WHEEL MOUNTING GUIDE BAR

The disclosure is directed at a wheel mounting guide bar that is used to assist in the replacement of wheels on a vehicle. The guide bar includes a shaft portion; a sleeve portion, the sleeve portion sized to fit a stud on a wheel hub; and a connector connecting the shaft portion to the sleeve portion, the connector enabling the sleeve portion to move with respect to the shaft portion.

FIELD

The disclosure is directed generally at the automotive sector, and more specifically, at a wheel mounting guide bar.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles have been utilized for transportation purposes and recreational purposes for quite some time. Many vehicles include a set of wheels that assist the vehicle to travel or move from location to location over different terrain. Over time, the wheels may require replacement. This may be due to wear and tear on the tires, an accident experienced by the vehicle or damage to one of the wheels which render the wheel unusable.

In order to replace a wheel, a user has to unmount or remove the old wheel before mounting a replacement wheel to the wheel hub. Once the old wheel is removed, the user manually lifts the replacement wheel and then attempts to align the stud holes of the replacement wheel with corresponding studs on the wheel hub. Not only is the wheel heavy (which makes prolonged lifting difficult and onerous), the user can only rely on their eyesight to align the studs and stud holes. If it is not correctly aligned on the first attempt (which happens more often than not), the user must then remove the replacement wheel and try it again which results in more manual lifting. This is time consuming and may also result in injury as the user has to repeat the manual lifting of the heavy replacement wheel.

Therefore, there is provided a novel wheel mounting guide bar that provides assistance to a user when replacing a wheel.

SUMMARY

The disclosure is directed at a wheel mounting guide bar. In one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a wheel mounting guide bar including a shaft portion; a sleeve portion, the sleeve portion sized to fit a stud on a wheel hub; and a connector connecting the shaft portion to the sleeve portion, the connector enabling the sleeve portion to move with respect to the shaft portion.

In another aspect, the bar further includes a handle portion, the handle portion connected to the shaft portion at an end of the shaft portion opposite the sleeve portion. In yet another aspect, the bar further includes a second sleeve portion; and a second connector, the second connector connected the second sleeve portion to the shaft portion at an end of the shaft portion opposite the sleeve portion. In a further aspect, the bar further includes a guard portion, the guard portion surrounding a portion of the shaft portion. In yet another aspect, the guard portion is a rubber guide portion. In an aspect, the sleeve portion includes a hollow portion for receiving a stud located on a wheel hub of a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is directed at a wheel mounting guide bar that includes a handle or handle portion, a bar or shaft portion and a sleeve portion. While the term “wheel” generally refers to a rim and the term “tire” represents the rubber portion that is installed on the wheel or rim, for the following description, the term “wheel” will be used to represent the combination of a tire and rim.

In some embodiments, the sleeve portion is connected to the shaft portion via a swivel, joint or elbow connector whereby the sleeve portion can move or pivot with respect to the shaft portion. In some embodiments, the sleeve portion may be permanently attached to the shaft portion while, in other embodiments, the sleeve portion may be removable such that it can be replaced by another sleeve portion to accommodate different sized studs of different vehicle wheel hubs or based on damage to an existing sleeve portion. For the embodiments where the sleeve portion may be removable, the connection may be via a threaded connection. In some embodiments, the sleeve portion is designed to fit between a stud hole within a wheel and over the corresponding stud on the wheel hub.

Turning toFIG.1, a side view of a first embodiment of a wheel mounting guide bar is shown. The wheel mounting guide bar100ofFIG.1may be seen as an automotive guide bar.

The wheel mounting guide bar100includes a bar, or shaft, portion,102that has a handle portion104attached at one end and a sleeve portion106attached at an opposite end. The handle portion104may be rubberized to provide a more comfortable grip to a user of the guide bar100. In other embodiments, the handle portion104may be designed for safety and comfort whereby the handle portion104protects a user's hand from pinching if the replacement wheel slides back along the shaft portion102. In some embodiments, the handle portion can be removed and/or replaced.

The sleeve portion106is connected via a swivel, joint or elbow connector108either in a permanent or removable connection. For embodiments where the sleeve portion106can be removed or replaced, when required, such as to accommodate a different sized wheel nut or stud, the sleeve portion106may be connected to the shaft portion102via a threaded connection.FIG.4is a perspective view of a sleeve portion106connected to the shaft portion102via a permanent connector108(such as, but not limited to, a weld) whileFIGS.5aand5bare perspective views of a sleeve portion106connected to the shaft portion102via a threaded connector108(FIG.5a) and detached from the shaft portion102(FIG.5b).

The sleeve portion106includes an opening or hollow portion110(away from the connector108) that is sized to receive a stud or nut located on a wheel hub. A set of studs (and corresponding lug nuts) is used to keep a wheel mounted in place on the vehicle by attachment of a lug nut over each stud after the replacement wheel has been mounted. Depending on the type of vehicle and/or the size of the studs on the wheel hub, the hollow portions110are sized to fit these known sizes of studs. In some embodiments, the sleeve portion106is a specific size to be able to fit through the stud holes on the wheel, and over the studs on the hub.

In some embodiments, the wheel mounting guide bar100may be designed to work with European style wheel hubs where the sleeve portion is replaced by a guide pin. In these embodiments, the guide pin is inserted through the threaded stud holes on the wheel hub thereby guiding the replacement wheel onto the hub.

With respect to guide bar100, in a specific embodiment, a diameter of the shaft portion102is about 12 mm and a length of the shaft portion102is about 3 feet. In other embodiments, the diameter of the shaft portion102is designed to comfortably slide through a stud hole within the replacement wheel. As a length of the shaft portion102affects the leverage that a user can apply, the longer the shaft portion102, the easier it will be for the replacement wheel to be lifted by the user. A material of the shaft portion102is selected such that it is durable and/or dense enough to hold a weight of the replacement wheel, such as a dense metal. In some embodiments, the shaft portion102may include a protective plastic coating to avoid damage to the replacement wheel when being used.

In some embodiments, the hollow portion110of different sleeve portions106is sized to fit or receive 12 mm to 16 mm studs. In some embodiments, the sleeve portion106is made from a durable metal and may have a finished coating on its surface.

Design of the automotive wheel mounting guide bar100is such that it is able to withstand a weight of a heavy passenger truck wheel while being able to fit through smaller sized stud holes of smaller replacement wheels.

As will be understood, different guide bars may be manufactured for different sized vehicles makes and models where shaft length and diameter depend on vehicle and tire size. In other embodiments, the sleeve portion106may be of different circumferences depending on a size of stud and wheel stud holes that is designed to accommodate. In some embodiments, a cone shape is connected between the sleeve portion106and a swivel connector108to enable a smoother installation of a replacement wheel. In these embodiments, a diameter of the shaft portion and the connector may not be uniform with the sleeve portion which is a tapered cone shape to ensure the replacement wheel has a smooth transition from the shaft portion to the sleeve portion. This is described in more detail below.

In another embodiment of the guide bar100, the sleeve portion106may be interchangeable on the tool100to adapt to different size vehicles and studs whereby a single guide bar100can be connected to different sleeve portions so that only a single guide bar is able to handle multiple sizes of tire studs.

Turning toFIG.2, a side view of a second embodiment of a wheel mounting guide bar is shown. In the current embodiment, the wheel mounting guide bar200ofFIG.2may be seen as a commercial guide bar. The wheel mounting guide bar200includes a bar, or shaft portion,202that has a handle portion204that is attached at one end and a sleeve portion206attached at an opposite end. The sleeve portion206is connected via a swivel, joint or elbow connector208, either in a permanent connection or in a removable connection whereby the sleeve portion206can be changed when required, such as to accommodate a different sized wheel stud or nut. The sleeve portion206includes an opening or hollow portion210(away from the connector208) that is sized to receive a stud that is used to keep a wheel mounted in place.

With respect to the commercial guide bar inFIG.2, in one specific embodiment, a diameter of the shaft portion202is about 18 mm and a length of the shaft portion202is about 4 feet. The hollow portion210of the sleeve portion206may be sized to receive 18 mm to 22 mm studs. As will be understood, the sleeve portions206may be interchangeable such that the guide bar200can be used for different vehicle types and different stud sizes.

Turning toFIG.3, another embodiment of a wheel mounting guide bar is shown. The dual sleeve wheel mounting guide bar300ofFIG.3includes a bar, or shaft, portion302which is connected at both ends to sleeve portions304via joint, swivel or hinge connectors306. As with the sleeve portions described above, the sleeve portions304include hollow portions for mating with studs that are located on a wheel hub. In this embodiment, the user can grip the bar portion when using the guide bar300to replace a wheel.

In some embodiments, the size of the sleeve portions304are different such that the guide bar300may be suitable for use with two different sizes of studs without a need to exchange the sleeve portion304. The sleeve portions304may act as handle portions when the opposite sleeve portion304is in use. The shaft portion302may include a rubber cover or guard in order to provide an improved grip to a user or it may be uncovered. This guard can be moved along the shaft portion depending on what sleeve portion is needed or being used

This embodiment may be seen as a wheel mounting guide bar with an elongated metal shaft portion with swivel connectors and sleeve portions at both ends.

Turning toFIG.6a, a schematic diagram of a wheel mounting guide bar within an operational or wheel changing environment is provided. In the environment ofFIG.6a, it is assumed that the old wheel has already been removed from the vehicle.

Operation of a wheel mounting guide bar410, such as the automotive wheel mounting guide bar100, the commercial wheel mounting guide bar200or the dual sleeve wheel mounting guide bar300is now described. As shown inFIG.6a, the wheel mounting guide bar410is either the automotive wheel mounting guide bar100or the commercial wheel mounting guide bar200.

Prior to installation or mounting, the new or replacement wheel400is placed in a position substantially parallel to a wheel hub402of a vehicle. Although not shown, the wheel hub402is attached to a vehicle within a wheel well of the vehicle. The wheel hub402includes a set of studs404which equal or correspond with a set of holes (which may also be seen as stud holes)406within a rim408of the wheel400.

After positioning the replacement wheel400, the user can then slide or direct the wheel mounting guide bar410through one of the holes406. InFIG.6a, the wheel mounting guide bar410has been slid through a top stud hole. For wheel mounting guide bars100or200, the user may hold the guide bar410via the handle portion and then direct the sleeve portion of the guide bar410through the hole406until it connects or mates with the corresponding stud404on the wheel hub402. For the dual sleeve guide bar, the user may determine which sleeve portion is sized to fit with the studs404of the wheel hub402and then directs that sleeve portion through the hole406until it connects or mates with the corresponding stud. As discussed above, the sleeve portion or portions of each of the guide bars is/are sized to fit within or through a stud hole in the replacement wheel and over the corresponding stud on the wheel hub.

As shown inFIG.6a, when the sleeve portion is placed over the stud, the shaft portion412is positioned within the stud hole406. As the connector between the shaft portion and the sleeve portion is able to pivot, swivel or move or enables the sleeve portion to pivot, swivel or move with respect to the shaft portion, a position of the sleeve portion can be more easily manipulated. This is helpful when the stud holes and the studs are not perfectly aligned from a horizontal standpoint.

As schematically shown inFIG.6b, once the sleeve portion has been connected over the stud, the user lifts the shaft portion (for example in the direction of arrow414, such as by lifting the bar410via the handle portion (guide bars100and200) or the opposite sleeve portion (guide bar300) to direct the replacement wheel400towards the wheel hub in the direction of arrow416. It is understood that a user may also grip the shaft portion of the bar410to lift the replacement wheel. Based on that leveraging and gravity, the replacement wheel may then slide down the shaft portion and over the sleeve portion towards the wheel hub facilitating the mounting of the remaining studs holes onto their corresponding studs on the wheel hub. In one embodiment, after the replacement wheel400has slid down the shaft portion, the user may push the replacement wheel over the wheel hub whereby the studs pass through their corresponding stud holes such that the stud locks, or lug nuts, may be fastened to the studs.FIG.6cprovides a perspective view of the wheel mounting guide bar in an operational environment.

Turning toFIG.7, a perspective view of another embodiment of a sleeve portion connected to a shaft portion is shown. As can be seen, the shaft portion102is connected via a connector108to the sleeve portion106. The connector108includes a hinged connector portion700that allows the shaft portion102and the sleeve portion106to pivot or move with respect to each other.

Turning toFIG.8, a perspective view of another embodiment of a wheel mounting guide bar is shown. In the current embodiment, the guide bar800includes a handle portion802, a shaft portion804and a sleeve portion806. The sleeve portion806is connected to the shaft portion804via a connector808that enables the sleeve portion806to pivot or swivel with respect to the shaft portion804.

In one embodiment, the wheel mounting guide tool410is used to alleviate the struggle of mounting a replacement wheel onto a wheel hub. Using leverage to lift the replacement wheel, minimizes or reduces the likelihood of injuries due to the need for a user to lift the entire weight of the replacement wheel with their arms. Using a wheel mounting guide tool410of the disclosure to guide the replacement wheel into the proper position not only minimizes or reduces the likelihood of injury, use of the guide tool may also increase the ease of which the replacement wheel falls into position with respect to the wheel hub. In some embodiments, the sleeve portion may also act as a centering pin if the user leaves the guide tool410in place over the stud while torquing up or tightening the surrounding nuts on other studs before removing the guide bar410.

Applicants reserve the right to pursue any embodiments or sub-embodiments disclosed in this application; to claim any part, portion, element and/or combination thereof of the disclosed embodiments, including the right to disclaim any part, portion, element and/or combination thereof of the disclosed embodiments; or to replace any part, portion, element and/or combination thereof of the disclosed embodiments.