US 2012/0074764 A1 · FABRICATED VEHICLE WHEEL AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME

Abstract

This invention relates to a fabricated vehicle wheel and method for producing the same. The wheel includes a rim and a disc secured to the rim. The disc includes a plurality of outwardly extending spokes, an outer rim connecting flange defining a side edge surface and a window formed therein between adjacent pairs of spokes and having a predetermined shape defined by the adjacent pairs of spokes and the side edge surface of the rim connecting flange such that each of the windows extends to an outermost periphery of the wheel disc, at least one of the windows includes at least a first window portion and a second window portion, the first window portion being formed by a first piercing operation and the second window portion being formed by a second piercing operation. The method for producing the wheel of operation to produce a first window portion in the disc between a pair of adjacent spokes; (d) subjecting the disc to at least a second window piercing operation to produce a second window portion in the disc, the first window portion and the second window portion cooperating to define a pierced window in the disc having a predetermined shape defined by the adjacent pairs of spokes an outermost periphery of the disc; and (e) securing the disc and the rim together to produce the fabricated vehicle wheel.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A fabricated vehicle wheel comprising:

a wheel rim;
and
a wheel disc secured to said wheel rim, said wheel disc defining an axis including a wheel mounting surface, a plurality of outwardly extending spokes, an outer rim connecting flange defining a side edge surface, and a window formed therein between adjacent pairs of said spokes and having a predetermined shape defined by said adjacent pairs of said spokes and said side edge surface of said rim connecting flange such that each of said windows extends to an outermost periphery of said wheel disc;
wherein at least one of said windows includes at least a first window portion and a second window portion, said first window portion being formed by a first piercing operation and said second window portion being formed by a second piercing operation.

1 more element

A method for producing a fabricated vehicle wheel comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a wheel rim;
(b) providing a wheel disc defining an axis and having a wheel mounting surface, a plurality of outwardly extending spokes and an outer rim connecting flange defining a side edge surface;
(c) subjecting the wheel disc to at least a first window piercing operation to produce a first window portion in the wheel disc between a pair of adjacent spokes;
(d) subjecting the wheel disc to at least a second window piercing operation to produce a second window portion in the wheel disc, the first window portion and the second window portion cooperating to define a pierced window in the wheel disc having a predetermined shape defined by the adjacent pairs of spokes and the side edge surface of the rim connecting flange such that each of the pierced windows extends to an outermost periphery of the wheel disc;
and
(e) securing the wheel disc and the wheel rim together to produce the fabricated vehicle wheel.

3 more elements

A method for producing a fabricated wheel disc comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a wheel disc defining an axis and having a wheel mounting surface, a plurality of outwardly extending spokes and an outer rim connecting flange defining a side edge surface;
(b) subjecting the wheel disc to at least a first window piercing operation to produce a first window portion in the wheel disc between a pair of adjacent spokes;
and
(c) subjecting the wheel disc to at least a second window piercing operation to produce a second window portion in the wheel disc, the first window portion and the second window portion cooperating to define a pierce window in the wheel disc having a predetermined shape defined by the adjacent pairs of spokes and the side edge surface of the rim connecting flange such that each of the pierced windows extends to an outermost periphery of the wheel disc.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fabricated vehicle wheel and method for producing same

Life of this patent

Fabricated vehicle wheel and method for producing same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34