Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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sACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heretofore various attempts have been made to provide
for mounting wheel accessories on vehicle ~heels. These
attempts, for the most part, have necessitated the provision ~-
of mounting fixtures which must either be attached to the wheel
each time a wheel accessory is to be used or, if permanently
mounted, require the use of tools and special fasteners in order
to secure the wheel accessory thereto.
This invention provides a vehicle wheel mounting -~
fixture of the type which may be readily mounted upon an existing
wheel through the utilization of the lugs conventionally used
to secure the associated wheel to its hub, the fixture being so
constructed as to enable its permanent retention beneath a
conventional hubcap.
It is contemplated that the mounting fixture be mountable
on the associated vehicle wheel without requiring the removal
of all of the associated nuts, thereby maintaining the wheel
secure as the accessory is being mounted.
It is a further feature of this invention that the
wheel accessories to be mounted from the fixture may be readily
engaged with and disengaged from the mounting fixture without
the use of tools and by a person possessing only minimal
mechanical ability.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
The invention which is claimed herein is a wheel
accessory mounting fixture for removably securing wheel
accessories to a vehicle wheel, the mounting fixture comprising
a mounting plate having a plurality of bores formed therethrough
in a pattern adapted to conform to the lug pattern of an
associated wheel, all but one of the bores being of a predetermined
small diameter and the one bore being of a larger diameter, the
small diameter bores being adapted to receive conventional wheel
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mounting lugs therethrough and the larger diameter bore being
adapted to receive a conventional wheel mounting lug nut
therethrough, the plate, in the central area of the pattern,
including wheel accessory mounting structure projecting outwardly
therefrom and adapted to have a wheel accessory removably
supported therefrom, the wheel accessory mounting structure
being one integral body having a studded flange on the opposite
end thereof for mounting the wheel accessory.
The studs on the studded flange may match the spacing
of studs on the vehicle wheel.
A further embodiment of the invention which is also
claimed herein is a wheel accessory and mounting fixture therefor,
the fixture comprising a first component including means for
removable semi-permanent securement to a mounting vehicle wheel
in the central portion of the latter, and a second component
affixed to the wheel accessory, the first and second components
including first and second co-acting portions releasably engaged
with each other by supporting the accessory from the wheel and
for the transfer of torque from the wheel through the fixture
to the accessory, the first and second co-acting portions comprise
telescopingly engaged cylindrical hub portions, one of the hub
portions including circumferentially spaced endwise outwardly
opening longitudinal slots and the other of the hub portions
including generally radially extending ribs keyed and slidably
received in the slots for the transfer of rotational torque
from one hub portion to the other hub portion, the second
component being threadably connected by bolt means from the
second component to the first component.
The bolt means may extend through and be carried in
the center of the second portion for threadable connection with
the center of the first portion, the bolt means bein~ operable
by hand.
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A full understanding of the construction of this
invention, together with further novel features and advantages,
will be had from the following detailed description of preferred
embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the attached
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional vehicle
wheel mounted on an associated wheel hub by means of studs
projecting outwardly through the hub, passed through openings
provided therefor about the center of the wheel and having
threaded nuts engaged therewith, four of the nuts being
illustrated in exploded position together with the accessory
mounting fixture portion of the instant invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 but
with the mounting fixture portion of the instant invention fully
applied and secured to the vehicle wheel;
Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the wheel accessory
center hub portion as seen from the right side of the wheel
accessory illustrated in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially
upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a form of wheel
accessory;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a traction wheel
accessory;
Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a second form
of vehicle wheel accessory mounting fixture illustrated in
exploded position relative to an associated vehicle wheel and
with a corresponding vehicle wheel accessory illustrated in
exploded relation relative to the mounting fixture;
Fig. ~ is a perspective view of a conventional vehicle
wheel mounted on an associated wheel hub by means of studs
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projecting outwardly through the hub, passing through the
openings provided therefor about the center of the wheel and
having threaded nuts engaging therewith, the nuts being illustrated
in the exploded position together with the accessory mounting
fixture portion of the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 8 when
assembled that includes the axis of rotation of the wheel.
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional vehicle
wheel mounted on an accessory wheel hub by means of studs
projecting outwardly through the hub, passing through openings
provided therefor about the center of the wheel and having
threaded nuts engaging therewith, four of the nuts being
illustrated in exploded position together with the accessory
mounting fixture portion of the present invention.
; DETAILED DESCRIPTION
:`
~ Referring now more specifically to the drawings the
; numeral 10 generally designates a conventional vehicle wheel
having a pneumatic tire casing 11 mounted thereon. The wheel
10 includes a central portion 12 provided with circumferentially
spaced bores 14 through which hub mounted thread studs 16 extend.
A plurality of threaded nuts 18 are threadedly engaged on the
outer ends of the studs 16 for securing the wheel 10 to the hub.
A vehicle wheel accessory mounting structure or
fixture generally referred to by the reference numeral 20 is
provided and includes a centrally apertured mounted plate 22
having a cylindrical hub portion 24 projecting outwardly from
one side thereof. A plurality of circumferentially spaced bores
26 are formed through the plate 22 about the exterior of the hub
portion 24. The bores 26 are of a SizP to snugly receive the
studs 16 therethrough with a single bore 28 being enlarged and
; of a size to receive one of the nuts 18 therethrough. Accordingly,
from Fig. 1 of the drawings it may be appreciated that in order
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to secure the vehicle wheel accessory mounting fixture 20 to
the wheel 10 it is only necessary to remove four of the nuts
18 and to thereafter place the plate 22 over the outer surface
of the central portion 12 of the wheel 10 with the remaining
wheel retaining nut 18 received through the bore 28 and the other
studs 16 received through the bores 26. Thereafter, the removed
nuts 18 may be again threaded on the studs 16 to secure the
fixture 20 to the wheel 10. This manner of mounting the fixture
20 on the wheel 10 is significant as it provides for a positive
retention of the wheel 10 at all times which in turn eliminates
the necessity of jacking the wheel 10 up from the ground when
mounting the accessory.
As may best be seen from Fig. 1 of the drawings the hub
portion 24 of the fixture 20 includes diametrically opposite
longitudinally extending radial slots 30 and diametrically
opposite bayonet slots 32 including slightly reentrant inner
end portions 34. The purpose of the slots 30 and 32 is to secure
an accessory mounted adapter 40 as will be hereinafter more fully
set forth.
The specific structure of the accessory adapter 40,
which can accommodate a variety of accessories, may be seen to
best advantage in Figs. 3, 4 and 9 of the drawings wherein it
will be noted that the adapter 40 includes a cylindrical body 42
having an end wall 44 closing its outer end. The cylindrical
body 42 mounts longitudinally extending generally T-shaped
torque accommodating internal ribs 46 disposed diametrically
opposite each other. The end wall 44 is centrally apertured
as at 48 and has an elongated axially extending shank member 50
and slidably received therethrough. The inner end of the shank
member 50 adjacent the open end of the cylindrical body 42 is
provided with a crosshead 52 extending generally along a diameter
of the cylindrical body 42. The free end portions of the
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crosshead 52 are slightly rearwardly offset as at 54 toward
the closed end of the cylindrical body 42. It will further be
noted that the free ends of the crosshead 52 terminate but a
slight distance inwardly of the inner surface of the cylindrical
body 42.
The end portion of the shank member 50 remote from
the crosshead 52 and outward of end wall 44 is provided with a
circumferentially extending radially outwardly projecting abutment
flange 56 and a contoured handle portion 58 on the terminal end
thereof. A compression spring 60 is disposed about the shank
member 50 between the abutment flange and the outer surface of
the end wall 44 and thereby serves to yieldingly bias the shank
member 50 toward an outwardly displaced position.
When applying the adapter 40 and associated wheel
accessory to the mounting fixture 20 after the latter has been
secured to the wheel 10, the cylindrical body 42 of the hub ~0
has its open end telescoped over the outer free end of the hub
portion 24. The handle 58 is turned to register the free ends
of the crosshead 52 with the open ends of the slots 32 for
movement thereinto with the T-shaped ribs 46 being slidingly
received in the slots 30 and overlying the inner surfaces of
the hub portion 24 on inner sides of slots 30. After the ribs
46 have been seated in the inner ends of the slots 30, the
handle 58 is pushed inwardly and rotated to seat the opposite
ends of the crosshead 52 in the inner ends 34 of the slots 32.
The handle 58 is then released with spring 60 slightly retracting
the opposite ends of the crosshead 52 into the inner end portions
34 of the slots 32. As will be appreciated, the adapter 40,
and hence the accessory, is thus fixedly mounted in a manner
which would require manual manipulation of the adapter 40 to
affect its removal. Further, while the spring loaded crosshead
52 mounts the adapter 40, the opposed ribs 46 constitute the load
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accommodating means or torque transferring members.
With attentionnow invited to Fig. 5 of the drawings,
there may be seen a form of wheel accessory referred to by
reference numeral 51. The wheel accessory 51 comprises a
rigid wheel 53 having the central hub portion or mounting
adapter 40 and an outer periphery mounting a pneumatic tire
55 inflatable through a valve 57. The wheel accessory 51
comprises a spare wheel which may be secured, through the
adapter, over the outside of the wheel 10 in the event the
pneumatic tire 12 loses its air. It is of course to be
understood that the tire 55 is deflated prior to installation
and inflated once it is installed. This will enable the disabled
vehicle to be moved to a service area without the need for
changing the defective tire.
A further form of wheel accessory is illustrated in
Fig. 6 and is referred to by reference numeral 62. The
accessory 62 includes the hub 40 and may therefore be readily
removably engaged with the fixture 20. The wheel accessory 62
includes an outer circumferential band 66 provided with radially
20 outwardly projecting lugs 68 for added ground traction in snow,
ice, mud, etc. The band 66 may be either of the inflatable
type or non-inflatable type as desired. Furthermore, it may be
desirable to elongate the adapter 40 to permit the accessory 62
to be mounted outside the vehicle fender.
In Fig. 7 of the drawings there is illustrated a
modified form of mounting arrangement including a fixture referred
to in general by the reference numeral 110. The fixture 110
is similar to the fixture 20 in that it includes a base plate
112 having a plurality of small stud receiving bores 114 formed
therethrough as well as a larger nut receiving bore 116. In
addition, the fixture 110 includes a hub portion 118 having
diametrically opposite longitudinal slots 120 formed therein
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corresponding to the slots 30. However, in lieu of the bayonet
slots 32 provided in the hub portion 24, the hub portion 118
includes diametrically opposite spring clips 122. These clips
122 each project through the hub wall and include an outer leg
123 fixed to the outer surface of the hub and a free inner
leg 125 terminating in a looped end 127. An outwardly projecting
shoulder 129 is formed between legs 123 and 125.
A wheel accessory adapter 124, also illustrated in
Fig. 12, includes a hub portion 126 corresponding to the hub
portion 40 and provided with internal T-shaped ribs 128 similar
to the ribs 46 for reception within slots 120. However, in lieu
of the shank member 50 and crosshead 52 of the hub portion 40,
the hub portion 126 includes diametrically opposite axially
extending closed ended slots 132 into which the spring clip
shoulders 129 are radially projectible as the hub portion 126
, telecopes over the hub portion 118. Accordingly, it may be
seen that the wheel accessory 124, while capable of being
positively locked to the fixture, may be readily removed therefrom,
the release of the hub portion requiring an outward pulling on
the looped ends 127. Incidently, it will be noted that the
spring clips 122 and related slots 132 can be longitudinally
offset to require a specific alignment of the accessory. This
modified form of mounting arrangement may be desirable for use
on wheels with a projecting wheel hub such as the front wheels
of automotive vehicles.
It is to be understood that the mounting fixture
illustrated in Fig. 7 may be used in lieu of the mounting fixture
illustrated in Figs. 1 - 4 with any of the accessories described
herein.
As previously indicated, the T-shaped ribs of the various
adapter hubs of the wheel accessories key into the corresponding
slots of the fixture in order to lock the hubs to the fixture for
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the transfer of torque from the fixture to the hubs. In
addition, the spring urged locking members o~ the various wheel
- accessory hubs serve to maintain the wheel accessories of the
associated fixtures 20 against outward axial shifting relative
thereto.
Having described the invention, it will be appreciated ~ -
that some modifications may be made to the precise configuration,
without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention
as defined by the following claims.
Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings
there is shown a wheel accessory represented generally by the
reference numeral 200. The wheel accessory 200 has two basic
parts, with the first part 202 being adapted for permanent or
semi-permanent mounting on a conventional vehicle wheel. The
first part has flange 204 with holes 206 for receiving studs
208 of the conventional vehicle wheel shown in phantom lines.
Attached to the studs 208 are the conventional bolts to 10 for
mounting an automobile wheel. Formed integral with flange
204 is cylinder 212. The cylinder 212 has opposing slots 214
; 20 formed in the outer portion thereof as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.
Also cylinder 212 has a solid center 216 with a threaded connection
218 formed therein.
The second half 220 of the wheel accessory 200 is
` mounted to an accessory wheel shown in phantom lines which could
be attached to the conventional automobile tire when desired.
The second half 220 has a flange 222 with conventional stud bolts
224 permanently contained therein by any conventional means such
as welding. The accessory wheel then may be connected to the
second half 220 by nuts 226. Formed integral with flange 222
is a cylindrical portion 228 that is slightly larger than cylinder
212 of the first half 202. However, cylindrical portion 22~
has two inward extensions 230 designed to mate slot 214 of the
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half 202 in a spline type of connection. A center body 232 has
a T-bolt extending therethrough that is retained into position
by nuts 236 on each side of the center body 232.
If the first half 202 is mounted to the conventional
automobile wheel by disconnecting nuts 210 and inserting studs
" 208 through holes 206 of flange 204 and again tightening the
nuts 210 into position; thereafter, the accessory wheel, to which
is mounted the second half 220, may be connected to the
conventional automobile tire by sliding inward extensions 230 into
slots 214 and tightening T-bolt 234 to the threaded connection
218 of the first half 202. This provides a very easy and
economical means for connecting a dual wheel to the conventional
automobile tire. This is especially useful for snow, ice or
mud where extra traction is needed.
Referring now to Fig. 10 there is shown another
modification with a wheel accessory 238 being one solid integral
body. The wheel accessory 238 is connected as previously described
for the wheel accessory shown in Fig. 1 by having holes 240 in
flange 242 for receiving studs 244 of the conventional automobile
wheel. An enlarged hole 246 receives not only stud 244 but also
nut 247 so that the conventional automobile wheel may be retained
into position while attaching the wheel accessory 238.
The flange 242 is formed integral with cylinder 250
which has another flange 252 contained on the opposite end
thereof. Flange 252 has studs 254 contained therein to which
an accessory wheel may be attached. The spacing between the
studs 254 is the same spacing as studs 244 so that an accessory
;~ wheel may be attached by sliding the wheel onto studs 254 and
tightening nuts 256. By connecting an accessory wheel in the
manner just described additional traction that may be necessary
can be provided plus a very rigid structure between the
conventional tire and the accessory wheel allows the carrying
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of exceedingly heavy loads without damage to the tire. Alsothe wheel accessories as previously described could be used in
case of flats to move the automobile to a service station for
repairs.
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