Abstract:
A vehicle wheel adapter system for mounting different wheel hubs with protruding lugs, while allowing for quick assembly and disassembly can comprise a rim having a periphery for supporting a tire, a web plate for mounting on the opposed side of the rim, a plurality of inwardly projecting mounting bolts for placement through the web plate holes, an adapter plate having a first series of spaced apart bores for receiving the lugs, a second series of spaced apart bores for receiving the mounting bolts, and fasteners for fastening the adapter plate to the lugs and the bolts.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     In the automobile industry, decorative wheels are commonly used instead of standard wheels. Decorative wheels often differ from original equipment manufacturers&#39; wheels, and thus, many decorative wheels do not fit on the lugs of the wheel drum of the manufacturer. Rather than car dealers stocking numerous types of decorative wheels to fit on each type of wheel drum, various wheel adapters have been developed.  
         [0002]     Devices directed to wheel adapter systems to permit the fitting of wheels of various bolt patterns and diameters from different vehicle manufacturers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,570,559; 2,779,630; 2,970,008; 3,361,482; 3,759,576; 3,820,851; 3,834,766; 4,135,765; 4,165,904; 4,585,276; 5,785,391; 6,238,009; 6,626,502; and 6,685,275. Each of these wheel-adapter combinations suffers from one or more disadvantages. Certain adapters include protruding bolts which require particular lug nuts, thus limiting the compatibility of the adapter system for different vehicles and making the mounting and removal of these adapters cumbersome and time-consuming. Other adapters fail to provide adequate stability for the wheel when attached to the wheel hub.  
         [0003]     Accordingly, there is a need for an adapter system for use with decorative wheels with a multitude of bolts that is usable with the majority of vehicles, and which offers quick and efficient assembly, stability and security.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     A wheel adapter system according to the present invention overcomes shortcomings of prior art assemblies. The system is adaptable for vehicles having multiple wheel hubs with a plurality of outwardly projecting threaded lugs. The system comprises a wheel for supporting a tire, an adapter, and fasteners for securing the adapter to the wheel hub and wheel. The wheel has a plurality of integral inwardly projecting mounting bolts. The adapter has a first series of spaced apart bores for receiving the lugs from the wheel hub, and a second series of spaced apart bores for receiving the lug from the wheel hub. The adapter optionally has an open center to receive a knob protruding inwardly from the wheel hub.  
         [0005]     The adapter has a mounting surface that preferably includes a recess for at least some of the bores so that the fasteners can be flush with the surface when installed. The lugs and bolts are preferably threaded. The fasteners preferably are internally threaded nuts.  
         [0006]     Typically, the system is provided with multiple different adapters, each adapter having (i) a different first series of spaced apart mounting holes for receiving lugs of different wheel hubs, and (ii) the same second series of spaced apart mounting holes for receiving the bolts of the decorative wheel.  
         [0007]     To use the wheel adapter system, a decorative wheel is first mounted onto the adapter by inserting the plurality of integral inwardly projecting mounting bolts from the wheel into the second series of spaced apart bores in the adapter. The fasteners are then used to secure the adapter to the lugs and bolts. The wheel-adapter assembly is then mounted on the wheel hub by inserting the outwardly projecting lugs of the wheel hub into the first series of spaced apart bores of the adapter. Fasteners are inserted in the bores of the adapter and secured on the lugs. Alternatively, before attaching fasteners, the lugs may be inserted into a series of holes in the wheel, depending on the type of wheel used.  
         [0008]     By inserting both bolts and lugs into bores of the adapter, the adapter is securely fastened to both the wheel and wheel hub to increase stability and strength of the system. Assembly and disassembly of the wheel from the wheel hub is simple because the bolts protrude from the wheel, and not the adapter. Thus, a device is provided that allows simple and quick installation of various decorative wheels onto different wheel hubs. 
     
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying figures where:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an exploded partially cut-away view of a wheel adapter system having features of the present invention, the system including a wheel hub, an adapter, and a wheel;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a partial sectional view of the wheel adapter system illustrated in  FIG. 1  in an assembled form;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the wheel adapter system of  FIG. 1  with a spoked wheel mounted to the adapter of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the wheel adapter system with a slotted wheel mounted to the adapter of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the adapter of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the adapter of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a vehicle with four wheel hubs and the wheel adapter system of  FIG. 1 .  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     A wheel adapter system  10  embodying features of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-7 . Although the wheel adapter system  10  includes many features of the present invention, it should be appreciated that only some of the features need to be used. Advantages of the present invention are obtainable with less than all of the described features.  
         [0018]     The wheel adapter system  10  comprises a decorative wheel  12  and an adapter  14 , with the adapter  14  secured between the wheel  12  and a wheel hub  16 .  
         [0019]     Vehicle wheel hubs  16  are found on most types of automobiles, such as Dodge, Chevrolet, and Ford. The number of wheel hubs on a vehicle may vary. Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a vehicle wheel system according to the present invention comprising a vehicle with four wheel hubs  16 . There may be additional wheel hubs on a vehicle, however, such as a truck with six or eight wheel hubs.  
         [0020]     The wheel hub  16  generally has threaded protruding lugs  18  arranged in a bolt circle pattern. Each wheel hub  16  can include any number of protruding lugs. There may be four, five, six, or eight lugs  18  protruding from the wheel hub. The lugs  18  may also vary in diameter and length. The length of the lugs  18  typically ranges from 4 inches to 7 inches, and the diameters of the lugs  18  typically range from ¾ inch to 1 inch. The wheel hub  16  also comprises a knob  19  that protrudes from the center of the wheel hub and is surrounded by the lugs  18 . The knob  19  varies in diameter depending on the make of the vehicle.  
         [0021]     The decorative wheel  12  comprises an outer rim  28  for supporting a tire (tire not shown). A web plate  30  is integral with the rim  28 . The web plate  30  includes a central portion  32 , which supports mounting bolts  20  protruding inwardly. The bolts  20  are preferably equally spaced apart in a circular pattern and surround a cylindrical locator  36  in the central portion  32  of the web plate  30 . The locator  36  extends through both surfaces of the web plate  30  to remain parallel to the bolts  20 .  
         [0022]     In a preferred embodiment, holes are drilled in the decorative wheel  12  for insertion of the mounting bolts  20  typically threaded, but press-end studs or machine screws can be used. Once inserted by either pressing or threading, the mounting bolts  20  are flush with the web plate  30 . The number, diameter, and configuration of mounting bolts  20  protruding from each decorative wheel  12  may vary.  
         [0023]     The decorative wheel  12  can be in a variety of configurations. The wheel  12  may be a spoked wheel as in  FIG. 3 , with arms  34  extending outwardly from the central portion  32  of the web plate  30 . In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the central portion  32  of the web plate  30  comprises a plurality of holes  38  that extend from one surface of the web plate  30  to the opposed surface. The holes  38  receive the lugs  18  protruding from the wheel hub  16 . The number, diameter, and configuration of the holes  38  may vary.  
         [0024]     The adapter  14  of the present invention is annularly shaped and is fitted between the central portion  32  of the web plate  30  of the wheel  12  and the wheel hub  16 . The adapter  14  comprises an inner face  40 , an outer face  42 , and a curved outer peripheral edge  44 . The outer face  42  of the adapter  14  is adjacent to the central portion  32  of the wheel  12 , and the inner face  40  is adjacent to the wheel hub  16 . The adapter  14  has a cylindrically-shaped open center  46  to receive the knob  19  protruding from the wheel hub  16 . Thus, the diameter of the open center  46  is drilled to correspond to the diameter of the wheel hub  16  knob  19 .  
         [0025]     The adapter  14  further comprises a plurality of bores comprising a first series of bores  22  for receiving the lugs  18  protruding from the wheel hub  16 , and a second series of bores  24  for receiving the mounting bolts  20  protruding from the central portion  32  of the web plate  30  of the wheel  12 . The bores  22 ,  24  extend between the inner  40  and outer faces  42  of the adapter  14 . In a preferred embodiment, the bores  22 ,  24  are equally spaced apart in an annular pattern. The bores are recessed for insertion of the lugs  18 , mounting bolts  20  and fasteners  26 , so the adapter  14  may be securely fitted between the wheel  12  and hub  16 . The bores are preferably formed by drilling, but can be formed by casting. Thus, the bores  22 ,  24  in the adapter  14  may be easily modified in number, diameter and configuration.  
         [0026]     The first series of bores  22  receiving the lugs  18  are generally cylindrical and divided into two portions. A smaller portion  48  of each lug-receiving bore  22  is open at the inner face  40  of the adapter  14 , and in a cylindrical configuration with a diameter large enough for insertion of any lug  18  protruding from a wheel hub  16 , regardless of the make of the vehicle. The larger portion  50  of each lug-receiving bore  22  is open at the outer face  42  of the adapter  14 , and has a recess with a diameter large enough for insertion of the fastener  26 . The larger portion  50  of each lug-receiving bore  22  is tapered between the opening at the outer face  42  and the smaller portion  48  of the bore, thus allowing the fastener  26  to be secured tightly therein.  
         [0027]     The second series of bores  24  receiving the mounting bolts  20  are also generally cylindrical with two portions. Each bolt-receiving bore  24  has a smaller portion  52  in a cylindrical configuration open on the outer face  42  of the adapter for receiving the bolt  20 . The larger portion  54  of each bolt-receiving bore  24  is open at the inner face  40  of the adapter  14  and has a cylindrical recess with a diameter large enough for insertion of the bolt  20  and fastener  26 . The cylindrical recess of the larger portion  54  is preferably tapered.  
         [0028]     The adapter  14  is held in place between the wheel  12  and hub  16  by appropriate fasteners  26 . In a preferred embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the fasteners are nuts  56 . Sleeve nuts, tapered nuts or flat grade nuts may be used as fasteners. Furthermore, washers (not shown) may be interposed on the nuts on either the bolts  20  or lugs  18 .  
         [0029]     The adapter  14  and the decorative wheel  12  are constructed of a strong metal, such as steel, aluminum, or cast iron. They can be formed by machining or molding. The thickness of the adapter  14  may vary.  
         [0030]     In use, the decorative wheel  12  with protruding mounting bolts  20  is aligned with the bolt-receiving bores  24  of the adapter  14 . The bolt-receiving bores  24  are pre-formed to correspond with the number, diameter, and configuration of the bolts  20 . The adapter  14  bores  24  are slightly larger than the circle diameter of the mounting bolts  20 . Each bolt is inserted into the smaller portion  52  open on the outer face  42  of the adapter  14  and exits through the larger portion the larger portion  54  of the bore  24  at the inner face  40  of the adapter  14 . The head of each bolt  20  is flush with the outer face  40  of the adapter  14 . The locator  36  on the wheel  12  engages the open center  46  of the adapter  14  to center the adapter  14  on the wheel  12 . If washers are used, they are then placed into each bore  24  and threaded onto the bolts  20 . A nut  56  is threaded on each bolt  20  by insertion into the larger portion  54  of each bore  24 . The outer diameter of each nut  56  corresponds to the inner diameter of each bore  22 . Upon tightening, the nut  56  is flush with the inner face  40  of the adapter.  
         [0031]     The wheel hub  16  is then attached to the wheel-adapter assembly. One aligns the lugs  18  protruding from the wheel hub  16  with the first series of bores  22  of the adapter  14 . The bores  22  are pre-formed to correspond to the number, diameter, and configuration of the lugs  18 . The lugs  18  are first inserted into the smaller portion  48  of the bore  22  open at the inner face  40  of the adapter  14 . The lug  18  exits the larger portion  50  of the bore  22  open at the outer face  42  of the adapter  14 . At the same time as insertion of the lugs  18  into the bores  22 , the knob  19  protruding from the wheel hub  16  is inserted into the open center  46  of the adapter  14 . The diameter of the open center  46  is pre-formed to be slightly larger than the diameter of the knob  19  so the adapter  14  may be securely fit on the wheel hub  16 . If washers are used, they are then placed onto the bores  22 ,  24  and threaded onto the lugs  18 . A nut  56  is threaded on each lug  18  to fit securely within the larger portion  50  of the lug-receiving bore  22 . The inner diameter of each bore  22  is slightly larger than the outer diameter of each nut  56 . After the nut  56  is secure, it is flush with the outer face  42  of the adapter  14 .  
         [0032]     In another embodiment of the decorative wheel shown in  FIG. 4 , after insertion of the protruding lugs into the adapter, and prior to threading the nuts on the lugs, each lug is inserted into a hole  38  in the web plate  30  of the wheel  12 , wherein each hole  38  is aligned with the lug-receiving bores  22  of the adapter  14 . In a preferred embodiment, the holes  38  are cylindrically recessed for receiving the threaded lugs  18  protruding from the wheel hub  16 . After insertion of the lugs  18  into the holes  38 , a nut  56  is tightened on each of the lugs  18 . Upon tightening, the nut  56  is flush with the surface of the wheel  12 .  
         [0033]     A system incorporating all of the features of the present invention has significant advantages. For example, the adapter is less expensive than in the prior art and applicable to all major models of automobiles. The adapter wheel system allows for quick, efficient assembly and stability and security for the wheel. The invention allows a user to mount on a wheel hub a wheel different than that of wheel originally attached to the wheel hub. The wheel adapter system enables various custom wheels to be placed on all major makes of vehicles using different types of inexpensive adapters.  
         [0034]     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.  
         [0035]     All features disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstracts, and drawings, and all the steps in any method or process disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.  
         [0036]     Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means” for performing a specified function or “step” for performing a specified function, should not be interpreted as a “means” for “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. §112.