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US 6,068,350 AGranted
Universal vehicle wheel
AssigneeHayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
InventorsJohn M. Baumgarten, Khosrow Namdariam, Carroll D. Moore, Jeffery F. Beam
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle wheel assembly having a stylized outer wheel disc permanently attached to a universal base wheel. The universal base wheel can be utilized on a plurality of vehicle platforms. The structure of the base wheel is designed for optimal strength and minimum weight to structurally support the weight of a vehicle. The outer wheel disc provides a pleasing aesthetic appearance and provides no structural support to the vehicle.
Claims26
A vehicle wheel assembly comprising:
- a one piece vehicle wheel having an annular rim adapted to carry a pneumatic vehicle tire, said rim having an outboard end and an inboard end, said rim including a deep well formed between said outboard and inboard ends, said deep well defining a deep well wall which is adjacent to said outboard end of said wheel rim, said wheel also having a central hub supported within said rim by a plurality of radially extending spokes, said spokes having a generally arcuate shape with one end of each spoke terminating upon said hub and the other end of each spoke terminating on said deep well wall whereby the spoke form a generally radial arch between said hub and said deep well wall and the amount of material included in an outboard wheel sidewall is minimized;
- and
- a stylized outer wheel disc attached to said outboard end of said wheel.
A process for manufacturing a vehicle wheel comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a one piece vehicle wheel having an annular rim adapted to carry a pneumatic vehicle tire, said rim having an outboard end and an inboard end, said rim including a deep well formed between said outboard and inboard ends, said deep well defining a deep well wall which is adjacent to said outboard end of said wheel rim, said wheel also having a central hub supported within said rim by a plurality of radially extending spokes, said spokes having a generally arcuate shape with one end of each spoke terminating upon said hub and the other end of each spoke terminating on said deep well wall whereby the spoke form a generally radial arch between said hub and said deep well wall and the amount of material included in an outboard wheel sidewall is minimized;
- (b) forming an outer wheel disc;
- (c) applying a decorative coating to the outer wheel disc;
- and
- (d) attaching the outer wheel disc to the outboard end of the one piece wheel.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.