Wheel structure

Details Wheel structure Wheel structure

2002-06-12

2003-11-11

Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)

Land vehicles: wheels and axles

Wheel

Rim

C301S095110, C301S063103, C152S37800R

Reexamination Certificate

active

06644756

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-185578 filed on Jun. 19, 2001 the entire contents thereof is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wheel structure for further enhancing the rigidity of the wheel.
2. Description of Background Art
A wheel structure of a vehicle, particularly an all-terrain vehicle, is set forth, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 62-71003, entitled “Minor-Diameter and Wide Wheel.”
In
FIGS. 1 and 2
of the above-mentioned publication, the minor-diameter and wide wheel in which discs
15
a,
15
b
which are the respective bottoms of two cup-shaped rim halves
2
A,
2
B (characters and reference numbers used in the publication are used as they are) are united with the edges of these rim halves
2
A,
2
B, respectively, curled in the reverse shape of a U and with ears
11
a,
11
b
being formed.
The minor-diameter and wide wheel is a wheel wherein the width, that is, the rim width of which (the distance between the inner surface
23
of the ear
11
a
and the inner surface
23
of the ear
11
b
) is large, compared with the diameter, for example, the outside diameters of beads
12
a,
12
b.
For such a wheel, it is estimated that when external force acts upon the wheel from a tire, the flexure of the side of each ear
11
a,
11
b
becomes larger, compared with the flexure of the side of each disc
15
a,
15
b
because the distance from each disc
15
a,
15
b,
respectively, attached to the side of a vehicle body to each bead
12
a,
12
b
for holding a tire is large. Therefore, it is desirable that the rigidity of the side of the ears
11
a,
11
b
is higher. However, in the case where the rim halves
2
A,
2
B are thickened to enhance the rigidity, the weight is increased.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a wheel structure wherein the rigidity of the wheel is enhanced without increasing the weight.
To achieve the object of the present invention a wheel is formed with a disc and a rim wherein a larger-diameter part, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter in the center, is provided at the edge of the rim via a part having a difference in a level. A curled part is provided on both edges of the rim by curling the larger-diameter part. The end of the curled part is in contact with the part having a difference in a level.
The part having a difference in a level is provided to the rim wherein the rigidity of the side of the edge of the rim can be enhanced. As a result, the rigidity of the whole wheel can be more enhanced.
The present invention includes a protrusion that is formed for reinforcement that protrudes inside a curled part.
As the protrusion for reinforcement is formed, the rigidity of a wheel can be more enhanced by a part having a difference in a level and a protrusion.
The present invention is based upon a wheel formed by a disc and a rim and includes a protrusion for reinforcement that is formed at both edges of a rim and a curled part that is formed at the edges.
As the protrusion for reinforcement is formed in the rim, the rigidity of both edges of the rim can be enhanced by a simple structure and as a result, the rigidity of the whole wheel can be enhanced.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.


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