GB2325504A

GB2325504A - Device to prevent loosening of wheel nuts

Info

Publication number: GB2325504A
Application number: GB9727320A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Frederick Rowledge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-05-22
Filing date: 1997-12-29
Publication date: 1998-11-25
Also published as: GB9727320D0; GB9710447D0

Abstract

A device to prevent loosening of a wheel nuts 20 comprises first members 10 having apertures 14 with teeth 18, which engage the heads of the nuts 20, and projections 24. A second member, an annular ring 28 with holes 30 fits over the nuts 20 and has a flange (32, Fig 8) around its outer edge. When the members 10 are engaged on the wheel nuts 20, the projections 24 engage with the flange (32) and rotation of the nuts 20 is prevented.

Description

A device to prevent loosening of wheel nuts This invention relates to devices to prevent loosening of wheel nuts.

One problem associated with the fitting or replacement of wheels on vehicles is that the wheel nuts can become loosened by the vibration of the vehicle when it is driven.

According to this invention there is provided a device to prevent loosening of a wheel nut on a wheel the device comprising a first member adapted to be mounted on the wheel nut, said first member including a first projecting portion, and a second member adapted to fit over the first member when said first member is mounted on the wheel nut, and said second member including a second projecting portion adapted to engage said first projecting portion when the second member is fitted over the first member substantially to prevent loosening of the wheel nut.

Preferably the first member defines an aperture or a recess to receive the head of the wheel nut. The aperture or recess may be provided with a plurality of formations to engage the corners of the head of the wheel nut, thereby substantially to prevent rotation of the wheel nut. The formations may be in the form of notches such that at least some of the notches are adapted to engage the corners of the head of the wheel nut, thereby substantially to prevent the wheel nut rotating relative to the first member.

The first member may comprise a wheel nut engaging portion and the first projecting portion, the aperture or recess being defined in the wheel nut engaging portion. The first projecting portion may extend outwardly from the wheel nut engaging portion and may taper such that the first projecting portion is widest adjacent the wheel nut engaging portion. In another embodiment, the first projecting portion may be in the form of a substantially T-shaped member.

The shank of the T may extend outwardly from the wheel nut engaging portion and the cross piece of the T may be spaced from the wheel nut engaging portion by said shank.

The second member may comprise a main portion to fit over the wheel nuts. The main portion may define a plurality of holes or recesses, the position of each hole being such as to receive therein a respective one of the wheel nuts of a wheel. Preferably, the second member further includes a flange depending from the main portion and desirably extending around the periphery thereof, the depending flange constituting the second projecting portion.

The main portion may be substantially circular in configuration.

Preferably, the holes are equispaced around the main portion adjacent the periphery thereof. Preferably, the plurality of holes are arranged in a circle.

Desirably, the main portion is in the form of an annular member.

A strengthening member may be provided on the main portion. The strengthening member may be in the form of a lip extending from the main portion, preferably from the inner edge thereof. Preferably, said lip extends substantially wholly around the inner edge of said main portion, and may depend therefrom in the same direction as the flange.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a first member of one embodiment of a device to prevent loosening of a wheel nut; Fig. 2 is a view along the lines II-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a first member of another embodiment of a device to prevent loosening of a wheel nut; Fig. 4 is a view along the lines IV-IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a second member of one embodiment of the device; Fig. 6 is a view along the lines VI-VI of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a plan view of a second member of another embodiment of the device; Fig. 8 is a view along the lines VIII-VIII of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a plan view, partially cut away, of the device in use; and Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional side view showing means for attaching the device to the wheel.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a first member 10 of a device to prevent loosening of wheel nuts. The first member 10 comprises wheel nut engaging portion 12 defining an aperture 14, the wall 16 of which being provided with a plurality of notches-18. The aperture 14 and the notches 18 are so sized and arranged to enable a head 20 of a wheel nut (see Fig. 5) to be received therein, such that the corners 22 of the head 20 engage in the notches 18 to prevent relative rotating between the first member 10 and the wheel nut.

The first member 10 also includes a first projecting portion 24 projecting from the wheel nut engaging portion 12, and tapering inwardly therefrom.

When the first member 10 is received over a wheel nut (as described above) on a wheel and the device is assembled as described below, the projecting portion 24 can engage a second member 26 to prevent loosening of the wheel nuts.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 there is shown another embodiment of the first member, designated in Figs. 3 and 4 as 110. The first member 110 comprises many of the same features as those of the first member 10 and these have been designated with the same reference numeral.

The first member 110 differs from the first member 10 in that the first projecting portion 24 is of a T-shaped configuration, comprising a shank 124 and a cross piece 125 extending across the shank 124. The shank 124 connects the cross piece 125 to the wheel nut engaging portion 12.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown the second member 26 to be used in conjunction with a plurality of first members 10. The second member 26 comprises an annular member 28 having an outer edge 28A and an inner edge 28. The annular member 28 defines a plurality of holes 30 so sized and arranged around the annular member 28 to be able to fit over the heads 20 of the wheel nuts of an appropriate wheel (see Fig. 5).

A second projecting portion in the form of a flange 32 depends from the outer edge 28A of the annular member 28 and extends substantially wholly around the circumference thereof.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8 there is shown another embodiment of the second member, designated in Figs. -7 and 8 as 126. The second member 126 comprises all of the features of the first member 26 and these have been designated with the same reference numeral.

In addition, the second member 126 includes a strengthening means in the form of a lip or further flange 134 depending from the inner edge 28A of the annular member 28 in the same direction as the first mentioned flange 32.

The lip 134 is advantageous in that it increases the rigidity and strength of second member 126.

Referring to Fig. 9, there is shown the first and second members 10, 26 in use on a wheel 100, only part of the wheel is shown for clarity. The device so assembled comprises a plurality of first members 10 fitted on each of the heads 20 of the wheel nuts. Only one such first member 10 is shown in Fig. 5 in the cut away portion. The other first members 10 are hidden from view beneath the annular member 28. the wheel nuts 20 of the wheel 100 are of a left hand thread and each first member 10 is arranged on the head 20 of the respective wheel nut such that each first projecting portion 24 extends in a clockwise direction from the respective wheel nut, as shown. Also, each first projecting portion 24 so extends from the head 20 of the respective wheel as to engage the flange 32 of the second member 26 or to be as close as possible to such engagement. It will be appreciated that the first member 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 could be replaced by the first member 110 shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and/or the second member 26 shown in Figs. 5 and 6 could be replaced by the second member 126 shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

When each first member 10 is arranged of the head 20 of the respective wheel nuts, the second member 26 is then arranged over the heads 20, such that each head 20 is received in a respective one of the holes 30 on the annular member 28. When so arranged the second member 26 holds the first members 10 in place on the respective wheel nuts.

Fig. 10 shows securing means, in the form of a spring clip 33, for securing the second member 26 to the wheel, in turn, holds the first members 10 in place. A pluralitysof spring clips 33 are equispaced in a circular arrangement around the wheel. It will be appreciated that the spring clips 33 can also be used to secure the second member 126 to the wheel.

Each spring clip 33 comprises an upstanding member 34 extending outwardly from the wheel, and a transverse member 36 extending outwardly from the end of the upstanding member in contact with the wheel 100. The transverse member 36 is attached to the wheel 100 by suitable means, for example, welding.

A detent member 38 extends from the opposite end of the upstanding member 33 to engage the second member 26 or 126 to hold the second member 26 or 126 in place. The detent member 38 includes a release member 40, whereby when the release member 40 is pushed in the direction indicated by the arrow A, the second member 26 held by the spring clip 33 can be removed or, if a second member 26 is to be secured on the wheel 100, it can be arranged in place and the release member 40 released to allow the spring clip 33 to spring back to its position shown in Fig. 10 to secure the second member 26 or 126 on the wheel 100.

Thus, if vibrations of any of the wheel nuts on the wheel were such as to tend to cause the wheel nuts to unscrew (in the clockwise direction) such a tendency would cause the first projecting portion 24 or 124 to engage harder against the flange 32 thereby to prevent the wheel nut from unscrewing. it will be appreciated that, where the wheel nuts are of a right hand thread, the first members 10 are arranged on the heads 20 of the wheel nuts to extend from the wheel nut in a clockwise direction.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A device to prevent loosening of a wheel nut on a wheel, the device comprising a first member adapted to be mounted on the wheel nut, said first member including a first projecting portion, and a second member adapted to fit over the first member when said first member is mounted on the wheel nut, and said second member including a second projecting portion adapted to engage said first projecting portion when the second member is fitted over the first member substantially to prevent loosening of the wheel nut.

2. A device according to Claim 1 wherein the first member defines an aperture or a recess to receive the head of the wheel nut.

3. A device according to Claim 2 wherein the aperture or recess is provided with a plurality of formations to engage the corners of the head of the wheel nut, thereby substantially to prevent the wheel nut rotating relative to the first member.

4. A device according to Claim 3 wherein the formations are in the form of notches such that at least some of the notches can engage said corners to substantially prevent said rotation of the wheel nut.

5. A device according to Claim 3 or 4 wherein the first member comprises a wheel nut engaging portion and the first projecting portion, the aperture or recess being defined in the wheel nut engaging portion.

6. A device according to Claim 5 wherein the first projecting portion extends outwardly from the wheel nut engaging portion and tapers such that the first projecting portion is widest adjacent the wheel nut engaging portion.

7. A device according to Claim 5 wherein the first projecting portion is in the form of a substantially T-shaped member, the shank of the T extending outwardly from the wheel nut engaging portion and the cross-piece of the T being spaced from the wheel nut engaging portion by said shank.

8. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the second member may comprise a main portion to fit over the wheel nuts, the main portion defining a plurality of holes or recesses, the position of each hole being such as to receive therein a respective one of the wheel nuts of a wheel.

9. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the second member further includes a flange depending from the main portion and desirably extending around the periphery thereof, the depending flange constituting the second projecting portion.

10. A device according to Claim 8 or 9 wherein the main portion is substantially circular in configuration, and the holes are equispaced around the main portion adjacent the periphery thereof.

11. A device according to Claim 8, 9 or 10 wherein the plurality of holes are arranged in a circle.

12. A device according to any of Claims 8 to 11 wherein the main portion is in the form of an annular member.

13. A device according to any of Claims 8 to 12 wherein a strengthening member is provided on the main portion.

14. A device according to Claim 13 wherein the strengthening member is in the form of a lip extending from the main portion.

15. A device according to Claim 14 wherein the lip extends from the inner edge of the main portion.

16. A device according to Claim 14 or 15 wherein the lip extends substantially wholly around the main portion and depends therefrom in the same direction as said flanges.

17. A device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.