Pneumatic wheels cover to prevent damage
A pneumatic wheels cover comprises an arc-shaped member sized and shaped to fit at least over a portion of the outer rim edge, the cover extending at least from the edge over an outer most portion of the rim which, in use, is exposed; and the cover further comprises a bend around the edge to secure the cover onto the rim edge.
12. A pneumatic wheels cover comprising an arc shaped member sized and shaped to fit in use at least over a portion of an outer rim edge of a wheel rim, the coyer extending at least from the edge over an outermost portion of the rim which, in use, is exposed; the cover further comprising a bend around the edge to secure the cover onto the rim edge.
13. A pneumatic wheels cover according to claim 12, further comprising clamping means to clamp the cover onto the rim.
14. A pneumatic wheels cover according to claim 12, wherein the cover comprises clamping means, the arc shaped member is in the form of a circle, the circle has a gap between two circle, end pieces and the clamping means includes a mechanism for immobilising the two end pieces relative to one another, thereby clamping the cover onto the rim in use.
15. A pneumatic wheels cover according to claim 12, wherein the inner surface of the cover is a layer with low abrasion properties compared to conventional steel.
16. A pneumatic wheels cover according to claim 12, wherein the inner surface of the cover has relatively high friction properties and the outside of the cover has relatively low friction properties.
17. A pneumatic wheels cover according to claim 12, wherein the arc shaped member includes end portions which are drawn together by a mechanism which is supported on two plates located within the arc and separated by a gap.
18. A pneumatic wheels cover according to claim 12, wherein the arc shaped member includes end portions which are drawn together by a mechanism which is supported on two plates located within the arc and separated by a gap, and both the arc shaped member and the plates incorporate inner surfaces with low abrasion properties.
19. A pneumatic wheels cover according to claim 12, wherein the arc shaped member includes end portions which are drawn together by a mechanism which is supported on two plates located within the arc shaped member and separated by a gap, and o tongue located on one of the plates cooperates with a loop located on the other plate in order to align the end portions.
20. A kit of pneumatic wheels covers in which each pneumatic wheels cover is according to claim 12.
21. A kit of pneumatic wheels covers in which each pneumatic wheels cover is according to claim 12, and the covers are of varying sizes and are colour coded according to their sizes.
Description
The invention relates to pneumatic wheels covers and kits of pneumatic wheels covers.
[0004]In its broadest independent aspect, the invention provides a pneumatic wheels cover comprising: an arc shaped member sized and shaped to fit at least over a portion of the outer rim edge, the cover extending at least from the edge over an outermost portion of the rim which, in use, is exposed; and the cover further comprises a bend around the edge to secure the cover onto the rim edge.
[0005]This combination of features is particularly advantageous because it protects the edge of the rim from scratching during the operation of removing the tyre from the rim. It also does not interfere with the removal of the tyre so that conventional automatic tyre changers may be used. This cover may also be used for the manual removal of tyres from the rim, if necessary, as it will offer improved protection of the outer rim. It will avoid having to recoat rims which are damaged during the conventional tyre removal process.
[0006]In a subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention’s broadest independent aspect, the pneumatic wheels cover further comprises clamping means to clamp the cover onto the rim. In this configuration, the pneumatic wheels cover can be prevented from rotating about the rim which could otherwise cause undue wear and tear to the cover itself as well as to the protected rim.
[0007]In a further subsidiary aspect, the arc forms a circle where the circle has a gap between two circle end pieces and the cover incorporates a mechanism for immobilising the two end pieces relative to one another, thereby clamping the cover onto the rim. This method of clamping is particularly advantageous because it removes any requirement for clamping to, for example, external surfaces such as the tyre changing machinery or the wheel itself.
[0008]In a further subsidiary aspect, the inner surface of the cover is a layer with low abrasion properties compared to conventional steel. This configuration will provide the inner surface with sufficiently low abrasion to avoid any scratching of the edge whilst the cover is in place.
[0009]In a further subsidiary aspect, the inner surface of the cover has relatively high friction properties and the outside of the cover has relatively low friction properties. This may, for example, be achieved by employing rubber in the inside surface and steel on the outside surface so that the removing head of a tyre changer may be freely displaced against the cover on the outside whilst the cover itself is immobilised due to the high friction of an inside layer against the rim edge.
[0010]In a further subsidiary aspect, the invention provides a kit of pneumatic wheels covers according to any of the preceding aspects.
[0011]The provision of a kit will allow a particular fitter to employ a range of covers to correspond with a range of rim sizes.
[0012]In a further subsidiary aspect, the covers are of varying sizes and are colour-coded according to their sizes. This will allow the tyre fitter to immediately find which wheel cover to employ for a given rim. These features will be particularly beneficial when considering that in the field of wheel fitters any improvement to the rapidity of a fitter being able to find the appropriate tool will allow greater efficiencies to be achieved.
[0013]In a further subsidiary aspect, end portions of the arc are drawn together by a mechanism which is supported on two plates located within the arc and separated by a gap.
[0014]In a further subsidiary aspect, both the arc and the plates incorporate inner surfaces with low abrasion properties.
[0015]In a further subsidiary aspect, a tongue located on one of the plates cooperates with a loop located on the other plate in order to align the end portions of the arc.