Lug Nut Patents (Class 301/35.623)
  • Patent number: 11667149
    Abstract: Wheel center caps and related methods are disclosed herein. An example wheel center cap includes a body, a first protrusion extending radially outward from the body, and a second protrusion extending radially outward from the body. The first and second protrusions define a gap therebetween. The example wheel center cap includes a leg disposed in the gap and coupled to the body. The leg includes a foot. The foot extends radially outward relative to the body. The foot includes a chamfered face facing away from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mauricio Benito, Erick Bautista, Felipe de Jesus Sanchez, Neal Koenig
  • Patent number: 9618028
    Abstract: For indicating rotational displacement between an Allen bolt having a bolt head (34) provided with a central recess (36) for engagement by a fastening/unfastening tool, namely an Allen key, and a substrate to which the bolt is fastened, thereby to indicate whether the bolt has loosened, a safety indicating device is provided comprising a body (10) having a bore formed with splines (12) for engagement over the bolt head (34). The body (10) also has an end closure (14) formed with a plug (16) projecting inwardly of the bore for snug engagement into the central recess (36) of the bolt head. An indicator is also provided on the body (10). This is typically a pointer (18) mounted or formed on the body and projecting laterally, but it could be an indicator which is merely marked or formed on the body without projecting outwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: BUSINESS LINES LIMITED
    Inventor: Michael Marczynski
  • Publication number: 20140077582
    Abstract: A wheel lock for a vehicle wheel of the type comprising a body having a central attachment flange and studs passing through it. A security plate has a front side and a rear side; the rear side has a plurality of first circumferentially spaced-apart openings arranged to receive wheel studs; each of the first circumferentially spaced-apart openings is sized to receive a lug nut threaded on a wheel stud. There is at least one second opening where the second opening also sized to receive a wheel stud. The front side has a cover over the first circumferentially spaced-apart openings preventing access to lug nuts threaded on corresponding wheel studs. The front side has a receptacle concentric with the second opening for receiving a lock lug. The lock lug has a threaded hole for engaging a wheel stud and a key recess for engagement with a corresponding key lug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventor: Toby Jack Sims
  • Publication number: 20130088069
    Abstract: A safety device configured to provide an indication of potential issues associated with a retention nut via a nut cap movably attached to a base. The nut cap(s) can have an electronic sensor configured to acquire and store digital data associated with a corresponding nut. Nut cap(s) can be coupled with a nut rotation indicator configured to provide an indication of a rotation of a corresponding nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: SafetyTrim Worldwide Holdings Limited
    Inventor: SafetyTrim Worldwide Holdings Limited
  • Patent number: 8087860
    Abstract: A self-indicating lug nut for use with an automobile wheel stud having an outermost first external thread. The lug nut includes a nut body having an internally threaded bore including a plurality of internal threads, an outermost last internal thread, and an outer end. The lug nut further includes an indicating member removably attached to the nut body proximate to the outer end. The lug nut is configured such that when the lug nut is threadibly advanced onto the wheel stud, interfering contact between the first external thread and the indicating member displaces the indicating member from the nut body. The indicating member can separate into two or more pieces when displaced from the nut body. Displacement of the indicating member provides a visible indication that all of the internal threads of the nut body have engaged the external threads of the wheel stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: T & N Products, LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Nelson Crozier, III, Timothy I. Brewer
  • Patent number: 7994901
    Abstract: A lug stud and lug nut monitoring system, method, and components for a vehicle may have a lug stud, a lug nut, at least one sensor, and an indicator. The lug stud has a shank. The lug nut is constructed to fasten on the shank. The sensor can be carried by the lug stud, by the lug nut, or by both the lug stud and the lug nut. The sensor takes at least one measurement. The indicator communicates with the sensor in order to determine a value based on the measurement, and to alert an operator of the vehicle if and when the value reaches a predetermined relationship to a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Tag Blue L.L.C.
    Inventors: Craig Steven Malis, Douglas James Calaman
  • Patent number: 7407354
    Abstract: In the trucking industry, a wheel stud having a recess at either end to accommodate a sacrificial insert of metal higher in the electromotive series of metals than the metals of the wheel stud assembly, the lug and the components joined thereby and being of sufficient difference in color from the surrounding materials so as to be readily visible without disassembling the combination, and a method for its use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Benmaxx, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Benjamin Rau, III, Dennis M. Burrell
  • Publication number: 20070278844
    Abstract: The object of the present invention relates to a wheel securing system for the securing of wheels to a motor vehicle, exhibiting on a constant pitch circle diameter passage apertures with constantly determined passage aperture diameters, comprising: Wheel bearing units with projecting elements, always arranged on the same pitch circle diameter, for penetrating the passage apertures of the wheel disk in an installed state, whereby the projecting elements exhibit different external dimensions depending on the wheel bearing unit, and securing elements with passage apertures, which interact with the parts of the projecting elements which project out of the passage apertures, these surrounding these passage apertures radially, in order to secure the wheel disks on the projecting parts at least against axial and/or radial displacement, whereby the securing elements exhibit means for compensating for the different external dimensions of the projecting elements, in order to guarantee, with a constant external dimensi
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Joachim GIGLA, Andre-Alexander KONTER, Mathias SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 6575536
    Abstract: A bolt structure is designed to fasten together a hub, an inner wheel rim, and an outer wheel rim of a motor vehicle wheel. The bolt structure includes a bolt body, an inner nut, an outer nut, and a protective cap. The bolt body has a large diametrical segment, a small diametrical segment, and a midsegment located between the large diametrical segment and the small diametrical. The inner nut is engaged with the small diametrical segment, whereas the outer nut is engaged with the large diametrical segment and the protective cap. The midsegment of the bolt body retains the hub of the motor vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Show Than Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mu-Chun Chen
  • Publication number: 20030071514
    Abstract: A bolt structure is designed to fasten together a hub, an inner wheel rim, and an outer wheel rim of a motor vehicle wheel. The bolt structure comprises a bolt body, an inner nut, an outer nut, and a protective cap. The bolt body has a large diametrical segment, a small diametrical segment, and a midsegment located between the large diametrical segment and the small diametrical. The inner nut is engaged with the small diametrical segment, whereas the outer nut is engaged with the large diametrical segment and the protective cap. The midsegment of the bolt body retains the hub of the motor vehicle wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: Show Than Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mu-Chun Chen
  • Patent number: 6478521
    Abstract: A washer element for a wheel bolt and/or a wheel nut of a motor vehicle wheel is mounted with one end partially in a rounded cavity of a mounting hole for the wheel and the wheel bolt is supported on the other end of the element. The washer element consists of a sleeve part with an end area formed so that it is rounded, whereby in cross section the sleeve part itself has a profiled wall with a sleeve expansion and/or a sleeve contraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Jan Tschunko, Friedhelm Söffge