Wheel weight system

• US 6,132,007 A
• Filed: 08/13/1998
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wayne A. Harmsen
• Original Assignee: Wayne A. Harmsen
• Inventors: Harmsen, Wayne A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Application Number:
  US09/133,360
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 301/53.5, 280/758, 280/759, 280/755
• US Class Current: 301/53.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 15/28 Wheel-ballasting weights; Their attachment

Abstract

A wheel weight system adds traction to the drive wheels of off-road motor vehicles. The wheel weight system comprises at least two adapters that are mounted to a drive wheel. Studs are threaded into free ends of the adapters. Holes in a wheel weight are slipped over the studs. Nuts on the free ends of the studs attach the wheel weight in place. The adapters may be separate pieces that are removeably mounted to the drive wheel. Those adapters can remain more or less permanently on the drive wheel, if desired, even after the wheel weight and studs are removed from the adapters. Alternately, the adapters may be welded or cast integral with the drive wheel.

Claims

1. A wheel weight system for use on a motor vehicle wheel having a wheel disk section with at least one pair of holes therethrough, the wheel weight system comprising:

a. at least one pair of adapters each having an outer periphery, a threaded interior, a first end in contact with the wheel disk section, and a second end;

b. at least one pair of screws, each screw having a shank passing through a hole in the wheel disk section and being threaded into the first end of a respective adapter to mount the adapter to the wheel disk section;

c. at least one pair of studs, each stud being turned into the second end of a respective adapter;

d. a wheel weight supported on the studs and in contact with the vehicle wheel; and

e. at least two nuts, each being turned onto a stud to securely attach the wheel weight to the wheel.

2. The wheel weight system of claim 1 wherein:

a. the adapter has a round outer periphery; and

b. each adapter defines at least one cross hole extending diametrically through the adapter.

3. The wheel weight system of claim 2 wherein the cross hole is closer to the adapter second end than to the first end.

4. The wheel weight system of claim 1 wherein there is a clearance between the wheel weight and the adapter second end when the wheel weight is attached to the vehicle wheel.

5. In combination:

a. a motor vehicle having at least one drive wheel including a disk section with inside and outside surfaces;

b. a pair of threaded adapters on the outside surface of the drive wheel disk section;

c. a pair of studs each having a first end threaded into an associated adapter and a second end;

d. a wheel weight having holes therethrough that receive the studs; and

e. a pair of nuts threaded onto the second ends of the studs, so that the studs and adapters support the wheel weight on the motor vehicle drive wheel.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein:

a. the adapters are removeably mounted to the drive wheel disk section; and

b. the studs and wheel weights are selectively attachable to and removable from the drive wheel without removing the adapters from the drive wheel.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein the wheel weight is in contact with the drive wheel when the nuts are turned onto the second ends of the studs.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein the adapters are integral with the drive wheel disk section.

9. A method of increasing the traction of a motor vehicle drive wheel comprising the steps of:

a. mounting a pair of adapters each having a threaded opening to the drive wheel;

b. threading a pair of threaded studs into the threaded openings of the respective adapters;

c. supporting a wheel weight on the studs; and

d. securing the wheel weight to the studs.

10. A method of increasing the traction of a motor vehicle drive wheel comprising the steps of:

a. permanently mounting a pair of adapters each having a threaded opening to the drive wheel;

b. threading a pair of threaded studs into the threaded openings of the respective adapters;

c. supporting a wheel weight on the studs; and

d. securing the wheel weight to the studs.

11. The method of claim 10 comprising the further steps of:

a. sliding the wheel weight off the studs; and

b. removing the studs from the adapters, so that the wheel weight can be removed from the drive wheel without removing the adapters from the drive wheel.

12. A method of attaching a wheel weight to the drive wheel of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of:

a. mounting at least two adapters each having a threaded opening therethrough to the drive wheel;

b. threading a first end of a respective threaded stud into the threaded opening of each adapter;

c. sliding the wheel weight over the studs and into contact with the drive wheel; and

d. turning a nut on a second end of each stud and thereby securing the wheel weight to the drive wheel.

13. A method of attaching a wheel weight to the drive wheel of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of:

a. mounting at least two adapters each having a threaded opening therethrough to the drive wheel, wherein the step of mounting at least two adapters to the drive wheel comprises the steps of;

i. placing a first end of each adapter against an outside surface of a central disk section of the drive wheel; and

ii. threading a screw through the central disk section of the drive wheel and into a first end of each adapter and thereby mounting the adapters to the central disk section with the screws;

b. threading a first end of a respective threaded stud into the threaded opening of each adapter;

c. sliding the wheel weight over the studs and into contact with the drive wheel; and

d. turning a nut on a second end of each stud and thereby securing the wheel weight to the drive wheel.

14. A method of attaching a wheel weight to the drive wheel of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of:

a. mounting at least two adapters each having a threaded opening therethrough to the drive wheel, wherein the step of mounting at least two adapters to the drive wheel comprises the step of welding or casting each adapter integral with a central disk section of the drive wheel;

b. threading a first end of a respective threaded stud into the threaded opening of each adapter;

c. sliding the wheel weight over the studs and into contact with the drive wheel; and

d. turning a nut on a second end of each stud and thereby securing the wheel weight to the drive wheel.