Balancing Device Patents (Class 301/5.21)
  • Patent number: 11885715
    Abstract: A method for checking tyres, includes: arranging a tyre in a station for checking tyres; moving a sensor within the tyre; performing first checks on an inner surface of the tyre with the at least one sensor; engaging a radially outer portion of the tyre with grip elements of an overturning device; extracting the sensor from the tyre and spacing the sensor from the tyre; overturning the tyre by 180° by rotation of the grip elements; moving again the sensor within the tyre; performing second checks on the inner surface of the tyre with the sensor; extracting again the sensor from the tyre and spacing the sensor from the tyre; and transporting the tyre outside the station for checking tyres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Held, Christian De Col, Albert Berenguer, Vincenzo Boffa, Cristian Di Felice
  • Patent number: 11772418
    Abstract: A wheel includes a rim having inner and outer flanges. A first end of each flange is positioned axially outwardly relative to the second end. A pair of bead seats are positioned one adjacent each flange, and each has an axially outer end connected to a second end of its flange by a flange connecting portion, and an axially inner end connected to one of a pair of side parts. Each side part is positioned between a central well and one of the inner and outer flanges, and connected to the well by a well connecting portion. The outer end of each bead seat is positioned radially outwardly relative to bead seat inner end. At least one of the flanges includes an extended portion which extends radially inwardly, such that a free end of the extended portion is positioned radially inwardly relative to the first end of the respective flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Moveero Limited
    Inventors: Gianpietro Brame, Kristoffer Eriksen, Ulla Bennetzen, John Madsen
  • Patent number: 11718125
    Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle has a wheel rim, a hub portion, and at least one spoke which connects the hub portion to the wheel rim, and also at least one cover element which at least partially covers the spoke region. The cover element is designed to, in the installed position thereof, produce an imbalance-free state of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Mike Seidel
  • Patent number: 11420483
    Abstract: A tire noise reduction apparatus may include a housing mounted on an external circumferential surface of a wheel rim on which a tire is mounted, the housing having an internal space and being open at one side in a circumferential direction of the wheel rim, wherein the housing includes a neck at an opposite side which is opposite to the open one side; and a movable member inserted into the internal space of the housing through the open one side of the housing and having an internal space in fluidical communication with the internal space of the housing, the movable member being mounted to the housing to be movable in a direction in which the movable member is inserted into the internal space of the housing and in a direction in which the movable member is withdrawn out of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Ju Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 10557520
    Abstract: An automatic dispenser for balancing weights including a transport section and a cutting section. The transport section contains a transport roller with a plurality of teeth at its circumferential outer surface generating friction to a belt of balancing weights to transport this belt to the cutting section. Such belt contains a plurality of individual balancing weight segments. The cutting section has an arc shaped belt guide for forming the belt of balancing weights to a curve thus opening at least one gap between neighboring balancing weight segments. The cutting section has a knife movable from a first side of the belt of balancing weights to its second side, to separate the belt of balancing weights at a gap between two individual balancing weight segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: WEGMANN automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Ulrich Bürgel
  • Patent number: 10520061
    Abstract: A wheel-balancing weight mounts to a wheel with a flange. The weight includes a body and a clip. The body is stamped by a punch to define a pocket within which an attaching portion of the clip resides. The defined pocket has a planar base and opposing side walls generally perpendicular to the base. The body as stamped by the punch includes a pre-stake for each side wall external to the pocket and adjacent the side wall, and an undercut for each side wall within the pocket and generally located at a juncture of the side wall and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: WEGMANN AUTOMOTIVE USA
    Inventor: Charles Robert McMahon
  • Patent number: 10502280
    Abstract: A balancing weight for balancing a wheel of a vehicle has a body of non-ferromagnetic material providing a major portion of the balancing weight's mass and a ferromagnetic inlay for holding the balancing weight by magnetic force. The ferromagnetic inlay provides a minor portion of the balancing weight's mass. A weight applicator has a magnet for interacting with the ferromagnetic inlay of the balancing weight and holding the balancing weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Wegmann automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Vogler
  • Patent number: 10400856
    Abstract: A self-adhesive balancing weight for a vehicle wheel has a top surface and a bottom surface with a self-adhesive tape. The bottom surface has a first curved section with a first radius and a second curved section with a second radius. The first radius is smaller than the second radius. This allows to hold the balancing weight by the adhesive tape to almost every rim, as there are always at least two holding points (-lines) by which the balancing weight contacts the rim via the adhesive tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: WEGMANN AUTOMOTIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Hornung
  • Patent number: 10184543
    Abstract: Balancing weights for cars have an adhesive tape with at least a first tape layer and a second tape layer, for attaching the balancing weights to a rim. The first tape layer is held in close proximity to a rim by a first adhesive layer. The second tape layer is held in close proximity to the balancing weights by a second adhesive layer. The first tape layer is stiffer and less flexible than the second tape layer, the second tape layer is softer and more flexible than the first tape layer. This allows easy removal of the balancing weights from the rim by pushing a wedge shaped tool between the first tape layer and the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: WEGMANN AUTOMOTIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ingo Heger, Felix Bode
  • Patent number: 10167926
    Abstract: A balancing weight, for balancing a wheel of a vehicle, which includes a bottom surface to be attached to the rim of the wheel, opposed thereto a top surface, two long sides opposing each other, between the top surface and the bottom surface and two short sides opposing each other, between the long sides and between the top surface and the bottom surface. The balancing weight is an arch segment having a convex bottom surface extending between the short sides, and the short sides disposed at an angle of less than 90° with respect to the bottom surface, and at an angle of more than 90° with respect to the top surface. Furthermore, the short sides are convex-shaped from one long side to the other long side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: WEGMANN AUTOMOTIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Hubert Schwenold
  • Patent number: 10145445
    Abstract: A wheel balance device for a motorcycle attachable to a motorcycle wheel rim. The wheel balance device includes a pedestal vertically attachable to a crown of an inner rim of the motorcycle wheel rim in a position between a pair of spokes on opposite side of the crown and having a first end attachable to the crown, a second end, an outer wall therebetween, a transverse orifice therethrough, and a longitudinal channel continuously disposed therethrough. A weight body, having an arc substantially conforming to a shape of the inner rim, is insertable through the transverse orifice and has a hole transversely disposed therethrough, which is alignable with the channel when the weight body is inserted into the transverse orifice. A fastener, which engages both the channel pedestal and the hole of the weight body, secures the weight body to the pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Gerard Anderies, Jeanette Anderies
  • Patent number: 10081221
    Abstract: Balance pads for balancing pneumatic tires having DVA innerliners, and methods for balancing such pneumatic tires, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a balance pad is provided for balancing a pneumatic tire having a DVA innerliner. The balance pad includes an outer layer having a dynamically vulcanized alloy, which comprises an engineering resin as a continuous phase and at least a partially vulcanized rubber as a dispersed phase. The balance pad further includes an inner layer having a rubber or plastic compound that is bonded to the outer layer. The outer layer is capable of being bonded to an inner surface of a tire innerliner, which includes a dynamically vulcanized alloy having an engineering resin as a continuous phase and at least a partially vulcanized rubber as a dispersed phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Ramendra Nath Majumdar, Leonard James Reiter
  • Patent number: 10060505
    Abstract: A shaft balancing device for insertion into a shaft including a generally flat cylindrical band having an outer surface, an inner surface and a set of two crush points thereon. A balancing weight is attached to the outer surface of the band between the set of crush points. The device is inserted into the shaft and the crush points are plastically deformed radially outward creating spring force which holds the balancing weight to the inner surface of the shaft. The band has a curved connecting portion between the two crush points having a radius of curvature slightly greater than the curvature of the shaft. The balancing weight has a radius of curvature slightly greater than the radius of curvature of the curved connecting portion and slightly less than the radius of curvature of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Springer
  • Patent number: 10024388
    Abstract: Balancing weights for cars have an adhesive tape with at least a first tape layer and a second tape layer, for attaching the balancing weights to a rim. The first tape layer is held in close proximity to a rim by a first adhesive layer. The second tape layer is held in close proximity to the balancing weights by a second adhesive layer. The first tape layer is stiffer and less flexible than the second tape layer, the second tape layer is softer and more flexible than the first tape layer. This allows easy removal of the balancing weights from the rim by pushing a wedge shaped tool between the first tape layer and the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: WEGMANN AUTOMOTIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ingo Heger, Felix Bode
  • Patent number: 10018206
    Abstract: The invention relates to an impeller (1) for a fan, in particular an axial or radial fan having a hub (2) for connecting the impeller (1) to a drive motor and having fan blades (6) which are arranged circumferentially around the hub (2) and having pockets (9) in the hub region, having balance weights (15) which can be fastened therein, aligned in the axial direction. The balance weights (15) are made of U-shaped, bent weight clips made of spring-elastic material, having at least two opposite clip legs extending parallel to each other which are connected to each other via a bend section, and comprise a clamping gap between the clip legs. One of the clip legs extends within the pockets (9) and the other clip leg extends outside of the pockets (9), such that there is a clamping seat on a pocket wall (12) extending in the clamping gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: EBM-PAPST MULFINGEN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Moll, Christian Hammel
  • Patent number: 10012290
    Abstract: A balancing weight for balancing a wheel of a vehicle has a body of non-ferromagnetic material providing a major portion of the balancing weight's mass and a ferromagnetic inlay for holding the balancing weight by magnetic force. The ferromagnetic inlay provides a minor portion of the balancing weight's mass. A weight applicator has a magnet for interacting with the ferromagnetic inlay of the balancing weight and holding the balancing weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: WEGMANN AUTOMOTIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Markus Vogler
  • Patent number: 9902879
    Abstract: Methods for bonding a polymer surface (e.g., a fluoropolymer surface) to a substrate, including foam tape substrates, and articles produced thereby. The methods can include using a primer composition having an amidine catalyst in combination with an amino-substituted organosilane ester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Naiyong Jing, Peter O. Rekow
  • Patent number: 9844977
    Abstract: A wheel-balancing weight mounts to a wheel with a flange. The weight includes a body and a clip. The body is stamped by a punch to define a pocket within which an attaching portion of the clip resides. The defined pocket has a planar base and opposing side walls generally perpendicular to the base. The body as stamped by the punch includes a pre-stake for each side wall external to the pocket and adjacent the side wall, and an undercut for each side wall within the pocket and generally located at a juncture of the side wall and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: WEGMANN AUTOMOTIVE USA, a Delaware Corporation
    Inventor: Charles Robert McMahon
  • Patent number: 9840388
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method for transporting and positioning of balancing weights connected together to form a chain of balancing weights is disclosed. A drive means comprises at least a transport wheel and/or a transport belt. The drive means has at least one cam to interface with a gap between two adjacent balancing weights of the chain of balancing weights. Furthermore a cutter may be provided for cutting of balancing weights from the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: WEGMANN AUTOMOTIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Hans-Ulrich Bürgel
  • Patent number: 9638214
    Abstract: A balancing weight to balance a blower wheel. The balancing weight is constructed in two pieces consisting of a spring clip and a supplemental weight. The spring clip features a retaining section for securing on the blower wheel and a receptacle section for mounting the supplemental weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: EBM-PAPST MULFINGEN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian Hammel, Jürgen Moll
  • Patent number: 9593581
    Abstract: A turbine disc for a turbine is provided with a first protrusion and a second protrusion. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are formed in such a way that a balancing weight is coupleable between the first protrusion and the second protrusion. The first protrusion has a sealing section that is capable of sealing a fluid passage between the turbine disc and a further turbine part of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Adrian Brathwaite
  • Patent number: 9480930
    Abstract: Ballast modules for balancing neutrally buoyant or hovering amusement balloons formed from a sheet of transparent weight bearing material having score lines defining a plurality of individual ballast tabs with each of the tabs detachably attached to its adjacent tab by a set of tab ties and having an adhesive layer on one surface of the module for removable attachment to a balloon and a kit including instructions for attaching the ballast to a balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Inventor: David Bergmann
  • Patent number: 9447842
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel including a rim with one or more counterweight assemblies. Each of the one or more counterweight assemblies includes a receiver attached to the rim and a counterweight that is attached to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. Wesling, Josh Poertner, Nathan Luman
  • Patent number: 9400032
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel weight for attachment to a wheel rim comprises a mass portion formed of nonlead material and configured to be juxtaposed against a wheel rim when attached to a wheel. The mass portion defines a clip groove on an exterior side thereof, with the clip groove being defined by opposed first and second sidewalls. The wheel weight also includes a clip having an extended portion for engaging the wheel rim and an attachment portion seated in the clip groove. A self-locking arrangement is provided on the clip and the mass portion for interconnecting the attachment portion of the clip with the mass portion such that when the attachment portion is seated in the clip groove the self-locking arrangement secures the clip to the mass portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Hennessy Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd J. Ford, Andrew Freeman
  • Patent number: 9360083
    Abstract: Wheel weight assemblies include a weight member (212) mounted on a clip member (211) for attachment to the rim of a vehicle wheel, with the clip and weight members being substantially encased in an injection molded housing. The weight member (212) may be composed of a plurality of individual plate elements. Spacing elements such as end caps (250) may be used to hold the plate elements together and locate them in the mold tool to ensure their correct positioning during the molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: LAMA D.D. DEKANI
    Inventors: Phillip Richardson, William Earnest Taylor Vallance
  • Patent number: 9341231
    Abstract: A polymer overmolded wheel-balancing weight adapted to be removably secured to a wheel to correct an unbalanced wheel to prevent undesired vibrations when the wheel is rotating, the polymer overmolded wheel-balancing weight with a wheel-securing clip sized and designed to be secured to a wheel, and a weight assembled to the wheel-securing clip and at least partially covered with overmolding polymer material that is sized and designed to abuts the wheel-securing clip on a wheel side at a first location thereof, and abuts the wheel-securing clip on a side opposed to the wheel side at a second location thereof, the first location being distinct from the second location. A kit of wheel-balancing weight and a wheel with an overmolded wheel-balancing weight are also encompassed by the present application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: PLOMBCO INC.
    Inventors: Jean Prevost, Didier Seguin, Martin Lussier
  • Patent number: 9278578
    Abstract: An adhesive-type wheel balance weight for a vehicle and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The wheel balance weight includes a weight body 10 having a rectangular band structure, a plurality of main through portions 20 spaced apart from one another at equal intervals and penetrating through the weight body vertically in a length direction of the weight body, and having a long hole structure extending in the width direction of the weight body; a plurality of connection portions 30 positioned between both end portions of the weight body in the width direction and both end portions of each of the main through portions in a longer axis direction, and additional through portions 40 provided at both end portions of each of the main through portions in a longer axis direction to narrow a width of each of the connection portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: In Tae Baek
  • Patent number: 9228634
    Abstract: A wheel balancing weight has a mass body with a groove in a first face and a groove surface recessed to a groove depth relative to the first face and has groove walls opposite one another across the groove. Blind slots have a slot depth greater than the groove depth and are formed at least partly into the groove surface and intersect each side wall. An attachment clip has a clip portion and an attachment portion with a pair of opposed side edges. A protruding element protrudes outward from each side edge. The attachment portion is seated in the groove between the groove walls such that each protruding element extends at least partly into one of the slots to a depth beyond the groove depth. Mass body material adjacent the groove walls is deformed and overlies portions of the side edges and protruding elements on the attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Wegmann Automotive USA Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Robert McMahon
  • Patent number: 9182009
    Abstract: A wheel having a recess thereon to offset the weight of a valve stem and/or a tire sensor so that the wheel will be balanced for normal operational use on a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Wheel Pros, LLC
    Inventor: Luigi Lucaora
  • Patent number: 9157501
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel weight for attachment to a wheel rim comprises a mass portion formed of nonlead material and a clip. The clip has an extended portion for engaging the wheel rim and an attachment portion juxtaposed to the mass portion. In addition, an injection molded outer casing surrounds the mass portion. The mass portion and the attachment portion of the clip are embedded in the casing, but the extended portion of the clip extends outwardly from and is external to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Hennessy Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph L. Jenkins, Ross Everhard, Brian W. LaBorde
  • Patent number: 9087466
    Abstract: A display device to broadcast information from a tire mounted on a wheel. The display device includes a foot that is anchored in compression between part of the tire sidewall and the rim of the wheel. The compression between an inflated tire and rim of the wheel on which the tire is mounted is sufficient to hold preferred embodiments of the display device in an installed position during conventional use of the tire. Information can be broadcasted visually, or by way of radio waves, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Inventor: Robert D. Evans
  • Patent number: 9004611
    Abstract: A wheel-balancing weight mounts to a wheel with a flange. The weight includes a body and a clip. The body is stamped by a punch to define a pocket within which an attaching portion of the clip resides. The defined pocket has a planar base and opposing side walls generally perpendicular to the base. The body as stamped by the punch includes a pre-stake for each side wall external to the pocket and adjacent the side wall, and an undercut for each side wall within the pocket and generally located at a juncture of the side wall and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Wegmann Automotive USA Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Robert McMahon
  • Publication number: 20140374431
    Abstract: A balancing weight for vehicle wheels has a first face for fitting the balancing weight onto an inner peripheral surface of the wheel's rim and a second face opposite the first face. In order to improve the handling including the feeding of the balancing weights to a balancing machine each balancing weight comprises at least one guideway for a connecting means for stacking a plurality of such balancing weights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Hans-Ulrich BÜRGEL, Dietmar WAGENSCHEIN
  • Publication number: 20140368024
    Abstract: Balancing weights for cars have an adhesive tape with at least a first tape layer and a second tape layer, for attaching the balancing weights to a rim. The first tape layer is held in close proximity to a rim by a first adhesive layer. The second tape layer is held in close proximity to the balancing weights by a second adhesive layer. The first tape layer is stiffer and less flexible than the second tape layer, the second tape layer is softer and more flexible than the first tape layer. This allows easy removal of the balancing weights from the rim by pushing a wedge shaped tool between the first tape layer and the rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Ingo HEGER
  • Patent number: 8807663
    Abstract: A plastic wheel-balancing weight adapted to be removably secured to a wheel to correct an unbalanced wheel to prevent undesired vibrations when the wheel is rotating, the plastic wheel-balancing weight comprising a wheel-securing clip sized and designed to be resiliently secured to a wheel, and a steel weight assembled to the wheel-securing clip and at least partially covered with plastic, at least a portion of the plastic being shaped by the wheel-securing clip. An overmolded wheel-balancing weight comprising a wheel-securing clip adapted to be secured to a wheel, a weight assembled to the wheel-securing clip and overmolding material adapted to at least partially cover the weight to protect the weight, wherein at least a portion of the wheel-securing clip is an overmolding material boundary. A method of manufacturing same and a mold thereof is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Plombco Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Prévost, Didier-Bernard Séguin, Martin Lussier
  • Publication number: 20140197674
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wheel rim extender device (1) removably mountable on a wheel (3) having a tyre retaining rim (27) for engaging an outer surface of a tyre (5). The device (1) has an annular member (11) for location adjacent a sidewall (7) of a tyre (5) mounted on the wheel (3). The annular member (11) comprises an edge portion (33a, 33b) which defines an outer circumference of the annular member (11) and a support portion (35a, 35b), disposed radially inward of the edge portion (33a, 33b), for mounting on the wheel (3), wherein the edge portion (33a, 33b) has a greater flexibility than the support portion (35a, 35b). The invention also relates to the combination of a wheel rim extender device (1) and a wheel (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Richard Woolley, Oliver Legrice, Ian Sellars
  • Publication number: 20140103699
    Abstract: A balancing weight for vehicle wheels, which has a weight body and an adhesive means for bonding the weight body to a rim of the vehicle, wherein the adhesive means is heatable by means of electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Wegmann automotive GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dietmar WAGENSCHEIN, Felix BODE, Thomas HORNUNG
  • Patent number: 8656975
    Abstract: A weight applicator for a wheel of a tire-wheel assembly is disclosed. The weight applicator includes an arm portion and an applicator portion connected to the arm portion. The applicator includes a radially-extending flange portion. The radially-extending flange portion is connected to the arm portion. A first plunger portion is movably-connected to the radially-extending flange portion by one or more first radial arms. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Android Industries LLC
    Inventors: John Donnay, Dale Terry
  • Publication number: 20140028079
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel including a rim with one or more counterweight assembly. Each of the one or more counterweight assembly includes a receiver attached to the rim and a counterweight that is attached to the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. Wesling, Josh Poertner, Nathan Luman
  • Publication number: 20140015306
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel is provided with a plurality of tube's distributed at various radial angles from the center and oriented generally transversely of the central plane of the wheel and generally parallel to the wheel's axis of rotation. The azimuthal and longitudinal imbalance of a mounted tire including the wheel is determined. To balance the mounted tire both azimuthally and longitudinally, one or more weights are inserted into one or more tubes disposed on the wheel at appropriate azimuthal locations. The weights are placed longitudinally of the tubes in the plane of central mass of the mounted tire, and are secured in that position within the tube by any of a variety of means such as thread locking fluid, friction, or plugs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventor: Jeff Swain
  • Patent number: 8628149
    Abstract: A plastic wheel-balancing weight adapted to be removably secured to a wheel to correct an unbalanced wheel to prevent undesired vibrations when the wheel is rotating, the plastic wheel-balancing weight comprising a wheel-securing clip sized and designed to be secured to a wheel, and a non-metallic weight assembled to the wheel-securing clip and at least partially covered with overmolding material that includes a shape adapted to substantially match the shape of the wheel when the overmolded wheel-balancing weight is removably secured to the wheel. A kit of wheel-balancing weight and a wheel comprising a wheel-balancing weight is also encompassed by the present application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Plombco Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Lussier, Jean Prevost, Didier Bernard Seguin
  • Publication number: 20130285435
    Abstract: A wheel balancing weight has a mass body with a first face having a first surface. A groove is formed in the first face and has a groove surface recessed to a groove depth relative to the first surface and has groove walls opposite one another across the groove. A slot having a slot depth greater than the groove depth is formed at least partly into the groove surface near each side wall. An attachment clip has a clip portion and an attachment portion with a pair of opposed side edges. A protruding element is provided on each side edge of the attachment portion. The attachment portion is seated in the groove between the groove walls such that each protruding element extends at least partly into one of the slots to a depth beyond the groove depth of the groove surface. Material of the mass body adjacent the groove walls is deformed and overlies a portion of the side edges and a portion of the protruding elements on the attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Charles Robert McMahon, Felix Bode
  • Patent number: 8561464
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for correcting an unbalance on a vehicle wheel including a rim and a tire, which includes measuring the unbalance of the vehicle wheel in an unbalance measuring station, rotating the vehicle wheel in the unbalance measuring station into a defined angular position and transmitting the defined angular position and the correction data to a control device for controlling an applicator head of a balancing station, transferring the vehicle wheel from the unbalance measuring station to the balancing station by means of a gripper arranged on a handling device and centrally locating and holding it in the balancing station, loading a corrective element which has one side coated with an adhesive and exhibits the weight amount determined in the unbalance measuring station into the applicator head of the balancing station, and rotating the vehicle wheel and/or the applicator head in dependence upon the control device in such a way that the corrective element in the cavity of the wheel rim reaches the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Schenck RoTec GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Peinelt, Wilhelm Weyrich
  • Patent number: 8508172
    Abstract: A method of actuating a robotic mechanism having a first leg member rotatably coupled to a first side of a chassis and a second leg member rotatably coupled to a second side of the chassis. The method comprises positioning the first leg member and the second leg member generally about 180 degrees with respect to each other and effecting movement of the chassis by rotating both the first leg member and the second leg member with respect to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Bossa Nova Concepts, LLC
    Inventor: Sarjoun Skaff
  • Publication number: 20130187439
    Abstract: A polymer overmolded wheel-balancing weight adapted to be removably secured to a wheel to correct an unbalanced wheel to prevent undesired vibrations when the wheel is rotating, the polymer overmolded wheel-balancing weight comprising a wheel-securing clip sized and designed to be secured to a wheel, and a weight assembled to the wheel-securing clip and at least partially covered with overmolding polymer material that is sized and designed to abuts the wheel-securing clip on a wheel side at a first location thereof, and abuts the wheel-securing clip on a side opposed to the wheel side at a second location thereof, the first location being distinct from the second location. A kit of wheel-balancing weight and a wheel comprising an overmolded wheel-balancing weight are also encompassed by the present application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: PLOMBCO INC.
    Inventor: PLOMBCO INC.
  • Patent number: 8494704
    Abstract: In indirect tire pressure monitoring of tires of a vehicle, the following steps and means to carry out the same, respectively, are contemplated:—providing a tire classification database indicating at least one classified tire type;—determining a vehicle tire type for the vehicle on the basis of vehicle data in including information on at least one tire currently used with the vehicle,—determining whether the vehicle tire type can be associated to one of the at least one classified tire type; and—, in the case an association is determined, monitoring tire pressure according to the associated classified tire type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Nira Dynamics AB
    Inventors: Peter Hall, Tony Gustavsson
  • Publication number: 20130162005
    Abstract: A wheel-balancing weight mounts to a wheel with a flange. The weight includes a body and a clip. The body is stamped by a punch to define a pocket within which an attaching portion of the clip resides. The defined pocket has a planar base and opposing side walls generally perpendicular to the base. The body as stamped by the punch includes a pre-stake for each side wall external to the pocket and adjacent the side wall, and an undercut for each side wall within the pocket and generally located at a juncture of the side wall and the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: PERFECT EQUIPMENT INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles Robert MCMAHON, Felix Paul BODE
  • Patent number: 8459147
    Abstract: A rotor balance adjusting member and a rotor balance correction method are disclosed. The rotor balance adjusting member has a ring member fixed to a pulley concentrically and comprises a weight and a clip member which fixes the weight to the ring member. The ring member has an outer side fit-in slot, and inner side fit-in slot, an outer side stop slot, and an inner side stop slot. The clip member comprises an elastic material and moves in a circumferential direction regulated by the outer side fit-in slot and the inner side fit-in slot. The weight fixed to the clip member is arranged in a position which counters the inner side of the ring member when the clip member is fitted in the ring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomonari Harada
  • Publication number: 20130140874
    Abstract: A wheel for an automobile is configured in such a manner that the wheel disc comprises an outer peripheral ring section having protrusions and recesses, the outer peripheral ring section being formed by continuously and alternately forming circular arc-shaped contact sections and contactless protrusion sections along the circumferential direction of the wheel, the circular arc-shaped contact sections being in contact with and welded to the bent peripheral section of the wheel rim, the contactless protrusion sections protruding further toward the front side than the circular arc-shaped contact sections and separating from the bent peripheral section. Welded sections at which the circular arc-shaped contact sections and the bent peripheral sections are welded together are intermittently arranged in the circumferential direction of the wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: CENTRAL MOTOR WHEEL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Noriyuki Fukaya
  • Publication number: 20130134766
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel weight for attachment to a wheel rim comprises a mass portion formed of nonlead material and configured to be juxtaposed against a wheel rim when attached to a wheel. The mass portion defines a clip groove on an exterior side thereof, with the clip groove being defined by opposed first and second sidewalls. The wheel weight also includes a clip having an extended portion for engaging the wheel rim and an attachment portion seated in the clip groove. A self-locking arrangement is provided on the clip and the mass portion for interconnecting the attachment portion of the clip with the mass portion such that when the attachment portion is seated in the clip groove the self-locking arrangement secures the clip to the mass portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: Hennessy Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Hennessy Industries, Inc.