WO2005009761A1

WO2005009761A1 - Wheel rim protector device

Info

Publication number: WO2005009761A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/002858
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven Zaitshek
Original assignee: Steven Zaitshek
Priority date: 2003-07-11
Filing date: 2004-07-02
Publication date: 2005-02-03
Also published as: GB0316384D0; GB2403696A

Abstract

The present invention provides a wheel protector device comprising an annular protector (32) which is sized to overlay and abut an outer annular surface (22) of a wheel rim (14) to protect the wheel against damage and a plurality of connectors (36) which can be engaged with the annular protector (32) and extend over a radially outer surface (35) of the wheel rim (14) to fit the annular protector (32) to the wheel rim.

Description

WHEEL RIM PROTECTOR DEVICE

The present invention relates to a device for protecting a wheel. In recent years, many automobiles have been fitted with so-called allow wheels to improve appearance. A typical alloy wheel 10 is shown in Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a plan view of wheel 10 having a tyre 12 fitted around a circumference thereof. Figure 7 is a cross-section of wheel 10 and tyre 12 taken along line NTJ-Nπ in Figure 6. One of the problems with alloy wheels is that they have a tendency to become scratched or otherwise damaged, and repair is often expensive. ^"Wheels, other than alloys wheels, are also susceptible to damage, although such damage may not be as noticeable or as costly to repair. The present invention is intended to protect all types of

wheels. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, wheel 10 has inner and outer radially extending wheel rims 14 at opposing axial sides thereof (only one rim is shown in the Figures). The tyre 12 is fitted axially between the two opposing

wheel rims, with two beads 16 (only one is shown) of the tyre abutting an inner surface 18 of respective rims 14 and a circumferential surface 20 of the

wheel 10. Typically, an annular surface 22 of the outer wheel rim 14 projects

the furthest outwardly (i.e. in the axial direction) of any portion of the wheel

10 and therefore it is the outer surface 22 which is most prone to damage,

most commonly by impact with a curb, particularly during parking. Even if

another portion of the wheel projects the same or further outwards, it is generally the annular surface 22 which is damaged, particularly during contact of the wheel with a curb because the wheel rim is the leading surface of the

' wheel in the direction of travel of an automobile and also because the wheel rim is the lowest portion of the wheel. One known device for protecting the outer annular surface 22 of such a wheel rim 14 is disclosed in US 5,967,212 and will now be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9, which are similar views to Figures 6 and 7 and in which the same reference numerals are used for the same components. The prior art arrangement provides a generally channel shaped member 24 having a channel shaped portion 26 and an axially extending flange portion 28. When mounted to the wheel 10, wheel rim 14 is received in the channel shaped portion 26 with one side of the channel shaped portion protecting the outer annular surface 22. An opposing side of the channel shaped portion 26 is disposed between the inner surface 18 of the wheel rim 14 and one of the beads 16 of the tyre 12. The flange portion 28 of the channel shaped member 24 is disposed between the circumferential surface 20 of the wheel 10 and the bead 16 of the tyre 12.

The generally channel shaped member 24 is mounted to the wheel 10 by fitting the channel shaped portion 26 over the wheel rim 14 and this is possible only when the tyre 12 is not fitted to the wheel. Member 24 has a break 30 in its circumferential extent to assist in this fitting. The tyre 12 is subsequently fitted to the wheel 10, thus securing member 24 to the wheel rim 14. It will be appreciated therefore that member 14 can be mounted only to a wheel without a tyre. If it is desired to mount member 24 when a tyre is already fitted to the wheel, the tyre must first be removed, the member 24

' mounted and then the tyre re-fitted to the wheel. Clearly this is undesirable, especially since an automobile tyre can typically be removed from and fitted to a wheel only with specialist equipment and experience. Once a tyre is fitted to a wheel, it is generally required for the wheel and tyre to be balanced. Balancing often involves the connection of weights at selected positions about the circumference of the wheel rim, and therefore balancing might not be possible when the prior art wheel protector is fitted to a wheel due to the inaccessibility of the circumference of one side of the wheel rim. The present invention provides an improved wheel protector. The present invention provides a wheel protector device comprising an annular protector which is sized to overlay and abut an outer annular surface of a wheel rim to protect the wheel against damage and a plurality of connectors which can be engaged with the annular protector and extend over a radially outer surface of the wheel rim to fit the annular protector to the wheel rim. The present invention also provides a method of protecting a wheel having a tyre fitted thereto, comprising: overlayiαg an outer annular surface of a wheel rim with an annular protector and engaging a plurality of connectors with the annular protector and around an outer radial surface of the wheel rim. The present invention also provides a method of protecting a wheel without a tyre fitted thereto, comprising: overlaying an outer annular surface

' of a wheel rim with an annular protector and engaging a plurality of connectors with the annular protector and around an outer radial surface of the wheel rim. Other preferred aspects of the invention are defined in the accompanying claims. In order that the present invention may be well understood, an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 show respectively a first side and a second side of an annular protector; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the annular protector taken along the line πi-III in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a wheel and tyre assembly with the annular protector shown in Figure 1 fitted thereto; Figure 5 is a cross-section taken along the line V-N in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a wheel and tyre assembly without protection; Figure 7 is a cross-section taken along the line NTJ-NII in Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a wheel and tyre assembly with protection according to the prior art; and Figure 9 is a cross-section taken along the line LX-LX in Figure 8. Referring to Figures 1 to 5, a wheel protector device is shown which comprises an annular protector 32 and a plurality of connectors, which may ^■ take the form of clips 36 as shown. The wheel and tyre arrangement is the same as that described above with reference to Figures 6 and 7 and therefore will not be described again in detail. The annular protector 32 is sized and shaped to overlay the outer annular surface 22 of the wheel rim 14 and therefore protect, in most circumstances, the entire wheel. Preferably, the radial width of the protector is minimized so that whilst it still protects the wheel rim, it is not visually intrusive and does not spoil the appearance of the wheel. As shown in Figure 5, the protector is just wider than the annular surface of the wheel rim. The clips engage with the annular protector 32 and the wheel rim to fit the annular protector to the wheel rim 14. . The size and shape of the annular protector 32 is preferably selected according to the wheel which it is desired to protect. The annular protector 32 may be of any suitable shape. For instance, the annular protector 32 may have a curvature for fitting flush against the outer annular surface 22 if the surface is rounded as shown in Figure 5. Alternatively, the annular protector 32 may be flat, it being sufficient that it protects that annular surface of the wheel rim which is most likely to be damaged during impact. In a further alternative, the annular protector 32 may be frustro-conical. The annular protector is preferably made from a durable, transparent or coloured plastics material. The annular protector 32 may alternatively be made from a metallic material to match with the material of the wheel. The clips 36 are selected to be sufficiently strong to retain the annular protector mounted to the wheel rim during normal use. The annular protector 32 has a plurality of formations for co-operating with respective clips 36 for fitting the annular protector to the wheel rim and

for preventing relative movement, particularly in the circumferential direction, of the annular protector 32 relative to the wheel rim 14. Preferably, the formations take the form of counter-sunk recesses 34 as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5. The counter-sunk recesses 34 improve the appearance of the wheel rim protector device when it is fitted to the wheel rim, allowing the surface of the respective clips 36 to be flush with the outer surface of the annular protector 32. The clips 36 are generally U-shaped and are preferably sized to be received in the counter-sunk recesses 34. The clips 36 are resilient, preferably being made from a metallic material, so that when the clips are placed over the annular protector and around the outer radial surface 35 of wheel rim 14 as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the resilience of the clips causes them to hold the

annular protector firmly in position on the wheel rim 14. When the clips are positioned in the respective counter-sunk recesses, abutting surfaces of the

clips and the respective recesses prevent relative movement in the

circumferential direction between the annular protector 32 and the wheel rim

14.

The counter-sunk recesses 34 are spaced uniformly about the

circumference of the annular protector 32 so that when fitted to the wheel rim 14 the mass of the wheel rim protector device is balanced about the axis of rotation A of the wheel 10. The wheel protector device is mounted to the wheel 10 (typically with a tyre 12 fitted thereto) by overlaying the outer annular surface 22 with the annular protector 32, and engaging the clips with the annular protector and around the outer radial surface 35 of the wheel rim 14. The annular protector 32 can overlay any wheel weights which have already been fitted to the wheel. The clips 36 engage radially outwardly of the wheel rim so that they do not impinge upon the appearance of the wheel radially inwardly of the wheel rim since it is often the central portion of the wheel which is most visually important. In a modification of the embodiment (not shown in the Figures), spacing means may be provided for spacing the annular protector from the wheel rim, so that an axial space between the wheel rim and the annular portion of the annular protector is provided for any wheel weights. Preferably, the spacer means are provided, respectively, at the same radial positions as the

counter-sunk recesses so as to provide some resilience against the connectors

when they are engaged with the wheel rim and the annular protector. It may

be desirable for the spacer means to be formed by a plurality of integral

protrusions which extend axially inwardly from the annular protector and abut

the outer annular surface of the wheel rim. If the device is mounted without a tyre, when the tyre is fitted, the

bead 18 of the tyre exerts a force on the clips 36 further holding in position. If the device is mounted to a wheel with a tyre, the clips can be squeezed between the bead 18 of the tyre and the wheel rim 14, similarly to the way in ' which wheel weights are fitted to a wheel. Engagement of the clips 36 maybe facilitated by the clips having a tapered end portion 38. It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the embodiment described herein permits the annular protector 32 to be easily installed, removed and replaced from a wheel without the need for specialist equipment as would be needed with the known prior art which requires in addition to the installation of the protector, the fitting of a tyre and balancing.

Claims

^' 1. A. wheel protector device comprising an annular protector which is sized to overlay and abut an outer annular surface of a wheel rim to protect the wheel against damage and a plurality of connectors which can be engaged with the annular protector and extend over a radially outer surface of the wheel rim to fit the annular protector to the wheel rim.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connectors are adapted to engage between a tyre and the wheel rim.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the annular protector has a plurality of formations which co-operate with respective connectors for preventing relative movement between the outer annular surface of the wheel . rim and the annular protector.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the formations take the form of a plurality of counter-sunk recesses for receiving respective said connectors, such that abutting surfaces of the clips and respective recesses prevent relative circumferential movement between the annular protector and the wheel rim.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the clips are received in respective said counter-sunk recesses so as to be flush with an outer surface

' thereof.

6. A device as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the formations are uniformly spaced about the annular protector so that when fitted to the wheel rim, the mass of the wheel protector device is balanced about an axis of rotation of the wheel.

7. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the annular protector comprises spacing means which abut the rim and which space an annular part of the protector from the outer annular surface of the wheel rim when the annular protector is fitted to the wheel rim.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the spacing means comprises a plurality of integral protrusions which extend axially from said annular protector and which abut the outer annular surface when the annular protector is fitted to the wheel rim.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 or 8, when those claims are dependent on claims 3 to 6, wherein the spacer means are provided, respectively, at the same radial positions as the formations of the annular protector.

10. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the annular protector can be fitted to the wheel rim of a wheel having a tyre fitted thereto.

11. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the connectors are clips.

12. A method of protecting a wheel having a tyre fitted thereto, comprising: overlaying an outer annular surface of a wheel rim with an annular protector and engaging a plurality of clips with the annular protector and around an outer radial surface of the wheel rim.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the wheel is protected without the need of any specialist equipment required for removing or fitting a tyre to the wheel or balancing the tyre and wheel.

14. A method of protecting a wheel without a tyre fitted thereto,

comprising: overlaying an outer annular surface of a wheel rim with an

annular protector and engaging a plurality of clips with the annular protector

and around an outer radial surface of the wheel rim.