Patent US3994367A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6868880B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6868880B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Wheel assembly and method for installation and removal
Assignee: Yokohama TWS North America Inc
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Filing: 2003-07-01
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Granted: 2005-03-22
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Expires: 2023-07-01
Abstract
Abstract A wheel assembly comprises a generally frustoconical wheel having an upper wall defining a recessed area and a lateral wall with a tapered outer surface; a generally frustoconical rim having a top wall defining a central hole and a side wall with an outer surface and a tapered inner surface complementary with the outer surface of the wheel; and a solid tire attached to the outer surface of the rim. The recessed area is partially covered by the top wall of the rim when the rim is installed on the wheel. To install, the rim is slid over the wheel, and the rim and tire are bolted to the wheel. To remove, the bolts are removed, a pry bar is inserted in the recessed area of the wheel, and the rim is pried away from the wheel.
Inventors
- 👤 William T. Cummins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:06
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B3/00; B60B3/04; B60B3/041; B60B3/044; B60B21/00; B60B21/02; B60B23/00; B60B23/06; B60B23/10; B60B3/002; B60B2310/00; B60B2310/20; B60B2310/204; B60B2310/206; B60B2310/30; B60B2310/302; B60B2310/305; B60B2310/311; B60B2310/318; B60B2360/00; B60B2360/10; B60B2360/14; B60B2360/147; B60B2900/00; B60B2900/10; B60B2900/113; B60B2900/50; B60B2900/521; B60Y; B60Y2200/00; B60Y2200/10; B60Y2200/15; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49481; Y10T29/49492; Y10T29/49496; Y10T29/49499
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A wheel assembly comprising: a generally frustoconical wheel having a side wall and a circumferential lateral wall with a tapered outer surface; a generally frustoconical rim having a side wall and a circumferential annular wall with an outer surface and a tapered inner surface complementary with the outer surface of the wheel; a flange extending between the side wall and annular wall of the rim; the flange extending outwardly away from the wheel; and a tire attached to the outer surface of the rim.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A wheel assembly comprising: a generally frustoconical wheel having a side wall and a circumferential lateral wall with a tapered outer surface; a generally frustoconical rim having a side wall and a circumferential annular wall with an outer surface and a tapered inner surface complementary with the outer surface of the wheel; a flange extending between the side wall and annular wall of the rim; the flange extending outwardly away from the wheel; and a tire attached to the outer surface of the rim.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The assembly as defined in claim 1 further comprising fasteners for attaching the rim to the wheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the side wall of the wheel defines a plurality of threaded holes and the side wall of the rim defines a plurality of holes alignable with the plurality of holes in the side wall of the wheel; and wherein the fasteners extend through the plurality of holes in the rim and the plurality of holes in the wheel to attach the rim to the wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein the fasteners are threaded bolts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the wheel and the rim have a central axis and the angle of the tapered surfaces in relation to the central axis is one degree.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the tire is solid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the tire is made of an elastomer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the rim is manufactured of stamped metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the wheel is manufactured of cast metal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the flange provides spring-bias force to keep the annular wall of the rim adjacent the lateral wall of the wheel when the rim is installed on the wheel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the side wall of the wheel defines at least one recessed area adapted to be partially covered by the side wall of the rim when the rim is installed on the wheel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein the recessed area is annular.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
104 words
A wheel assembly comprising: a generally frustoconical wheel having a side wall and a circumferential lateral wall with a tapered outer surface; a generally frustoconical rim having a side wall and a circumferential annular wall with an outer surface and a tapered inner surface complementary with the outer surface of the wheel; the side wall of the wheel defining an annular recessed area adapted to be partially covered by the side wall of the rim when the rim is installed on the wheel; the recessed area being adapted to receive a pry bar; and a tire attached to the outer surface of the rim.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
104 words
A wheel assembly comprising: a generally frustoconical wheel having a side wall and a circumferential lateral wall with a tapered outer surface; a generally frustoconical rim having a side wall and a circumferential annular wall with an outer surface and a tapered inner surface complementary with the outer surface of the wheel; the side wall of the wheel defining an annular recessed area adapted to be partially covered by the side wall of the rim when the rim is installed on the wheel; the recessed area being adapted to receive a pry bar; and a tire attached to the outer surface of the rim.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of installing a rim and tire on a wheel assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a wheel with a side wall and a lateral wall with a tapered outer surface and a rim with a side wall and an annular wall having an outer surface and a tapered inner surface complementary with the outer surface of the wheel; the rim including a flange extending between the side wall and annular wall of the rim; the flange extending outwardly away from the wheel; and a tire attached to the outer surface of the annular wall: sliding the complementary surfaces over one another until they frictionally engage; aligning holes found in the side wall of the rim with threaded holes found in the side wall of the wheel; inserting a threaded bolt through each hole in the side wall of the rim and into the aligned threaded holes in the wheel; fastening the rim to the wheel with the bolts, thereby creating a spring bias via the flange which facilitates sliding the rim onto the wheel.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of installing a rim and tire on a wheel assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a wheel with a side wall and a lateral wall with a tapered outer surface and a rim with a side wall and an annular wall having an outer surface and a tapered inner surface complementary with the outer surface of the wheel; the rim including a flange extending between the side wall and annular wall of the rim; the flange extending outwardly away from the wheel; and a tire attached to the outer surface of the annular wall: sliding the complementary surfaces over one another until they frictionally engage; aligning holes found in the side wall of the rim with threaded holes found in the side wall of the wheel; inserting a threaded bolt through each hole in the side wall of the rim and into the aligned threaded holes in the wheel; fastening the rim to the wheel with the bolts, thereby creating a spring bias via the flange which facilitates sliding the rim onto the wheel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as defined in claim 14 further including the step of applying pressure to the rim to partially install the rim and tire on the wheel.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of removing a rim and tire from a wheel assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a wheel having a side wall and a lateral wall extending therefrom having a tapered outer surface; a rim having a side wall and an annular wall with an outer surface and a tapered inner surface complementary with the outer surface of the wheel; a tire attached to the outer surface of the annular wall; the side wall of the wheel defining at least one recessed area partially covered by the side wall of the rim; and fasteners connecting the rim to the wheel; removing the fasteners; inserting a pry bar into the at least one recessed area; and prying the rim away from the wheel with the pry bar.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of removing a rim and tire from a wheel assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a wheel having a side wall and a lateral wall extending therefrom having a tapered outer surface; a rim having a side wall and an annular wall with an outer surface and a tapered inner surface complementary with the outer surface of the wheel; a tire attached to the outer surface of the annular wall; the side wall of the wheel defining at least one recessed area partially covered by the side wall of the rim; and fasteners connecting the rim to the wheel; removing the fasteners; inserting a pry bar into the at least one recessed area; and prying the rim away from the wheel with the pry bar.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method as defined in claim 16 in which the rim includes a flange extending between the side wall and annular wall of the rim; and in which the flange extends outwardly away from the wheel; and the prying step of the method further includes the step of creating a spring bias via the flange which facilitates the removal of the rim from the wheel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method as defined in claim 17 in which the side wall of the wheel defines a plurality of threaded holes and the side wall of the rim defines a plurality of holes spaced around a central hole and aligned with the threaded holes; a plurality of bolts are inserted through the holes in the rim and threaded into the holes in the wheel to attach the rim to the wheel; and in which removing step of the method further comprises the step of: unthreading the bolts.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as defined in claim 18 further comprising the step of applying force to the rim to assist in the removal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
98 words
A wheel assembly comprising: a wheel having a side wall and a circumferential lateral wall with an outer surface; a rim having a side wall and a circumferential annular wall with an outer surface and an inner surface complementary with the outer surface of the wheel; the side wall of the wheel defining at least one recessed area which is partially covered by the side wall of the rim when the rim is installed on the wheel; the recessed area being adapted to receive a pry bar; and a tire attached to the outer surface of the rim.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
98 words
A wheel assembly comprising: a wheel having a side wall and a circumferential lateral wall with an outer surface; a rim having a side wall and a circumferential annular wall with an outer surface and an inner surface complementary with the outer surface of the wheel; the side wall of the wheel defining at least one recessed area which is partially covered by the side wall of the rim when the rim is installed on the wheel; the recessed area being adapted to receive a pry bar; and a tire attached to the outer surface of the rim.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The assembly of claim 20 wherein the outer surface of the lateral wall of the wheel is generally frustoconical and the inner surface of the annular wall of the rim is generally frustoconical.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assembly of claim 20 wherein the at least one recessed area is annular.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of installing a rim and tire on a wheel assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a wheel having a circumferential lateral wall with an outer surface and a rim with a side wall and an annular wall having an outer surface and an inner surface complementary with the outer surface of the wheel; the rim including a flange extending between the side wall and annular wall of the rim; the flange extending outwardly away from the wheel; and a tire attached to the outer surface of the annular wall; positioning the tapered inner surface of the annular wall of the rim over the tapered outer surface of the lateral wall of the wheel; and creating a spring bias via the flange which facilitates sliding the rim onto the wheel.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of installing a rim and tire on a wheel assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a wheel having a circumferential lateral wall with an outer surface and a rim with a side wall and an annular wall having an outer surface and an inner surface complementary with the outer surface of the wheel; the rim including a flange extending between the side wall and annular wall of the rim; the flange extending outwardly away from the wheel; and a tire attached to the outer surface of the annular wall; positioning the tapered inner surface of the annular wall of the rim over the tapered outer surface of the lateral wall of the wheel; and creating a spring bias via the flange which facilitates sliding the rim onto the wheel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 23 further including the step of applying pressure on the side wall of the rim in a direction toward the wheel to create the spring bias.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 24 further including the step of fastening the rim to the wheel to create the pressure on the side wall.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the step of fastening the rim to the wheel includes the step of threading threaded bolts into threaded holes formed in the wheel.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
The assembly of claim 23 wherein the outer surface of the lateral wall of the wheel is generally frustoconical and the inner surface of the annular wall of the rim is generally frustoconical.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of removing a rim and tire from a wheel assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a wheel having a side wall and a lateral wall extending therefrom having an outer surface; a rim having a side wall and an annular wall with an outer surface and an inner surface complementary with the outer surface of the wheel; a tire attached to the outer surface of the annular wall; the side wall of the wheel defining at least one recessed area partially covered by the side wall of the rim; and fasteners connecting the rim to the wheel; removing the fasteners; inserting a pry bar into the at least one recessed area; and prying the rim away from the wheel with the pry bar.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of removing a rim and tire from a wheel assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a wheel having a side wall and a lateral wall extending therefrom having an outer surface; a rim having a side wall and an annular wall with an outer surface and an inner surface complementary with the outer surface of the wheel; a tire attached to the outer surface of the annular wall; the side wall of the wheel defining at least one recessed area partially covered by the side wall of the rim; and fasteners connecting the rim to the wheel; removing the fasteners; inserting a pry bar into the at least one recessed area; and prying the rim away from the wheel with the pry bar.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method as defined in claim 28 in which the rim includes a flange extending between the side wall and annular wall of the rim; and in which the flange extends outwardly away from the wheel; and the prying step of the method further includes the step of creating a spring bias via the flange which facilitates the removal of the rim from the wheel.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the at least one recessed area is annular.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-03-21 | 2008-09-20 | 2009-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-03-21 | 2012-09-20 | 2013-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-03-21 | 2016-09-20 | 2017-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |