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US 8,556,351 B1Granted
Expandable wheel shield
OwnerPhilip R. Uhlininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An expandable wheel shield is provided for covering a wheel hub to prevent a product from contacting the wheel hub while applying the product to a tire. The shield includes a central member and a handle coupled to the central member. A plurality of overlapping panels is hingedly coupled to the central member. The panels are radially arranged around the central member. The panels are also coupled to the central member such that the panels are urged into a contracted position when not acted upon by an outside force such as being pressed against a wheel.
Claims13
An expandable wheel shield assembly comprising:
- a central member;
- a handle coupled to said central member;
- a plurality of overlapping panels hingedly coupled to said central member, said panels being radially arranged around said central member;
- said panels being coupled to said central member such that said panels are resiliently urged into a contracted position;
- each panel having an aperture;
- said central member having a plurality of radially arranged slots;
- each said slot having a hook member extending through said slot;
- and
- each said hook member engaging said aperture of an associated said panel such that said panel is hingedly coupled to said central member.
6 more elements
An expandable wheel shield assembly comprising:
- a central member;
- a handle coupled to said central member;
- a plurality of overlapping panels hingedly coupled to said central member, said panels being radially arranged around said central member;
- said panels being coupled to said central member such that said panels are urged into a contracted position;
- each panel having an aperture;
- said central member having a plurality of radially arranged slots;
- each said slot having a hook member extending through said slot;
- each said hook member having an offset portion, a medial portion extending from said offset portion, and a free distal end relative to a center of said central member;
- said distal end of said hook member abutting a distal edge of said slot relative to said center of said central member;
- each said hook member engaging said aperture of an associated said panel such that said panel is hingedly coupled to said central member;
- a resilient band extending around said panels, said band urging said panels into said contracted position;
- a circumferential perimeter lip extending around said central member;
- each said panel being arcuate extending between a proximal end relative to a center of said central member and a distal end of said panel relative to said central member;
- said distal ends of said panels aligning to form a circular outer perimeter edge;
- each said panel being arched extending along a length of said panel;
- each said panel having a protrusion extending from said proximal end of said panel;
- said aperture of each said panel being positioned in said protrusion of said panel;
- said handle being positioned in alignment with said center of said central member;
- said handle being a tapered cylinder having a rounded distal end relative to said central member;
- said handle having a threaded hole;
- a threaded connector coupled to said central member;
- said threaded connector being complimentary to said threaded hole such that said handle is couplable to said central member by threadably engaging said connector to said threaded hole in said handle;
- said threaded connector having a head section, said head section having a circumferential groove;
- and
- said central member extending into said circumferential groove such that said threaded connector is coupled to said central member.
22 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.