Patent ID: 6460938
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: B60B,Y10T

Abstract:
A vehicle wheel comprising:a one-piece universal backbone wheel cast from a light-weight metal, said wheel adapted to be mounted upon a plurality of vehicles, said wheel comprising a generally cylindrical wheel rim adapted to carry a vehicle tire, said wheel rim having an outboard end and an inboard end, said wheel rim including a deep well formed between said outboard and inboard ends, said deep well defining a deep well wall which is adjacent to said outboard end of said wheel rim, said wheel also having a central hub supported within said rim by a plurality of radially extending spokes, said spokes having a generally arcuate shape with one end of each spoke terminating upon said hub and the other end of each spoke terminating on said deep well wall whereby the spoke forms a generally radial arch between said hub and said deep well wall and the amount of material included in an outboard wheel sidewall is minimized while providing sufficient strength to support a vehicle; and a styled plastic wheel face molded directly upon at least a portion of said wheel disc, such that said styled plastic wheel face provides a pleasing esthetic appearance to the wheel.