A cap configured to be connected to a wheel having a hub and a series of openings configured to receive fasteners attaching the wheel to a vehicle. The cap includes a disc defining a series of openings. The number of openings in the cap is less than the number of openings in the wheel. Each opening in the cap is configured to align with a corresponding opening in the wheel. Additionally, the cap is configured to conceal a remainder of the openings in the wheel that are not aligned with the openings in the cap.

A disc portion and a rim portion of a tire wheel are integrally formed simultaneously, with a resonance pipe formed between the disc and rim portions, by inserting a molten metal into a space formed by a mold combined with the resonance pipe by core pins.

An outboard wheel half has an axis and includes an outboard wheel structure configured to receive at least a portion of a tire. The outboard wheel half also includes a structure defining an alignment hole usable to align a hubcap relative to the structure. The structure defines a pocket circumferentially aligned with the alignment hole to reduce an amount of stress at a location of the alignment hole.

A wheel for a non-motorized vehicle (e.g., a shopping cart) can include a housing assembly and a tread assembly. The housing assembly can be configured to sealingly house electronics or other components. The tread assembly can removably mate with the housing assembly such that the electronics or other components remain closed and/or sealed within the housing assembly when the tread assembly is mated or unmated with the housing assembly.

Disclosed is a vehicle support device comprising a polygonal surface which may be affixed to a front edge of an at least one circumferential plate (110) or to a midline of an at least one circumferential plate (110). The polygonal surface (105) may be a pentagon polygon having five sides, a hexagon polygon having six sides, an octagon polygon having eight sides, or any polygonal shape. The polygonal front surface may have an at least one asymmetrical side. The polygonal front surface (105) may have a plurality of lug bolt supports (120), which may have five lug bolt supports (120), seven lug bolt supports (120), eight lug bolt supports (120), or twelve lug bolt supports (120). The vehicle support device may have an axle support centerline (125), a vehicle support device centerline (130), and an non-zero centerline offset (135) between the axle support centerline (125) and the vehicle support centerline (130) to provide for offset alignment of the vehicle support device in a vehicle wheel well.

The vehicle support device may be used to support any wheeled automobile, trailer or tractor, to provide levelness and stability of the vehicle, prevent UV and time or gravity-caused degradation of the tires, and extend the life of the tires, and on other vehicles with modification. For most automobiles, trailers, and tractors, the vehicle support device may replace one or more of the tires and wheels on an axle to securely and solidly support the vehicle on ground or a on concrete pad.

Disclosed is a vehicle support device comprising a polygonal surface which may be affixed to a front edge of an at least one circumferential plate (110) or to a midline of an at least one circumferential plate (110). The polygonal surface (105) may be a pentagon polygon having five sides, a hexagon polygon having six sides, an octagon polygon having eight sides, or any polygonal shape. The polygonal front surface may have an at least one asymmetrical side. The polygonal front surface (105) may have a plurality of lug bolt supports (120), which may have five lug bolt supports (120), seven lug bolt supports (120), eight lug bolt supports (120), or twelve lug bolt supports (120). The vehicle support device may have an axle support centerline (125), a vehicle support device centerline (130), and an non-zero centerline offset (135) between the axle support centerline (125) and the vehicle support centerline (130) to provide for offset alignment of the vehicle support device in a vehicle wheel well.

The vehicle support device may be used to support any wheeled automobile, trailer or tractor, to provide levelness and stability of the vehicle, prevent UV and time or gravity-caused degradation of the tires, and extend the life of the tires, and on other vehicles with modification. For most automobiles, trailers, and tractors, the vehicle support device may replace one or more of the tires and wheels on an axle to securely and solidly support the vehicle on ground or a on concrete pad.

A hub or wheel assembly includes a retaining element, biasing element, and hand-maneuverable release mechanism. The housing includes an axle bore configured to receive an axle and a pin sleeve including a first end in fluid communication with the axle bore, a second end, and a conduit between the first end and the second end. The retaining element is within the conduit and is configured to operatively engage a groove in an axle. The biasing element is within the conduit and is configured to bias the retaining element towards the axle bore. The hand-maneuverable release mechanism is configured to displace the retaining element away from the axle bore.

A minimal fairing apparatus minimally shielding the faster-moving drag-sensitive uppermost wheel surfaces from headwinds reduces overall vehicle drag. The apparatus includes various upper wheel fairings of FIGS. 1-6. Each fairing shields a primary vehicle-drag-inducing upper wheel surface from headwinds otherwise impinging thereon.

A minimal fairing apparatus minimally shielding the faster-moving drag-sensitive uppermost wheel surfaces from headwinds reduces overall vehicle drag. The apparatus includes various upper wheel fairings of FIGS. 1-6. Each fairing shields a primary vehicle-drag-inducing upper wheel surface from headwinds otherwise impinging thereon.

A tire is configured to be received by a wheel having at least one angled surface. The tire includes a tread portion, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The first sidewall has a first outer surface, a first inner surface, and a first projection extending inwardly from the first inner surface. The first projection has a first angled surface configured to engage a first corresponding surface of a wheel. The second sidewall has a second outer surface, a second inner surface, and a second projection extending inwardly from the second inner surface. The second projection has a second angled surface configured to engage a second corresponding surface of the wheel.