# US 11,440,344 B2 · Wheel locking device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,344 B2 - Document ID: US11440344B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/608,262 - Filed: 2021-06-14 - Published: 2022-05-12 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-12 - Assignees: Rimgard Sweden AB - Applicants: Rimgard Sweden AB - Inventors: Lars Ivarsson; Marcus Ekström - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440344B2 ## CPC - B60B 7/16: Anti-theft devices - B60B 3/142: {by central locking nut} - B60B 3/165: {with locking devices for the fixing means, e.g. screw or nut covers} - B60B 7/0013: {Hub caps} - B60B 7/066: {to the hub} - B60B 2900/3318: by theft prevention - F16B 41/005: {Measures against unauthorised operation of bolts, nuts or pins (F16B23/0007, F16B23/0061, F16B23/0069, F16B23/0076 and F16B31/02 take precedence; locks, keys E05B; for valves, taps or cocks F16K35/00; for pipe-joints with swivel-nuts F16L19/005)} - 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 - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract A locking device for locking a wheel of a vehicle is provided, where the device comprising a main module adapted to be attached to a rim of the wheel and configured to cover nuts or bolts that attach the wheel to the vehicle, a tubular center bolt having a threated outer surface and configured to adapt a lock cylinder, the tubular center bolt being further adapted to be connected to the main module via an insert sleeve; and at least one threaded element permanently assembled within a center bore or behind the rim; wherein the tubular center bolt is configured to be threadedly attached to the at least one threaded element to attach the locking device onto the wheel, and wherein the lock cylinder is configured to be arranged in a locking state within the center bolt in which the center bolt is prevented from rotating relative to the main module and the at least one threaded element, and in an open state in which the lock cylinder allows the center bolt to rotate relative to the main module and the at least one threaded element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A locking device for locking a wheel of a vehicle, the device comprising: a main module adapted to be attached to a rim of the wheel and configured to cover nuts or bolts that attach the wheel to the vehicle; a tubular center bolt having a threaded outer surface and configured to adapt a lock cylinder, the tubular center bolt being further adapted to be connected to the main module via an insert sleeve; and at least one threaded element permanently assembled within a center bore or behind the rim; wherein the tubular center bolt is configured to be threadedly attached to the at least one threaded element to attach the locking device onto the wheel, and wherein the lock cylinder is configured to be arranged in a locking state within the center bolt in which the center bolt is prevented from rotating relative to the main module and the at least one threaded element, and in an open state in which the lock cylinder allows the center bolt to rotate relative to the main module and the at least one threaded element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the insert sleeve has a pattern on an outer surface and the main module has a matching pattern on an inner surface of a center hole of the main module, and the matching patterns are configured to prevent the insert sleeve to turn inside the main module when the patterns are mated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one threaded element permanently assembled within the center bore or behind the rim is a threaded joint element consisting of an inner ring and an outer ring configured to be attached together within the center bore of the rim, wherein the inner ring has a threaded inner surface onto which the center bolt is threadedly attached. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the outer ring has a non-circular geometrical pattern on an inner surface, and the inner ring has a matching non-circular geometrical pattern on an outer surface, and the non-circular geometrical patterns match such as to connect the rings together to form the joint element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the main module has a non-circular geometrical pattern on a bottom surface around the center hole and the non-circular geometrical pattern on the bottom surface matches the non-circular geometrical pattern of the inner surface of the outer ring, whereby the main module can be attached to the joint element by pressing the matching geometrical patterns together. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the inner ring is of metal and the outer ring is magnetized material and the rings are attached together magnetically. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one threaded element permanently assembled within a center bore or behind the rim is an integrated joint element being a threaded assembly in a wheel bore and the center bolt being adapted to threadedly connect to the integrated joint element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the integrated joint has a non-circular geometric pattern, preferably a pentagonal or hexagonal pattern, which pattern is recessed into a center part of the wheel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the main module has a non-circular geometrical pattern on a bottom surface around the center hole and the non-circular geometrical pattern on the bottom matches the non-circular geometric pattern of the integrated joint element, whereby the main module can be attached to the integrated joint element by pressing the matching geometrical patterns together. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one threaded element permanently assembled within a center bore or behind the rim is a shaft connector having a threaded inner surface, the threaded inner surface being adapted to be partially threaded on a shaft nut of a car and to threadedly connect the center bolt via the threaded outer surface of the center bolt to the shaft connector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method to attach a wheel locking device of claim 1, wherein the center bolt is threadedly attached to at least one threaded element permanently assembled within the center bore or behind a wheel rim, and wherein the threaded element is selected from a joint element having an inner and an outer ring assembled into a center bore, an integrated joint element manufactured into a center part of the rim, and a shaft connector threadedly attached to a shaft nut of the wheel.