GB2393940A

GB2393940A - Vehicle wheel rim flange protector

Info

Publication number: GB2393940A
Application number: GB0316895A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm Young
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-07
Filing date: 2003-07-18
Publication date: 2004-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2023-07-18
Also published as: GB0316895D0; GB2393940B; GB0223203D0

Abstract

The wheel 1 has a rim 2 with a flange 3 extending radially from its periphery, a tyre with a side wall 4 seated on the rim and contained thereon by the flange, and a flange protection member 5 comprising a first impact absorption portion 6 which extends over the flange, and a second impact absorption portion 7 which extends over a portion of the tyre wall beyond the flange, the second impact absorption portion extending outwardly from the wheel further than the first impact absorption portion, in use. The member 5 can be mounted on a rim 2 with or without a tyre mounted thereon.

Description

-1 Wheel Rim Flange Protection Device This invention relates to a wheel

rim flange protection device, for use in particular, but not exclusively, to protect the rim flanges of alloy car wheels.

Alloy wheels are provided with an outer flange which acts to retain a tyre in place on the wheel. However, if an alloy wheel collides with the curb, or any other object, the flange can be damaged due to its proximity to the outer wall of the tyre.

This damage can lead to failure of the wheel.

In addition alloy wheels are commonly luxury items provided on more expensive cars, or added as an after market product. As a result alloy wheels are often provided with an attractive design, and/or a polished surface. The wheel can therefore become defaced and loose its value if the rim flange is scratched or damaged in a collision with the curb.

It is known to provide an annular protective trim which covers the flange to protect it from scratches in use. However, such trims are commonly insubstantial, and provide no protection against impacts which might dent or heavily scratch the flange. In addition, known trims are either provided as part of a whole tyre, or they rely on the pressure between an inflated tyre and the wheel to hold them in position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wheel rim protection device which provides enhanced protection from damage by using a novel arrangement. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wheel rim protection device which can protect an alloy wheel when it does not have a tyre fitted, for example during transit.

- l -2 Therefore, according to a first aspect of the present invention a vehicle wheel comprising a rim with a flange extending radially from a periphery of the rim, a tyre with a tyre wall seated on the rim and contained thereon by the flange, and a flange protection member, characterized in that the flange protection member comprises a first impact absorption portion which extends over the flange, and a second impact absorption portion which extends over a portion of the tyre wall beyond the flange, and in that the second impact absorption portion extends outwardly from the wheel further than the first impact absorption portion, in use.

Preferably the second impact absorption portion may extend outwardly from the wheel further than the first impact absorption portion in an axial direction therefrom. With this arrangement when the vehicle wheel comes into contact with a kerb or other like construction, it is the second impact absorption portion which contacts it first, so the majority of the impact forces are received by the tyre wall and not the flange. Further, the second impact absorption portion can extends outwardly from the wheel further than the first impact absorption portion in a radial direction therefrom.

With this arrangement when impact forces are applied to the whole flange protection member, under most circumstances the majority of the impact forces will be directed to the tyre wall and not the flange.

The impact absorption portions can be formed from any suitable resilient material, and can form a single body with a substantially mushroom head shaped cross-section, which is offset to one side. The portion of the mushroom head shape which is offset can extend over the tyre wall, such that the second impact absorption portion is larger and broader than the first.

-3 The flange protection member can be held in position over the flange and the tyre in any way, for example as an extension of the tyre or the wheel, or attached directly to the tyre or the wheel. However, in a preferred construction the flange protection member comprises an annular resilient body, which is independent of the wheel and the tyre and which can be readily removed therefrom.

Preferably the flange protection member comprises a wheel rim engaging portion extending from the impact absorption portions, in which the wheel rim engaging portion is adapted to be mounted in extension on the wheel rim and against the inside of the flange.

Wheel rim flanges come in various shapes provided with a rectangular, substantially L-shaped, or arcuate cross-section. The wheel rim engaging portion can be shaped to fit against the inside of the flange provided on the wheel with which it is to be used.

With this arrangement the flange protection member can be held in position by its own resilience without a tyre being fitted to the wheel. This allows the flange protection member to be readily used when the wheel is removed from a vehicle and is in transit.

In a preferred construction the flange protection member can be constructed from rubber.

The flange protection member can be provided with decorative paint, or can be constructed from a material provided with a decorative colour. In one construction the flange protection member can be provided with a luminous appearance, so it may glow in the dark.

According to a second aspect of the present invention a vehicle wheel rim flange protection member for use with a vehicle wheel comprising a rim with a flange

- - -4 extending radially from a periphery of the rim, a tyre with a tyre wall seated on the rim and contained thereon by the flange, and a flange protection member, characterized in that the flange protection member comprises a first impact absorption portion which extends over the flange, and a second impact absorption portion which extends over a portion of the tyre wall beyond the flange, and in that the second impact absorption portion extends outwardly from the wheel further than the first impact absorption portion, in use.

According to a third aspect of the present invention a vehicle wheel rim flange protection member for use with a vehicle wheel comprising a rim with a flange extending radially from a periphery of the rim, a tyre with a tyre wall seated on the rim and contained thereon by the flange, and a flange protection member, characterized in that the flange protection member comprises a first impact absorption portion which extends over the flange, and a second impact absorption portion which extends over a portion of the tyre wall beyond the flange, and in that the second impact absorption portion extends outwardly from the wheel further than the first impact absorption portion, in use, is used in combination with a vehicle wheel not fitted with a tyre.

The invention can be performed in various ways, but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross sectional side view of a section of a vehicle wheel according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross sectional side view of a section of the vehicle wheel as shown in Figure 1 in a different arrangement; Figure 3 is a front view of a vehicle wheel rim flange protection member according to the present invention;

-5 Figure 4 is a front view of the flange protection member as shown in Figure 3 in use in a first arrangement; and, Figure 5 is a front view of the flange protection member as shown in Figure 3 in a second arrangement.

In Figure 1 a vehicle wheel 1 comprises a rim 2 with a flange 3 extending radially from a periphery of the rim 2, a tyre with a tyre wall 4 seated on the rim 2 and contained thereon by the flange 3, and a flange protection member 5.

The wheel 1 is characterized in that the flange protection member comprises a first impact absorption portion 6 which extends over the flange 3, and a second impact absorption portion 7 which extends over a portion A of the tyre wall 4 beyond the flange 3, and in that the second impact absorption portion 7 extends outwardly from the wheel 1 further than the first impact absorption portion 6, in use, as shown in Figure 1.

The flange protection member 5 comprises a wheel rim engaging portion 8 and a mushroom-head shaped body 9 which comprises the first and second impact absorption portions 6 and 7. The body 9 is off-set to one side, such that the second impact absorption portion 7 is larger and broader than the first 6.

In use as shown in Figure 1, the wheel rim engaging portion 8 extends from the wheel rim 2 and over the flange 3. The portion 8 is disposed between the flange 3 and the tyre 4, which when inflated acts to hold the portion 8 in place.

As shown in Figures 3 - 5, the flange protection member 5 comprises an annular body, which can be released from the wheel 1.

In use in a first arrangement, as shown in Figures 1 and 5, the vehicle wheel 1 is provided with both a tyre 4 and a flange protection member 5 seated on the rim 3.

-6 If the wheel 1 comes into contact with the kerb, or any other object encountered from an axial direction of the wheel 1, the second impact absorption portion 7 of the flange protection 5 member will impact the object first, because it extends outwardly the furthest. Therefore, the majority of any impact forces received will be directed to the tyre wall 4, and not the flange 5. The tyre wall 4 is resilient, and the impact forces will be readily absorbed.

Further, when impact forces are applied to both impact absorption portions 6 and 7, the majority of the impact forces will be directed to the tyre wall 4 and not the flange 3 because the second impact absorption portion is of a greater size than the first. As is shown in Figure 1 the first impact absorption portion 6 is provided with such width in an axial direction of the wheel 1 that it will absorb impact forces up to a certain degree and protect the flange 3 from damage.

However, in the event that greater forces are applied to the second impact absorption portion only, those forces are distributed by the body of the flange protection member 5 against the flange 2 and to portion a the tyre wall 4. As the tyre wall 4 is constructed from resilient material, it will absorb some of the forces. This distribution of the impact forces prevents them being applied only to the flange 3 which may damage it.

In use in a second arrangement as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the flange protection member 5 is mounted on the wheel rim 3, without a tyre being present.

The annular body of the flange protection member 5 is constructed from a resilient material, and in a neutral state of no extension or compression, has a smaller diameter than the wheel rim 3. Therefore, when the flange protection member 5 is extended and mounted onto the wheel rim, its resilience holds it in place.

-7 This arrangement allows the wheel 1 to be transported prior or after being fitted to a vehicle (not shown), while still benefiting from the protection afforded by the flange protection member 5.

In an alternative construction (not shown) a flange protection member is provided with a decorative colouring, either in the form of paint, or from being constructed from a coloured or dyed material. Further, the decorative colouring can be luminous, such that the flange protection member will glow in the dark.

In other alternative constructions (also not shown) the impact absorption portion of the flange protection member can be provided as an extension of the wheel or the tyre, and it does not have to be an independent item.

Thus a wheel rim flange protection device is provided which can absorb much greater forces than known versions. In particular, a device is provided which distributes impact forces away from the flange, where they can be harmlessly absorbed by the tyre fitted onto the wheel.

Claims

-8 Claims

1. A vehicle wheel comprising a rim with a flange extending radially from a periphery of the rim, a tyre with a tyre wall seated on the rim and contained thereon by the flange, and a flange protection member, characterized in that the flange protection member comprises a first impact absorption portion which extends over the flange, and a second impact absorption portion which extends over a portion of the tyre wall beyond the flange, and in that the second impact absorption portion extends outwardly from the wheel further than the first impact absorption portion, in use.

2. A vehicle wheel as claimed in Claim 1 in which the second impact absorption portion extends outwardly from the wheel further than the first impact absorption portion in an axial direction therefrom, in use.

3. A vehicle wheel as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the second impact absorption portion extends outwardly from the wheel further than the first impact absorption portion in a radial direction therefrom, in use.

4. A vehicle wheel as claimed in Claim 3 in which the impact absorption portions form a single body with a substantially mushroom head shaped cross-section, which is offset to one side, in which the first impact absorption portion comprises the smaller side of the mushroom-head shaped body.

5. A vehicle wheel as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the flange protection member comprises an annular resilient body, which is independent of the wheel and the tyre and which can be readily removed therefrom.

6. A vehicle wheel as claimed in Claim 5 in which the flange protection member is provided with a wheel rim engaging portion which is adapted to be mounted in extension on the wheel rim and against the inside of the flange.

-9-

7. A vehicle wheel as claimed in Claim 6 in which the wheel rim engaging portion is be shaped to fit against the inside of the flange.

8. A vehicle wheel as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the flange protection member is constructed from rubber.

9. A vehicle wheel as claimed in Claim 8 fitted with a tyre.

9. A vehicle wheel as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the flange protection member is provided with a decorative colouring.

10. A vehicle wheel as claimed in Claim 9 in which the decorative colouring is luminous. 11. A vehicle wheel substantially as described herein and as shown in Figures 1 and 5.

12. A vehicle wheel rim flange protection member for use with a vehicle wheel rim flange protection member for use with a vehicle wheel comprising a rim with a flange extending radially from a periphery of the rim, a tyre with a tyre wall seated on the rim and contained thereon by the flange, and a flange protection member, characterized in that the flange protection member comprises a first impact absorption portion which extends over the flange, and a second impact absorption portion which extends over a portion of the tyre wall beyond the flange, and in that the second impact absorption portion extends outwardly from the wheel further than the first impact absorption portion, in use.

13. A vehicle wheel rim flange protection member for use with a vehicle wheel rim flange protection member for use with a vehicle wheel comprising a rim with a flange extending radially from a periphery of the rim, a tyre with a tyre wall seated on the rim and contained thereon by the flange, and a flange protection member, characterized in that the flange protection member comprises a first impact absorption portion which extends over the flange, and a second impact absorption portion which

-10 extends over a portion of the tyre wall beyond the flange, and in that the second impact absorption portion extends outwardly from the wheel further than the first impact absorption portion, in use, used in combination with a vehicle wheel not fitted with a tyre.

14. A vehicle wheel rim flange protection member substantially as described herein and as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

(l ' l Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: Claims 1. An impact protection device for use with a vehicle wheel provided with a flange extending radially from a periphery of a rim of said vehicle wheel, comprising an annular element comprising a vehicle wheel engaging means and a head portion, in which the head portion comprises a resilient body of material with a lopsided and substantially mushroom head shaped crosssection with a smaller side and a larger side, in which the smaller side covers an exterior surface of a flange in use, and in which the larger side extends further outward that the smaller side in an axial direction of a vehicle wheel, in use.

2. An impact protection device as claimed in Claim 1 in which the device comprises a resilient annular element, in which the vehicle wheel engaging means comprises a flange portion extending from the head portion which is adapted to be mounted in extension on a rim and against an interior surface of a flange, in use.

3. An impact protection device as claimed in Claim 1 in which the flange portion is shaped to fit against an interior surface side of a flange, in use.

4. An impact protection device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the device is constructed from rubber.

5. An impact protection device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the device is provided with a decorative colouring.

6. An impact protection device as claimed in Claim 5 in which the decorative colouring is luminous.

7. An impact protection device substantially as described herein and as shown in the Figures.

it ( r r 8. A vehicle wheel fitted with an impact protection device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims.