Tool for Fitting a Wheel to a Wheel Hub of a Vehicle

A method of fitting a wheel to a wheel hub of a vehicle using a tool set, the method comprising:

• a. engaging a socket of a support peg with a fixing feature of the wheel hub;
• b. extending a wheel carrying bar through a fixing feature aperture on the wheel so that the wheel is carried on a first wheel support region of the wheel carrying bar;
• c. engaging a first bearing coupling of the wheel carrying bar with a second bearing coupling of the support peg;
• d. pivoting the wheel carrying bar relative to the support peg to lift the wheel;
• e. moving the wheel along a first wheel support region of the wheel carrying bar to a second end of the wheel carrying bar, across a pivotable joint and along a second wheel support region of the support peg towards a socket;
• f. locating the wheel in place on the wheel hub;
• g. disconnecting the wheel carrying bar from the support peg;
• h. fixing the wheel in place on the wheel hub with a wheel fixing feature compatible with a further fixing feature of the wheel hub;
• and
• i. disengaging a socket of the support peg from the further fixing feature of the wheel hub.

A tool kit comprising:

• a tool set comprising:
• a wheel carrying bar comprising a first end, a second end, and a first wheel support region which extends away from the first end to a first bearing coupling provided at the second end;
• wherein the first bearing coupling of the wheel carrying bar comprises an opening at the second end from which extends a concave bearing surface which defines a cavity centred on a first coupling axis;
• a support peg comprising a third end, fourth end, a second bearing coupling being provided at the third end, and a second wheel support region extending away from the second bearing coupling towards a socket provided at the fourth end;
• wherein the third end of the second bearing coupling of the support peg comprises a male engagement member with a convex bearing surface which is centred on a second coupling axis;
• wherein the socket is configured to be engaged with or located in/on one of the hub fixing features;
• the first bearing coupling is configured to receive and pivotably engage with the second bearing coupling to thereby form a pivotable joint;
• the first bearing coupling and second bearing coupling being configured to disconnect.
• the tool kit further being operable to:
• a. engage the socket of the support peg with the fixing feature of the wheel hub;
• b. extend the wheel carrying bar through a fixing feature aperture on the wheel so that the wheel is carried on the first wheel support region of the wheel carrying bar;
• c. engage the first bearing coupling of the wheel carrying bar with the second bearing coupling of the support peg;
• d. pivot the wheel carrying bar relative to the support peg to lift the wheel;
• e. move the wheel along the first wheel support region of the wheel carrying bar to the second end of the wheel carrying bar, across the pivotable joint and along the second wheel support region of the support peg towards the socket;
• f. locate the wheel in place on the wheel hub;
• g. disconnect the wheel carrying bar from the support peg;
• h. fix the wheel in place on the wheel hub with a wheel fixing feature compatible with a further fixing feature of the wheel hub;
• and
• i. disengage the socket of the support peg from the fixing feature of the wheel hub.

A vehicle comprising:

• a wheel;
• a wheel hub comprising fixing features for fixing the wheel to the wheel hub;
• a tool set comprising:
• a wheel carrying bar comprising a first end, a second end, and a first wheel support region which extends away from the first end to a first bearing coupling provided at the second end;
• wherein the first bearing coupling of the wheel carrying bar comprises an opening at the second end from which extends a concave bearing surface which defines a cavity centred on a first coupling axis;
• a support peg comprising a third end, fourth end, a second bearing coupling being provided at the third end, and a second wheel support region extending away from the second bearing coupling towards a socket provided at the fourth end;
• wherein the third end of the second bearing coupling of the support peg comprises a male engagement member with a convex bearing surface which is centred on a second coupling axis;
• wherein the socket is configured to be engaged with or located in/on one of the hub fixing features;
• the first bearing coupling is configured to receive and pivotably engage with the second bearing coupling to thereby form a pivotable joint;
• and
• the first bearing coupling and second bearing coupling being configured to disconnect.