WHEEL FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

A wheel includes a rim that is at least partially made from a fiber reinforced plastic. The rim has an inner side directed to the hub region of the wheel and an outer side directed centrifugally away from the hub region of the wheel whereby the outer side comprises a well which is interconnected with an outer shoulder by a transition area. A wheel center is interconnected with the inner side of the rim by means of at least one fastening means wherein the at least one fastening means penetrates the rim via at least one opening that extends from the inner side of the rim to the outer side of the rim. At least one annular cover means is arranged at the outer side of the rim in circumferential direction around the wheel and thereby covers the at least one fastening means and/or the at least one opening.

Claims

1. A wheel (1) comprising; a. a rim (100) i. that is at least partially made from a fiber reinforced plastic; ii. the rim (100) having an inner side (110) directed to the hub region (2) of the wheel (1); and iii. an outer side (130) directed centrifugally away from the hub region (2) of the wheel (1) whereby 1. the outer side (130) comprises a well (133) which is interconnected with 2. an outer shoulder (132) by means of a 3. transition area (134); and b. a wheel center (200) interconnected with the inner side (110) of the rim (100) by means of at least one fastening means (300); i. the at least one fastening means (300) penetrating the rim (100) via at least one opening (101) that extends from the inner side (110) of the rim (100) to the outer side (130) of the rim (110); and c. at least one annular cover means (400) arranged at the outer side (130) of the rim (100) in circumferential direction around the wheel and thereby covering the at least one fastening means (300) and/or the at least one opening (101).

2. The wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one annular cover means (400) comprises a first transition part (410) that aligns with the well (133) and a second transition part (420) that at least partially aligns with the transition area (134).

3. The wheel (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first transition part (410, 430) is formed as an essentially cylindrical ring and the second transition part (420) is formed as an essentially conical ring.

4. The wheel (1) according to claim 2, wherein a third transition part (430) aligns with an outer hump (138) of the outer shoulder (132).

5. The wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one annular cover means (400) comprises at least one recess cavity (425) to receive at least part of the fastening means (300).

6. The wheel (1) according to claim 5, wherein the fastening means (300) comprises a screw or a rivet, the head (310) of which being at least partially arranged in the recess cavity (420).

7. The wheel (1) according to claim 5, wherein the recess cavity (425) smoothly blends into the first and/or the second and/or the third transition means (410, 420, 430) by means of a chamfer and/or a fillet.

8. The wheel according to claim 5, wherein the at least one recess cavity (425) is arranged at the second transition part (420).

9. The wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cover means (400) in circumferential direction comprises a first end portion and a second end portion wherein the first end portion is arranged between the rim (100) and the second end portion.

10. The wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cover means (400) in circumferential direction comprises multiple segments, each segment in circumferential direction comprising a first end portion and a second end portion wherein the first end portions and the second end portions of adjacent segments overlap with each other.

11. The wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one annular cover means (400) is at least partially made from a fiber reinforced plastic.

12. The wheel (1) according to claim 11, wherein the at least one annular cover means (400) comprises fibers that are arranged primarily in circumferential direction of the wheel (1).

13. The wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one annular cover means (400) comprises at least one sealing layer that is impermeable to pressurized air.

14. The wheel (1) according to claim 13, wherein the sealing layer is an outer coating of the at least one annular cover means (400).

15. The wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one annular cover means (400) comprises an outer coating that is at least partially made from a material having a low coefficient of friction.

16. The wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one annular cover means (400) is interconnected with the rim (100) by means of an adhesive agent (500).

17. The wheel (1) according to claim 16, wherein the adhesive agent (500) is at least partially formed as film that extends over the interfacial region between the at least one annular cover means (400) and the rim (100).

18. An annular cover means (400) according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The herein described invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which should not be considered limiting to the invention described in the appended claims. The drawings are showing:

[0038] FIG. 1 schematically shows a wheel;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows detail D of FIG. 1;

[0040] FIG. 3 schematically shows a first embodiment of a wheel according to the present invention;

[0041] FIG. 4 shows detail E of FIG. 3;

[0042] FIG. 5 schematically shows an embodiment of a wheel according to the present invention, the wheel being partially clipped for illustrative purposes;

[0043] FIG. 6 schematically shows the embodiment of FIG. 5, the annular cover means being removed for illustrative purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all features are shown. Indeed, embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.

[0045] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a wheel 1 comprising a rim 100 made from a fiber reinforced plastic and having an inner side 110 that is directed to the hub region 2 of the wheel, and an outer side 130 directed centrifugally away from the hub region 2 of the wheel 1. As well, the embodiment of a wheel 1 shown comprises a wheel center 200 made from aluminum and arranged at an inner side 110 of the rim 100. The rim 100 comprises an outer shoulder 132, as well as a well 133. The wheel center 200 and the rim 100 are mechanically interconnected by fastening means 300 that are in this embodiment screws. The fastening means 300 are partially screwed into the spokes of the wheel center 200 (not shown in detail) and are arranged in openings (not shown in detail) in the rim 100. The fastening means 300 comprise heads 310 that are arranged at the outer side 130 of the rim 100. In the embodiment of a wheel 1 shown, the fastening means 300 are arranged such that they protrude from the rim 100 in the transition area 134 between the rim's well 133 and the second shoulder 132. As the screw heads 310 protrude from the surface of the rim 100, a tire (not shown) to be mounted on the rim 100 may be damaged by the screw heads 310 during the fitting process when one of the tire's sidewalls will have to pass the region where the screw heads 310 are arranged.

[0046] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a wheel 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen, the fastening means 300 are covered by an annular cover means 400. The annular cover means 400 shown comprises a first transition part 410 that aligns with the well 133 and a second transition part 420 that partially aligns with the transition area 134 of the rim 100. As well, the annular cover means 400 comprises a third transition part 430 that aligns with the outer hump 138 of the outer shoulder 132. The annular cover means 400 extends in circumferential direction around the rim 100, similar to a belt or band. The second transition part 420 comprises recess cavities 425 in which the screw heads 310 are arranged, as will be shown in more detail in subsequent FIG. 5.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 (where the annular cover means 400 has been removed for illustrative purposes), the wheel 1 may comprise a rim 100 that is interconnected with a wheel center 200 by means of screws 300 which are partially screwed into the wheel center 200 and penetrate the rim 100 via an opening 101 arranged in the rim and extending from the inner side 110 to the outer side 130 of the rim 100. In the embodiment shown, the screws 300 comprise screw heads 310 that are partially embedded in bores arranged in the rim 100. The screws 300 are arranged at a transition area 134 between the rim's well 133 and the second rim shoulder 132, whereby the screw heads 310 protrude from the surface of the rim 100. As can be seen in FIG. 5, an annular cover means 400 is arranged at the outer side 130 of the rim such that it covers the screw heads 100. The annular cover means 400 comprises multiple recess cavities 425 arranged to receive the screw heads 310. As schematically shown the recess cavity 425 is interconnected to the first and the second and the third transition means 410, 420, 430 by means of a chamfer chamfers in order to support fitting of a tire (not shown) on the wheel 1.

[0048] Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the Spirit and scope of the invention.