Vehicle wheel balance weights
AssigneeHennessy Industries, Inc.
InventorsRalph L. Jenkins, Ross Everhard, Brian W. LaBorde
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle wheel weight for attachment to a wheel rim comprises a mass portion formed of nonlead material and a clip. The clip has an extended portion for engaging the wheel rim and an attachment portion juxtaposed to the mass portion. In addition, an injection molded outer casing surrounds the mass portion. The mass portion and the attachment portion of the clip are embedded in the casing, but the extended portion of the clip extends outwardly from and is external to the casing.
Claims51
A vehicle wheel weight for attachment to a wheel rim, said wheel weight comprising:
- (a) a mass portion formed of nonlead material;
- (b) a clip having an extended portion for engaging said wheel rim and an attachment portion juxtaposed to said mass portion;
- and
- (c) an injection molded outer casing surrounding said mass portion, with said mass portion and said attachment portion of said clip being embedded in said casing, but with said extended portion of said clip extending outwardly from and being external to said casing.
A vehicle wheel weight for attachment to a wheel rim, said wheel weight comprising:
- (a) a mass portion formed of nonlead material, said mass portion defining a clip groove on a side thereof;
- (b) a clip having an extended portion for engaging said wheel rim and an attachment portion seated in said clip groove of said mass portion;
- and
- (d) an outer casing formed of plastic, said casing surrounding said mass portion such that said mass portion and said attachment portion of said clip are embedded in said casing but said extended portion of said clip is external to said casing;
- and
- (e) wherein an interior surface of said casing conforms to the mass portion and the attachment portion of the clip on the mass portion as together embedded in the casing, but an exterior surface of said casing conforms to a predetermined configuration.
A method of manufacturing a vehicle wheel weight or engaging a rim of a wheel for use in balancing the wheel, said method comprising:
- (a) providing a mass portion formed of nonlead material;
- (b) providing a clip having an extended portion for engaging said wheel rim and an attachment portion;
- (c) positioning said attachment portion of said clip at a selected location adjacent to said mass portion;
- and
- (c) encasing said mass portion and said attachment portion of said clip with injection molded plastic such that said mass portion and said attachment portion of said clip are embedded in a plastic outer casing but said extended portion of said clip is not embedded in said plastic outer casing.
A vehicle wheel weight for attachment to a wheel rim, said wheel weight comprising:
- (f) a mass portion formed of nonlead material, said mass portion defining a clip securement cavity;
- (g) a clip having an extended portion for engaging said wheel rim and an attachment portion inserted into said clip securement cavity so as to be retained in an interior of said mass portion;
- and
- (h) an outer casing formed of injection molded plastic, said casing surrounding said mass portion, with said mass portion and said attachment portion of said clip being embedded in said casing, but with said extended portion of said clip extending outwardly from and being external to said casing.
A vehicle wheel weight for attachment to a wheel rim, said wheel weight comprising:
- (i) a mass portion formed of nonlead material, said mass portion defining a longitudinal slot along an upper radial surface thereof;
- (j) a clip having an extended portion for engaging said wheel rim and an attachment portion inserted into said longitudinal slot of said mass portion so as to be retained in an interior of said mass portion;
- and
- (k) an outer casing formed of injection molded plastic, said casing surrounding said mass portion, with said mass portion and said attachment portion of said clip being embedded in said casing, but with said extended portion of said clip extending outwardly from and being external to said casing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.