Split bead seat protector
OwnerBoris Kobakinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integral alloy vehicle wheel is provided with a replaceable bead seat protector that protects the bead seat portion of the wheel from tire abrasion and subsequent corrosion. The bead seat protector has a split body to aid in mounting the protector over the outer flanges of the vehicle wheel.
Claims20
A bead seat protector for use with an integral vehicle wheel having inner and outer annular lips adapted for holding beads of a tire to the wheel, at least one bead seat portion, and a wheel diameter in a region of the at least one bead seat portion that is less than the wheel diameter in the region of the inner and outer lips, the bead seat protector configured to overlay the bead seat portion and support the beads of the tire, the bead seat protector comprising:
- a body portion;
- said body portion comprising a generally annular ring, said body portion defining a split, said split creating a first end portion and a second end portion in said body portion;
- said first end portion having a first surface, said first surface having a first profile;
- said second end portion having a second surface, said second surface having a second profile;
- wherein said first surface and said second surface overlap;
- and
- wherein said first profile and said second profile cooperate and are configured to inhibit air flow from within the tire.
A vehicle wheel comprising:
- inner and outer annular lips adapted for holding beads of a tire to the wheel,
- at least one bead seat portion, wherein a wheel diameter in a region of the bead seat portion is less than the wheel diameter in the region of the inner and outer lips;
- and
- a bead seat protector sealingly affixed to the at least one bead seat portion, said bead seat protector comprising a body portion, said body portion comprising a generally annular ring and defining a split, said split creating a first end portion and a second end portion in said body portion;
- wherein said first end portion includes a first surface, said first surface having a first profile, and said second end portion includes a second surface, said second surface having a second profile;
- wherein said first surface and said second surface overlap;
- and
- wherein said first profile and said second profile cooperate and are configured to inhibit air flow from within the tire.
A bead seat protector for use with a tire and wheel assembly, the bead seat protector comprising:
- a body portion comprising a generally annular ring;
- and
- a first end portion and a second end portion at opposite ends of said body portion, said first end portion including a first surface having a tapered first profile and said second end portion including a second surface having a tapered second profile;
- wherein said first surface and said second surface are configured to overlap in operational position when the bead seat protector is installed on a wheel of the tire and wheel assembly, and
- wherein the tapered first profile and the tapered second profile cooperate and are configured to inhibit air flow from within a tire of the tire and wheel assembly in the operational position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.