Shield for a rim of a vehicle wheel

A shield for a rim of a vehicle wheel for covering a rim during treatment of a tire mounted on the rim includes a panel that is circularly shaped and rigid. The panel is dimensioned such that the panel is configured to abut to a rim of a vehicle wheel to substantially cover the rim while leaving a tire attached to the rim exposed for treatment. A brace is pivotally coupled to the panel proximate to a center of the panel. The brace is configured to extend between the panel and a surface upon which the vehicle wheel rests, retaining the panel in abutment to the rim of the vehicle wheel. The improvement is the brace positioned on the panel, allowing the panel to be retained in abutment to the rim without further action by a user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure and prior art relates to shields and more particularly pertains to a new shield for covering a rim during treatment of a tire mounted on the rim.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a panel that is circularly shaped and rigid. The panel is dimensioned such that the panel is configured to abut to a rim of a vehicle wheel to substantially cover the rim while leaving a tire attached to the rim exposed for treatment. A brace is pivotally coupled to the panel proximate to a center of the panel. The brace is configured to extend between the panel and a surface upon which the vehicle wheel rests, retaining the panel in abutment to the rim of the vehicle wheel. The improvement is the brace positioned on the panel, allowing the panel to be retained in abutment to the rim without further action by a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 6, the shield for a rim of a vehicle wheel10generally comprises a panel12that is circularly shaped and rigid. The panel12is dimensioned such that the panel12is configured to abut to a rim of a vehicle wheel to substantially cover the rim while leaving a tire attached to the rim exposed for treatment. In one embodiment, the panel12is domed, such that an outer surface14of the panel12is concavely shaped.

A brace16is pivotally coupled to the panel12proximate to a center18of the panel12. The brace16is positioned on the panel12and is configured to extend between the panel12and a surface upon which the vehicle wheel rests to retain the panel12in abutment to the rim of the vehicle wheel.

In one embodiment, the brace16comprises a first rod20that is pivotally coupled to the panel12, a second rod22that is selectively extensible from the first rod20, and a plate24that is pivotally coupled to a terminus26of the second rod22distal from the first rod20. The second rod22is positioned to extend from the first rod20such that the plate24is configured to rest substantially horizontally on the surface upon which the vehicle wheel rests. The first rod20and the second rod22are configured to retain the panel12in abutment to the rim of the vehicle wheel.

A wall28is coupled to and extends transversely from a perimeter30of the panel12, defining a circumference32of the wall28. The wall28is positioned on the panel12such that the circumference32is configured to abut to the rim. The wall28extends from the panel12such that the wall28is substantially perpendicular to the rim of the vehicle wheel when the circumference32is abutted to the rim.

A handle34is coupled to and positioned on the panel12. The handle34is positioned on the panel12and is configured to be grasped by a hand of a user to place the panel12in abutment to the rim for the treatment of the tire. The handle34also is configured to be grasped by the hand of the user to remove the panel12from the rim upon completion of the treatment of the tire. The handle34is positioned proximate to the center18of the panel12. The handle34comprises a pair of first bars36, which is coupled to and extends transversely from the panel12, and a second bar38that is coupled to and extends between the first bars36distal from the panel12. The second bar38is positioned on the first bars36such that the handle34is configured for insertion of fingers of the hand of the user between the panel12and the second bar38.

A gasket40is coupled to the circumference32of the wall28. The gasket40is positioned on the wall28and is configured to reversibly and sealably couple the wall28to the rim of the vehicle wheel, such that materials employed by the user in the treatment of the tire attached to the rim do not come into contact with the rim. The gasket40is pliable.

The present invention also anticipates a plurality of images positioned on the panel12.

In use, the handle34is positioned on the panel12such that the handle34is configured to be grasped by the hand of the user to place the panel12in abutment to the rim. The panel12substantially covers the rim while leaving the tire attached to the rim exposed for the treatment of the tire. The handle34also is configured to be grasped by the hand of the user to remove the panel12from the rim upon completion of the treatment of the tire. The second rod22is positioned to extend from the first rod20, and the plate24is configured to rest substantially horizontally on the surface upon which the vehicle wheel rests. The first rod20and the second rod22are configured to retain the panel12in abutment to the rim of the vehicle wheel without further action by the user.