at its other end which register with the outwardly protruding studs from the wheel hub. A plurality of nut members threadably engage the studs on the wheel hub to secure one wheel rim to the hub. The other end of each nut member is cylindrical and extends into one of the tubular members while cooperating conical surfaces on the nut member and one end of the tubular members abut together. A bolt extends through the other end of each tubular member and threadably engages a bore in the cylindrical end of the nut member. The bolt and the other end of the tubular member further include cooperating conical surfaces so that upon tightening of the bolt, the cooperating conical surfaces automatically coaxially align the adapter housing with the wheel hub and also rigidly secure the adapter housing onto the wheel hub via the nut members. A second wheel rim is secured in a conventional fashion to an annular mounting flange at the other end of the adapter housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Hardwicke
- 👤 John H. Ansteth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:52
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B3/00; B60B3/14; B60B11/00; B60B11/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
344 words
For use in combination with a vehicle having an axle with a hub at at least one axial end, said hub having an axis of rotation, said hub having a plurality of axially outwardly extending circumferentially spaced threaded studs for attaching a wheel to the hub, a wheel adapter for securing two substantially identical wheel rims to one hub, each wheel rim having a plurality of mounting holes formed therethrough and which register with the threaded studs, said adapter comprising: an elongated housing; first means for securing one wheel rim onto the outwardly extending threaded studs, said first means including means for coaxially aligning said wheel rim with the axis of rotation of said hub; second means for securing one axial end of said housing to said first means, said second means including means for coaxially aligning said housing with the axis of rotation of said hub; third means for securing a second wheel rim to the other axial end of said elongated housing, said third means including means for coaxially aligning said second wheel rim with the axis of rotation of said hub, said first wheel rim being positioned over said outwardly extending studs and said first means further comprising a plurality of nuts, each nut being adapted to threadably engage one of said threaded studs to thereby secure said first wheel rim to said hub, each nut having a tapered nose which cooperates with a like tapered surface formed around each mounting hole of the wheel rim to thereby coaxially align said first wheel rim with said hub axis upon tightening of said nuts, each of said nuts including an outwardly extending cylindrical portion which is axially slidably received within a first end of a tubular member secured to the first mentioned axial end of said housing, and said second means comprising a plurality of bolts, each bolt being insertable through a second end of each tubular member, each of said bolts threadably engaging a threaded bore in the cylindrical portion of each nut to thereby secure said housing to said nut.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
344 words
For use in combination with a vehicle having an axle with a hub at at least one axial end, said hub having an axis of rotation, said hub having a plurality of axially outwardly extending circumferentially spaced threaded studs for attaching a wheel to the hub, a wheel adapter for securing two substantially identical wheel rims to one hub, each wheel rim having a plurality of mounting holes formed therethrough and which register with the threaded studs, said adapter comprising: an elongated housing; first means for securing one wheel rim onto the outwardly extending threaded studs, said first means including means for coaxially aligning said wheel rim with the axis of rotation of said hub; second means for securing one axial end of said housing to said first means, said second means including means for coaxially aligning said housing with the axis of rotation of said hub; third means for securing a second wheel rim to the other axial end of said elongated housing, said third means including means for coaxially aligning said second wheel rim with the axis of rotation of said hub, said first wheel rim being positioned over said outwardly extending studs and said first means further comprising a plurality of nuts, each nut being adapted to threadably engage one of said threaded studs to thereby secure said first wheel rim to said hub, each nut having a tapered nose which cooperates with a like tapered surface formed around each mounting hole of the wheel rim to thereby coaxially align said first wheel rim with said hub axis upon tightening of said nuts, each of said nuts including an outwardly extending cylindrical portion which is axially slidably received within a first end of a tubular member secured to the first mentioned axial end of said housing, and said second means comprising a plurality of bolts, each bolt being insertable through a second end of each tubular member, each of said bolts threadably engaging a threaded bore in the cylindrical portion of each nut to thereby secure said housing to said nut.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein each nut includes an axially aligned conical surface which abuts against a like formed conical surface at the first end of the tubular member and wherein said bolt includes an axially aligned conical surface which abuts against a like formed surface at the second end of the tubular member so that upon tightening of said bolts, the coaction between the conical surfaces automatically axially aligns said housing with said wheel hub axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said wheel adapter further comprises an annular flange secured to the second mentioned end of said housing, a plurality of circumferentially spaced and axially outwardly extending studs secured to said flange so that said studs register with the mounting holes in the second wheel rim, and wherein said third means comprises a plurality of nut members, each nut member threadably engaging one of said last mentioned outwardly extending threaded studs to thereby secure said second wheel rim onto said annular flange.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The invention as defined in claim 3, and including a V-shaped notch in said annular flange between each adjacent pair of said last mentioned threaded studs, each of said V-shaped notches being in axial alignment with said first and second means to thereby provide axial access to said first and second means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing is tubular and cylindrical in shape and wherein said tubular members are secured to the outer periphery of said housing adjacent the first mentioned end of said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said tubular members are welded to the outer periphery of said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
263 words
For use in conjunction with a vehicle having an axle with a hub at at least one axial end, said hub having a plurality of axially outwardly extending circumferentially spaced threaded studs for attaching a wheel to the hub, a wheel adapter for securing a first and second substantially identical wheel rim to one hub, each wheel rim having a plurality of mounting holes formed therethrough and having the same spacing as the threaded studs, said adapter comprising: an elongated housing; nut members for threadably engaging said studs to thereby secure said first wheel rim onto the hub, said first wheel rim being positioned between said nut members and said hub, said nut members having a conically tapered portion on their outwardly extending end; said housing having a plurality of tubular members longitudinally secured to said housing and adjacent one end thereof, said tubular members being circumferentially spaced so that a first end of each tubular member registers with the outwardly extending end of one nut member, said first end of each of said tubular portions having a conically tapered surface which mates with the conically tapered portion on said nut member; bolt members for securing said housing to said nut members, each bolt member extending through a second end of one tubular member and threadably engaging an internally threaded bore in the nut member, each bolt member having a conically tapered portion which abuts against a like tapered portion at the second end of the tubular member; and means for attaching the other wheel rim to the other end of the housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
263 words
For use in conjunction with a vehicle having an axle with a hub at at least one axial end, said hub having a plurality of axially outwardly extending circumferentially spaced threaded studs for attaching a wheel to the hub, a wheel adapter for securing a first and second substantially identical wheel rim to one hub, each wheel rim having a plurality of mounting holes formed therethrough and having the same spacing as the threaded studs, said adapter comprising: an elongated housing; nut members for threadably engaging said studs to thereby secure said first wheel rim onto the hub, said first wheel rim being positioned between said nut members and said hub, said nut members having a conically tapered portion on their outwardly extending end; said housing having a plurality of tubular members longitudinally secured to said housing and adjacent one end thereof, said tubular members being circumferentially spaced so that a first end of each tubular member registers with the outwardly extending end of one nut member, said first end of each of said tubular portions having a conically tapered surface which mates with the conically tapered portion on said nut member; bolt members for securing said housing to said nut members, each bolt member extending through a second end of one tubular member and threadably engaging an internally threaded bore in the nut member, each bolt member having a conically tapered portion which abuts against a like tapered portion at the second end of the tubular member; and means for attaching the other wheel rim to the other end of the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
236 words
For use in combination with a vehicle having an axle with a hub at at least one axial end, said hub having an axis of rotation, said hub having a plurality of axially outwardly extending circumferentially spaced threaded studs for attaching a wheel to the hub, a wheel adapter for securing two substantially identical wheel rims to one hub, each wheel rim having a plurality of mounting holes formed therethrough and which register with the threaded studs, said wheel adapter comprising: an elongated housing having a first axial end and a second axial end, said housing having a plurality of tubular members at said first axial end; a plurality of nuts, each nut being adapted to threadably engage one of said threaded studs to thereby secure said first wheel rim to said hub, each nut including an outwardly extending cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion being axially, slidably receivable in a first end of one of said plurality of tubular members; a plurality of bolts, each bolt being insertable through a second end of each tubular member, each of said bolts threadably engaging a threaded bore in said cylindrical bore of each nut to thereby secure said housing to said nut; and means for securing a second wheel rim to said second axial end of said housing, said securing means including means for coaxially aligning said second wheel rim with the axis of rotation of said hub.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
236 words
For use in combination with a vehicle having an axle with a hub at at least one axial end, said hub having an axis of rotation, said hub having a plurality of axially outwardly extending circumferentially spaced threaded studs for attaching a wheel to the hub, a wheel adapter for securing two substantially identical wheel rims to one hub, each wheel rim having a plurality of mounting holes formed therethrough and which register with the threaded studs, said wheel adapter comprising: an elongated housing having a first axial end and a second axial end, said housing having a plurality of tubular members at said first axial end; a plurality of nuts, each nut being adapted to threadably engage one of said threaded studs to thereby secure said first wheel rim to said hub, each nut including an outwardly extending cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion being axially, slidably receivable in a first end of one of said plurality of tubular members; a plurality of bolts, each bolt being insertable through a second end of each tubular member, each of said bolts threadably engaging a threaded bore in said cylindrical bore of each nut to thereby secure said housing to said nut; and means for securing a second wheel rim to said second axial end of said housing, said securing means including means for coaxially aligning said second wheel rim with the axis of rotation of said hub.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
305 words
For use in combination with a vehicle having an axle with a hub at at least one axial end, said hub having an axis of rotation, said hub having a plurality of axially outwardly extending circumferentially spaced threaded studs for attaching a wheel to the hub, a wheel adapter for securing two substantially identical wheel rims to one hub, each wheel rim having a plurality of mounting holes formed therethrough and which register with the threaded studs, said adapter comprising: an elongated housing; first means for securing one wheel rim onto the outwardly extending threaded studs, said first means including means for coaxially aligning said wheel rim with the axis of rotation of said hub; second means for securing one axial end of said housing to said first means, said second means including means for coaxially aligning said housing with the axis of rotation of said hub; third means for securing a second wheel rim to the other axial end of said elongated housing, said third means including means for coaxially aligning said second wheel rim with the axis of rotation of said hub, said wheel adapter further comprising an annular flange secured to the second mentioned end of said housing, a plurality of circumferentially spaced and axially outwardly extending studs secured to said flange so that said studs register with the mounting holes in the second wheel rim, said third means comprising a plurality of nuts, each nut threadably engaging one of said last mentioned outwardly extending threaded studs to thereby secure said second wheel rim onto said annular flange, and said annular flange having a V-shaped notch between each adjacent pair of said last mentioned threaded studs, each of said V-shaped notches being in axial alignment with said first and second means to thereby provide axial access to said first and second means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
305 words
For use in combination with a vehicle having an axle with a hub at at least one axial end, said hub having an axis of rotation, said hub having a plurality of axially outwardly extending circumferentially spaced threaded studs for attaching a wheel to the hub, a wheel adapter for securing two substantially identical wheel rims to one hub, each wheel rim having a plurality of mounting holes formed therethrough and which register with the threaded studs, said adapter comprising: an elongated housing; first means for securing one wheel rim onto the outwardly extending threaded studs, said first means including means for coaxially aligning said wheel rim with the axis of rotation of said hub; second means for securing one axial end of said housing to said first means, said second means including means for coaxially aligning said housing with the axis of rotation of said hub; third means for securing a second wheel rim to the other axial end of said elongated housing, said third means including means for coaxially aligning said second wheel rim with the axis of rotation of said hub, said wheel adapter further comprising an annular flange secured to the second mentioned end of said housing, a plurality of circumferentially spaced and axially outwardly extending studs secured to said flange so that said studs register with the mounting holes in the second wheel rim, said third means comprising a plurality of nuts, each nut threadably engaging one of said last mentioned outwardly extending threaded studs to thereby secure said second wheel rim onto said annular flange, and said annular flange having a V-shaped notch between each adjacent pair of said last mentioned threaded studs, each of said V-shaped notches being in axial alignment with said first and second means to thereby provide axial access to said first and second means.
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) | 1983-07-29 | 1984-01-28 | 1984-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-07-29 | 1988-01-28 | 1988-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-07-29 | 1992-01-28 | 1992-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |