A wheel for a vehicle, which includes a mount configured to mount the wheel to a hub of the vehicle; a colored surface that is hidden from direct view from an outside environment when the wheel is mounted to the hub; and a contoured reflective surface optically aligned to reflect the colored surface into view of the outside environment when the wheel is mounted, thereby appearing to alter a color of the reflective surface.

An aerodynamically optimized drag-reduction appartus and method for optimal minimization of the drag-induced resistive forces upon a terrestrial vehicle, where the drag-induced resistive moments on wheel surfaces pivoting about the stationary point of ground contact are reduced, and the vehicle propulsive forces needed to countervail the resistive forces on the wheel are reduced. The drag reduction apparatus includes: a streamlined fairing or wind deflector positioned on a vehicle to shield the faster moving upper wheel surfaces from headwinds; an engine exhaust pipe disposed on a vehicle whereby exhaust gases deflect headwinds to shield the faster moving upper wheel surfaces of an automotive wheel; an automotive spoked wheel having streamlined oval-shaped wheel spokes; a wheel assembly with a streamlined tailfin rotatably attached to a wheel spoke; a wheel with a tapered spoke having a thin aerodynamic profile near the rim and tapering to a round profile toward the central hub; and a tire having streamlined tread blocks arranged in an aerodynamic pattern.

Disclosed in the present disclosure is a wheel locating surface correction device, comprising a frame, a correction ring and a correction plate. The correction plate is provided above a wheel blank. The structure can correct the roundness of the radial positioning surface of the blank, and the flatness of the axial positioning surface of the blank before machining to improve the roundness of the blank rim, improving the wheel yield and the processing quality.

Disclosed is a method of forming a wheel assembly consisting of a wheel portion and a cover portion. The method includes handling the wheel portion from dunnage to a work cell with an outboard face of the wheel portion facing away from a supporting surface. Next, determining a planar position and a rotational position of wheel portion and retrieving the cover portion. The method proceeds with applying an adhesive to at least one of the back side of the cover portion and the outboard face of the wheel portion. Then, aligning the cover portion with the wheel portion utilizing the planar position and the rotational position. The next step is engaging the cover portion and the wheel portion with one another and maintaining the wheel portion in engagement with the cover portion for a predetermined amount of time with a predetermined amount of pressure to form the wheel assembly.

A longitudinally tapered wheel spoke having a thin aerodynamic cross-sectional profile proximate to the wheel rim and tapering to a round profile toward the central hub, with the tapered section optimized to minimize drag against a combined headwind and crosswind impinging upon the primary vehicle-drag-inducing uppermost region of the wheel assembly.

A vehicle wheel for a vehicle has a plurality of spokes, lamellac, blades, wheel segments or similar which are arranged on an outer side of the vehicle wheel, a kinematic system, via which the contour of the outer side of the vehicle wheel can be changed, and a slide element which is adjustable between an inner position and an outer position. The spokes, lamellae, blades, wheel segments or similar are hinged on the slide element and are adjustable together with the slide element.

A method of making a work piece without the use of an auxiliary anode and a work piece created using the method are provided. The work piece includes a main face being generally planar. The work piece also includes a first area comprising a plateable resin configured to be plated using the plating process without the auxiliary anode and having a first current density during the plating process. Additionally, the work piece includes a second area comprising a non-plateable resin configured to not be plated using the plating process without the auxiliary anode. The first area and the second area are determined by a process referencing a predetermined minimum current density value with the first current density being greater than the predetermined minimum current density value.

An aerodynamic tailfin rotatably attached to a shaft-shaped member disposed on a vehicle. The tailfin swivels about the round shaft-shaped member for reduced drag in response to winds varying in direction impinging thereon.

A vehicle wheel structure comprising: a road wheel; a wheel mounting whereby the wheel is mounted to the body of the vehicle, the mounting structure comprising a wheel bearing by which the wheel can revolve about a wheel axis with respect to the body of the vehicle; a wheel cover attached to the wheel by a wheel cover bearing by which the wheel can revolve about the wheel axis with respect to the wheel cover; and a link coupled between (i) the cover and (ii) one of the mounting structure and the vehicle body for resisting rotation of the wheel cover with respect to the wheel mounting about the wheel axis.

A wheel rim protective disk having a reinforcement spine continuously disposed from a wheel side to a depth less than a thickness of the protective disk. A first embodiment mounts to a wheel having a channel with a second width substantially conforming to a width of the protective disk, and a second depth less than the thickness of the protective disk. A plurality of receiving apertures is disposed through the channel to align with a plurality of mounting apertures in the protective disk. In an alternative embodiment, the protective disk mounts to a mounting disk that in turn mounts to a second wheel having a second plurality of mounting apertures. The mounting disk has the channel, the lower section and the plurality of receiving apertures. In a second alternative embodiment, the protective disk mounts to a 3D printed, contoured mounting disk that in turn mounts to a standard factory wheel.