Vehicle wheels and methods of making vehicle wheels are provided. A vehicle wheel comprises a generally annular first region, a second region, and a flange extension. The first region comprises an inner surface and an outer surface comprising a tire bead seat. The second region extends radially inwardly from the first region. The second region is configured to mount to a vehicle axle. The flange extension extends from the first region in a direction away from the second region. The flange extension comprises a first extension end integral with the first region, a second extension end, and an elongate portion intermediate the first extension end and the second extension end. The elongate portion comprising a first portion with a thickness less than a thickness of the second extension end.

A non-pneumatic tire includes a lower ring having a first diameter and an upper ring having a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The upper ring is substantially coaxial with the lower ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending between the lower ring and the upper ring. The non-pneumatic tire also includes a flexible cover having an annulus shape that covers at least a portion of a first side of the support structure, wherein a lower portion of the flexible cover includes a circumferential projection that projects axially outward relative to a region above the circumferential projection.

A rim section 18 is provided with e disk section 20 and is secured to a jig by patting the disk section 20 as the lower side. By allowing a groove section 40 l an engaging section) provided along a circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface 21 of the rim section 18 to engage with a bent end section 48 of a reinforced member 14 attached from the upper side of the jig, the reinforced member 14 can be easily positioned on the inner peripheral surface 21 of the rim section 18.

A lubricant supported electric motor includes a stator extending along an axis, and a rotor rotatably disposed around the stator in radially surrounding and spaced relationship to define at least one support chamber. A lubricant is disposed in the support chamber for supporting the rotor around the stator. A wheel rim is fixedly attached to the rotor and is disposed in surrounding relationship with the rotor and the stator. Thus, in a first aspect, rotation of the rotor is directly transferred to the wheel rim such that the wheel rim rotates in accordance with the rotation of the rotor. In accordance with another aspect, the rotor is rotatably disposed within the stator, and a planetary gear reduction mechanism is operably interconnected to the rotor, the stator, and the wheel rim and configured to rotate the wheel rim in response to rotation of the rotor within the stator.

The invention relates to a device (3) for protecting a wheel rim (2) of a motor vehicle, wherein: an outer side of a rim flange (4) is covered by the device (3); the device (3) consists of a ring (5), the diameter of which is matched to that of the rim flange (4); and the ring (5) has a circumferential tongue (5.2) for fastening the device (3) to the rim flange (4), which tongue can be clamped between an inner side of the rim flange (4) and a side wall of a tyre (1). The device (3) is intended to be held securely on the wheel rim (1) even at very high speeds and correspondingly large forces acting on the device (3). No changes to the wheel rim (1) are necessary, and installation is simple. This is achieved in that the single ring (5) is produced from a hard material and has a continuous radial gap (6) and in that end faces (5.3) of the ring formed by the gap (6) can be connected by means of a clamping screw (8).

A snap lock device for securing a wheel assembly to an axle is provided. The snap lock device may be formed from one integral piece. The snap lock device may include a hubcap and a first and second clip extending from the hubcap. The first and second clips may include a spring, an engagement member, and an actuator. The spring may be directly coupled to the hubcap. The snap lock device may be installed in the wheel assembly by inserting the cap assembly in the wheel assembly such that the first and second clip are placed in two apertures of a wheel and the springs bias the engagement members toward a center of a bore defined in the wheel for receiving the axle. The snap lock device can allow for tool-less installation and removal of the axle.

A wheel cover assembly for a vehicle wheel may include a wheel rib that is attachable to a rim inner surface of a wheel rim of the vehicle wheel, a cover body having a cover body outer surface, a cover body inner surface, and a cover body outer edge having an outer diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of the wheel rib and less than an inner diameter of an open end flange of the wheel rim. A cover mounting mechanism operatively connected to the cover body has a cover locking position wherein the cover mounting mechanism engages the wheel rib to retain the wheel rib between the cover mounting mechanism and the cover body and secure the wheel cover assembly to the vehicle wheel when the wheel rib is attached to the rim inner surface.

A wheel rim having a central axis and comprising a central hub configured to be fixed to a suspension of a vehicle; a peripheral ring, which is arranged around the hub with a predetermined radial distance from the hub itself and is configured to receive a tire of the vehicle on a radially outermost surface thereof; a plurality of spokes equally spaced angularly from one another around the axis and connecting the peripheral ring to the hub; and at least one projection protruding in a cantilever fashion towards the hub, starting from a radially innermost surface of the peripheral ring, opposite to the radially outermost surface, and defining an airfoil configured to generate, in use, during the forward travel of the vehicle, a channelling of the air towards the outside of the wheel rim.

THIS invention relates to a wheel cover. More specifically, the invention relates to an advertising wheel cover having a wheel mount for push fitting into a vehicle wheel rim and a display disc rotatably mounted to the wheel mount by bayonet-type connectors. The display disc is off-centre weighted so as to remain in a substantially upright and static orientation relative to the wheel mount, which is rotatable with the wheel.

A vehicle wheel comprises a wheel disc, wheel rim, and wheel axis. A first cover spans between the rim and a hub portion of the disc. An axial portion of the first cover extends substantially along the axis. A plurality of first vents in the axial portion are arrayed circumferentially about the axis. Tabs extend perpendicular to the axial portion at each of the first vents. A second cover is secured to the rim and extends radially inward from the rim in a direction perpendicular to the axis. A plurality of second vents are in the second cover and arrayed circumferentially about the axis. The first and second covers are on opposite sides of the wheel. Each of the first and second covers has a greater extent in a radial direction perpendicular to the axis than in an axial direction parallel to the axis.