Patent ID: 8011738
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: B60B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A fabricated bead seat attached vehicle wheel comprising: a wheel rim including an inboard tire bead seat retaining flange, an inner tire bead seat, a well, an outer tire bead seat, and an outboard tire bead seat retaining flange; and a wheel disc joined to said wheel rim and defining a wheel axis, said wheel disc including a generally centrally located wheel mounting portion and an outer annular portion which defines a wheel disc outer flange; wherein said wheel disc outer annular flange is segmented around a circumference thereof and includes at least a first plurality of segments and a second plurality of segments, said first plurality of segments extending a first axial distance relative to an adjacent outer surface of said wheel disc and said second plurality of segments extending a second axial distance relative to said adjacent outer surface of said wheel disc which is less than said first axial distance; wherein each of said plurality of first segments extends a first circumferential distance and each of said second plurality of segments extends a second circumferential distance which is less than said first circumferential distance; wherein each of said first plurality of segments further includes a generally axially extending inner side surface, and a generally radially extending end surface, and each of said second plurality of segments further includes a generally axially extending inner side surface, and a generally radially extending end surface; wherein said radially extending end surface of each of said second plurality of segments is spaced inwardly an axial distance relative to said radially extending end surface of each of said first plurality of segments; wherein said radially extending end surface of each of said first plurality of segments engages an inner surface of an angled sidewall of said well of said wheel rim and said radially extending end surface of each of said second plurality of segments is spaced apart a distance from said inner surface of said angled sidewall of said well of said wheel rim; and wherein said radially extending end surface of said second plurality of segments is spaced apart said distance from said inner surface of said angled sidewall of said well of said wheel rim to define a space therebetween for receiving a weld between each respective radially extending end surface of said second plurality of segments and an inner surface of said outer tire bead seat to thereby secure said wheel rim and said wheel disc together.