# US 10,308,066 B2 · Space-saving spare wheel assembly having ergonomic handles for use with a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,066 B2 - Document ID: US10308066B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/276,956 - Filed: 2016-09-27 - Published: 2018-03-29 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-27 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Leonard Gus Prezecki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308066B2 ## CPC - B60B 3/007: {in the intermediate section} - B60B 3/02: with a single disc body integral with rim - B60B 21/00: Rims (non-metallic B60B5/00; of high resiliency B60B9/00; capable of carrying more than one tyre B60B11/04; multiple rims on a single wheel body B60B11/06; of multi-part type B60B25/00; metal tyres B60C) - B60B 29/00: Apparatus or tools for mounting or dismounting wheels {(mounting of wheels at assembly lines B62D65/12)} - B60B 30/08: the central part of the wheel body - B60B 2900/114: Size - B60B 2900/531: User-friendliness - B60B 2900/541: Servicing - B60B 2900/731: Use in cases of damage, failure or emergency - B62D 43/10: and arranged substantially horizontally - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A spare wheel assembly comprising a tire and a rim to which the tire is attached is disclosed. The rim includes a center mounting plate having a center bore, inner and outer opposed flanges, and a disk between the center bore and the flanges. The disk includes a pair of elongated, curved slots formed on opposite sides of the center bore. Each of the slots is an ergonomically-formed hand hold for receiving fingers of an operator's hand. The inner and outer opposed flanges of the rim define perimeters of the rim between which the tire is held. The curved slots are concentric with respect to the perimeter of the outer flange and with respect to the center bore. A centerline is formed radially through the assembly. The disk is positioned on one side of the centerline and the mounting plate is positioned on the other side of the centerline. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spare wheel assembly for use with a vehicle, the assembly comprising: a tire; and a rim to which said tire is attached, said rim including a center mounting plate having a center bore, inner and outer opposed flanges, and a disk positioned between said center mounting plate and said flanges, said disk having a pair of elongated slots formed on opposite sides of said center bore, each of said slots being a hand hold for receiving fingers of a hand, said disk having an arcuate projection extending inwardly at each of said elongated slots toward said center mounting plate, said disk including a conical area extending between each of said elongated slots and said center mounting plate, and wherein said rim is integrally formed as a single piece unitary structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spare wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said elongated slots is curved. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The spare wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein said flanges define perimeters of said rim between which said tire is held. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The spare wheel assembly of claim 3 wherein said elongated slots are formed adjacent said outer flange. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The spare wheel assembly of claim 4 wherein said elongated slots are curved and equally spaced apart from rim. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The spare wheel assembly of claim 1 further including a centerline formed radially through said tire and said rim, said disk being partially on one side of said centerline and said center mounting plate being on the other side of said centerline. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The spare wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein said elongated slots are equally spaced apart from said center bore. ### Claim 8 A spare wheel assembly comprising: a tire; a rim to which said tire is attached, said rim having a center mounting plate, inner and outer opposed flanges, and a disk positioned between said center mounting plate and said flanges, said disk having a pair of opposed elongated slots, each elongated slot being suitable for a hand to grasp, said disk having an arcuate projection extending inwardly at each of said elongated slots toward said center mounting plate, said disk including a conical area extending between each of said elongated slots and said center mounting plate; and a centerline formed radially through said tire and said rim, said disk being partially on one side of said centerline and said plate being on the other side of said centerline, and wherein said rim is integrally formed as a single piece unitary structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The spare wheel assembly of claim 8 wherein each of said elongated slots is curved. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The spare wheel assembly of claim 8 wherein said flanges define perimeters of said rim between which said tire is held. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The spare wheel assembly of claim 10 wherein said elongated slots are formed adjacent said outer flange. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The spare wheel assembly of claim 11 wherein said elongated slots are equally spaced apart from rim. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The spare wheel assembly of claim 8 wherein said center mounting plate includes a center bore and wherein said elongated slots are equally spaced apart from said center bore. ### Claim 14 A spare wheel assembly comprising: a tire; and a rim to which said tire is attached, said rim having a center bore formed in a center mounting plate, inner and outer opposed flanges, and a disk positioned between said center mounting plate and said flanges, said disk having a pair of curved slots formed on opposite sides of said center bore, each of said curved slots being a hand hold for receiving a hand, said disk having an arcuate projection extending inwardly at each of said curved slots toward said center mounting plate, said curved slots being equally spaced apart from said center bore, said disk including a conical area extending between each of said curved slots and said center mounting plate, and wherein said rim is integrally formed as a single piece unitary structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The spare wheel assembly of claim 14 wherein each of said curved slots is elongated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The spare wheel assembly of claim 14 wherein said flanges define perimeters of said rim between which said tire is held. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The spare wheel assembly of claim 16 wherein said curved slots are formed adjacent said outer flange. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The spare wheel assembly of claim 17 wherein said slots are equally spaced apart from said rim. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The spare wheel assembly of claim 14 further including a centerline formed radially through said tire and said rim, said disk being partially on one side of said centerline and said center mounting plate being on the other side of said centerline. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The spare wheel assembly of claim 14 wherein said center mounting plate includes a plurality of lug bolt holes formed therein.