Abstract: A cover for a vehicle wheel having a drop center is generally complementary in shape to the wheel and has a plurality of connectors spaced around the inside surface thereof. Each connector has a moveable hook and an adjusting bolt. Rotation of the adjusting bolt in one direction extends the hook until it engages the shoulder in the cylindrical portion of the wheel formed by the drop center to thereby retain the cover to the wheel. Rotation of the adjusting bolt in the opposite direction withdraws the hook out of engagement with the shoulder such that the cover can be removed from or reinstalled to the wheel.

Abstract: A rim structure for a bicycle wheel that includes, at its periphery, an annular channel designed to receive a tire, such channel being demarcated by an upper bridge devoid of openings with the exception of the valve opening, and two lateral flanges, such flanges having end butts for gripping the tire. The upper bridge has a narrow and recessed central rim well demarcated by a base and two lateral walls, the rim well being bordered by two bead seats that are oblique from the rim well towards the flanges. The invention is also related to a wheel having such a rim and a wheel equipped with a tire mounted without an air tube and having such a rim.

Abstract: A wheel with a damper for an automobile includes a rim, a disk, and a damper. The damper includes a rubber member. The rubber member includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion performs mainly an elastic shear deflection and the second portion acts as a stopper. The first portion extends in an axial direction of the wheel and has an inside surface and an outside surface which contact a space and are not constrained. The end surfaces of the first portion extend perpendicularly to the axial direction of the wheel. A vibrational system having a spring of the first portion of the rubber member and a mass of an automobile is designed so as to have a first natural frequency in a range of 6-12 H, preferably, in a range of 8-10 Hz.

Abstract: A vehicle dead axle is formed of a hollow tube that extends substantially the width of the vehicle and has wheel supporting spindle portions welded upon the opposite ends of the tube. The exterior surface of the tube is generally circular in cross-section. The cross-sectional shape of the opening in the tube is asymmetrically curved relative to the central axis of the tube to form the tube into integral, longitudinally extending, circumferential wall segments of varying wall thicknesses. The axle is oriented so that its thicker wall segments receive the greater of anticipated forces imposed upon the axle during use. The axle is formed by placing a tubular blank within an open die having a die throat and pushing the blank through the die throat by means of a moving ram that engages and pushes against the end of the blank. The ram has an extension that is fitted within the blank as the ram pushes the blank through the space between the extension and the die throat.

Abstract: A removable cover for a wheelchair tire. The cover is used to protect against the spread of contamination by the wheelchair tire. The cover may be formed of an elastic material or may have bands of elastic material attached along opposed edges to facilitate the installation of the cover over the tire and to hold the cover against the tire. The cover may be stored on the wheelchair during periods of movement over a contaminated surface, and then installed over the tire prior to moving onto a clean surface. The cover may be periodically washed to maintain its cleanliness or may be made from a disposable material.

Abstract: A bicycle hub includs a hub axle, a hub body, a sprocket support member and a spacer. The hub axle has first and second portions threadedly coupled together via a first threaded connection. The hub body has an outer tubular portion and an interior passageway with the first portion of the hub axle rotatably supported therein. The sprocket support member is releasably and non-rotatably coupled to the outer tubular portion and is mounted on the second portion of the hub axle. The spacer is non-rotatably and axially movably supported on the first portion of the hub axle and is threadedly coupled to the hub body via a second threaded connection. The first and second threaded connections are configured such that rotation of the hub axle to release the first and second portions causes the spacer to move axially toward the hub body.

Abstract: A wheel comprising (i) an axle secured to a movable body, (ii) a rotator journaled on the axle so as to be freely rotatable and having at least three apexes disposed rotationally symmetrically around the axle, and (iii) rollers, each roller being mounted on one of the apexes of the rotator so as to be freely rotatable. Each side between apexes of the rotator is provided with a guiding surface which has small frictional resistance and is slidable.

Abstract: Metallic clips are provided on the endless track of a snowmobile equipped with one or more elongated slide runners forming part of its suspension system. The clips are formed with a first portion adapted to be slidably and frictionally contacted by the slide runners during rotation of the track and with a second portion extending slightly above profiles integrally formed on the outer surface of the track so that heat generated as a result of the sliding friction of the runners on the clips is transferred directly to the snow or ice over which the snowmobile travels so as to cool the clips.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making possible an infinite variation in the adjustment angle of a spindle assembly makes possible a rapid changeover for testing the dynamic properties of elastomeric objects. In spindle assembly (10), wedge rings (18, 20) having wider portions (22, 22a) and narrower portions (24, 24a) interposed between a spindle (12) and an axle assembly (17), whereby the relative placement of the wider portions (22, 22a) and the narrower portions (24, 24a) determine the angle of the spindle (12) relative to axle assembly (17). Indicia (48, 48a) on the wedge rings (18, 20) make possible quick determination of the exact angle. Means (50, 50a, 67) may be provided to make easier rotation of the wedge rings (18, 20).

Abstract: A bicycle wheel includes an annular rim having an annular base wall, a hub shell surrounded by the annular base wall and having two opposite ends that are disposed at two opposite sides of the annular rim, and a plurality of unitary V-shaped spokes equiangularly spaced apart and extending from the hub shell to the annular base wall. Each of the V-shaped spokes has a tip end that is connected to the annular base wall, and two arms that diverge from the tip end and that have distal ends which are respectively connected to the opposite ends of the hub shell.

Abstract: A cover for light-metal wheels during protracted transport is provided by a round, closed, and inherently rigid film moulding which engages over the outer face of the light-metal rim beyond the rim flange in a surface-covering manner. The cover is positively fastened centrally in wheel-side recesses by elevations integrally formed in the film moulding. A centering bore, known per se, is utilized for a more secure central fastening of the film moulding to the vehicle wheel. The film moulding carries, in its center, a cylindrical extension which is pressed into the centering bore of the vehicle wheel. The inner surface of the centering bore may have a circumferential groove of preferably trapezoidal cross section. The cylindrical extension of the film moulding carries circumferentially a plurality of catch noses which correspond in axial position and cross-sectional shape to the wheel-side circumferential groove and engage positively into the latter.

Abstract: The degree of tightness, which a wheel is attached to the wheel of an automobile, may be varied by selectively engaging the ends of a retention ring in a specially formed retention tab ring supporter. The retention ring is supported on a plurality of circumferentially spaced ring supports provided on the wheel cover, and the ends of the ring are retained by the retention tab ring supporter. The retention tab is provided with an opening to receive a blunt end of the retaining ring and two adjacent vertical slots for receiving a finger end of the retaining ring. Selection of either of the two vertical slots for receiving the finger end varies the practical diameter of the retention ring when engaged with the ring supporters thereby providing and adjustment in tightness between the wheel cover and the wheel.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the provision of metallic clips mounted on the endless track of a snowmobile equipped with one or more elongated slide runners forming part of its suspension system. The clips are so formed that a first portion thereof is slidably and frictionally contacted by the slide runners during rotation of the track with a second portion thereof extending slightly above profiles integrally formed on the outer surface of the track so that the heat generated by the sliding friction of the slide runners on the clips is transferred directly to the ground, such as snow or ice, over which the snowmobile travels.

Abstract: The present invention provides an elastic crawler having an improved flexing properties in which arrangement of lugs are improved so as to prevent deterioration of the flexing properties due to rigidity of a crawler body increased by providing lugs. The crawler includes a crawler body 2, a plurality of core members 3 having right and left wings 3R, 3L, respectively, and provided in the crawler body laterally with respect to the crawler and in parallel to each other with a space therebetween in the longitudinal direction of the crawler, and a plurality of right and left lugs including small lugs provided correspondingly to one of the wings 3R or 3L and large lugs provided correspondingly to two of the wings 3R or 3L adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the crawler.

Abstract: A method of forming a hole to a final specified dimension in a fiber reinforced wheel for a motor vehicle, and a fiber reinforced wheel with such a hole. Stud mounting holes, or a hub hole or a valve hole, are drilled through the wheel to an internal dimension larger than the final specified dimension, to sever and expose fiber ends in the wheel surrounding the hole. Thermoset resin with coupling and curing agents is applied to the hole internal surfaces by brushing or spraying, and is thereafter cured, and atomically and mechanically bonded to the internal hole surfaces with exposed fiber ends to form a thin smooth permanent protective layer on the hole internal surfaces defining the hole at final specified dimension. The hole may have frustoconical, spherical radius, and/or cylindrical portions.

Abstract: A structure for a housing for an axle assembly and method for manufacturing same is disclosed. The composite spring seat has the following considerations; heat resistance (i.e., heat deflection temperatures in excess of about 500° F. and arc resistance in excess of 180° F.); high tensile and flexural strength properties in a broad temperature range (i.e., 41 ksi and 82 ksi respectively at 23° C.); and good impact properties (i.e., 41 ft/lb). The composite spring seat provides reduced weight (i.e. 15 lbs. to 6 lbs.), roughly half the manufacturing costs associated with the convention steel forging, and reduced noise transmitted by the composite material.

Abstract: A bicycle hub is provided that includes a hub axle, a hub body, a sprocket support member and a spacer. The spacer is movable to allow the hub body to be axially separated from the freewheel without removing the freewheel from the rear fork of the bicycle. The hub axle has a first portion and a second portion releasably coupled to the first portion. The hub body has an outer tubular portion and an interior passageway with the first portion of the hub axle rotatably supported therein. The sprocket support member has a portion releasably and non-rotatably coupled to the outer tubular portion of the hub body. The sprocket support member is mounted on the second portion of the hub axle. The spacer is supported on the first portion of the hub axle adjacent a free end of the hub body. The spacer has a spacing portion and is configured to move in a transverse direction relative to the hub axle between a first position and a second position without removing the first portion of the hub axle from the hub body.

Abstract: This invention relates to a connecting structure of a wheel of a golf carrier, which is provided with a receiver on a connecting link to engage with a connecting protrusion of a shaft of the wheel by using a bolt. The connection of the receiver and the connecting protrusion of the shaft of the wheel provides a strong strength to bear pressure when the golf carrier is used. The engagement by the bolt also provides a firm effective connection and prevents the wheel from being broken or released.

Abstract: A wheel hub for a bicycle includes a hub shell with an inner wall segment within which an engaging portion of a driven cylinder is non-rotatably fitted from one end of the hub shell. A screw-threaded cylinder can enter the hub shell from the other end, and has an externally threaded shank to engage threadedly an internally threaded portion of the engaging portion, and an enlarged head which is provided with a resilient member to restrain rotatably the head relative to another inner wall segment of the hub shell during the threaded engagement. As such, the screw-threaded cylinder can be remained in the hub shell even after the driven cylinder is removed from the hub shell to prevent misplacement of the screw-threaded cylinder.

Abstract: A handy device for retrieving a vehicle stuck in a snow bank with a metal shoe about the width of a tire and roughly conforming the radial curvature of the tire, multiple conical sharp or blunt projections on the under surface of the metal shoe that increase traction on snow or ice, a side plate attached to one side of the shoe at one end and with a hole at the other end, and, a right angled bar, one side of which has multiple small holes and passes through the hole in the side plate and other side of which passes through the existing gaps in the wheel rim, and, a metal pin that locks the angled bar into the hole in the side plate. A preferred embodiment includes wherein the side plate and the angled bar are laminated with plastic or such poor conductor of cold. An alternative embodiment includes wherein the side plate is hinged to the metal shoe on one side with or without the other side fixed through a hinge to the rim of the wheel.