NZ525645A

NZ525645A - Automotive wheel rim stack supporting means between upper rim and lower rim

Info

Publication number: NZ525645A
Application number: NZ52564503A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Stephen Thomas Taylor
Original assignee: Pfive Ltd
Priority date: 2003-04-30
Filing date: 2003-04-30
Publication date: 2005-10-28
Also published as: WO2004096670A1; CN1780770A

Abstract

The stack supporting means has peripheral flange 8. A central plane K-K is normal to the axis of rotation of the stacked wheel rims 19, 20. On the upper side a raised region 13 is provided from a circumferential groove, and on a lower side the inner surface of flange 8 provides a snug fit around the lower wheel perimeter. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Description

525645 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No: 525645 Date: 30 April 2003 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AUTOMOTIVE WHEEL RIM STACK SUPPORTING MEANS We, PFIVE LIMITED, a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of 28 Lingarth Street, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. 2 6 JUL 2005 The present invention relates to a stack supporting device to support stacks of automotive wheel rims.

Once manufactured, a wheel rim such as a mag wheel, needs to be transported to the particular sales destinations.

Present methods for transporting wheel rims in large quantities involve stacking the rims on top of each other in columns on pallets.

To ensure that movement and friction between adjacent rims does not cause damage, (which may detract from the aesthetic or functional qualities of the wheel rims), a formed corrugated cardboard tray is typically placed on a wooden pallet. Mag wheels are then placed inside the tray. Corrugated cardboard dividers are then placed between the wheels. Another corrugated cardboard tray is then placed on top of a singe layer of wheels and the process is repeated until the desired palletised height has been reached. Another corrugated cardboard tray is placed on top of the last layer and the palletised load is strapped down using appropriate strapping such as plastic webbing.

However, inevitably, whether by movement in transporting the pallets to the shipping containers, or movement within the shipping containers themselves, the columns move relative to each other and make the load unstable.

Further, the cardboard compresses, causing the strapping to slacken, and the stack to become unstable. Moisture may also affect the integrity of the cardboard.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide an automotive wheel rim stack supporting means to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

In a first aspect the present invention broadly consists in an automotive wheel rim stack supporting means to be interposed between two adjacent automotive wheel rims of a kind each having opposed rim flanges, said stack supporting means including a body member of circular perimeter, a plane of said circular perimeter to be positioned normal to the rotational axis of said automotive wheel rims, said body member including an annular flange defining a) at a first side of said plane, intsfieciual Property r Office of N.Z. 2S J!" REC UL L.U' i. an endless groove concentric with said circular perimeter and bounded by a radially outward more positioned peripheral flange and ii. raised region extending radially inwardly from said groove, said raised region defining at least one plateau and, b) at a second side of said plane a surface to lie onto a rim flange of a lower of said two adjacent wheel rims, wherein said peripheral flange with an inwardly facing surface (preferably substantially transverse to said plane direction), of an internal diameter to allow the snug overlying thereof to a rim flange of an upper of said two adjacent wheel rims.

Preferably there is means provided on said second side to snugly overly said rim flange of said lower of said two adjacent wheel rims to locate said lower wheel rim with said upper wheel in a direction lateral to said rotation axes.

Preferably said outwardly positioned peripheral flange of said annular flange extends from said lower of said plateau regions of said raised region in a direction perpendicular to said plane.

Preferably there is a transition between said plateaus which is a stepped transition.

Alternatively there is a transition between said plateaus which is a sloping transition.

Preferably said inward most plateau is bounded inwardly by a wall section of said annular flange which extends perpendicular to said plane.

Preferably said means provides a second peripheral flange concentric and extending below said annular flange in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of said annular flange.

Preferably said means provides a second peripheral flange, concentric and extending below said annular flange in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of said annular flange to snugly overlay said rim flange, concentrically, providing an engageably securable fit.

Preferably a rim flange of said upper of said two wheel rims locates with said body member at said second side of said lower most plateau of said outwardly positioned peripheral flange of said annular flange.

Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. 2 6 JUL 2805 RECEIVED Preferably means to secure said stack supporting means to a stack supporting means of an adjacent stack is provided at the perimeter of said member.

Preferably said peripheral flange is an annular shaped flange.

In a second aspect the presenting invention broadly consists in a stack supporting means to be interposed between two stacked automotive wheel rims of a kind having opposed rim flanges, said stack supporting means including a peripheral flange extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said wheel rims inwardly from which there extends a radial flange said radial flange providing on a first side thereof a support surface or surfaces for an upper of said two wheel rims and on a second side means to locate onto a lower of said two wheel rims wherein on said first side of said radial flange, at least two upwardly supportive surfaces are provided, each at different levels to each other to allow the location thereon of two downwardly directed surfaces of an upper of said two wheel rims and wherein said radially outermost of said upwardly supportive surfaces is bounded by said peripheral flange said peripheral flange being of an internal diameter to allow the snug fitting there against a rim diameter outer most disposed region of a rim flange of the upper of said two wheel rims, and wherein on a second side, a downwardly directed surface is provided to engage onto an upwardly directed surface of a rim flange of a downward of said two wheel rims and wherein on said second side the said peripheral flange also extends to allow the snug fitting there against said rim diameter most region of a rim flange of the lower of said two wheel rims.

Preferably there is a transition between said two levels of said upwardly supporting surfaces which is a stepped transition.

Alternatively there is a said transition between said two levels of said upwardly supporting surfaces which is a sloping transition.

Preferably said inner more of said upwardly supportive surface is bounded by an upstand extending parallel to said peripheral flange.

Preferably said upstand is of an external diameter to allow the snug fit of an inwardly directed surface of said wheel rim at the region of said rim flange.

Ifits!isotu&l Property Office of M.Z. 2 6 JUL 2005 2 6 JUL 2005 "5" RECEIVFD Preferably provided to the perimeter of said stack supporting means are means to engage said stack supporting means with a like stack supporting means to be positioned co planar with a said stack supporting means but interposed between two wheel rims of an adjacent stack of wheel rims.

In a further aspect the present invention consist in a stack supporting means to be interposed between two automotive wheel rims, said stack supporting means being of circular perimeter, the plane thereof extending through said stack supporting means to be positioned normal to the rotational axis of said automotive wheel rim, said stack supporting means defining on one side of the plane, a landing surface bounded radially outwardly therefrom by a flange extending to one side of said plane, said landing surface being of at least two levels with respect to axial direction of said wheel rims, a lower more level (relative to an upper of said wheel rims) being provided proximate more to the flange, said landing surface providing two point upward support to an upper of said two wheel rims and wherein said flange is of an inside diameter to allow the snug fitting of a lowermost rim flange of said upper of said two wheel rims there with, and wherein on the other side of said plane a downwardly directed surface is provided to engage onto an upwardly directed surface of said lower of said two wheel rims and wherein a flange extending to the other side of said plane bounds said downwardly directed surface and is of an internal diameter to allow the snug fit of an uppermost rim flange of said lower of said two wheel rims.

Preferably said flange on said first side and said flange on said second side are the same flange.

In a further aspect the present invention consist in disk shaped wheel rim staking means to be interposed between two wheel rims stacked co axially in a manner wherein the disk is interposed between said two wheel rims and said stacking means, having a radially extending web with a downward side to be engaged at the rim flange of a lower of said wheels to allow said stacking means to locate onto a lower of said two wheel rims said web providing on an upward side a primary upwardly supportive surface to be engagable with a first downwardly protecting surface of said upper more wheel rim and a secondary upwardly supportive surface radially inward more to said primary upwardly supporting surface, and wherein a peripheral flange extends between said upward and said downward side from said web and is positioned radially outwardly of said primary support surface of said upward surface and said downward side of said downward surface and provides an internal diameter to allow the capturing of said upper of said two wheel rims there against and said lower of said two wheel rims there against and in a manner to position said disk shaped wheel rim stacking means substantially concentrically with said wheel rim stack.

Preferably there is a transition between said primary and secondary upwardly supportive surface which is a step.

Preferably inward of said secondary upward supportive surface is an internal flange of an external diameter to allow the snug fit there against of an inwardly directed surface of said upper of said two wheel rims.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a stack of wheel rims wherein between each adjacent pair of wheels a wheel rim stacking means as hereinbefore described is interposed.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a plurality of stacks of any one or more of those as herein described above wherein coplanar stack supporting means of adjacent stacks of wheels are engaged together to gain support from adjacent stacks.

Preferably each stack is capped by a capping member.

Preferably each stack is supported on a base member.

Preferably capping and base members are disk shaped members which include a peripheral upstand flange to locate with a respective rim flange of upper or lower rim of each stack.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known Intellectual Property Office of M.Z. 2 6 JUL 2005 RECEIVED ■••iwiioviuai rrupeny Office of N.Z. 2 e JUL 2005 -7- I R E C £ i V E n equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

Reference will now be made to a preferred form of the present invention in which Figure 1 illustrates a stack of automotive wheel rims wherein three wheels are stacked and wherein two stack supporting means are interposed between adjacent wheels of the stack, Figure 2 is a side exploded view of Figure 1, Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of part of an upper and lower wheel rim wherein a stack supporting means of the present invention is interposed between, Figure 5 is a plan view of one preferred form of a stack supporting means of the present invention, Figure 6 is a perspective view of Figure 5, Figure 7 is a sectional view through section OO of Figure 5, Figure 8 is an exploded view of region R of Figure 7, Figure 9 is a close up view of region S of Figure 10, Figure 10 is a sectional view through section PP of Figure 5, Figure 11 is a plan view of region Q of Figure 5, Figure 12 is a plan view of an alternative arrangement of a stack supporting means of the present invention, Figure 13 is a sectional view of Figure 12, Figure 14 is a side view of Figure 12, Figure 15 is a sectional view through section OO of Figure 12, Figure 16 is a detailed view of region Q of Figure 15, Figure 17 is a sectional view through section PP of Figure 12, Figure 18 is a close up view of region R of Figure 17, Figure 19 is a plan view of a capping member for a stack of wheel rims, Figure 20 is a perspective view of Figure 19, Figure 21 is a side view of Figure 19, Figure 22 is a sectional view through section XX of Figure 19, Figure 23 is a sectional view through section WW of Figure 19, Figure 24 is a view of region Y of Figure 22, Figure 25 is a view of region Z of Figure 23, Figure 26 is a plan view of an alternative configuration of a rim supporting means of the present invention, Figure 27 is a side view of Figure 26, Figure 28 is sectional view through section TT of Figure 26, Figure 29 is a perspective view of Figure 26, Figure 30 is a sectional view through section SS of Figure 26, Figure 31 is a view of region V of Figure 30, Figure 32 is a view of region U of Figure 28, Figure 33 is a plan view of an alternative arrangement of a capping member of the present invention, Figure 34 is a perspective view of Figure 33, Figure 35 is a view through section KK of Figure 33, Figure 36 is a view of region M of Figure 35, Figure 37 is a view of region M of Figure 38, Figure 38 is a sectional view through section JJ of Figure 33, Figure 39 is a view of region L of Figure 33, Figure 40 is a plan view of a plurality of stacks engaged, Figure 41 is a view of region AA of Figure 40 illustrating the adjacent stacks supporting means engaged together, Figure 42 is a side view of view of Figure 41, Figure 43 is a view of part of a perimeter region of a stacking device of the present invention showing the fastening means with which a fastening element can engage as for example shown in Figures 41 and 42, Figure 44 is a perspective view of a fastening element of the present invention, Figure 45 is a front view of Figure 44, Figure 46 is a side view of Figure 44, and Figure 47 is a plan view of Figure 44. — ■ inieiiecruai Property Office of N.Z. 2 6 JUL 2005 -9 - Received < 'J With reference to Figure 1 there is shown a stack of wheel rims which are supported on top of each other. Illustrated in Figure 1 are three wheel rims 1 wherein between the intermediate wheel rim and the upper 10 and lower 11 wheel rim a stack supporting means 2 is provided. The stack support means will hold the stack of wheel rims in a manner so that their axes extend substantially vertically and coaxial. Each stack may also include a capping member 3 and a base member 4. The stack supporting means 2 is preferably annular shaped and can engage at the rim flange of adjacent wheels of the stack. With reference to Figure 5, each stack support means 2 includes a body member 6 which is substantially of a circular perimeter as shown in Figure 5. The body member is preferably ring or disk shaped as shown in Figure 6 and may include a large opening therethrough. Although such an opening is preferred in order to save on material, it may be that each wheel support means is disk shaped and is in filled throughout a more substantial part inwardly of its perimeter. The body of the support means includes an annular flange 7 which is preferably of a stepped nature. The annular flange 7 extends inwardly from a peripheral flange 8. The peripheral flange 8 is to extend substantially parallel to the axial direction of the stack and includes an inwardly directed surface 9 (preferably a cylindrical surface) which is substantially commensurate with the external diameter of a rim flange of a wheel rim. Accordingly the wheel rim can locate against the inwardly directed surface 9 of the peripheral flange 8 to thereby locate in a direction transverse to the axial direction of the wheel to prevent relative movement in such a direction between the wheel rim and the stack support means. The peripheral flange 8 will have an upper edge 10 and a lower edge 11. When in use, the lower edge 11 will be downward more to the upper edge 10. The annular flange 7 will extend intermediate of the upper and lower edges 10 and 11 respectively and will in a general direction extend radially inwardly from the peripheral flange 8. With reference to Figure 4 the stack support means of the present invention will extend substantially perpendicular to the stack axis direction. An imaginary plane along axes KK of the stack support means is substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the stack. Provided towards the upper side of the plane KK (on that side where the upper rim 10 of the peripheral flange 8 will be located in use), the annular flange 7 will define a lower surface 12 and an upper more surface 13 which is positioned radially inwardly more than the lower surface 12. In the most preferred form the transition between the lower surface 12 and the upper surface 13 is a step provided by a web 14 of the annular flange 7. Alternatively however the transition may be a slopping transition. The lower most surface will provide upward support to the rim flange 15 of the rim flange region 16 with which the bead of a tyre seats of an upper more of the wheel rims. The rim flange as shown in Figure 4 is of a kind normally found on a wheel rim called a "eurowheel". The rim flange 15 is in the rim width direction outer more than a second surface 16 of this general area. The upper more surface 13 of the annular flange 7 is provided at a height so that the other surface 16 of this general region of a wheel rim can be supported thereon. The annular flange 7 inwardly of the second or upper more region 13 thereof is bounded by an upstand 18 which extends substantially parallel to the peripheral flange 8 and which provides an external radius thereof which can be located against an internally directed surface 19 of the bead seat region of the wheel rim upper more between which the support means of the present invention is provided. Movement of the upper more wheel lateral to the axial direction of the stack is thereby prevented through the snug fit of the external diameter of the rim flange (in the rim diameter direction) against the inwardly casing surface of the peripheral flange 8. Furthermore support in this direction is also provided by the outwardly facing surface of the upstand 18 against the inwardly directed surface 19 of the wheel rim which locates snugly against the outwardly directed surface of the upstand 18. On the downwardly directed surface of the body of the stack support means the peripheral flange 8 is of a diameter to allow for a rim flange of a lower of the two wheel rims to locate there against to provide support in a direction lateral to the axial direction of the stack. The peripheral flange 8 can be dropped onto the upper rim flange of the lower wheel and snugly located therewith. The lower most portion of the annular flange 7 defined by numeral 12 preferably provides the downwardly directed surface which locates onto an upper surface of the rim flange of the lower wheel rim 20.

The annular flange 7 extends from the peripheral flange 8 preferably midway between the upper and lower rims 10, 11. However the portion of the peripheral Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. 2 8 JUL 2085 "iioneuiuai Property Office of N.Z. 2 6 JUL 2005 RECEi VEDj flange 8 extending either towards the upper or lower sides of the body member 6 may be greater or less on either side of the plane KK.

With reference to Figure 5, fastening means are preferably provided to the exterior perimeter of the body means 6 of the stack supporting means 2 of the present invention. Such fastening means 21 allow for a stack supporting means of the present invention to be engaged to a like stack supporting means which is positioned coplanar in an adjacent stack. In the most preferred form the fastening means are provided in pairs and there are four pairs provided around the perimeter. Most preferably the fastening means 21 are disposed from the exterior peripheral region of the peripheral flange 8. Intermediate of each fastening means pair there is preferably provided a flat 22 on the perimeter of the perimeter flange 8. This flat can engage with an adjacent flat of the adjacent stack supporting means to which the current stack supporting means is to engage. The flat may include an adhesive or may provide a region where a welding or a gluing of adjacent stack supporting means can be provided. Preferably such a welding can be achieved by an ultrasonic welding or by some other form of achieving and adhesion between adjacent stack support means 2. The fastening means 21 will provide a mechanical fastening whereas at the flats 2 an adhesive fastening can be achieved.

The present invention can be utilised by firstly placing a first wheel rim in a position such that its rotational axis extends substantially vertically. A stack support apparatus of the present invention can then be located onto the upper rim flange of the lower wheel by sliding the stack support means 2 with its rim 11 over the rim flange of the lower wheel rim thereby locating the stack support means 2 with the wheel rim at least in a direction lateral to the axial direction. This presents the upper side of the stack support means to receive an upper more wheel rim. A landing surface as defined by the upwardly facing surfaces of the annular flange 7 (surface 12, 13) is presented to receive the downwardly facing surfaces of the upper more wheel rim. As the landing surface extends significantly further inwardly from the peripheral flange 8 then what will be necessary to provide upward support to the wheel rim at for example the rim flange 15, a person loading the upper more wheel rim onto the stack support means need not place the upper more wheel with accuracy onto the stack support means. iiuBiifcicxuai property Office of M.Z. 2 6 JUL 2005 ■12 • RECEIVED With a lower surface 12 and upper surface 13, the landing surfaces there defined allow for a wheel to be loaded off centre onto the stack support means 2 and subsequently allow for the wheel to be manoeuvred to be centralised and supported in a manner as for example shown in Figure 4. With a stepped or slopping support or landing surface providing the lower and upper surfaces 12, 13, a guiding of the movement of the upper more wheel rim during its loading onto the stack support means is provided where the upper more wheel rim lands on the stack support means off centre, a shaking or wiggling of the upper more wheel will encourage the wheel rim to drop so that engagement of the rim flange 15 can be achieved with the lower most support surface 12 and for it to be engaged against the inwardly directed surface of the peripheral flange 8. The extension radially inwardly of the annular flange 7 more than is required to provide support to the upper more wheel when it is in its proper resting location and with the provision of a trough like nature to the upwardly directed surfaces of the annular flange 7 with its shallowest point provided at the peripheral flange 8, will encourage the landing and positioning of the upper more wheel rim in a position to be coaxial with the lower more wheel rim.

Once the upper more wheel rim has been loaded the process can be repeated by placing another stack supporting means 2 onto the upper more wheel rim to thereby allow another wheel rim to be loaded.

The stack once it has been built to its desired height can preferably be capped by a capping member. With reference to Figure 19, the capping member 30 can located onto the upper more rim flange of the uppermost wheel rim of a stack. A perimeter flange 31 is preferably of an internal diameter which allows for a snug fit of the capping member onto the rim flange of the uppermost wheel. The capping member preferably includes a hand opening such as a central opening 32. The capping member is preferably completely filled in within the perimeter of the perimeter flange 31 save for the hand opening 32. The hand opening allows for a person to handle the capping member 32 holding at the opening to place or remove the capping member from the stack. Whilst in the preferred form this capping member does not include any means to fasten the capping member to an adjacent capping member of an adjacent stack the capping member may be provided with such features. mtellecfuarp^^ Office of N.Z. 2 6 JUL 2005 RECEIVFn As can be seen with reference to Figures 19 and 20, location points 33 are provided which allow for the location of a strapping member. The location points 32 will hold a strapping member which extends about the stack or a plurality of stacks relative to the capping member. This prevents the strap from slipping off in a tangential direction and allows the strapping to maintain for engagement with and about a stack of wheel rims. A plurality of such regions for locating may be provided on the outwardly directed surfaces and at the perimeter of the capping member 30. To ensure that the integrity of any such strapping is maintained the transition between the upwardly directed surface 34 of the capping member and the perimeter flange 31 is a radius 35. The radius will allow for the strapping member to pass over the transition between the upwardly directed surface 34 and the perimeter flange 31 without the risk of the strapping being cut by any sharp corners.

Figures 33 to 39 illustrate an alternative arrangement of the capping member but wherein no hand grasping features are provided in the fill area of the capping member.

Figures 26 to 32 illustrate a base member which can be provided to the lowermost rim flange of the lowermost wheel rim of a stack. Essentially the structure of the base member is similar to the shape of the stack support means of the present invention save that the perimeter flange does not extend to the downwardly directed surface of the base member.

With reference to Figures 40 and 41 there are shown adjacent stacks which have been connected together by mechanical fastening.

Adjacent stacks of wheels can be engaged together by the engagement of stack supporting means of the present invention in at least one plane and preferably in all planes being engaged to an adjacent stack as shown in Figure 40. At the perimeter of the body member of the stack supporting means there is preferably provided a fastening means 90 as for example shown in Figure 43. Preferably there are a pair of such fastening means provided and for example as shown in Figure 40 there are provided four pairs of the fastening means 90 spaced equally about the perimeter of the body member of the stack supporting means. Engageable with the fastening means 90 are fastening elements 91. The fastening elements 91 preferably include a bifurcated leg region having legs 92 and 93 which can slot into a respective slot 94 of a first and second rim supporting device. The bifurcated legs are connected together by a bridge 94 and a spacer web 95. A spacer web can extend through the opening 96 of the slot 94 of the fastening means and provides enhanced rigidity to the connection made between the two adjacent stack support devices of the present invention.

With the provision of a stepped trough for receiving an upper wheel onto a lower wheel the possibility of impact of the upper wheel with the lower wheel is reduced. The radially inwardly extending nature of the flange is significantly greater than what would be required to merely support the upper wheel at its rim. The upper plateau provides further separation between the wheel as it engages on to the stack supporting device to be moved to its central position. Since wheels of this kind may for example weigh in the order of 10 to 15 kilograms, impact damage as a result of the manoeuvring and positioning of an upper wheel onto a lower wheel requires consideration of damage between the wheels during loading. Where the upper wheel is brought in at an angle, any opening which may be provided within the annular portion of the stack supporting device since there is a stepped or plateau region inwardly from the peripheral region thereof will also separate and reduce the possibility of impact of an upper wheel with a lower wheel when it is not concentrically aligned with the lower wheel. t ilte i if c; ot i j vJ P fo pfc r iy Otfiea of NtZ. 2 8 JUL 2005 RECEIVED

Claims

1. An automotive wheel rim stack supporting means to be interposed between two adjacent automotive wheel rims of a kind each having opposed rim flanges, said stack supporting means including a body member of circular perimeter, a plane of said circular perimeter to be positioned normal to the rotational axis of said automotive wheel rims, said body member including an annular flange defining a) at a first side of said plane, i. an endless groove concentric with said circular perimeter and bounded by a radially outward more positioned peripheral flange and ii. rasied region extending radially inwardly from said groove, said raised region defining at least one plateau and b) at a second side of said plane said flange provides a surface to lie onto a rim flange of a lower of said two adjacent wheel rims, wherein said peripheral flange with an inwardly facing surface (preferably substantially transverse to said plane direction), of an internal diameter to allow the snug overlying thereof to a rim flange of an upper of said two adjacent wheel rims.

2. An automotive wheel rim stack supporting means as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is means provided on said second side to snugly overly said rim flange of said lower of said two adjacent wheel rims to locate said lower wheel rim with said upper wheel in a direction lateral to said rotation axes.

3. An automotive wheel rim stack supporting means as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said outwardly positioned peripheral flange of said annular flange extends from said lower of said plateau regions of said raised region in a direction perpendicular to said plane.

4. An automotive wheel rim stack supporting means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein there is a transition between said plateaus which is a stepped transition.

5. An automotive wheel rim stack supporting means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein alternatively there is a transition between said plateaus which is a sloping transition. SnteliPcSua! Property office oi nz. 2 6 JUL 2C05 R effectual Prooerty Office of hi_z. 2 6 JUL 2005 RECEiVFn

6. An automotive wheel rim stack supporting means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said inward most plateau is bounded inwardly by a wall section of said annular flange which extends perpendicular to said plane.

7. An automatic wheel rim stack supporting means as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein said means provides a second peripheral flange concentric and extending below said annular flange in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of said annular flange.

8. An automatic wheel rim stack supporting means as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein said means provides a second peripheral flange, concentric and extending below said annular flange in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of said annular flange to snugly overlay said rim flange, concentrically, providing an engageably securable fit.

9. An automotive wheel rim stack supporting means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein a rim flange of said upper of said two wheel rims locates with said body member at said second side of said lower most plateau of said outwardly positioned peripheral flange of said annular flange.

10. An automotive wheel rim stack supporting means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein means to secure said stack supporting means to a stack supporting means of an adjacent stack is provided at the perimeter of said member.

11. An automotive wheel rim stack supporting means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said peripheral flange is an annular shaped flange.

12. A stack supporting means to be interposed between two stacked automotive wheel rims of a kind having opposed rim flanges, said stack supporting means including a peripheral flange extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said wheel rims inwardly from which there extends a radial flange said radial flange providing on a first side thereof a support surface or surfaces for an upper of said two wheel rims and on a second side means to locate onto a lower of said two wheel rims wherein on said first side of said radial flange, at least two upwardly supportive surfaces are provided, each at different levels to each other to allow the location thereon of two downwardly directed surfaces of an upper of said two wheel rims and wherein said radially outermost of said upwardly supportive surfaces is bounded by said peripheral intellectual Property Office of N.Z, 2 S JUL 2005 RECEIVED flange said peripheral flange being of an internal diameter to allow the snug fitting there against a rim diameter outer most disposed region of a rim flange of the upper of said two wheel rims, and wherein on a second side, a downwardly directed surface is provided to engage onto an upwardly directed surface of a rim flange of a downward of said two wheel rims and wherein on said second side the said peripheral flange also extends to allow the snug fitting there against said rim diameter most region of a rim flange of the lower of said two wheel rims.

13. A stack supporting means as claimed in claim 12 wherein there is a transition between said two levels of said upwardly supporting surfaces which is a stepped transition

14. A stack supporting means as claimed in claim 12 wherein alternatively there is a said transition between said two levels of said upwardly supporting surfaces which is a sloping transition.

15. A stack supporting means as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein said inner more of said upwardly supportive surface is bounded by an upstand extending parallel to said peripheral flange

16. A stack supporting means as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein said upstand is of an external diameter to allow the snug fit of an inwardly directed surface of said wheel rim at the region of said rim flange.

17. A stack supporting means as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16 wherein provided to the perimeter of said stack supporting means are means to engage said stack supporting means with a like stack supporting means to be positioned co planar with a said stack supporting means but interposed between two wheel rims of an adjacent stack of wheel rims.

18. A stack supporting means to be interposed between two automotive wheel rims, said stack supporting means being of circular perimeter, the plane thereof extending through said stack supporting means to be positioned normal to the rotational axis of said automotive wheel rim, said stack supporting means defining on one side of the plane, a landing surface bounded radially outwardly therefrom by a flange extending to one side of said plane, said landing surface being of at least two levels with respect -18- to axial direction of said wheel rims, a lower more level (relative to an upper of said wheel rims) being provided proximate more to the flange, said landing surface providing two point upward support to an upper of said two wheel rims and wherein said flange is of an inside diameter to allow the snug fitting of a lowermost rim flange of said upper of said two wheel rims there with, and wherein on the other side of said plane a downwardly directed surface is provided to engage onto an upwardly directed surface of said lower of said two wheel rims and wherein a flange extending to the other side of said plane bounds said downwardly directed surface and is of an internal diameter to allow the snug fit of an uppermost rim flange of said lower of said two wheel rims.

19. A stack supporting means as claimed in claim 18 wherein said flange on said first side and said flange on said second side are the same flange.

20. A disk shaped wheel rim staking means to be interposed between two wheel rims stacked co axially in a manner wherein the disk is interposed between said two wheel rims and said stacking means, having a radially extending web with a downward side to be engaged at the rim flange of a lower of said wheels to allow said stacking means to locate onto a lower of said two wheel rims said web providing on an upward side a primary upwardly supportive surface to be engageable with a first downwardly protecting surface of said upper more wheel rim and a secondary upwardly supportive surface radially inward more to said primary upwardly supporting surface, and wherein a peripheral flange extends between said upward and said downward side from said web and is positioned radially outwardly of said primary support surface of said upward surface and said downward side of said downward surface and provides an internal diameter to allow the capturing of said upper of said two wheel rims there against and said lower of said two wheel rims there against and in a manner to position said disk shaped wheel rim stacking means substantially concentrically with said wheel rim stack. -

21. A disk shaped wheel rim staking means as claimed in claim 20 wherein there is a transition between said primary and secondary upwardly supportive surface which is a -19-

22. A disk shaped wheel rim staking means as claimed in claim 20 or 21 wherein inward of said secondary upward supportive surface is an internal flange of an external diameter to allow the snug fit there against of an inwardly directed surface of said upper of said two wheel rims.

23. A stack of wheel rims wherein between each adjacent pair of wheels a wheel rim stacking means as claimed in claim 1 or 12 or 20 is interposed.

24. A plurality of stacks of any one or more of those as claimed in claim 1 or 12 or 20 wherein coplanar stack supporting means of adjacent stacks of wheels are engaged together to gain support from adjacent stacks.

25. A plurality of stacks as claimed in claim 24 wherein each stack is capped by a capping member.

26. A plurality of stacks as claimed in claim 24 or 25 wherein each stack is supported on a base member.

27. A plurality of stacks as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 26 wherein capping and base members are disk shaped members which include a peripheral upstand flange to locate with a respective rim flange of upper or lower rim of each stack.