Method and apparatus for protecting brake assembly and reducing aerodynamic drag produced by rotating wheels

A combination wheel and wheel insert comprising;

• a wheel having tire engaging portion, an axle engaging portion having a plurality of lug receiving openings, and a connecting portion extending between the tire engaging portion and the axle engaging portion, the connecting portion having a front connecting portion side and a rear connecting portion side;
• the connecting portion having a plurality of connecting portion apertures extending from the front connecting portion side through to the rear connecting portion side, the connecting portion apertures having a connecting portion edge having a connecting portion edge surface between the front connecting portion side and the rear connecting portion side;
• and
• a plurality of wheel inserts for insertion into the plurality of connecting portion apertures in the connecting portion of the wheel, each wheel insert comprising;
• a front wheel insert side, a rear wheel insert side and a wheel insert edge disposed between the front wheel insert side and the rear wheel insert side, the wheel insert edge having a wheel insert edge surface between the front wheel insert side and the rear wheel insert side;
• the front wheel insert side having a front wheel insert surface area;
• the rear wheel insert side having a rear wheel insert surface area;
• the front wheel insert surface area is different than the rear wheel insert surface area;
• a plurality of wheel insert apertures extending through the wheel insert edge;
• the wheel insert apertures being adapted to receive fasteners, wherein
• each wheel insert fits into a connecting portion aperture with the concave curved wheel insert edge surface engaging the convex curved connecting portion edge surface of the connecting portion aperture therearound, the wheel insert and a front surface of the connecting portion of the wheel are aligned horizontally at a junction thereof, the fasteners extending through the apertures in the wheel insert, the edge of the wheel insert and extend into reciprocating orifices in the connecting portion apertures in the wheel to secure the wheel insert into the connecting portion aperture of the wheel.

A wheel insert for insertion into an aperture in a wheel comprising;

• a front side, a rear side and an edge disposed between the front side and the rear side, the edge having an edge surface between the front side and the rear side;
• the front side having a front surface area;
• the rear side having a rear surface area;
• the front surface area is different than the rear surface area;
• a plurality of apertures extending through the edge;
• the apertures being adapted to receive fasteners, wherein
• the wheel insert fits into the aperture in the wheel with the curved edge surface engaging the aperture therearound, the wheel insert and a front surface of the wheel are aligned horizontally at a junction thereof, the fasteners extending through the apertures in the wheel insert, the edge of the wheel insert and extend into a reciprocating orifice in the wheel to secure the wheel insert into the aperture of the wheel.

A method for reducing aerodynamic drag produced by a wheel, the wheel having a tire engaging portion, an axle engaging portion having a plurality of lug receiving openings, and a connecting portion extending between the tire engaging portion and the axle engaging portion, the connecting portion having a front connecting portion side and a rear connecting portion side;

• the connecting portion having a plurality of connecting portion apertures extending from the front connecting portion side through to the rear connecting portion side, each connecting portion aperture having a connecting portion edge having a connecting portion edge surface between the front connecting portion side and the rear connecting portion side, each connecting portion edge surface interacting with air when the wheel is rotated;
• and
• a plurality of wheel inserts for insertion into the plurality of connecting portion apertures in the connecting portion of the wheel to diminish interaction of the connecting portion edge surfaces of the wheel with the air, each wheel insert comprising;
• a front wheel insert side, a rear wheel insert side and a wheel insert edge disposed between the front wheel insert side and the rear wheel insert side, the wheel insert edge having a wheel insert edge surface between the front wheel insert side and the rear wheel insert side;
• the front wheel insert side having a front wheel insert surface area;
• the rear wheel insert side having a rear wheel insert surface area;
• the front wheel insert surface area is different than the rear wheel insert surface area;
• a plurality of wheel insert apertures extending through the wheel insert edge;
• the wheel insert apertures being adapted to receive fasteners, the method comprising;
• cleaning each wheel insert edge surface and each connecting portion aperture edge surface;
• applying a sealant to each wheel insert edge surface and each connecting portion aperture edge surface;
• fitting a wheel insert into a connecting portion aperture such that the wheel insert and a front surface of the connecting portion are aligned parallel at a junction thereof;
• fastening the wheel insert to the connecting portion by inserting the fasteners into the apertures in the wheel insert through the wheel insert edge and into reciprocating orifices of the connecting portion;
• and
• allowing the sealant to set to ensure secure connection of the wheel insert to the connecting portion of the wheel;
• securing the axle engaging portion of the wheel to an axle on a vehicle, wherein as the wheel rotates, interaction between the wheel and the air is substantially eliminated reducing aerodynamic drag produced by the wheel.