Abstract: The invention relates to a cover for a wheel rim of a wheel, more particularly for a wheel rim of an alloy wheel for motor vehicles, wherein the wheel rim has a rim inner well, which merges into a rim inner flange that is arranged facing a motor vehicle when the wheel is mounted, and as a result, the wheel rim has an uninterrupted contoured section on the axially inner side. The invention, the rim inner flange can be sealed in the axial direction (a) by means of the cover. The invention further relates to a wheel, particularly having such a cover.

Abstract: A self-closing filter includes a housing to be attached to a sidewall of a self-inflating pneumatic tire. The housing includes a cavity to be in fluid communication with an atmospheric air inlet of a pneumatic control valve for the self-inflating tire. The self-closing filter further includes a filtration media to block contaminants from entering the cavity while allowing atmospheric air to be drawn through the filtration media into the cavity by a pump of the self-inflating tire. The self-closing filter still further includes a valve attached to the housing. The valve is selectively actuatable to an open state and to a closed state. The filtration media is exposed to an atmosphere impinging upon the tire when the valve is in the open state. The closed state is to prevent exposure of the filtration media to the contaminants when the valve is in the closed state.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly incorporates a tire tread and a conventional vehicle wheel with an elastomer tire body element molded for engagement intermediate the tread and wheel. The tire body element includes multiple concentric layers with alternating spokes. A bonded multilayer cover may be employed which is received within a recess in an outer surface of the tire body element from the tire tread. A mounting plate is engaged to the cover and attached to the wheel.

Abstract: A protective device for tire walls has a holder for attaching the protective device on a wheel. The protective device has protective elements connected to the holder. The protective elements are shape-stable parts that under load are elastically deformable. They extend approximately radially away from the holder. The protective elements do not protect the entire tire but only the endangered area of the tire walls.

Abstract: A wheel rim protective structure has a closed ring made of a semi-rigid durable plastic material. A plurality of spaced apart durable curved metal clips extend from the inner edge of the ring and are oriented to insert between the tire and rim. Each clip has a number of unidirectional barbs that facilitate installation but resist unwanted extraction by engaging the tire portion. Knurling on the opposite side provides more static friction against the wheel surface. The metal clips also provided a situs for a low profile fastener to allow other structures to be attached to the ring such as decorative panels, lights, flags streamers, or other decorative or counterbalancing structures. The ring and clips can be made from a unitary piece of injection molded material.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly incorporates a tire tread and a conventional vehicle wheel with an elastomer tire body element and integral wall elements extending radially inward from the tire body element for sealing engagement with the wheel. The tire body element includes multiple concentric layers with alternating spokes. A bonded multilayer cover may be employed which is received within a recess in an outer surface of the tire body element from the tire tread. An attachment plate is engaged to the cover and attached to the wheel.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly incorporates a tire tread and a conventional vehicle wheel with an elastomer tire body element molded for engagement intermediate the tread and wheel. The tire body element includes multiple concentric layers with alternating spokes. A bonded multilayer cover may be employed which is received within a recess in an outer surface of the tire body element from the tire tread. A mounting plate is engaged to the cover and attached to the wheel.

Abstract: Interface disc for a vehicle wheel, comprising: at least one substantially central attachment element designed to allow the said disc to be attached to a wheel; a plurality of substantially radial arms connected to the attachment elements and extending radially outwards from a substantially central portion of the said disc as far as a substantially peripheral portion of the said disc; an energy absorption surface collaborating with the said arms and configured to form a wall between the said substantially central portion of the disc and its substantially peripheral portion; at least one circumferential reinforcing element collaborating with the said arms and the modulus of which is substantially higher than that of the energy absorption element.

Abstract: A rim protector for a wheel of a vehicle, the rim protector (10) being of the form of a generally circular annulus having an axis (1) defining radial and axial directions, the rim protector comprising a tail portion (32), sized to fit in use between the wheel (3) and a tyre (2) fitted to the wheel, and a head portion (31), the head portion (31) being wider than the tail portion, the tail portion extending away from the head portion, in which, when the rim protector (10) is fitted to a wheel (3) such that the tail portion is held between the wheel (3) and the tyre (2) and the head portion (32) abuts a rim of the wheel (4), the head portion (31) overlaps the rim (4) and extends further radially over the rim (4) than it does over the tyre (2).

Abstract: A protective device for tire walls has a holder for attaching the protective device on a wheel. The protective device has protective elements connected to the holder. The protective elements are shape-stable parts that under load are elastically deformable. They extend approximately radially away from the holder. The protective elements do not protect the entire tire but only the endangered area of the tire walls.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a visual and thermal shield system that effectively obscures visual indicators and thermal signatures of wheel assemblies of a military vehicle to thereby address longstanding military concerns for vehicle and crew survivability. Our device is spaced outboard from the wheel and tire to maintain an insulating body of air between said shield and the adjacent axle, hub, wheel, and tire. Expeditiously, this invention also affords substantial eclipse of the complete tire profile. If a plurality of wheels exist on said vehicle, then multiple shields of this invention can be used to hinder vehicle identification and potential designation of its military purpose.

Abstract: A wheel cover is constructed to include an inner cap for covering a vehicle wheel, the inner cap having back mounting lugs for fastening to a wheel rim. The inner cap has a plurality of through holes and a plurality of stub barrels around the through holes protruding inwardly. An outer cap is adapted to cover the inner cap, the outer cap having a plurality of cylindrical mounting rods protruding inwardly and inserted into the through holes of the inner cap. A plurality of screws equipped with a washer is fastened to the mounting rods of the outer cap and a compression spring surrounds each mounting rod and is mounted in each stub barrel between the inner cap back wall and the washer.

Abstract: A wheel cover in the invention has a wheel cover body including fixing bases fixed thereon and each having at least one first hook hole; securing members connected to the fixing bases and each having at least one second hook hole; springs each having both ends for respectively hooking into each of the first hook holes and each of the corresponding second hook holes, whereby the securing members can be connected to the fixing bases and moved to and fro under the resilience of the springs so that in case that a tire of an automobile is forcedly deformed to jostle against the wheel cover while the automobile is driven on a rough road or runs over hard objects, the wheel cover body can follow the resilient to-and-fro movements of the securing members to prevent the wheel cover from coming off or being burst out of a wheel rim.

Abstract: A wheel cover (20) that simulates a high profile automotive wheel and tire. The wheel cover (20) includes a base mounting plate (26) that is removably attached to a wheel (22) using conventional methods. A face plate (38), which is configured to partially cover the tire sidewall as well as a central portion of a wheel, is positioned on top of the base mounting plate (26). The mounting plate (26) is attached to the face plate (38) in a spring-loaded manner, which continually urges the face plate (38) to be in contact with the side wall of the tire (24). The spring-loading arrangement permits the face plate (38) to yield when the tire bulges due to weight induced distortion or road hazard impact. The face plate (38) gives way at the tire bulge and yet retains contiguous engagement with the tire. When attached, the face plate (38) extends outward from the wheel's outer perimeter and over a portion of the tire's sidewall, thus producing the appearance of a high profile wheel and tire.

Abstract: A wheel rim cover includes a cover body and a decorative cover combined at an outer side of the cover body. The cover body has a plurality of fixing members protruding sidewise on an inner surface spaced apart equidistantly in a circle and fixed with a circular ring. The cover body has a plurality of hollow tubes, and a coil spring fitting around each hollow tube. The decorative cover has a diameter larger than that of the cover body, and a plurality of threaded rods standing sidewise on an inner surface with a washer and a nut. The threaded rods directly extend through the hollow tubes and the coil springs, engaging the nuts to press the coil springs. Thus the wheel cover has an elevated effect of visual appearance and a shock-absorbing function.

Abstract: A double deck wheel cover includes an inner part, and an outer part. The inner part is detachably fitted on a central portion of a wheel. The outer part has spaced connecting plates projecting from the inner side through corresponding slots of the inner part. Tension springs are connected to the connecting plates at outer ends. Inner ends of the springs are connected to a steel ring secured to the inner part. The outer part has a larger diameter than the outer part so that an outer edge thereof covers a portion of a lateral side of a tire joined to the wheel, thus reducing thickness of visible portion of the tire lateral side to make the tire to look like a sport tire that has a relatively low aspect ratio, i.e. the proportion of the thickness of the lateral portion to the width of the tread of the tire.

Abstract: A rim extension device for simulating the appearance of low profile tires. The rim extension device includes a disk. The disk has a front surface and a back surface. The disk has a hole therethrough substantially positioned in a medial portion of the disk. The hole has a diameter generally equal to a diameter of a rim of an automobile wheel. A peripheral wall is integrally coupled to and extends away from a peripheral edge of the hole. A plurality of coupling members is each securely attached to the peripheral wall and each is adapted to releasably engage the rim.

Abstract: A mounted assembly of a mounting wheel, a tire provided with sidewalls between a tread and parts of the tire intended to come in contact with said wheel after mounting of the tire on the wheel and a wheel hubcap fastened to the wheel. The mounted assembly is characterized in that one of the sidewalls cooperates with the hubcap to secure a good angular position of the hubcap in relation to said sidewall as well as to maintain the angular position during the use of the assembly on the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention is a structure for reducing the thermal signature of an assembly on a vehicle that includes a hub, a wheel on the hub and a tire on the wheel. The structure comprises a generally planar cover disposed outboard of the assembly so that an air gap is between the cover and the assembly. A set of multifunctional elements lock the wheel to the hub, space the cover from the wheel and help retain the cover in connection with the wheel. In one embodiment, the cover is an eccentric, lobed sheet metal member that completely eclipses the wheel and partly eclipses the tire from a point of view outboard of the vehicle. In another embodiment, the cover has an inner unit comprised of metal plates having an insulating disk therebetween and further comprises a flexible flange encircling the inner unit.