초록 ▼

Disclosed are various embodiments of wheels having an increased interior lip depth. In some embodiments, the wheel can include a wheel barrel having a register formed on the inner surface thereof. A wheel center piece can have a junction rim secured to the register. The wheel center piece can includ

Disclosed are various embodiments of wheels having an increased interior lip depth. In some embodiments, the wheel can include a wheel barrel having a register formed on the inner surface thereof. A wheel center piece can have a junction rim secured to the register. The wheel center piece can include a center portion configured to be secured to a vehicle. The wheel center piece can include spokes which extend radially outwardly from the center portion and axial extenders which connect the radially outward ends of the spokes to the junction rim. The axial extenders can function to increase the size of the cavity formed between the wheel center piece and the inboard end of the wheel. Thus, the cavity can have a volume sufficient to accommodate mechanical components of the vehicle while allowing the register can be formed relatively close to the inboard side of the wheel, thereby increasing the depth of the interior lip extending from the outboard end of the wheel to the junction rim. In some embodiments, a one-piece wheel may be configured to have the appearance of being a multi-piece wheel having an increased interior lip depth. In some embodiments, a wheel component covering insert may be applied to the inner surface of the wheel barrel.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wheel configured to be mounted to a vehicle, the wheel comprising: a wheel barrel extending from an outboard side of the wheel to an inboard side of the wheel, the wheel barrel comprising a radially inner surface, the wheel barrel having a wheel barrel width extending from the outboard side of

1. A wheel configured to be mounted to a vehicle, the wheel comprising: a wheel barrel extending from an outboard side of the wheel to an inboard side of the wheel, the wheel barrel comprising a radially inner surface, the wheel barrel having a wheel barrel width extending from the outboard side of the wheel to the inboard side of the wheel;an inboard rim flange integrally formed with the wheel barrel on the inboard side of the wheel;an outboard rim flange integrally formed with the wheel barrel on the outboard side of the wheel;a register extending radially inwardly from the radially inner surface of the wheel barrel; anda wheel center piece comprising:a junction rim secured to the register;a center portion configured to attach to a vehicle;a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly from the center portion; anda plurality of axial extensions that extend substantially parallel to the inner surface of the wheel barrel from a radially outward end of each spoke to the junction rim, wherein a radially outer surface of each axial extension is substantially parallel to a radially inner surface of the respective axial extension;wherein a cavity is defined between the inboard side of the wheel center piece and the inboard side of the wheel, the cavity having an axial width that is greater than half the total wheel barrel width, and the cavity being configured to accommodate braking components when attached to the front of a front wheel drive vehicle; andwherein the radially inner surface of the wheel barrel comprises an interior lip having an interior lip depth extending from the outboard side of the wheel to the junction rim, the interior lip depth being at least about half the total wheel barrel width. 2. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the wheel barrel comprises an inner portion extending from the register to the inboard side of the wheel and an outer portion extending from the register to the outboard side of the wheel, and wherein the plurality of axial extensions have a height that is greater than half the axial width of the outer piece of the wheel barrel. 3. The wheel of claim 2, wherein the inner portion of the wheel barrel and the outer portion of the wheel barrel are separately formed and secured together at the register. 4. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the interior lip is substantially smooth. 5. The wheel of claim 1, wherein an inboard side of the center portion of the wheel center piece is positioned closer to the outboard side of the wheel than to the junction rim. 6. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the axial extensions extend substantially parallel to the radially inner surface of the wheel barrel. 7. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the interior lip is tapered such that the interior lip has a first diameter near the outboard side of the wheel is larger than a second diameter near the junction rim. 8. A wheel configured to be mounted to a vehicle, the wheel comprising: a wheel barrel extending from an outboard side of the wheel to an inboard side of the wheel, the wheel barrel comprising a radially inner surface;an inboard rim flange integrally formed with the wheel barrel on the inboard side of the wheel;an outboard rim flange integrally formed with the wheel barrel on the outboard side of the wheel;a register extending radially inwardly from a location on the radially inner surface of the wheel barrel, wherein the register is positioned closer to the inboard side of the wheel than to the outboard side of the wheel; anda wheel center piece comprising:a junction rim secured to the register;a plurality of axial extensions that extend from the junction rim substantially parallel to the inner surface of the wheel barrel to the radially outwards ends of each spoke to a location that is closer to the outboard side of the wheel than to the junction rim, wherein a radially outer surface of each axial extension is substantially parallel to a radially inner surface of the respective axial extension;a plurality of spokes extending radially inwardly from outboard ends of the axial extensions; anda center portion attached to the radially inner ends of the spokes, the center portion configured to attach to a vehicle. 9. The wheel of claim 8, wherein the radially inner surface of the wheel barrel comprises a substantially smooth interior lip extending from near the outboard side of the wheel to near the junction rim. 10. The wheel of claim 9, wherein the axial extensions have a height such that they extend over more than half of an interior lip depth. 11. The wheel of claim 8, wherein the wheel barrel comprises an inner portion extending from the register to the inboard side of the wheel and an outer portion extending from the register to the outboard side of the wheel, and wherein the plurality of axial extensions have a height that is greater than half the axial width of an outer barrel piece of the wheel barrel. 12. The wheel of claim 11, wherein the inner portion of the wheel barrel and the outer portion of the wheel barrel are separately formed and secured together at the register. 13. The wheel of claim 8, wherein the interior lip is substantially smooth. 14. The wheel of claim 8, wherein an inboard side of the center portion of the wheel center piece is positioned closer to the outboard side of the wheel than to the junction nm. 15. The wheel of claim 8, wherein the center portion of the wheel center piece is positioned at about the same axial distance from the outboard side of the wheel as the outboard ends of the axial extensions. 16. A wheel center piece comprising: a junction rim configured to be secured to a register of a wheel barrel; a center portion configured to attach to a vehicle;a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly from the center portion; anda plurality of axial extensions that extend substantially parallel to the inner surface of the wheel barrel from a radially outward end of each spoke to the junction rim, wherein a radially outer surface of each axial extension is substantially parallel to a radially inner surface of the respective axial extension. 17. A wheel comprising the wheel center piece of claim 16, further comprising: the wheel barrel extending from an outboard side of the wheel to an inboard side of the wheel, the wheel barrel comprising a radially inner surface; an inboard rim flange integrally formed with the wheel barrel on the inboard side of the wheel; an outboard rim flange integrally formed with the wheel barrel on the outboard side of the wheel; and a register extending radially inwardly from a location on the radially inner surface of the wheel barrel, wherein the junction rim is secured to the register. 18. The wheel of claim 17, wherein the register is closer to the inboard side of the wheel than to the outboard side of the wheel. 19. The wheel of claim 17, wherein the radially inner surface of the wheel barrel comprises a substantially smooth interior lip extending from near the outboard side of the wheel to near the junction rim. 20. The wheel of claim 19, wherein a cavity is defined between a wheel center piece and the inboard side of the wheel, wherein the cavity has an axial width of greater than half a total axial width of the wheel, and wherein the interior lip has an interior lip depth of greater than half the total axial width of the wheel. 21. The wheel center of claim 16, wherein the axial extensions have a height of at least about 4 inches.