2. Description of the Related Art United States Patent 5,507,333, having common inventorship as the invention disclosed herein, discloses a composite wheel. The composite wheel includes a metal drum with resiliently compressible flanges. The resiliently compressible flanges provide for a design of the metal drum without a wheel well. This allows for more brake ventilation and/or brake capacity. Further, the compressible flanges reduce noise and vibration created by the tire as it travels over the road. This design, however, has been found less robust than desired in certain situations.

United States Patent 5,232,034, issued to Gergele on August 3,1993, shows a heavy-duty wheel with adaptive tire bead retention members extending around the wheel. The tire bead retention members are used to eliminate the necessity of a multi-part wheel rim without losing brake clearance. The wheel is, however, fabricated from a single material and does not contemplate the advantages of composite and multi- material wheels.

There is a need in the art to develop a wheel having its components

fabricated from different materials allowing the resulting wheel to have the advantages of all the materials available while eliminating some of the disadvantages associated with some of the materials by not using them for particular functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A composite wheel is disclosed for a pneumatic tire which includes at least one tire bead. The composite wheel includes a disc defining a central axis. The disc extends radially out from the central axis to an outer rim. The extension is generally perpendicular to the central axis. The composite wheel also includes an elongated skirt defining a circular cross section. The elongated skirt has an inner rim and an inwardly directed flange which is fixedly secured to the disc. The pneumatic tire is received by the disc and the elongated skirt.

One advantage associated with the invention is the creation of a wheel with a reduced wheel well. Another advantage associated with the invention is the ability to eliminate the requirement of forming or rolling a wheel well into the wheel. Another advantage associated with the invention is the ability to reduce the weight of the wheel.

Yet another advantage associated with the invention is the reduction in manufacturing costs associated with the fabrication of the composite wheel. Still another advantage associated with the invention is the enhancement of the wheel design while preserving the existing technology used to mounting a tire to the wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when

considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view, partially cut away, of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of one embodiment of the invention utilizing an anti-roll off device; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of one embodiment of the invention wherein the anti-roll off device is activated; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of the invention with a valve assembly; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional side view, partially cut away, of one embodiment of the invention including balancing masses ; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side view, partially cut away, of a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 8 is an exploded cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT (S Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a composite wheel is generally indicated at 10. The composite wheel 10 is designed to receive a pneumatic tire thereon. The pneumatic tire 12 is partially shown in Figures 3 and 4. The composite wheel 10 is designed to be used with a motor vehicle (not shown) and is used to connect the wheel hub (not shown) of the motor vehicle with the pneumatic tire 12. The composite wheel 10 also provides a sealed surface, generally shown at 14, sealing pressurized fluid, i. e.,

pressurized air, within the pneumatic tire 12 allowing the pneumatic tire 12 to support the motor vehicle.

The composite wheel 10 includes a disc 16. The disc 16 defines a central axis 18 about which the disc 16 surrounds. The disc 16 extends radially out from the central axis 18 to an outer rim 20. The disc 16 extends out from the central axis 18 generally in a perpendicular direction to the central axis 18. While the disc 16 may include some contour 22 which is not extending perpendicular to the central axis 18, the overall disc 16 does extend perpendicularly thereto. The disc 16 further defines an outboard surface 24 and an inboard surface 26. The outboard surface 24 is viewable by persons outside the motor vehicle when the composite wheel 10 is secured to the motor vehicle wheel hub. The inboard surface 26 is on the interior of the composite wheel 10 and is fixedly secured to the wheel hub using lug nuts (not shown) which are threadingly engagable with the wheel hub as they extend through lug stud holes 28 (one shown in Figure 2).

The disc 16 has a defined thickness extending between the inboard surface 26 and the outboard surface 24. While this thickness may vary, a defined interior surface 30 is cut away from the inboard surface 26 resulting in a decreased thickness of the disc 16 along the interior surface 30. A ledge 32 extends between the interior surface 30 and the inboard surface 26.

The composite wheel 10 further includes an elongated skirt 34 which defines a circular cross section. The elongated skirt 34 is secured to and extends out from the disc 16. The elongated skirt 34 defines an inner rim 36 (shown in Figures 2,5 and 6) which complements the outer rim 20 of the disc 16. The elongated skirt 34 also defines an inwardly directed flange 38 which is fixedly secured to the disc 16 such that

the pneumatic tire 12 is received by the disc 16 and the elongated skirt 34. More specifically, the pneumatic tire 12 is received by the outer rim 20 of the disc 16 and the inner rim 36 of the elongated skirt 34.

The inwardly directed flange 38 is bonded or otherwise secured to the interior surface 30 of the disc 16. The inner diameter created by an end surface 39 of the inwardly directed flange 38 is received against and abuts the ledge 32. The elongated skirt 34 defines a cylindrical body 41 which extends between the inwardly directed flange 38 and the inner rim 36. The cylindrical body 41 does not include a wheel well formed therein from rolling or other means. Either the disc 16 or the elongated skirt 34 may be coated with a material to prevent dielectric disparities from resulting in the corrosion of one or both of the materials used to fabricate the respective components of the composite wheel 10.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 through 7, the composite wheel 10 includes a disc 16 fabricated from an aluminum alloy and an elongated skirt 34 fabricated from a steel. The aluminum disc 16 provides an aesthetically pleasing surface and reduces the weight of the composite wheel 10. The steel elongated skirt 34 provides the strength required to hold the pneumatic tire 12 while minimizing the thickness thereof. Further, the steel elongated skirt 34 provides the necessary flexibility within the composite wheel 10 to strengthen the composite wheel 10 to withstand the harsh environment in which it is operating.

The composite wheel 10 further includes at least one tire bead retention member 40. In the preferred embodiment, the composite wheel 10 includes two tire bead retention members 40,42. The tire bead retention members 40,42 are resiliently compressible. Each of the two tire bead retention members 40,42 are bonded to the outer

rim 20 of the disc 16 and the inner rim 36 of the elongated skirt 34. The tire bead retention member 40 adjacent the outer rim 20, extends along a portion of the elongated skirt 34. This tire bead retention member 40 is a seal between the disc 16 and the elongated skirt 34 which prevents fluid from passing from the pneumatic tire 12 after the pneumatic tire 12 is seated against the disc 16 and the elongated skirt 34. Each of the tire bead retention members 40,42 include a bead seat 44,46, respectively. The bead seats 44,46 receive a tire bead 48 (only one shown) of the pneumatic tire 12 thereon. The profile of the bead seats 44,46 are low enough such that bead wires 49 formed within the tire bead 48 extend around the composite wheel 10 below the upper-most point of the outer 20 and inner 36 rims. The tire bead retention members 40,42 also include retention member flanges 50,52. The retention member flanges 50,52 extend along and out past the outer rim 20 and the inner rim 36. The extension of the retention member flanges 50, 52 out past the outer rim 20 and the inner rim 36 allows for a reduced wheel well 54. In the embodiment of Figures 1 through 6, the wheel well 54 is created by the tire bead retention members 40,42. More specifically, because the retention member flanges 50, 52 are resiliently compressible, they made be bent and compressed to help the tire bead 48 of the pneumatic tire 12 to move over the rims 20,36 and the retention member flanges 50,52 when mounting the pneumatic tire 12 to the composite wheel 10. Because the retention member flanges 50,52 are supported by the outer rim 20 and the inner rim 36, they have the requisite strength and height required to seat the tire beads 48 (one shown) on the bead seats 44,46 when the elongated skirt 34 extends out from the outer rim 20 in a substantially cylindrical fashion absent any wheel well formed, rolled or otherwise contoured therein (as opposed to the wheel well 54 created by the tire bead retention members 40,42 with respect to the elongated skirt 34). The absence of any

requirement that the elongated skirt 34 form a wheel well directly therein allows the elongated skirt 34 to be spun manufactured or stamped as opposed to the current requirement for forming of the steel with rollers. This allows for a much more precise manufacturing process reducing costs and cycle time of manufacturing while reducing the percentage of rejects or wasted product.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the composite wheel 10 is shown having an access aperture 56 extending through the outer rim 20 as well as a portion of the tire bead retention member 40. Although only one access aperture 56 is shown, it may be appreciated by those skilled in the art that several access apertures 56 may be formed within the composite wheel 10 along the circumference thereof. In Figure 3, an anti-roll off device 58 has been embedded or inserted into the access aperture 56. In the preferred embodiment, the anti-roll off device 58 is embedded into the access aperture 56. The anti-roll off device 58 is fabricated from a plastic material, i. e., nylon, a substance which will not bond to the rubber while the rubber is curing within the mold assembly (not shown). The anti-roll off device 58 includes a cylindrical body 60 having a protrusion 62 extending out therefrom. The anti-roll off device 58 also includes a tool receiving aperture 64. In the embodiment shown, the tool receiving aperture 64 receives a screw drive head 66 therein. The protrusion 62 extends out from the cylindrical body 60 in asymmetrical fashion. Because the anti-roll off device 58 does not bond to the rubber, it is free to rotate under the torque of the screw drive head 66. When the anti-roll off device 58 is rotated by the screw drive head 66, the protrusion 62 forces a portion of the bead seat 44 of the tire bead retention member 40 up against the tire bead 48 of the pneumatic tire 12. Once rotated, the anti-roll off device 58 further inhibits the tire bead 48 from rolling off the bead seat 44 and unseating itself from the composite wheel 10.

The pressure generated by and on the rubber prevents the anti-roll off device 58 from rotating out of position. In this embodiment, every access aperture 56 includes an anti- roll off device 58.

Referring to Figure 6, the access apertures 56 may also receive cylindrical balancing masses 68 therein. As is shown, the access apertures 56 and the balancing masses 68 may be received by either rim 20,36 and tire bead retention members 40,42.

A combination of a maximum of four (4) balancing masses 68 may be inserted into access apertures 56 in various positions about the outer rim 20 and the inner rim 36 to affect a different balancing mass amount. This may vary due to the locations of the balancing masses 68 that are inserted into the composite wheel 10. Although not shown, it may be appreciated that all access apertures 56 receive an anti-roll off device 58 and, potentially, a balancing mass 68 therein. Further, although not shown, each access aperture 56 may include a cover mountable to the outer rim 20 or the inner rim 36 to prevent debris from entering the access aperture 56 or to remove any balancing mass 68 from view.

With reference to Figure 5, a valve assembly 70 is shown to be inserted into and through the outer rim 20 and the tire bead retention member 40 of the composite wheel 10. The valve assembly 70 may be threadingly engagable with the outer rim 20 or, preferably, secured and bonded to the rubber of the tire bead retention member 40 in the same operation as the tire bead retention members 40,42 are bonded to the metals. The valve assembly 70 allows for the adjustment of pressure within the pneumatic tire 12 after it has been mounted to the composite wheel 10.

Referring to Figure 7 wherein like prime numerals represent similar elements found in the embodiment of Figures 1 through 6, the composite wheel 10'

includes a disc 16'having a bead seat 44'which is disposed adjacent the outer rim 20' thereof. This composite wheel 10'does not include tire bead retention members 40 which are resiliently compressible. Therefore, the elongated skirt 34'includes a wheel well 72 which is formed directly into the elongate skirt 34'. This composite wheel 10'includes the advantage of having the disc 16'fabricated from aluminum alloy and the elongated skirt 34'fabricated from steel.

Referring to Figure 8 wherein like double primed reference characters represent similar elements found in the embodiment of Figures 1 through 6, a third embodiment of the composite wheel 10"is shown. The composite wheel 10"includes an elongated skirt 34"having a center portion 74. The center portion 74 receives the disc 16" thereagainst. A seal 76 eventually extends between the center portion 74 and the disc 16".

The seal 76 also acts as a dampener which absorbs vibrations created as the pneumatic tire 12 travels across the road. The center portion 74 may be secured to the disc 16" through any means suitable for maintaining the elongated skirt 34"secured to the disc 16".

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.