Segmented wheel protector
Assignee1Lss, Inc
InventorsFernando Mora, Alejandro Baca, Mydul R. Islam, Kevin H. Vuong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A protector for a wheel is formed from a plurality of segments. Each segment is formed from a synthetic material and has an arcuate distal edge of a first radius, the distal edge forming a lip to engage a distal edge of the wheel. Each segment has at least two spoke adjacent edges and an arcuate proximal edge with a second radius less than the first radius. In some embodiments, the proximal edge defines a hook to engage an inner recess of the wheel. Each spoke adjacent edge is configured to reside near a spoke of the wheel during use. In some embodiments, a protrusion extended from the lip serves as a pinch point when a tire deforms during an impact event.
Claims17
A protector for a wheel comprising:
- a first segment of synthetic material having an arcuate distal edge of a first radius, the distal edge forming a lip to extend beyond a distal edge of the wheel, the first segment having at least two spoke adjacent edges and an extension extending from the lip beyond the distal edge of the wheel and forming a protrusion, the protrusion dimensioned to form a pinch point when the segment is installed and a tire installed on the wheel is compressed;
- and
- a second segment of synthetic material having an arcuate distal edge of the first radius, the distal edge forming a lip to extend beyond the distal edge of the wheel, the second segment having at least two spoke adjacent edges and an extension extending from the lip beyond the distal edge of the wheel and forming a protrusion that forms a pinch point when the segment is installed, and the the tire is compressed;
- wherein, collectively, the arcuate distal edge of the first segment and second segments covers at least one spoke and at least one interspoke section at the distal edge of the wheel during use.
An apparatus comprising:
- a wheel;
- and
- a protector for the wheel including:
- a first segment of synthetic material having an arcuate distal edge of a first radius, the distal edge forming a lip to engage a distal edge of the wheel, the first segment having at least two spoke adjacent edges and an extension extending from the lip beyond the distal edge of the wheel and forming a protrusion, the protrusion dimensioned to form a pinch point when the segment is installed and a tire installed on the wheel is compressed;
- and
- a second segment of synthetic material having an arcuate distal edge of the first radius, the distal edge forming a lip to engage the distal edge of the wheel, the second segment having at least two spoke adjacent edges and an extension extending from the lip beyond the distal edge of the wheel and forming a protrusion that forms a pinch point when the segment is installed, and the tire is compressed;
- wherein, collectively, the arcuate distal edge of the first segment and second segments covers at least one spoke and at least one interspoke section at the distal edge of the wheel during use.
A protector for a wheel comprising:
- a first segment of synthetic material having an arcuate distal edge of a first radius, the first radius equal to or greater than a radius of a distal edge of the wheel, the first segment having at least two spoke adjacent edges, the first segment couplable to a wheel such that the distal edge, when installed covers at least one spoke and at least one interspoke section;
- and
- a second segment of synthetic material having an arcuate distal edge of the first radius, the first radius equal to or greater than a radius of a distal edge of the wheel, the second segment having at least two spoke adjacent edges, the second segment couplable to a wheel such that the distal edge, when installed covers at least one spoke and at least one interspoke section;
- wherein each spoke adjacent edge is configured to reside within 0-7 mm of a spoke of the wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.