RIM PROTECTOR AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

The present disclosure is directed to a device and a method of using the device. The device includes a substantially circular ring dimensioned to extend around an outer flange of an automobile rim, the substantially circular ring comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, an adhesive that covers at least a portion of the first surface and a first post extending substantially orthogonally from the first surface of the substantially circular ring, the first post configured to extend into a space between the outer flange and an automobile tire.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Typical automobile rims can be damaged by scraping or rubbing against fixed objects, such as curbs. This damage can easily occur and can be expensive to fix.

What is desired is a device and method for protecting an automobile's rim from damage. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods that address the above and other issues.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed to a device and a method of using the device. The device includes a substantially circular ring dimensioned to extend around an outer flange of an automobile rim, the substantially circular ring comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, an adhesive that covers at least a portion of the first surface and a first post extending substantially orthogonally from the first surface of the substantially circular ring, the first post configured to extend into a space between the outer flange and an automobile tire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

In the discussion and claims herein, the term “about” indicates that the value listed may be somewhat altered, as long as the alteration does not result in nonconformance of the process or structure to the illustrated embodiment. For example, for some elements the term “about” can refer to a variation of ±0.1%, for other elements, the term “about” can refer to a variation of ±1% or ±10%, or any point therein.

As used herein, the term “substantially”, or “substantial”, is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, a surface that is “substantially” flat would either be completely flat, or so nearly flat that the effect would be the same as if it were completely flat.

As used herein terms such as “a”, “an” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration.

As used herein, terms defined in the singular are intended to include those terms defined in the plural and vice versa.

As used herein, the term “automobile” and/or “automotive” and grammatical variants thereof, refer to any motor vehicle (gasoline and/or electrically powered) including light and heavy vehicles such as a car, truck, sports utility vehicle (SUV), van, bus, snowmobile, all terrain vehicle (ATV), scooter, motorcycle, tractor, construction vehicle, military vehicle, and the like.

As used herein, the term “tire” refers to a covering for the outwardly facing surface of a rim that acts as an intermediary between the wheel and the ground surface over against which the wheel assembly turns, and can be subject to internal inflation pressure, or not, during use.

As used herein, the term “rim” refers to a substantially cylindrical rigid structure upon which a tire or tire sections mount or are otherwise secured.

An embodiment of the claimed device is shown inFIG. 1, which is a view of a portion of an automobile2, which has a tire4extending around a rim6, wherein a device8is attached to a portion of the rim6. As typical, the rim6is substantially circular. The device8can be dimensioned for the size of the rim6, with the device8being a substantially circular ring9dimensioned to extend around an outer flange of the rim6.

The substantially circular ring9of the device8can be a single piece, or multiple pieces joined together. The substantially circular ring9of the device8can be formed of any suitable material, such as metal, carbon based materials, plastics, rubbers, and combinations thereof. Also, the substantially circular ring9of the device8can be coated or painted to be any suitable color and finish.

A cross section along line2is shown inFIG. 2, without the automobile2being shown. Although only a portion of the device8can be seen, all cross sections of the device8are substantially the same or substantially similar.

FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view along the line ‘2’ ofFIG. 1. As seen inFIG. 2, the tire4extends around the rim6in a typical way, such that a portion of the tire4extends to an internal area of the rim6, past an outer flange14of the rim6. A tread12of the tire4is configured to contact a road surface (not shown). The device8extends around the outer flange14of the rim6and can be (although not shown inFIG. 2) the furthest point in the direction of arrow7, which is pointing away from the automobile (shown inFIG. 1).

Although in this view the device8extends around the outer flange14of the rim6, in other embodiments, the device8can be dimensioned to extend around another portion of the rim6that is further, or less far, that the outer flange14in the direction of arrow7.

A magnified view of the device8and the rim6is shown inFIG. 4, in the area of box3′ ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 3illustrates the tire4interacting with the rim6. As seen inFIG. 3, the substantially circular ring9has a substantially rectangular cross-section, but, in other embodiments, the substantially circular ring9can be curved, oval shaped, another polygon, having 3, 5, 6, or more sides, or an erratic shape.

The substantially circular ring9includes a first surface16and a second surface18, which is opposite to the first surface. As can be seen partially inFIG. 2, and more so inFIG. 1, the second surface18is substantially smooth, and in this embodiment, does not include any protrusions in a direction opposite to arrow7. In other embodiments, the second surface18can include one or more protrusions in a direction opposite to arrow7.

Referring toFIG. 3, in this view, an adhesive20is shown as covering a portion of the first surface16. In other embodiments, the adhesive20can cover substantially all, or all of the first surface16. This adhesive20can be any suitable material that can secure the substantially circular ring9to the flange14, such as any suitable epoxy, glue, resin, and/or acrylic adhesive. Although not shown, a film can extend over the adhesive10, so that during the device8can be handled without the adhesive20being exposed.

In this view the first post10can also be seen, extending substantially orthogonally from the first surface16of the substantially circular ring9. The first post10is configured to extend into the space between the outer flange14and the tire4and can be any suitable shape and size to extend into this space. Although not shown, an adhesive (which can be the same or different from adhesive20) can extend over any portion of the first post10.

FIG. 4is a perspective view of the device8, separate from the rim and tire. This view is of the first surface16, which includes the first post10. In this view, neither the adhesive nor the film covering the adhesive are shown.

Optionally, the device8can include a second post22, extending substantially orthogonally from the first surface16of the substantially circular ring9.

The second post22is configured to extend into the space between the outer flange and the tire (shown inFIGS. 2 and 3) and can be any suitable shape and size to extend into this space. Although not shown, an adhesive (which can be the same or different from adhesive20) can extend over any portion of the second post22.

Two imaginary dashed lines23are seen inFIG. 4, and demonstrate about 180° of circumference of the substantially circular ring9. As can be seen inFIG. 4, both the first post10and the second post22are within the 180° portion of the substantially circular ring9, with the first post10being less than 180° from the second post22along the circumference of the substantially circular ring9.

Optionally, the device8can include both the second post22and a third post24, with the third post24extending substantially orthogonally from the first surface16of the substantially circular ring9.

The third post24is configured to extend into the space between the outer flange and the tire (shown inFIGS. 2 and 3) and can be any suitable shape and size to extend into this space. Although not shown, an adhesive (which can be the same or different from adhesive20) can extend over any portion of the third post24.

Referring again to the two dashed lines23seen inFIG. 4, each of the first post10, the second post22and the third post24are within the 180° portion of the substantially circular ring9, with the first post10being less than 180° from both of the second post22and the third post24along the circumference of the substantially circular ring9.

Although the first post10, the second post22and the third post24are being in specific locations on the substantially circular ring9, they can be placed in any suitable position about the substantially circular ring9.

As also shown inFIG. 4, a weighted portion26of the substantially circular ring9is shown, substantially near the bottom of the substantially circular ring9, and substantially opposite the first post10. This weighted portion26can be an embedded portion, within the cross-sectional area of the substantially circular ring9, and can substantially offset the weight of one or more of the first post10, the second post22and the third post24.

In other embodiments, the weighted portion26can be a weight attached to a surface of the substantially circular ring9, substantially near the bottom of the substantially circular ring9, and substantially opposite the first post10. This weighted portion26can be external to the cross-sectional area of the substantially circular ring9, and can substantially offset the weight of one or more of the first post10, the second post22and the third post24.

A method for applying the device8to a rim6will now be discussed in reference toFIGS. 1-4.

First, a user can remove a film from the adhesive20and then the user can insert the first post10into the space between the outer flange14and the tire4. Next, the user can apply a pressure to the second surface18, towards the outer flange14, around at least a portion of the circumference of the substantially circular ring9.

In this embodiment, the first post10, prior to the application of pressure to the second surface18, can substantially support the weight of the substantially circular ring9, and can also substantially maintain an alignment between the circumference of the substantially circular ring9and the circumference of the outer flange14.

In another embodiment, prior to application of pressure to the second surface18, the user can insert both the first post10and the second post22into the space between the outer flange14and the tire4. Next, the user can apply a pressure to the second surface18, towards the outer flange14, around at least a portion of the circumference of the substantially circular ring9.

In this embodiment, both the first post10and the second post22, prior to the application of pressure to the second surface18, can substantially support the weight of the substantially circular ring9, and can also substantially maintain an alignment between the circumference of the substantially circular ring9and the circumference of the outer flange14.

In another embodiment, prior to application of pressure to the second surface18, the user can insert each of the first post10, the second post22and the third post24into the space between the outer flange14and the tire4. Next, the user can apply a pressure to the second surface18, towards the outer flange14, around at least a portion of the circumference of the substantially circular ring9.

In this embodiment, each of the first post10, the second post22and the third post24, prior to the application of pressure to the second surface18, can substantially support the weight of the substantially circular ring9, and can also substantially maintain an alignment between the circumference of the substantially circular ring9and the circumference of the outer flange14.

After a period of time the substantially circular ring9can be removed from the rim6though application of any suitable adhesive remover (such as a solvent, acid, or other material) can be applied to the adhesive20, such that adhesive20substantially releases the substantially circular ring9from the rim6.

This removal of the device8can occur after the device8is damaged, such as by scraping the device8on a curb during parking of the automobile. Thus, the device8acts as a protector of the material of the rim6, protecting the rim6from damage due to impacts with other objects.

The described embodiments and examples of the present disclosure are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, and are not intended to represent every embodiment or example of the present disclosure. While the fundamental novel features of the disclosure as applied to various specific embodiments thereof have been shown, described and pointed out, it will also be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the disclosure may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. Further, various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims both literally and in equivalents recognized in law.