A wheel of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, has a rim, a hub portion, and at least two spokes connecting the hub portion to the rim. At least one free space between the spokes is covered at least in part by a substantially planar covering element. The covering element is produced from two different material layers.

A composite wheel assembly and method of construction thereof is provided. The composite wheel assembly includes a lightweight annular fiber-reinforced barrel having an inner surface and an outer surface configured to support a tire thereon. A lightweight metal central hub assembly is fixed to the barrel. The metal central hub assembly includes a central hub portion and plurality of support spokes extending outwardly from the metal central hub portion. A wheel cladding contrasting in at least one of material type, color, texture and surface finish to an outwardly facing surface of the central hub assembly is fixed to the outwardly facing surface of the central hub assembly.

A vehicle wheel for commercial vehicles, having a fastening device for an aerodynamic wheel disc cover. In order to enable secure and easy fastening of the disc cover, the fastening device comprises several fastening holes arranged in the hub connection flange, with at least one fastening hole consisting of a through hole having a smaller diameter on the front side of the wheel than on a rear side of the hub connection flange and forming an abutment for a detachable retaining means acting by form fit, and/or wherein at least one fastening hole consists of a through hole provided with an internal thread for screwing in a fastening screw as a retaining means, and/or that the centre hole has an inner circle edge comprising a constriction which forms an abutment for a cover side arranged retaining means acting by form fit.

A method and system for improving the strength, functionality and wear-resistance of a composite hybrid wheel is disclosed. Each spoke may define an airfoil shape and have a secondary wing-like extension attached thereto to generate airflow past the vehicle brakes during vehicle operation. Alternatively, the spokes may be shaped in cross-section as either an I-beam or an H-beam configuration. Customer-interchangeable wheel inserts formed from a reinforced polymerized material, such as a long carbon fiber reinforced composite, are strategically attached to one or more of the spokes. The inserts are used to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the wheel, increase its structural integrity and provide easy interchangeability in the event of damage. A faux bead composite lock ring also formed of a reinforced polymerized material such as a long carbon fiber reinforced composite can be attached to the wheel spokes to cover the composite rim flange.

An auxiliary fastening device includes a plurality of auxiliary male fasteners and a plurality of auxiliary female fasteners connected with the auxiliary male fasteners. Each of the auxiliary male fasteners includes a male body having a first side provided with a securing face secured on the wheel disk and a second side provided with a locking piece. Each of the auxiliary female fasteners includes a female body having a first side provided with a securing face secured on the ornamental cover and a second side provided with a locking groove locked onto the locking piece of each of the auxiliary male fasteners to secure the ornamental cover to the wheel disk. Thus, the auxiliary fastening device provides an auxiliary locking function so that the ornamental cover is locked onto the wheel disk solidly and stably.

A method for manufacturing and attaching a novel vehicle wheel generally comprising a decorative member that is attached to a base wheel. In one non-limiting embodiment, a plurality of mounting apertures are provided on the base wheel that is secured to the vehicle axis/hub. The decorative member is provided with corresponding apertures that are aligned with the mounting holes of the base wheel. Bolt member, preferably hexagonal bolts are then inserted/threaded through the aligned apertures for securing the decorative member to the base wheel. A novel manufacturing method is also disclosed for manufacturing the base wheel and decorative attachment.

The cover for vehicle wheels comprises fixing means which allow said cover to be fixed to a rim of a tire and is characterized in that said fixing means comprise a plurality of protrusions, each one of which is associated with a fixing element, each fixing element preferably being housed in the interior of one of said protrusions. It allows mounting/removal (under pressure) of the plastic covers from the frontal part of the tire facilitating, to a large extent, the personalization of the wheel, after the sale of the vehicle, by means of simply interchanging the plastic covers by the end user and/or car dealership.

An insert element for a vehicle wheel comprises several supporting bodies for supporting the insert element on supporting surfaces of the vehicle wheel. The supporting bodies have a supporting shoulder, which can be brought to bear against a supporting surface of the vehicle wheel, and a fastening extension with an axial hollow channel and with at least one outwardly protruding locking projection, arranged at an axial distance from the supporting shoulder, for engaging behind an installation opening reaching through the supporting surface of the vehicle wheel. The supporting bodies are designed as elastomer components which are elastically deformable in the radial and axial direction and sit with their hollow channel on a supporting core. The supporting cores bear a radially protruding retaining flange and are held on the rear side on the insert element. Each supporting body is held by the retaining flange in a form-fitting manner against being pulled off from the supporting core.

A wheel assembly including a cover portion permanently attached to a wheel. The wheel includes a wheel central hub portion, a wheel outer peripheral rim portion, a plurality of wheel spoke portions extending between the wheel central hub portion and the wheel outer peripheral rim portion, and a plurality of wheel turbine openings disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of wheel spoke portions. A cover portion is configured to overlie a portion of the wheel portion. The cover portion is configured to overlie one or more of the wheel central hub portion; the plurality of wheel spoke portions, and the plurality of turbine openings or the wheel outer periphery. An adhesive is disposed between an outboard surface of the wheel and the inboard surface of the cover portion to permanently secure the cover portion to the wheel portion. When the cover portion is secured to the wheel, substantial portions of the plurality of wheel spokes, the wheel central hub, or wheel outer periphery remain exposed.

A wheel assembly having an outboard portion and an inboard portion including a wheel hub configured to enable fastening of the wheel assembly to a vehicle such that the outboard portion is oriented away from a centerline of the vehicle and the inboard portion is oriented toward the centerline of the vehicle, a wheel rim positioned concentrically with the wheel hub, and configured to receive one or more friction elements, and one or more wheel spokes radially connecting the wheel hub and the wheel rim, each of the one or more wheel spokes having a retainer positioned at an inboard portion, the retainer being configured to enable retaining one or more decorative parts at an outboard portion of the wheel assembly.