Device for adhering lug nuts to vehicle wheels

• US 5,452,944 A
• Filed: 07/05/1994
• Issued: 09/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard W. Bear
• Original Assignee: Richard W. Bear
• Inventors: Bear, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Application Number:
  US08/270,669
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 301/35.62, 301/111, 411/372, 411/533, 411/542, 411/544, 411/999, 411/165, 411/258
• US Class Current: 301/35.624
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/142 by central locking nut
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/145 using washers or distance bushes
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/16 by bolts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 11/006 by gluing gluing of plastics material B29C65/48
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/048 Non-releasable devices F16B37/044, F16B37/045 and F16B37/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/999 with retainer, e.g. tether

Abstract

Lug nuts may be adhered to a vehicle wheel about a stud-receiving opening therein to facilitate mounting of the wheel onto a wheel hub of a vehicle without necessitating manual placement of the lug nut on the stud by utilizing a cylindrical washer-like annular device, the opposite ends of which have self-adhesive surfaces. Thus, one adhesive surface of the washer-like device may be adhered to the vehicle wheel about a stud-receiving opening while the opposite adhesive surface may be adhered to the lug nut. The main body of the device is preferably formed of a stretchable foam material so that the device is extensible in response to extension of the stud through the wheel opening, thereby to remain adhered to the wheel and the lug nut until securement of the lug nut to the stud.

Claims

1. A device for adhering a lug nut to a vehicle wheel about a stud-receiving opening therein to facilitate mounting of the wheel to a stud on a wheel hub of a vehicle without necessitating manual placement of the lug nut on the stud, the device comprising an annular body defining an axial opening therethrough for alignment with the stud-receiving opening in the vehicle wheel, the annular body having self-adhesive surfaces at opposite ends thereof for adhesion of one end to the vehicle wheel about the stud-receiving opening and adhesion of the other end to the lug nut, the annular body being extensible in response to extension of the stud through the stud-receiving opening, thereby to remain adhered to the wheel and to the lug nut until securement of the lug nut to the stud.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the annular body is formed of a stretchable foam material.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the annular body has a pair of slits extending partially circumferentially about and radially through the body to enhance axial stretchability thereof.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the annular body is generally cylindrical and the axial opening is correspondingly cylindrical.

5. A vehicle wheel assembly particularly adapted for mounting to a vehicle wheel hub having a plurality of mounting studs without necessitating manual placement of lug nuts on the studs to secure the wheel assembly to the wheel hub, the wheel assembly comprising a wheel having a plurality of stud-receiving openings therein, a corresponding plurality of lug nuts mountable to the studs of the wheel hub, and a corresponding plurality of devices adhering the lug nuts to the wheel respectively about the stud-receiving openings therein, each device having an annular body defining an axial opening therethrough in alignment with the respective stud-receiving opening and self-adhesive surfaces at opposite ends of the annular body adhering one end to the vehicle wheel and the opposite end to the respective lug nut, the annular bodies being extensible in response to extension of the studs through the stud-receiving openings, thereby to remain adhered to the wheel and the lug nuts until securement of the lug nuts to the studs.

6. A vehicle wheel assembly according to claim 5 wherein each annular body is formed of a stretchable foam material.

7. A vehicle wheel assembly according to claim 5 wherein each annular body has a pair of slits extending partially circumferentially about and radially through the body to enhance axial stretchability thereof.

8. A vehicle wheel assembly according to claim 5 wherein each annular body is generally cylindrical and the axial opening is correspondingly cylindrical.

9. A device for adhering one fastener element to a mounting surface about a receiving opening therein to facilitate attachment of another compatible fastener element to the one fastener element upon extension of the another fastener element through the opening without necessitating manual placement of the one fastener element on the another fastener element, the device comprising an annular body defining an axial opening therethrough for alignment with the receiving opening in the mounting surface, the annular body having self-adhesive surfaces at opposite ends thereof for adhesion of one end to the mounting surface about the receiving opening and adhesion of the other end to the one fastener element, the annular body being extensible in response to extension of the another fastener element through the receiving opening, thereby to remain adhered to the mounting surface and to the one fastener element until securement of the one fastener element to the another fastener element.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein the annular body is formed of a stretchable foam material.

11. A device according to claim 9 wherein the annular body has a pair of slits extending partially circumferentially about and radially through the body to enhance axial stretchability thereof.

12. A device according to claim 9 wherein the annular body is generally cylindrical and the axial opening is correspondingly cylindrical.