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US 9,358,845 B2Granted
Wheel apparatus
AssigneeInterco Tire Corporation
InventorDennis Franklin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheel assembly for use on vehicles in rugged conditions including, without limitation, off-road and trail conditions. A rim assembly having a rim flange is supported by a central hub member. The rim flange has a bead seat and allows a tire—including an under inflated tire—to flex without chaffing or cutting of the tire. A sacrificial abrasion ring is mounted to the outer surface of the rim flange. An optional removable accessory cap can mount to the wheel assembly to prevent mud, snow and/or other debris from collecting in the center of the wheel assembly.
Claims7
A wheel assembly comprising:
- a. a hub portion;
- b. a disk portion;
- c. a rim assembly having a central axis comprising:
- (i) a pair of bead seats oriented substantially parallel to one another, wherein each of said bead seats further comprises:
- aa) a curved surface oriented substantially parallel to said central axis of said rim assembly adapted to receive a tire bead;
- bb) a rim flange defining a reinforced ring disposed on an outboard surface of said rim flange;
- cc) a first retention rib extending from said curved surface, wherein said first retention rib is adapted to compress at least a portion of said tire bead;
- dd) a second retention rib extending from said curved surface, wherein said second retention rib is adapted to retain said tire bead between said second retention rib and said rim flange;
- (ii) a well disposed between said bead seats, and
- (iii) a plurality of locking pins extending through each of said bead seats, wherein said locking pins are disposed between said second retention rib of each bead seat and said well.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.