Abstract:
A rim flange trim ring adapted to be attached to a rim flange adapted to support a tire, the rim including a cylindrical body portion including a first end and a second end, the first and second ends each terminating in a radially outward extending rim. The rim flange trim ring includes a generally annular body having a U-shaped cross-section, and the rim flange trim ring is adapted to be placed on and to receive the rim flange.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to a rim of a vehicle wheel and tire assembly, and, more specifically, to devices and methods for repairing a wheel&#39;s rim flanges. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A wheel and tire assembly includes a wheel or rim, and a tire that is supported on the rim. A rim flange is the part of the wheel that supports the tire bead in a lateral direction. Usually, wheels and rim flanges for vehicles such as bicycles, cars, or trucks are made of steel, aluminum, or other metal. In some instances, bright rims are used, which are rims of a light, bright color. Although attractive and decorative, bright wheels can readily show damage or corrosion on the rim flanges. 
         [0003]    Moisture and oxygen in surrounding air can exert a corrosive effect on the rim. Vibration of the tire and the elevated temperature due to the vibrations make the environment even more severe such that the corrosion on the rim is accelerated. Further, the tire that is mounted on the rim is often made of vulcanized rubber containing sulfur-based compounds. The sulfur-containing compounds within the tire can generate a corrosive environment, which can further contribute to rim corrosion. In addition, the moving wheel assembly can get into contact with moisture on the ground (and air), which further contributes to the corrosion process. 
         [0004]    Currently, rim corrosion or damage is remedied by replacing with a new wheel. In order to replace the wheel, a qualified technician will generally first hoist the vehicle, remove the wheel and tire assembly from the vehicle, dismount the tire, remove a tire pressure monitoring sensor if applicable, acquire a new wheel, install a new tire valve, install the tire pressure monitoring sensor if applicable, mount the tire, balance the wheel and tire assembly, and install the wheel and tire assembly back onto the vehicle. 
         [0005]    Replacing the wheel in this fashion involves tedious and time-consuming tasks. And even if only a small portion of the rim flange is corroded, the complete rim replacement increases costs and rim material waste. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is a need for devices, systems, and methods that can repair the rim flange without a need to replace the entire wheel. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present disclosure discloses a rim flange trim ring adapted to be attached to a wheel&#39;s rim. The rim flange trim ring includes a generally annular body having a U-shaped cross-section, and the rim flange trim ring is adapted to be placed on and to receive the rim flange. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the vehicle wheel assembly further includes a sealant or adhesive applied to the rim flange trim ring such that the sealant or adhesive is in contact with the flange. In some embodiments, the sealant or adhesive is silicone. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the circumference of the rim flange trim ring may include a radial seam. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the U-shaped rim flange trim ring may include a locking mechanism to secure the U-shaped rim flange trim ring to the rim flange. The locking mechanism can include at least one seam, barb, or at least one dimple or depression, at the outer, or inner, diameter of the rim flange trim ring. The locking mechanism can also include at least one seam in the lateral direction at the outer, or inner, diameter of the rim flange trim ring. 
         [0011]    The present disclosure also discloses a method for repairing an aesthetically unacceptable appearance of a rim flange of a wheel. The method includes placing a substantially ring shaped rim flange trim ring having a substantially U-shaped cross-section on at least a portion of the rim flange. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the method further includes cleaning, sanding scraping, or scuffing the flange. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the method further includes applying a sealant or adhesive to the rim flange trim ring such that the sealant or adhesive is in contact with the rim flange. The sealant or adhesive can be a bead of silicone in some embodiments. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the rim flange trim ring is provided as a single circular ring without a seam. In other embodiments, the rim flange trim ring is provided with a seam. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0015]    The disclosure and the following detailed description of certain embodiments thereof may be understood with reference to the following figures: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle wheel and tire assembly in accordance with the present disclosure, illustrating a portion of a rim flange trim ring placed on a rim flange. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle wheel assembly of FIG. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of a rim flange and rim flange trim ring, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of optional constructions of rim flange trim ring. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the following description of the present disclosure is illustrative and not limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the disclosure will readily be suggested to those skilled in the art. It shall be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the apparatus/device described hereinafter may vary as to configuration and as to details. In addition, the methods disclosed hereafter may also vary as to details, order of the steps, or other variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0021]    In general, this disclosure is directed to methods and devices for repairing a rim flange of a vehicle wheel assembly. The disclosed methods and devices provide an aesthetically acceptable appearance to a rim flange that is aesthetically unacceptable due to presence of corrosion on at least some portion of the rim flange. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle wheel and tire assembly  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle wheel and tire assembly  100  includes a tire  102 , a wheel  104 , and a rim flange trim ring  106 . 
         [0023]    As is commonly known by a person ordinarily skilled in the art, the tire  102  is a ring shaped member that is configured to provide a flexible cushion to the vehicle wheel assembly  100  and keep it in contact with the ground. The tire  102  can be made of synthetic rubber, natural rubber, fabric, wood, metal, and several other materials including various types of chemicals without limitations. The tire  102  may also include metal wires that are configured to resist wear and tear of the tire  102 . It must be appreciated by a person ordinarily skilled in the art that various types of tires as are conventionally used or sold in the market can be employed for the purposes of the present disclosure. 
         [0024]    The wheel  104  is configured to support the tire  102  circumferentially such that an outer surface of the tire  102  is on an inner surface of the rim flanges of the wheel  104 . The wheel  104  has a flat and substantially ring shaped structure designed preferably to facilitate support of the tire. The wheel  104  includes a base portion  108 , which provides support to the tire  102  such that the tire  102  is held firmly on the base portion  108 . In some embodiments, the tire  102  is held on the wheel  104  by an internal tire force exerted by an air pressure of the tire  102 . 
         [0025]    The wheel  104  further includes the rim flange  112  extending radially outward from the base portion  108 . The rim flange  112  of the wheel  104  extends along the complete rim circumference. The rim flange  112  has an outer surface facing outward from a center of the vehicle wheel assembly  100 , and an inner surface facing inward toward the center of the vehicle wheel assembly  100 . 
         [0026]    As discussed above, the vehicle wheel assembly  100  further includes the rim flange trim ring  106 . The rim flange trim ring  106  is a substantially annular body having a U-shaped cross-section configured to be mounted on and cover at least a portion of the flange  112  of the wheel  104 .  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, of the vehicle wheel assembly  100 , with a portion of the rim flange trim ring  106  removed in order to illustrate the flange trim ring  106  on the rim flange  112 . As discussed below, the rim flange trim ring  106 , in the preferred embodiment, is intended to cover the entire rim flange  112 . In other less preferred embodiments (not shown), only a portion of the rim flange  112  may be covered by the flange trim ring  106 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2 , an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 1 . Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4 , the rim flange trim ring  106  is described in greater detail. The rim flange trim ring  106  is substantially an annular body having a U-shaped cross-section having a first wall portion  302  and a second wall portion  304  and an adjoining portion  306  extending from and joining the first wall portion  302  and the second wall portion  304 . The first wall portion  302 , the second wall portion  304 , and the adjoining portion  306  form an integral part of the same rim flange trim ring  106 . The rim flange trim ring  106  has a U-shaped cross section. The rim flange trim ring  106  is configured to be mounted on and cover at least a portion of the rim flange  112  of the wheel  104 . 
         [0028]    In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the first wall portion  302  of the rim flange trim ring  106  is configured to fit onto the outer surface of the rim flange  112 , and the second wall portion  304  of the rim flange trim ring  106  is configured to fit onto the inner surface of the rim flange  112 , such that at least a portion of the rim flange  112  is covered by the rim flange trim ring  106 . 
         [0029]    In accordance with an embodiment, the rim flange trim ring  106  may be manufactured and formed, stamped or extruded from a metal sheet constituting the material desired for the rim flange trim ring  106 , such that the appearance of the flange cover appears to match the appearance of the wheel  104 . Or it may intentionally be mismatched in color and brightness in order to enhance the wheel aesthetically. 
         [0030]    In accordance with an embodiment, the rim flange trim ring  106  may be manufactured by injection molding or extrusion from plastic constituting the material desired for the rim flange trim ring  106 , such that the appearance of the flange cover appears to match the appearance of the wheel  104 . Or it may intentionally be mismatched in color and brightness in order to enhance the wheel aesthetically. 
         [0031]    A locking design feature may be manufactured to facilitate locking of the rim flange trim ring  106  to the rim flange  112 . In some embodiments, the locking design feature may include at least one seam, barb, dimple or depression (referred to as a first barb  308 ) at an inner, or outer, diameter of the rim flange trim ring  106 . In accordance with various other embodiments, another locking feature may be employed for locking the rim flange trim ring  106  onto the rim flange  112 . Further, various conventionally used locking or snap fitting features may be employed. In some embodiments, the rim flange trim ring  106  is a single segment having a first end and a second end. In other embodiments, the rim flange trim ring  106  may comprises of a contiguous, circumferential ring of material. 
         [0032]    The rim flange trim ring  106  is manufactured in a form such that the rim flange trim ring  106  is a single complete ring without a seam. When a complete ring is used, the rim flange trim ring  106  may be made of a metalic material, or a plastic material, so that the rim flange trim ring  106  can be press-fit into position on the rim flange  112 . 
         [0033]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the vehicle wheel assembly  100  further comprising a sealant or adhesive  402  applied to the rim flange trim ring  106 , such that the sealant  402  is in contact with the rim flange  112 . In an embodiment, the sealant or adhesive  402  includes a bead of silicone. In accordance with several other embodiments, various other types of sealants or adhesives can be utilized without limiting the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the sealant or adhesive  402  can be applied as an adhesive, spray, coating, thin film, bead, and the like. The sealant  402  is configured to protect the flange surface from the main causes of corrosion or rusting, such as moisture, air, salt, and the like. It must be appreciated by a person ordinarily skilled in the art that the sealant or adhesive  402  can be disposed at either or one of the sides in accordance with some alternative embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         [0034]    The method for repairing an aesthetically unacceptable appearance of the rim flange  112  of a vehicle includes placing the rim flange trim ring  106  having a substantially u-shaped cross-section on at least a portion of the rim flange  112 . The rim flange trim ring  106  can be custom designed so it can be placed on a rim flange  112  of various sizes. Further, the rim flange trim ring  106  can be customized for different vehicle wheel assemblies such as for a bicycle, bike, motorcycle, car, truck, RV, and the like. 
         [0035]    The method further includes securing the rim flange trim ring  106  on at least a portion of the rim flange  112 . In accordance with some embodiments, the rim flange trim ring  106  can be fixed with the use of a dead-blow hammer or a rubber mallet, as are conventionally available. In some embodiments, the mallet or hammer is made of a rubber or any other similar material that is configured to push the rim flange trim ring  106  onto the rim flange  112  hard enough to secure it firmly without causing any damage, such as scratch, to the rim flange trim ring  106  or the rim flange  112 . 
         [0036]    In some embodiments, the method may also include cleaning, sanding, scraping, or scuffing the rim flange  112 . The process of cleaning, sanding, scraping, or scuffing is done to remove corrosion, or excess paint and wheel material present on the rim flange  112  or a portion of the rim flange  112 . The process of cleaning, sanding, scraping, or scuffing is performed prior to placing of the rim flange trim ring  106  onto the rim flange  112 . In some embodiments, cleaning, sanding, scraping, or scuffing can be done using a cleaning or sanding pad, or sandpaper of any desired type as is conventionally available. 
         [0037]    In some embodiments, the method may also include applying a sealant or adhesive, such as the sealant or adhesive  402  as discussed in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , to the rim flange or rim flange trim ring such that the sealant or adhesive  402  is in contact with the flange  112 . In an embodiment, the sealant or adhesive  402  includes a bead of silicone. In accordance with several other embodiments, various other types of sealants or adhesives can be utilized without limiting the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the sealant or adhesive  402  can be applied as an adhesive, spray, coating, thin film, bead, and the like. The sealant or adhesive  402  is configured to protect the flange surface from main causes of corrosion or rusting such as moisture, air, salt, and the like. 
         [0038]    In some embodiments, the method further includes locking the rim flange trim ring  106  onto the rim flange  112  at least one of its end portions. The step of locking can be performed through a locking feature provided to facilitate locking of the rim flange trim ring  106  to the rim flange  112 . In some embodiments, the locking feature may include at least one seam, barb, dimple or depression (referred to as the first barb  308 ) at the inner or outer diameter of the rim flange trim ring  106  and/or at least one seam, barb, dimple or depression (referred to as the second barb  310 ) at the outer or inner diameter of the rim flange trim ring  106 . In accordance with various other embodiments (not shown), an indentation, a protrusion, or any other locking feature may be employed for locking the rim flange trim ring  106  onto the rim flange  112 . Further, various conventionally locking, press-fitting or snap fitting features may be employed. 
         [0039]    It must be understood that the foregoing description is suited for various types of vehicle wheel assemblies that are available in the market conventionally or will be available in the market in future. Further, the foregoing description is suited for various types of vehicles such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, aircrafts, trucks, cargo buses, or any other types of wheeled or railed devices. 
         [0040]    As is discussed in detail above, an advantage of the present disclosure is that it provides methods and devices to repair the vehicle wheel assembly, the rim flange, a portion of the wheel without replacing the wheel, or the portion of wheel completely. 
         [0041]    Another advantage of the present disclosure is that it provides methods and devices to repair the vehicle wheel assembly, the rim flange, or a portion of the wheel in a timely manner and cost effectively. 
         [0042]    It is to be understood that the foregoing description is a detailed description of the illustrative embodiments only. The scope of the claims is not limited to these specific embodiments. Various elements, details, execution of methods, and uses can differ from those described above. The scope of the disclosure is determined by the following claims and their legal equivalents. 
         [0043]    While the disclosure has been disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present disclosure is not to be limited by the foregoing examples, but it is to be understood in the broadest sense allowable by law.