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Apparatus and methods for facilitating replacement of a vehicle wheel and eliminating the frustrations associated with the alignment of lug bolts with holes in the replacement wheel. The invention may be included in new vehicles or retrofitted by the owners of older vehicles. The apparatus comprises

Apparatus and methods for facilitating replacement of a vehicle wheel and eliminating the frustrations associated with the alignment of lug bolts with holes in the replacement wheel. The invention may be included in new vehicles or retrofitted by the owners of older vehicles. The apparatus comprises an elongated support member extending from a hub of a vehicle adjacent to lug bolts also extending from the hub or hub holes in the hub. The hub is rotated so that the support member is in the topmost position, and the replacement wheel is hung on the support member. Gravity insures that the holes in the wheel are aligned with the lug bolts so that it is easy to push laterally on the wheel to engage the lug bolts in the holes. The support member may include one lug bolt which is longer than the others or a dedicated guide pin attached to the hub. In another embodiment, one of the holes is enlarged, and a topmost lug bolt is elongated by slipping a guide tube over it after inserting the tube through the enlarged wheel hole. The tube can be included in a kit along with a machining tool for enlarging the hole. To further ease the task, the tube may be beveled at the end which slips onto the lug bolt and then used as a lever to lift the tire into place. The beveled end allows for easy positioning of the guide tube even when the guide tube is disposed at an angle to the lug bolt. The invention is readily adaptable to various vehicles.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A vehicle wheel assembly comprising:a wheel hub supported on an axle of the vehicle;a wheel adapted for positioning adjacent to said wheel hub, said wheel defining a plurality of holes therein, said holes including a set of holes substantially equally circumferentially sp

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A vehicle wheel assembly comprising:a wheel hub supported on an axle of the vehicle;a wheel adapted for positioning adjacent to said wheel hub, said wheel defining a plurality of holes therein, said holes including a set of holes substantially equally circumferentially spaced from one another and a separate hole;a plurality of lug bolts extending from said wheel hub and substantially evenly circumferentially spaced with respect to one another in a pattern identical to said set of holes, said lug bolts being adapted for positioning through corresponding ones of said set of holes in said wheel, said lug bolts being of substantially uniform length;a single support member extending in an axial direction from said hub, said support member being adapted for positioning through one of said holes in said wheel; anda guide tube disposable through said separate hole in said wheel and over said support member;whereby, when said support member and said guide tube are located at a topmost position on said wheel hub with respect to said lug bolts, said wheel will hang from said guide tube such that the others of said holes in said wheel are substantially aligned with the corresponding lug bolts.