IP Library Granted Patent US 7,025,427
Granted Patent B2
US 7,025,427 · App. 10/687,144 · Granted Apr 11, 2006

Wheel arrangement

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,025,427
App. No.
10/687,144
Granted
Apr 11, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wheel arrangement is provided which has reinforcing rings adjacent inboard and outboard tire bead seats. The outboard reinforcement ring has a radial width which is substantially greater than the radial width of the inboard reinforcement ring.

Claims (44)

1. An arrangement of an automotive motor multiple passenger vehicle wheel comprising:

a wheel disc having a central body with a pilot aperture encircled by concentric lug receiving apertures;

a drum having inboard and outboard extreme ends, said drum being fixably connected to said wheel disc;

an outboard tire bead seat along an outer diameter of an outboard extreme end of one of said wheel disc and said drum;

an inboard tire bead seat along an outer diameter of said drum inboard extreme end;

an outboard reinforcement ring having an outer diameter connected to an inner diameter of said outboard tire bead seat; and

an inboard reinforcing ring having an outer diameter connected to an inner diameter of said inboard tire bead seat, said inboard reinforcing ring having an inner diameter significantly larger than an inner diameter of said outboard reinforcement ring and said inboard reinforcement ring having a radial width significantly smaller than a radial width of said outboard reinforcement ring.

2. An arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein said outboard reinforcement ring is welded to said outboard tire seat.

3. An arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein said inboard reinforcement ring is welded to said inboard tire seat.

4. An arrangement of a wheel as described in claim 1 wherein said outboard reinforcement ring is generally continuously welded to said outboard tire bead seat.

5. An arrangement of a wheel as described in claim 1 wherein said inboard reinforcement ring is generally continuously welded to said inboard tire bead seat.

6. An arrangement of a wheel as described in claim 1 wherein said outboard reinforcement ring has apertures to allow for the removal of entrapped moisture.

7. An arrangement of a wheel as described in claim 1 wherein said inboard reinforcement ring has apertures to allow for removal of entrapped moisture between said inboard reinforcement ring and said drum.

8. An arrangement of a wheel as described in claim 1 wherein said outboard reinforcement ring inner diameter is smaller than an outer diameter of said wheel disc.

9. An arrangement of a wheel as described in claim 1 wherein said wheel disc has spoke holes and wherein said spoke holes have an outer diameter and wherein said outboard reinforcement ring inner diameter is smaller than said spoke holes' outer diameter.

10. An arrangement of a wheel as described in claim 1 wherein said inboard reinforcement ring inner diameter is larger than said an outer diameter of said wheel disc.

11. An arrangement of a wheel as described in claim 1 wherein said outboard reinforcement ring and said inboard reinforcement ring have a generally equal outer diameters.

12. A wheel arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein said wheel drum is welded to said wheel disc.

13. A wheel arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein said drum is intergrally cast with said wheel disc.

14. An arrangement of a wheel as described in claim 1 wherein a ratio of radial width of said inboard reinforcement ring to said outboard reinforcement ring is generally equal to one half or less.

15. An arrangement of a wheel as described in claim 1 wherein an outboard extreme end of said drum is connected with said wheel disc and a portion of said wheel disc forms said outboard tire bead seat.

16. An arrangement of a wheel as described in claim 1 wherein a ratio of thickness between said outboard reinforcement ring to a thickness of said drum is between 1:1.5 to 1:0.75.

17. A wheel arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein said outboard tire bead seat has a radially inward extending flange portion to support said outboard reinforcement ring.

18. An arrangement of a wheel as described in claim 1 wherein said inboard reinforcement ring is fastener connected to said drum.

19. An arrangement of a wheel as described in claim 18 wherein said fastener is a bolt.

20. An arrangement of an automotive motor multiple passenger vehicle wheel comprising:

a wheel disc having a central body with a pilot aperture encircled by concentric lug receiving apertures;

a drum having inboard and outboard extreme ends, said drum being fixably connected to said wheel disc;

an outboard tire bead seat along an outer diameter of an outboard extreme end of one of said wheel disc and said drum;

an inboard tire bead seat along an outer diameter of said drum inboard extreme end;

an outboard reinforcement ring fastener connected to an inner diameter of said outboard tire bead seat; and

an inboard reinforcing ring connected to an inner diameter of said inboard tire bead seat, said inboard reinforcing ring having an inner diameter significantly larger than an inner diameter of said outboard reinforcement ring and said inboard reinforcement ring having a radial width significantly smaller than a radial width of said outboard reinforcement ring.

21. An arrangement of a wheel as described in claim 20 wherein said fasteners are bolts.

22. An arrangement of a wheel as described in claim 20 wherein said fasteners are connected to an outer radial half of said outboard reinforcement ring to said outboard tire bead seat.

23. An arrangement of an automotive motor multiple passenger vehicle wheel comprising:

a wheel disc having a central body with a pilot aperture encircled by concentric lug receiving apertures, said wheel disc further having an outer diameter surface;

a drum having inboard and outboard extreme ends, said drum having along an outer diameter surface tire bead seats along inboard and outboard extreme ends, said drum being fixably connected to said wheel disc outer diameter surface along an inner diameter surface of said drum between said inboard and outboard extreme ends of said drum;

an outboard reinforcement ring having an outer diameter welded to said inner diameter surface of said drum adjacent said outboard extreme end of said drum; said outboard reinforcement ring having an inner diameter less than an outer diameter of said wheel disc; and

an inboard reinforcing ring having an inner diameter welded to said inner diameter surface of said drum adjacent said drum extreme inboard end, said inboard reinforcing ring having an inner diameter significantly larger than said outboard reinforcement ring inner diameter and said outboard reinforcement ring having a radial width significantly smaller than a radial width of said outboard reinforcement ring.

24. An arrangement of an automotive multiple passenger vehicle wheel comprising:

a wheel disc having a central body with a central pilot aperture, said pilot aperture being encircled by concentric lug receiving apertures, said wheel disc having an outer diameter surface and said wheel disc having spoke holes with an outer diameter surface;

a drum with inboard and outboard extreme ends, said drum having an outer diameter surface with tire bead seats along said drum extreme inboard and outboard ends said drum being weldably connected to said wheel disc outer diameter surface between said drum inboard and outboard extreme ends;

an outboard reinforcement ring having an outer diameter generally continuously welded to said inner diameter surface of said drum adjacent to said extreme outboard end of said drum, said wheel reinforcement ring having an inner diameter less than said outer diameter of said wheel disc spoke holes, said outboard reinforcement ring having apertures to allow for the removal of entrapped moisture between said outboard reinforcement ring and said drum; and

an inboard reinforcement ring having an outer diameter generally continuously welded to said inner diameter surface of said drum adjacent to said drum extreme inboard end, said inboard reinforcement ring having an outer diameter generally equal to an outer diameter of said outboard reinforcement ring and said inboard reinforcement ring having an inner diameter significantly larger than said outboard reinforcement ring inner diameter and wherein said inboard reinforcement ring inner diameter has a diameter greater than an outer diameter of said wheel disc and said outboard reinforcement ring having a radial width less than one-half of a radial width of the said outboard reinforcement ring.

Assignments (27)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS RECORDED AT 045889/0319 Recorded May 20, 2021
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WHEEL PROS, LLC; TGC COMPONENTS LLC
Reel/Frame 056297/0952 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL AT REEL/FRAME NO. 45858/0703 Recorded May 12, 2021
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP
To: WHEEL PROS, LLC
Reel/Frame 056225/0378 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL AT REEL/FRAME NO. 45835/0981 Recorded Feb 18, 2021
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP
To: WHEEL PROS, LLC
Reel/Frame 055339/0759 →
RELEASE PATENT SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME NO. 33265/0150 Recorded Apr 11, 2018
From: CIT FINANCE LLC, AS AGENT
To: WHEEL PROS, LLC
Reel/Frame 045913/0313 →
RELEASE PATENT SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME NO. 34468/0947 Recorded Apr 11, 2018
From: AEA MEZZANINE FUND III LP, AS AGENT
To: WHEEL PROS, LLC
Reel/Frame 045913/0763 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2018
From: TGC COMPONENTS LLC; WHEEL PROS, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 045889/0319 →
GRANT OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Apr 5, 2018
From: WHEEL PROS, LLC
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP
Reel/Frame 045835/0981 →
GRANT OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Apr 4, 2018
From: WHEEL PROS, LLC
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP
Reel/Frame 045858/0703 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 24, 2014
From: WHEEL PROS, LLC
To: AEA MEZZANINE FUND III LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 034468/0947 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2014
From: CHASE CAPITAL CORPORATION
To: WHEEL PROS, LLC
Reel/Frame 033297/0020 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2014
From: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WHEEL PROS, LLC
Reel/Frame 033298/0488 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2014
From: WHEEL PROS, LLC
To: CIT FINANCE LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 033265/0150 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 21, 2013
From: WHEEL PROS, INC.
To: WHEEL PROS LLC
Reel/Frame 029854/0152 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 21, 2013
From: KMC AQUISITION CORP
To: WHEEL PROS INC.
Reel/Frame 029852/0804 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 9, 2011
From: WHEEL PROS, LLC
To: CHASE CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 026719/0782 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (FOR LIEN RECORDED OCTOBER 10, 2008 AT REEL 021658 FRAME 0657) Recorded Aug 9, 2011
From: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: WHEEL PROS, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO KMC ACQUISITION, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO KMC ACQUISITION CORP.
Reel/Frame 026719/0334 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (FOR LIEN RECORDED OCTOBER 13, 2008 AT REEL 021669 FRAME 0792) Recorded Aug 9, 2011
From: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: WHEEL PROS, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO KMC ACQUISITION, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO KMC ACQUISITION CORP.
Reel/Frame 026719/0339 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 8, 2011
From: WHEEL PROS, LLC
To: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 026712/0946 →
SECOND LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 13, 2008
From: KMC ACQUISITION CORP.
To: WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, LLC
Reel/Frame 021669/0792 →
FIRST LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 10, 2008
From: KMC ACQUISITION CORP.
To: WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, LLC
Reel/Frame 021658/0657 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 23, 2008
From: WHEEL PROS, INC.
To: WHEEL PROS, LLC
Reel/Frame 021281/0173 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2008
From: ZZYYXX CORP.
To: KMC ACQUISITION CORP.
Reel/Frame 020723/0358 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Mar 3, 2006
From: FITZGERALD, KEVIN R.
To: KMC PODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 017247/0916 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 6, 2005
From: KMC PRODUCTS, INC.
To: ZZYYXX CORP.
Reel/Frame 016851/0516 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 5, 2005
From: KMC ACQUISITION CORP.
To: KMC PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 016851/0129 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2005
From: KMC PRODUCTS, INC.
To: KMC ACQUISITION CORP.
Reel/Frame 016621/0698 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 29, 2005
From: FITZGERALD, KEVIN R.
To: KMC WHEEL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 016739/0668 →