Devices for mounting an automobile wheel on a hub assembly and lifting an automobile wheel into an automobile body

• US 5,581,866 A
• Filed: 10/12/1994
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philip Barkus
• Original Assignee: Philip Barkus
• Inventors: Barkus, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, PETER DUNG BA
• Application Number:
  US08/322,071
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 29/270, 29/271, 29/273, 29/468, 29/894.321, 7/100, 7/138, D 8/31, 254/120, 254/131, 81/124.5, 157/1, 157/14
• US Class Current: 29/273
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 29/001 comprising lifting or aligning means B60B29/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49497 Assembling wheel disc to rim and hub
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49902 by manipulating aligning means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53922 Auto wheel with auto chassis

Abstract

Devices are provided for use in lifting an automobile wheel into an automobile body. An elongated member releaseably engages an automobile wheel and pivots on the body of the automobile as the elongated member is lifted to lift the automobile wheel into the body. In addition, devices and methods are provided for mounting an automobile wheel on an automobile wheel hub assembly and removing the same therefrom. An elongated member is placed within a central aperture of an automobile wheel and the elongated member is pivoted either on an outer surface of an axially central member of an automobile wheel hub assembly or on an inner wall of an axially central member thereof.

Claims

1. A device for use in lifting an automobile wheel into a body of an automobile, comprising:

an elongated member having first and second longitudinal extremities, the elongated member comprising a main body extending from the first longitudinal extremity toward the second longitudinal extremity, and a handle member slidably received within the main body and extendable outwardly therefrom to define the second longitudinal extremity of said elongated member;

releasable engaging means for releasably engaging the elongated member with the automobile wheel for lifting the automobile wheel with the elongated member; and

pivot means for pivotally engaging the body of the automobile to support the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member on the body of the automobile upon lifting said elongated member to lift the automobile wheel into the body.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the releasable engaging means comprises means for releasably affixing to the automobiIe wheel and engaging the elongated member for support thereby.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the means for releasably affixing to the automobile wheel is operative to slidably engage an outer surface of the elongated member.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the releasable engaging means comprises an outer surface of said elongated member shaped to permit an inner edge of the automobile wheel defining an aperture therethrough to be slid longitudinally thereon.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the pivot means comprises a body contacting member rigidly affixed to the elongated member and having a contact surface positioned to contact a portion of the automobile body and press thereagainst to support the elongated member pivotally against the body portion when the elongated member is lifted.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising securing means for securing the pivot means in pivotal engagement with the body of the automobile.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the securing means comprises means for affixing to the device and to the body of the automobile to resist separation of the pivot means from pivotal engagement with the automobile body.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the releasable engaging means comprises a flexible member fitting over the outer surface of said elongated member and through an aperture in the automobile wheel to engage the flexible member therewith.

9. A device for use in lifting an automobile wheel into a body of an automobile, comprising:

an elongated member having first and second longitudinal extremities;

releasable engaging means for releasably engaging the elongated member with the automobile wheel for lifting the automobile wheel with the elongated member, the releasable engaging means comprising a flexible member having a first loop fitting over the outer surface of said elongated member to thereby support the flexible member so that the flexible member is slidably engaged with the outer surface of the elongated member, the releasable engaging means further comprising a portion affixed to the first loop and having means for releasably affixed an end thereof to said portion to form a second loop fitting through an aperture in the automobile wheel to releasably engage the flexible member therewith; and

pivot means for pivotally engaging the body of the automobile to support the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member on the body of the automobile upon lifting said elongated member to lift the automobile wheel into the body.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the flexible member comprises a chain.

11. A device for mounting an automobile wheel on an automobile wheel hub assembly, the automobile wheel having an inner edge defining a central aperture adapted to fit over an outer surface of an axially central member of the wheel hub assembly and a plurality of stud apertures positioned to fit over a plurality of retaining studs of the automobile wheel hub assembly, comprising:

an elongated member having first and second longitudinal extremities and an outer lateral surface shaped to permit the inner edge of the automobile wheel to slide longitudinally on the elongated member; and

a pivot member positioned at the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member, the pivot member having a contact surface configured to conform to the outer surface of the axially central member when in contact therewith and to pivot on said outer surface of the axially central member with rotation of the elongated member with respect to the axially central member to support the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member on the axially central member upon lifting said elongated member to mount the automobile wheel on the automobile wheel hub, the contact surface of the pivot member being positioned with respect to an upper extremity of the elongated member at the first longitudinal extremity thereof such that when the elongated member is rotated to a position substantially aligned with respect to an axis of the wheel hub assembly with the contact surface of the pivot member in contact with the outer surface of the axially central member, the upper extremity of the elongated member is substantially aligned with an upper extremity of a shaft of the wheel hub assembly provided for mounting the inner edge of the automobile wheel.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the outer lateral surface of the elongated member has a substantially cylindrical configuration such that the inner edge of the automobile wheel may be rotated on the outer lateral surface of the elongated member for aligning the stud apertures of the automobile wheel with the plurality of retaining studs of the automobile wheel hub.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the pivot member includes means for resisting translational motion between the contact surface of the pivot member and the outer surface of the axially central member.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the pivot member is operative to releasably affix to the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the pivot member comprises a pad.

16. The device of claim 11, further comprising means for supporting the elongated member vertically at a position thereof spaced axially from the first longitudinal extremity thereof.

17. A device for mounting an automobile wheel on an automobile wheel hub assembly, the automobile wheel having an inner edge defining a central aperture adapted to fit over an outer surface of an axially central member of the wheel hub assembly and a plurality of stud apertures positioned to fit over a plurality of retaining studs of the automobile wheel hub assembly, comprising:

an elongated member having first and second longitudinal extremities and an outer lateral surface shaped to permit the inner edge of the automobile wheel to slide longitudinally on the elongated member; and

a pivot member positioned at the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member, the pivot member having a contact surface configured to conform to the outer surface of the axially central member when in contact therewith and to pivot on said outer surface of the axially central member with rotation of the elongated member with respect to the axially central member to support the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member on the axially central member upon lifting said elongated member to mount the automobile wheel on the automobile wheel hub;

said device being combined with a grease cap including a body having a generally cylindrical lateral outer wall arranged circumferentially about an axis of the grease cap and extending axially to first and second extremities thereof, and an end wall extending from and closing the first extremity of the lateral outer wall; and

means for removably affixing the body of the grease cap to an axially centered projection of the hub assembly;

the lateral outer wall of the body having a radially outwardly extending projection;

the contact surface of the pivot member of the device being configured to conform to the lateral outer wall of the grease cap as said axially central member and to pivot on said lateral outer wall to support the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member thereon.

18. A device for mounting an automobile wheel on an automobile wheel hub assembly, the automobile wheel having an inner edge defining a central aperture adapted to fit over an outer surface of an axially central member of the wheel hub assembly and a plurality of stud apertures positioned to fit over a plurality of retaining studs of the automobile wheel hub assembly, comprising:

an elongated member having first and second longitudinal extremities and an outer lateral surface shaped to permit the inner edge of the automobile wheel to slide longitudinally on the elongated member, the elongated member comprising a main body extending from the first longitudinal extremity toward the second longitudinal extremity, and a handle member slidably received within the main body and extendable outwardly therefrom to define the second longitudinal extremity of said elongated member; and

a pivot member releasably affixed at the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member, comprising;

a body having first and second opposed surfaces;

the first surface being shaped to conform to said outer surface of said axially central member; and

affixing means for releasably affixing the second surface of the body to the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the body has a thickness selected such that when the first surface of the body is in contact with the outer surface of the axially central member, an upper edge of the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member is substantially vertically aligned with an upper surface of a shaft of the wheel hub assembly provided for mounting a central aperture of the automobile wheel.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the second surface of the body is configured to fit closely against a surface of the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the affixing means comprises a snap fastener.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein the affixing means comprises a hook and loop fastener.

23. The device of claim 18, wherein the affixing means comprises an adhesive.

24. The device of claim 18, wherein the first surface of the body is provided with means for resisting motion of the first surface of the body from contact with the outer surface of the axially central member.

25. A device for mounting an automobile wheel on an automobile wheel hub assembly, the automobile wheel having an inner edge defining a central aperture adapted to fit over an axially central member of the wheel hub assembly having an inner wall facing generally toward an axis of the wheel hub assembly, the automobile wheel having a plurality of stud apertures positioned to fit over a plurality of retaining studs of the automobile wheel hub assembly, comprising:

an elongated member having first and second longitudinal extremities and an outer lateral surface shaped to permit the inner edge of the automobile wheel to slide longitudinally on the elongated member; and

a pivot member positioned at the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member, the pivot member having a contact surface positioned to contact the inner wall of the axially central member and to pivot on said inner wall with rotation of the elongated member with respect to the axially central member to support the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member on said inner wall upon lifting said elongated member to mount the automobile wheel on the automobile wheel hub assembly;

the contact surface of the pivot member being positioned with respect to an upper extremity of the elongated member at the first longitudinal extremity thereof such that when the elongated member is rotated to a position substantially aligned with respect to an axis of the wheel hub assembly with the contact surface of the pivot member in contact with the inner wall of the axially central member, the upper extremity of the elongated member is substantially aligned with an upper extremity of a shaft of the wheel hub assembly provided for mounting the inner edge of the automobile wheel.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the contact surface of the pivot member is operative to resist translational motion between the contact surface of the pivot member and the inner wall of the axially central member.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the contact surface of the pivot member is provided with a plurality of teeth.

28. The device of claim 25, further comprising means for supporting the elongated member vertically at a position thereof spaced axially from the first longitudinal extremity thereof.

29. A device for mounting an automobile wheel on an automobile wheel hub assembly comprising:

an elongated member having first and second longitudinal extremities, said elongated member including a main body extending from the first longitudinal extremity toward the second longitudinal extremity, and a handle member slidably received within the main body and extendable outwardly therefrom to define the second longitudinal extremity of said elongated member;

releasable engaging means for releasably engaging the elongated member with the automobile wheel for lifting the automobile wheel with the elongated member; and

pivot means for pivotally engaging the automobile wheel hub assembly to support the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member on the automobile wheel hub assembly upon lifting said elongated member to mount the automobile wheel on the automobile wheel hub assembly.

30. The device of claim 29, further comprising means for preventing rotation of the handle member with respect to the main body of the elongated member.

31. A device for mounting an automobile wheel on an automobile wheel hub assembly, the automobile wheel having an inner edge defining a central aperture adapted to fit over an outer surface of an axially central member of the wheel hub assembly and a plurality of stud apertures positioned to fit over a plurality of retaining studs of the automobile wheel hub assembly, comprising:

an elongated member having first and second longitudinal extremities and an outer lateral surface shaped to permit the inner edge of the automobile wheel to slide longitudinally on the elongated member; and

a pivot member positioned at the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member, the pivot member having a contact surface configured to conform to the outer surface of the axially central member when in contact therewith and to pivot on said outer surface of the axially central member with rotation of the elongated member with respect to the axially central member to support the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member on the axially central member upon lifting said elongated member to mount the automobile wheel on the automobile wheel hub;

said device being combined with a wheel hub assembly member including a body having a lateral outer wall arranged about an axis thereof;

the lateral outer wall of the body having a radially outwardly extending projection;

the contact surface of the pivot member being configured to conform to the lateral outer wall of the wheel hub assembly member as said axially central member and to pivot on said lateral outer wall to support the first longitudinal extremity of the elongated member thereon.