Vehicle wheel having a balance weight retention shoulder

Details Vehicle wheel having a balance weight retention shoulder Vehicle wheel having a balance weight retention shoulder

1999-11-12

2001-05-29

Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)

Land vehicles: wheels and axles

Wheel

Balancing device

C301S005220

Reexamination Certificate

active

06238006

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to vehicle wheels and in particular to a circumferential retention shoulder formed in a surface of a vehicle wheel rim that cooperates with a wheel balance weight barb to retain the wheel balance weight upon the vehicle wheel.
It is necessary to install balance weights on the rims of vehicle wheels to achieve proper balance of the combined mass of the wheel and the tire mounted upon the wheel. Proper balance of a wheel and tire is desirable to prevent vibrations which may otherwise occur at certain wheel speeds. Referring now to the drawings, a typical prior art wheel balance weight is generally shown at
10
in FIG.
1
. The wheel balance weight
10
includes an arcuate shaped lead weight
12
that is cast over a spring steel clip
14
. The upper portion of the clip
14
has an opening
16
formed therethrough. A barb
18
formed in the clip
14
extends into the opening
16
.
The wheel balance weight
10
is attached to an outward axially extending lip
20
formed on the outboard side of a wheel rim tire bead retaining flange
22
, as illustrated in FIG.
2
. The location of the weight
10
upon the flange lip
20
is determined during a conventional wheel balancing process. The clip
14
is crimped or hammered into place upon the flange lip
20
once the proper position is determined. Additionally, the barb
18
is crimped or hammered into the surface of the flange lip
20
to further secure the wheel balance weight
10
to the wheel rim.
It is known to extend the outboard portion of the wheel rim flange lip
20
to create a larger gripping surface for the clip
14
and to confine the lead weight
12
at the outer perimeter of the lip
20
. This allows the lead weight
12
to be positioned against the flange
22
and completely under the flange lip
20
, as illustrated in FIG.
2
.
It also is know in the art, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,016, to form a circumferential retention groove
24
in the radial outer portion of the wheel rim flange lip
20
, as shown in FIG.
3
. An alternate embodiment
23
of the wheel balance weight is used with the retention groove
24
. Instead of having a barb
18
, as described above, the wheel balance weight
23
includes a spring clip
14
having an upper end
26
that is folded over to form a bead
28
. The bead
28
has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the retention groove
24
. The wheel balance weight
23
is attached by snapping the spring clip bead
28
into the retention groove
24
. The clip
14
does not actually contact the outboard surface of the flange lip
20
. Accordingly, the wheel surface is not marred by attachment and removal of the wheel balance weight
23
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a circumferential retention shoulder formed in a surface of a vehicle wheel rim that cooperates with a wheel balance weight barb to retain the wheel balance weight upon the vehicle wheel.
Know wheel weights are crimped onto the outboard end of wheel rims. The crimped portion is unsightly. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a structure for attaching wheel weights to vehicle wheels with the attaching mechanism hidden from view. Additionally, it is possible to form a retention groove in the wheel rim to enhance the retention of wheel balance weights; however, such a retention groove requires a different structure for the wheel balance weight retaining clip. Accordingly it is necessary for tire stores to carry an inventory of different types of wheel balance weights. Therefore, it would also be desirable to utilize one type of wheel balance weight.
The present invention contemplates a vehicle wheel including an annular wheel rim having an outboard time bead retaining flange. A circumferential retention shoulder is formed in an inboard surface of the tire bead retaining flange. A circular wheel disc is formed across the outboard end of the wheel rim. The wheel disc is adapted to be attached to a vehicle.
It is further contemplated that the inventions includes a wheel balance weight mounted upon the wheel rim. The balance weight includes a retaining clip that extends over the tire bead retaining flange. The clip includes a member extending therefrom and against the retention shoulder. The member cooperates with the retention shoulder to secure the wheel balance weight to the wheel rim.
In the preferred embodiment, the retention shoulder includes an arcuate shaped surface. Additionally, the outboard tire bead retaining flange includes an inboard surface that is connected to the retention shoulder by a transition surface, the transition surface cooperating with the retention shoulder to define a retention recess. The retention recess receives the end of the wheel balance weight retention clip. In the preferred embodiment, the transition surface has an arcuate shape. Furthermore, the transition surface can include a cylindrical portion between the retention shoulder and the arcuate shaped portion thereof.
Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2202129 (1940-05-01), Turner
patent: 3890008 (1975-06-01), Lejeune
patent: 4720149 (1988-01-01), Thissen et al.
patent: 4728154 (1988-03-01), Boyle et al.
patent: 5228754 (1993-07-01), Rogers
patent: 5350220 (1994-09-01), Atwell, Jr.
patent: 5564791 (1996-10-01), Chase et al.
patent: 5733016 (1998-03-01), Brown
patent: B28660 (1956-06-01), None
patent: 954483 (1956-12-01), None

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