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US 5,591,386 AGranted
Vehicle wheel with filler ring
AssigneeHayes Wheels International, Inc.
InventorsDaniel F. Jansen, Thomas E. Heck, Charles A. Turner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved wheel construction includes a disc and a rim secured together and which define a radially inwardly facing circumferential cavity in the wheel. In accordance with the present invention, a filler material is disposed in a substantial portion of the cavity to prevent road material or other debris from accumulating in the cavity and causing an out-of-balance wheel condition.
Claims5
A method for producing a vehicle wheel comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a rim and a disc;
- (b) securing the rim and the disc together to produce a wheel construction which defines a radially inwardly facing circumferential cavity;
- (c) extruding a circumferential bead of a heat activated expandable filler material onto an annular surface of a generally hoop-like member and positioning the hoop-like member in the cavity;
- (d) subsequent to step (c), applying heat to expand the filler material and fill a substantial portion of the cavity to prevent road material or other debris from accumulating therein.
1 more element
A method for producing a vehicle wheel comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a rim and a disc;
- (b) securing the rim and the disc together to produce a wheel construction which defines a radially inwardly facing circumferential cavity;
- (c) providing a generally hoop-like member;
- (d) extruding a circumferential bead of an expandable filler material onto an annular surface of the hoop-like member;
- (e) frictionally retaining the hoop-like member in the cavity;
- and
- (f) expanding the filler material to fill a substantial portion of the cavity and prevent road material or other debris from accumulating therein.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.