Patents by Inventor Sergiu Anca

Sergiu Anca has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7703859
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of one-piece, and multi-piece wheels configured to provide increased interior lip depth. In one embodiment, an outer periphery of a curved center portion of a wheel is attached to a wheel barrel in an inboard region, and a portion of the center portion extends into the outboard region of the wheel. At least a portion of the wall of the wheel barrel preferably comprises a gradual slope, instead of a traditional wheel mounting drop, and thus the interior lip depth is not obstructed by the interior bulge generally created by such a drop. In other embodiments, a wheel mounting drop is configured to permit multi-piece wheels to be joined at or near one of the drop walls to allow the wheel center to be positioned further in the inboard direction than in traditional wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Inventors: Frank J. Hodges, Sergiu Anca
  • Publication number: 20090309410
    Abstract: Disclosed are improved wheels and tires for simulating the appearance of larger-diameter wheels mounted within low-profile tires. The improved tires are intended to be mounted on wheels with an extended outer flange. An embodiment of the tire comprises an outboard tire wall, an inboard tire wall, a tread therebetween, a laterally extending wheel protector, a ledge, and a flange seat. The flange seat is optionally contoured to match the inner face of an outer flange of the improved wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Frank J. Hodges, Sergiu Anca
  • Publication number: 20080061622
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of one-piece, and multi-piece wheels configured to provide increased interior lip depth. In one embodiment, an outer periphery of a curved center portion of a wheel is attached to a wheel barrel in an inboard region, and a portion of the center portion extends into the outboard region of the wheel. At least a portion of the wall of the wheel barrel preferably comprises a gradual slope, instead of a traditional wheel mounting drop, and thus the interior lip depth is not obstructed by the interior bulge generally created by such a drop. In other embodiments, a wheel mounting drop is configured to permit multi-piece wheels to be joined at or near one of the drop walls to allow the wheel center to be positioned further in the inboard direction than in traditional wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Frank Hodges, Sergiu Anca
  • Patent number: 7270382
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of one-piece, and multi-piece wheels configured to provide increased interior lip depth. In one embodiment, an outer periphery of a curved center portion of a wheel is attached to a wheel barrel in an inboard region, and a portion of the center portion extends into the outboard region of the wheel. At least a portion of the wall of the wheel barrel preferably comprises a gradual slope, instead of a traditional wheel mounting drop, and thus the interior lip depth is not obstructed by the interior bulge generally created by such a drop. In other embodiments, a wheel mounting drop is configured to permit multi-piece wheels to be joined at or near one of the drop walls to allow the wheel center to be positioned further in the inboard direction than in traditional wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Inventors: Frank J. Hodges, Sergiu Anca
  • Publication number: 20050264096
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved wheel and tire for simulating the appearance of a larger-diameter wheel mounted within a low-profile tire. The wheel has an inboard side and an outboard side. The outboard side includes a wide outer flange which extends around the outer circumference of the wheel. The outer flange and/or the outboard face of the wheel is preferably detachable from the remainder of the wheel. The inboard side may include a wide inboard flange which is preferably detachable. The flanges preferably cover a substantial portion of the wall of the outer tire within which the wheel is mounted. A design, preferably comprised of, for example, a plurality of protrusions, indentations, and slits, extends across at least a portion of the outboard face of the wheel, including the outboard face of the extended outer flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Frank Hodges, Sergiu Anca
  • Publication number: 20050200193
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of one-piece, and multi-piece wheels configured to provide increased interior lip depth. In one embodiment, an outer periphery of a curved center portion of a wheel is attached to a wheel barrel in an inboard region, and a portion of the center portion extends into the outboard region of the wheel. At least a portion of the wall of the wheel barrel preferably comprises a gradual slope, instead of a traditional wheel mounting drop, and thus the interior lip depth is not obstructed by the interior bulge generally created by such a drop. In other embodiments, a wheel mounting drop is configured to permit multi-piece wheels to be joined at or near one of the drop walls to allow the wheel center to be positioned further in the inboard direction than in traditional wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Frank Hodges, Sergiu Anca
  • Patent number: 6896336
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved wheel and tire for simulating the appearance of a larger-diameter wheel mounted within a low-profile tire. The wheel has an inboard side and an outboard side. The outboard side includes a wide outer flange which extends around the outer circumference of the wheel. The outer flange and/or the outboard face of the wheel is preferably detachable from the remainder of the wheel. The inboard side may include a wide inboard flange which is preferably detachable. The flanges preferably cover a substantial portion of the wall of the outer tire within which the wheel is mounted. A design, preferably comprised of, for example, a plurality of protrusions, indentations, and slits, extends across at least a portion of the outboard face of the wheel, including the outboard face of the extended outer flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventors: Frank J. Hodges, Sergiu Anca
  • Patent number: 6820669
    Abstract: Disclosed are an improved wheel and tire for simulating the appearance of a larger-diameter wheel mounted within a low-profile tire. The wheel has an inboard side and an outboard side with a wide outer flange extending around the outer circumference of the wheel. The outer flange is preferably integral with the outboard face of the wheel. A design, preferably comprised of a plurality of protrusions, indentations, and slits, extends across at least a portion of the outboard face of the wheel, including the outboard face of the extended outer flange. In the improved tire, the outboard tire wall preferably includes a laterally extending wheel protector, a ledge, and a flange seat. The flange seat is preferably contoured to match the inner face of the outer flange of the improved wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Tezzen Wheel Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Hodges, Sergiu Anca
  • Publication number: 20040066087
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved wheel and tire for simulating the appearance of a larger-diameter wheel mounted within a low-profile tire. The wheel has an inboard side and an outboard side. The outboard side includes a wide outer flange which extends around the outer circumference of the wheel. The outer flange is preferably integral with the outboard face of the wheel and covers a substantial portion of the outboard wall of the tire within which the wheel is mounted. A design, preferably comprised of, for example, a plurality of protrusions, indentations, and slits, extends across at least a portion of the outboard face of the wheel, including the outboard face of the extended outer flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Frank J. Hodges, Sergiu Anca
  • Publication number: 20040066088
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved wheel and tire for simulating the appearance of a larger-diameter wheel mounted within a low-profile tire. The wheel has an inboard side and an outboard side. The outboard side includes a wide outer flange which extends around the outer circumference of the wheel. The outer flange and/or the outboard face of the wheel is preferably detachable from the remainder of the wheel. The inboard side may include a wide inboard flange which is preferably detachable. The flanges preferably cover a substantial portion of the wall of the outer tire within which the wheel is mounted. A design, preferably comprised of, for example, a plurality of protrusions, indentations, and slits, extends across at least a portion of the outboard face of the wheel, including the outboard face of the extended outer flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Frank J. Hodges, Sergiu Anca