US 6,685,275 B2Granted

Axle extension device

OwnerDave J. Gorges, Brian Hallinventors

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Abstract

An axle extension device includes a circular extender plate having a plurality of bores adapted to receive the mounting studs of a vehicle hub therethrough. A number of stud bolts equal to the number of mounting studs extend outwardly from the extender plate for receiving corresponding holes of a hub of a vehicle tire/wheel combination. The extender plate has a thickness such that a tire/wheel combination attached thereto is displaced from the vehicle's wheel hub so the vehicle's wheel base is broadened. Another embodiment includes a first extender plate for mounting to the mounting studs of a vehicle hub, the first extender plate having a threaded exterior side surface. A second extender plate includes a threaded interior surface and may be rotatably mounted to the first extender plate for adjusting the amount of axle extension. The second extender plate includes stud bolts for receiving a tire/wheel combination.

Claims7

Dependent claims

An axle extension device for broadening the wheel base of a vehicle having a plurality of wheel mounting studs arranged in a bolt circle on a vehicle wheel hub, said axle extension device comprising:

a circular extender plate having first and second sides and defining a plurality of bores therebetween, said bores being spaced apart and arranged in a bolt circle and adapted to respectively receive said plurality of mounting studs therethrough;
a plurality of nuts adapted to threadably mate with said plurality of wheel mounting studs when said wheel mounting studs are respectively received through said plurality of bores;
wherein each bore includes a cylindrical configuration and comprises:
a first portion defining an open end at said first side of said extender plate for receiving a respective nut therein, said first portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of a respective nut;
a second portion having an open end at said second side of said adapter having a diameter smaller than a diameter of said first portion open end, said second portion end being in communication with said first portion, said second portion having a configuration that is tapered to receive a respective beveled end of a respective nut in said first portion, whereby to completely seat said respective nut in said first portion;
wherein said extender plate includes a monolithic construction forming a plurality of stud bolts extending from said first side of said extender plate and arranged in a bolt circle and equally spaced apart between respective bores, said plurality of stud bolts adapted to extend through respective holes of a hub of a tire/wheel combination;
and
wherein a diameter of said bolt circle of said mounting studs is equal to a diameter of said bolt circle of said stud bolts, whereby a tire/wheel combination adapted to be mounted to a vehicle hub is adapted to be selectably mounted to said extender plate without adaptation.

5 more elements

An axle extension device for selectively broadening the wheel base of a vehicle having a plurality of wheel mounting studs arranged in a bolt circle on a vehicle wheel hub, said axle extension device comprising:

a first extender plate having a circular configuration and defining a plurality of first bores arranged in a bolt circle for receiving respective wheel mounting studs therethrough, said first extender plate having a continuous first plate side wall with a threaded exterior surface;
wherein said first extender plate defines a plurality of first holes situated between respective first bores;
a plurality of nuts adapted to threadably mate with said plurality of wheel mounting studs when said wheel mounting studs are respectively received though said plurality of first bores;
a second extender plate having a circular configuration with a continuous second plate side wall, said second plate side wall having a planar front surface defining a plurality of second holes arranged in a bolt circle, said second plate side wall having a threaded interior surface for rotatably engaging said threaded exterior surface of said first extender plate, whereby to selectively align said plurality of second holes and said plurality of first holes;
a plurality of stud bolts arranged in a bolt circle on said second plate planar surface and adapted to extend through respective holes of a hub of a tire/wheel combination, each stud bolt being positioned intermediate a pair of respective second holes such that said plurality of stud bolts and said plurality of second holes are arranged in a unitary bolt circle;
and
a plurality of locking bolts adapted to extend through corresponding first and second holes when said first and second holes are aligned, whereby to maintain said first and second extender plates at a selected configuration.

4 more elements

a first extender plate having first plate front and rear planar surfaces with a continuous first plate side wall extending between respective peripheral edges of said first plate front and rear planar surfaces, said first plate side wall having a threaded exterior surface;
said first extender plate having a circular configuration and defining a plurality of first bores extending through said first plate side wall between said first plate front and rear planar surfaces and arranged in a bolt circle for receiving respective wheel mounting studs therethrough;
wherein said first plate front planar surface defines a plurality of first holes situated between respective first bores;
a second extender plate having second plate front and rear planar surfaces with a continuous second plate side wall extending between respective peripheral edges of said second plate front and rear planar surfaces, said second extender plate having a circular configuration and defining a plurality of second holes arranged in a bolt circle, said second plate side wall having a threaded interior surface for rotatably engaging said threaded exterior surface of said first plate side wall, whereby to selectively align said plurality of second holes and said plurality of first holes at a selected displacement between said front planar surface of said first extender plate and said front planar surface of said second extender plate;
a plurality of stud bolts arranged in a bolt circle on said second plate front planar surface and adapted to extend through respective holes of a hub of a tire/wheel combination, each stud bolt being positioned intermediate a pair of respective second holes such that said plurality of stud bolts and said plurality of second boles are arranged in a unitary bolt circle;
and
a plurality of locking bolts adapted to extend trough corresponding first and second holes when said first and second holes are aligned, whereby to maintain said first and second extender plates at said selected displacement.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.