For Rim, Tire, Or Wheel Patents (Class 224/42.12)
  • Patent number: 6793261
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel well assembly is provided and is adapted to engage a vehicle floor pan. The wheel well assembly includes a floor and an annular sidewall extending upwardly from the periphery of the floor. A post extends upwardly from the center of the floor for engaging the spare wheel assembly. A threaded connector extends upwardly from the post for threaded engagement with a receptacle on a top. The sidewall terminates in either a mounting flange or a deck. When connected to a deck, the deck includes a mounting flange. The floor and sidewalls are integrally formed preferably of a composite material. A storage space is created in the area of the post. A method of securing a vehicle wheel well assembly in a vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David G. McLeod, David M. Courter, Xiaodong Tao, Douglas P. McCollum
  • Patent number: 6739641
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel well assembly is provided and is adapted to engage a vehicle floor pan. The wheel well assembly includes a floor and an annular sidewall extending upwardly from the periphery of the floor. A post extends upwardly from the center of the floor for engaging the spare wheel assembly. A threaded connector extends upwardly from the post for threaded engagement with a receptacle on a top. The sidewall terminates in either a mounting flange or a deck. When connected to a deck, the deck includes a mounting flange. The floor and sidewalls are integrally formed preferably of a composite material. A method of securing a vehicle wheel well assembly in a vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: David G. McLeod, David M. Courter, Xiaodong Tao, Douglas P. McCollum
  • Patent number: 6547300
    Abstract: A rear body structure of a vehicle having a floor panel, a pocket provided on the floor panel for accommodating a spare tire assembly therein and a seat disposed above the pocket includes a reinforcement member hingedly connected with the floor panel and covering at least a part of the opening of the pocket for preventing the spare tire assembly from moving, a seat fixing section provided on the reinforcement member for detachably fixing the seat, and a seat belt anchoring section provided on the reinforcement member for anchoring an end portion of a seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Watanabe, Jun Chida
  • Patent number: 6527252
    Abstract: A spare tire storage assembly is provided for mounting on a vehicle and includes a support member that carries a spare tire, a primary support mechanism, a secondary support mechanism and a release member. A flexible member is connected on one end to the primary support mechanism and on the other end to the support member. The support member and spare tire are elevated by the primary support mechanism to a stowed position within the secondary support mechanism. The secondary support mechanism includes a resiliently biased latch member and an adjacent lance member that are positioned to engage and maintain the support member and spare tire in the stowed position should the primary support mechanism or flexible member fail. The release member is connected to the primary support mechanism and as is provided to engage and pivot the latch member permitting the spare tire to be lowered from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Edscha North America
    Inventor: Jerzy Dziedzic
  • Patent number: 6241104
    Abstract: A motorcycle stand designed for hands-free operation that enables the rider to safely park a motorcycle in a secured, upright position without the aid of another individual and without having to dismount from the motorcycle. The motorcycle stand includes: rigid base; adjustably attached ramp; ramp-locking device; wheel stop; pairs of adjustably attached and opposing wheel supports; and a multitude of anti-skid pads. The wheel supports guide the wheel into the parking position and engage the sides of the front wheel. The weight of the motorcycle ensures the front wheel is engaged in the motorcycle stand such that the motorcycle cannot be moved forward, backward, or tipped from side-to-side. The steep inclination of the ramp and a locking device prevent the parked motorcycle from accidentally rolling backward and out of engagement with the motorcycle stand, even when the motorcycle is parked on an inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Inventor: Terrence Donald Kraus
  • Patent number: 6189749
    Abstract: A device for fixing a flat tire (30) in an automobile which has an accommodating space (5) behind a bucket seat (1) in which the bucket seat is accommodated which has been folded, comprises: a flat tire fixing threaded member (34); a vehicle body screw hole (20) which is located near the front edge of the accommodating space (5), and is threadably engaged with the threaded member (34); and a bracket (40) which has a first screw hole (42) which is threadably engaged with the vehicle body screw hole (20), and a second screw hole (44a) with which the flat tire fixing threaded member (34) is threadably engaged. In the case where the bucket seat is folded and accommodated, with the vehicle body screw hole 20 set in alignment with one of the bolt holes of the flat tire (30) the latter (30) is fixedly secured to the vehicle body screw hole (20) by means of the threaded member (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Sato, Yasuyuki Shibata, Kazuhiko Maruyama