U.S. patent application number 09/781785 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-15 for lug nut assembly.
Invention is credited to Nance, James Noland, Snyder, James A. JR..
Application Number | 20020110436 09/781785 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25123926 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020110436 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nance, James Noland ; et
al. |
August 15, 2002 |
LUG NUT ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A lug nut assembly is provided for securing a wheel rim defining
at least one aperture to a wheel hub including at least one
threaded stud extending from the wheel hub. The lug nut assembly
comprises an elongated sleeve that includes a central bore that
defines a longitudinal axis. The elongated sleeve has a secured end
rotatably secured to the wheel rim and an opposed distal end
extending outwardly from the rim. The sleeve includes at least one
wrench engaging surface. A nut, having a central threaded bore that
is adapted to matingly engage the threaded stud, is slidably
mounted within the sleeve to move coaxially along the longitudinal
axis of the sleeve. Means are provided for preventing independent
rotation of the sleeve relative to the nut.
Inventors: |
Nance, James Noland;
(Newmarket, TN) ; Snyder, James A. JR.;
(Strawberry, TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PITTS AND BRITTIAN P C
P O BOX 51295
KNOXVILLE
TN
37950-1295
US
|
Family ID: |
25123926 |
Appl. No.: |
09/781785 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
411/108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 5/0208 20130101;
F16B 37/145 20130101; Y10S 411/999 20130101; F16B 37/064
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
411/108 |
International
Class: |
F16B 037/04; F16B
037/08 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A lug nut assembly adaptable for securing a wheel rim defining
at least one aperture to a wheel hub including at least one
threaded stud extending from said wheel hub, said lug nut assembly
comprising: an elongated sleeve including a central bore defining a
longitudinal axis, a secured end rotatably secured to said rim, and
a distal end extending outwardly from said rim, said sleeve
including at least one wrench engaging surface, a nut having a
central threaded bore adapted to matingly engage said threaded
stud, said central threaded bore having a longitudinal axis coaxial
with said central bore of said sleeve, said nut being slidably
mounted within said sleeve to move coaxially along said
longitudinal axis of said sleeve, and a longitudinal key parallel
to said longitudinal axis of said sleeve to prevent independent
rotation of said sleeve relative to said nut.
2. A lug nut assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein a spring
located within said central bore of said sleeve urges said nut
toward said secured end of said sleeve.
3. A lug nut assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said
secured end of said sleeve is frusto-conical in shape.
4. A lug nut assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein a shoulder
is defined within said central bore of said sleeve adjacent to said
secured end and an aperture is defined in said rim, said sleeve
being rotatably secured to said rim by an elongated inner sleeve
having an expanded rim end, a central section and an expanded
shoulder end, said central section of said inner sleeve being
located within said aperture defined in said rim.
5. A lug nut assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said
expanded shoulder end is frusto-conical in shape, said nut includes
a securing end and a distal end, and said securing end is frusto
conical in shape to matingly engage said expanded shoulder end of
said inner sleeve.
6. A lug nut assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein a spring
located within said central bore of said sleeve urges said securing
end of said nut into mating engagement with said expanded shoulder
end of said inner sleeve.
7. A lug nut assembly adaptable for securing a wheel rim defining
at least one aperture to a wheel disc including at least one
threaded stud extending from said wheel hub, said lug nut assembly
comprising: an elongated sleeve including a central bore defining a
longitudinal axis, a secured end rotatably secured to said rim, and
a distal end extending outwardly from said rim, said sleeve
including at least one wrench engaging surface, a nut having a
central threaded bore adapted to matingly engage said threaded
stud, said central threaded bore having a longitudinal axis coaxial
with said central bore of said sleeve, said nut being slidably
mounted within said sleeve to move coaxially along said
longitudinal axis of said sleeve, and means for preventing
independent rotation of said sleeve relative to said nut.
8. A lug nut assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein a spring
located within said central bore of said sleeve urges said nut
toward said secured end of said sleeve.
9. A lug nut assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said
secured end of said sleeve is frusto-conical in shape.
10. A lug nut assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein a
shoulder is defined within said central bore of said sleeve
adjacent to said secured end and an aperture is defined in said
rim, said sleeve being rotatably secured to said rim by an
elongated inner sleeve having an expanded rim end, a central
section and an expanded shoulder end, said central section of said
inner sleeve being located within said aperture defined in said
rim.
11. A lug nut assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said
expanded shoulder end is frusto-conical in shape, said nut includes
a securing end and a distal end, and said securing end is frusto
conical in shape to matingly engage said expanded shoulder end of
said inner sleeve.
12. A lug nut assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein a spring
located within said central bore of said sleeve urges said securing
end of said nut into mating engagement with said expanded shoulder
end of said inner sleeve.
13. A method of securing a wheel rim to a wheel hub, said wheel hub
including at least one threaded stud extending from said wheel hub,
comprising: forming an elongated sleeve including a central bore
defining a longitudinal axis, a secured end and a distal end, said
sleeve including at least one wrench engaging surface, slidably
mounting a nut within said bore of said sleeve, said nut defining a
central threaded bore adapted to matingly engage said threaded
stud, said central threaded bore having a longitudinal axis coaxial
with said central bore of said sleeve, to move coaxially along said
longitudinal axis of said sleeve, providing a longitudinal key to
prevent independent rotation of said sleeve relative to said nut,
and rotatably securing said secured end of said sleeve to said
wheel rim adjacent to an aperture in said wheel rim adapted to
slidingly receive said threaded stud, and rotating said sleeve with
a wrench to matingly engage said threaded stud with said nut.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to apparatus for
securing a wheel rim to a hub and more particularly to an assembly
that permits rapid mounting and dismounting of a wheel rim to or
from a wheel hub including at least one threaded stud.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In the field of vehicles, and particularly racing vehicles,
the time required to mount or dismount a wheel from a hub can be
very important. With regard to racing cars, where fractions of
seconds spent changing wheels can determine the outcome of a race,
it is imperative that no time be wasted in the process of mounting
and dismounting wheels.
[0003] Generally, a wheel hub includes at least one threaded stud
that extends generally perpendicularly from the wheel rim, parallel
to the ground. The wheel rim defines at least one aperture of a
size adapted to slidingly receive the threaded stud. After the rim
has been placed in position adjacent to the wheel hub, with the
threaded stud extending through the aperture defined in the wheel
rim, a lug nut is then threadably engaged with the threaded stud
and rotated into contact with the wheel rim, securing the rim to
the hub.
[0004] In order to eliminate any time wasted in locating and
orienting lug nuts for threading onto threaded studs, various
efforts have been made to ensure that the lug nuts are
appropriately positioned directly over the apertures in the rim
prior to mounting a wheel upon a wheel hub. Glue and other
adhesives have been used to attach the lug nuts to the rim.
Unfortunately, though glue and other adhesives may be very
inexpensive materials, temperature, moisture conditions and even
rough handling can affect the effectiveness of the attachment,
allowing the lug nut to separate from the rim unintentionally. The
time spent searching for a separated lug nut can be quite costly in
auto racing. Moreover, when such lug nuts are removed, there is
nothing securing the lug nut to the rim. They may fall to the
ground where they present a safety hazard to people walking around
the site or may even be thrown over considerable distances at high
rates of speed by a spinning tire. In addition, even if the lug
nuts are retrieved without damage, time must be spent re-adhering
the lugs for the next use.
[0005] If a lug nut is cross-threaded on a stud, it is at a minimum
a nuisance and a waste of time because the lug nut must be reversed
and re-threaded properly. In addition, if a lug nut is forced to
cross-thread with a wrench, the threads on the stud and/or the nut
may be damaged and require replacement.
[0006] In response to the apparent deficiencies presented by the
use of adhesives, various attempts have been made to provide
apparatus for attaching the lug nuts to the wheel rim, such as the
apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,880 issued to Garuti et
al. on Aug. 27, 1991. Therein is disclosed a coplanar spiral spring
that is attached at one end to a wheel rim and a lug nut is
rotatably mounted upon the spring. The spring retains the lug nut
in a position adjacent to an aperture in the wheel rim to
threadably engage a threaded stud as it passes through the
aperture. While a substantial improvement over the attempts using
adhesives, the '880 apparatus is not a satisfactory solution to the
conditions of auto racing.
[0007] The apparatus of the '880 patent is designed to hold a lug
nut in position adjacent to an aperture defined in the rim in
precisely the position to matingly receive the threaded stud as it
passes through the aperture without cross threading. However, if in
the course of the normal rough and hurried handling of racing
wheels the helical spring is bent, the '880 apparatus will hold the
nut in a position very likely to induce cross threading. Moreover,
given the oily and dusty nature of auto racing, oil and dirt will
accumulate on the threaded studs and lug nuts, thus also creating
slight misalignments that can lead to cross threading.
[0008] Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is
to provide a lug nut assembly that is secured to a wheel rim.
[0009] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a
lug nut assembly that retains a lug nut in position adjacent to a
wheel rim aperture in a position to matingly receive a threaded
stud without cross threading.
[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
lug nut assembly that protects a lug nut and threaded stud from
accumulation of oil and dirt and from physical damage from raceway
debris.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In accordance with the present invention a lug nut assembly
is provided which retains a lug nut in an appropriate position to
matingly engage a threaded stud as it passes through a wheel rim
aperture without cross threading. The assembly includes an
elongated sleeve that includes a central bore defining a
longitudinal axis. The sleeve includes a secured end rotatably
secured to the wheel rim and a distal end extending outwardly from
the wheel rim. The sleeve includes at least one wrench engaging
surface. A nut having a central threaded bore adapted to engage the
threaded stud defines a central longitudinal axis that is coaxial
with the axis of the sleeve. The nut is slidably mounted within the
sleeve to move coaxially along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve.
A longitudinal key that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
sleeve prevents independent rotation of the sleeve relative to the
nut. In one embodiment of the present invention a spring is located
within the central bore of the sleeve to urge the nut towards the
secured end of the sleeve and the distal end of the sleeve is
closed with a cap to prevent entry of oil and particles into the
central bore of the sleeve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The above mentioned features of the invention will become
more clearly understood from the following detailed description of
the invention read together with the claims and drawings in
which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lug nut assembly in
accordance with the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation view of a lug nut assembly
in accordance with the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a lug nut assembly
in accordance with the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 is an elevation view of an alternative embodiment of
a lug nut assembly in accordance with the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0017] Referring now to the Figures in which like reference
numerals indicate like or corresponding features, there is shown in
FIG. 1 a lug nut assembly 10 rotatably secured to a wheel rim 12
that is adapted for securing to a wheel hub 15 including at least
one threaded stud 17.
[0018] The lug nut assembly 10 includes an elongated sleeve 14,
which may comprise aluminum or steel, for example, having a secured
end 16 and an opposed distal end 18. A generally cylindrical
central bore 20 having an axis 21 is defined in the sleeve 14,
extending from the secured end 16 to the distal end 18. In the
depicted embodiment, the sleeve 14 is approximately two inches in
length and approximately 1.25 inches in width. The outer surface of
the sleeve 14 is hexagonal in cross-section to provide six wrench
engaging surfaces 22 adaptable for rotation by a socket wrench well
known in the industry. The secured end of the sleeve 14 is beveled
to matingly engage a beveled area surrounding an aperture 23
defined in a wheel rim 12.
[0019] The inner wall 24 defining the bore 20 includes two
longitudinal, diametrically opposed channels 26a and 26b that are
parallel to the longitudinal axis 21 of the bore 20. Each of the
channels 26a and 26b is semicircular in cross-section, comprising
at least 180 degrees. Cylindrical rods 28a and 28b are mounted
within the channels 26a and 26b, extending inwardly from the inner
wall 14 toward the axis 21 to define longitudinal keys.
[0020] The inner wall 24 of the sleeve 14 is of a smaller diameter
adjacent the secured end 16 than it is adjacent to the distal end
18, thus defining a shoulder 30 that is preferably beveled toward
the secured end at an angle of about 30 degrees. An elongated inner
sleeve 32 having an sleeve end 34 and a rim end 36 is rotatably
mounted coaxially within the sleeve 14. The sleeve end 34 of the
inner sleeve is flared at an angle of about 30 degrees so as to
engage the shoulder 30 of the sleeve 14. The rim end of the inner
sleeve 32 extends through an aperture 23 defined in the wheel rim
12 and is outwardly flared to allow rotation within the aperture
23, but not allow removal of the inner sleeve from the aperture 23.
The sleeve end 34 of the inner sleeve 32 includes two diametrically
opposed notches 37a and 37b adapted to engage the rods 28a and 28b,
thus preventing rotation of the inner sleeve 32 relative to the
sleeve 14.
[0021] A nut 40 including a central threaded bore 42 is slidably
mounted within the bore 20 of the sleeve 14. The axis of the
central threaded bor 42 is coaxial with the bore 20. Two
diametrically opposed channels 44a and 44b are defined in the outer
cylindrical surface of the nut 40. The channels 44a and 44b are
adapted to slidingly receive a portion of the rods 28a and 28b,
respectively. The nut 40 is thus slidable longitudinally within the
bore 20, but is prevented from rotating relative to the sleeve 14
by the keying engagement of the rod 28a within the channels 26a and
44a and the keying engagement of the rod 28b within the channels
26b and 44b. The threads 46 of the nut 40 are adapted to matingly
receive the threaded stud 17. The end of the nut adjacent to the
inner sleeve 32 is beveled at an angle of about 30 degrees to
provide mating engagement with the flared sleeve end 34.
[0022] In an alternative embodiment that does not include rods 28a
and 28b as keys, a nut 60 may be formed with a non-circular
cross-section, such as a hexagon, for example, as depicted in FIG.
4, provided that the bore 20 has a similar, yet larger,
cross-section adapted to allow sliding axial movement by the nut 40
and to prevent independent rotation of the nut 40 relative to the
sleeve 14. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that
other means may be used to prevent independent rotation of the
sleeve 14 and the nut 40.
[0023] A coil spring 48 is coaxially located within the bore 20 of
the sleeve 14 between the nut 40 and the distal end 18 of the
sleeve 14. The diameter of the coil spring 48 is less than the
diameter of the bore 20 to allow flexing of the spring within the
bore 20. The coil spring 48 is retained within the bore 20 by a
cover plate 50 that rests on the rods 28a and 28b. The cover plate
50 is secured in position by a c-spring 54 received in a circular
channel 56 defined in the bore 20 adjacent to the distal end 18 of
the sleeve 14.
[0024] In operation, at least one lug nut assembly 10 is rotatably
secured to a wheel rim 12 coaxially with an aperture 23 defined in
the wheel rim 12. As the rim 12 is mounted upon a wheel hub 15, a
threaded stud 17 extends through the inner sleeve 32 and the nut 40
until the threaded stud engages the threads 46 of the nut 40. A
socket wrench (not shown) is then applied to the sleeve 14,
applying rotational torque and causing the sleeve 14 to rotate.
Rotation of the sleeve 14 also rotates the nut 40 because of the
keying effect of the rods 28a and 28b. As the nut 40 rotates, the
mating engagement of the threads 46 and the threaded stud 17 causes
the nut to slide longitudinally within the bore 20 until the nut
engages the sleeve end of the inner sleeve 32. The lug nut 40 is
removed from the threaded stud 17 by reversing the direction of
rotation of the sleeve 14. The rotation of the sleeve 14 is
imparted to the nut 40 through the rods 28a and 28b that operate as
keys. The nut 40 slides within the bore 20 toward the distal end 18
until the threads 46 are disengaged from the threaded stud 17. The
nut 40 remains enclosed within the sleeve 14, ready to be used
again and protected from accumulation of oil and dust as well as
from damage.
[0025] While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described,
it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the
disclosure, but rather is intended to cover all modifications and
alternate methods and apparatus within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *