Wheel with increased interior lip depth

摘要

Disclosed are various embodiments of wheels having an increased interior lip depth. In some embodiments, the wheel can include a wheel barrel having a register formed on the inner surface thereof. A wheel center piece can have a junction rim secured to the register. The wheel center piece can include a center portion configured to be secured to a vehicle. The wheel center piece can include spokes which extend radially outwardly from the center portion and axial extenders which connect the radially outward ends of the spokes to the junction rim. The axial extenders can function to increase the size of the cavity formed between the wheel center piece and the inboard end of the wheel. Thus, the cavity can have a volume sufficient to accommodate mechanical components of the vehicle while allowing the register can be formed relatively close to the inboard side of the wheel, thereby increasing the depth of the interior lip extending from the outboard end of the wheel to the junction rim. In some embodiments, a one-piece wheel may be configured to have the appearance of being a multi-piece wheel having an increased interior lip depth. In some embodiments, a wheel component covering insert may be applied to the inner surface of the wheel barrel.

主权项

1. A wheel configured to be mounted to a vehicle, the wheel comprising:
a wheel barrel extending from an outboard side of the wheel to an inboard side of the wheel, the wheel barrel comprising a radially inner surface, the wheel barrel having a wheel barrel width extending from the outboard side of the wheel to the inboard side of the wheel; an inboard rim flange integrally formed with the wheel barrel on the inboard side of the wheel; an outboard rim flange integrally formed with the wheel barrel on the outboard side of the wheel; a register extending radially inwardly from the radially inner surface of the wheel barrel; and a wheel center piece comprising: a junction rim secured to the register; a center portion configured to attach to a vehicle; a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly from the center portion; and a plurality of axial extensions that extend substantially parallel to the inner surface of the wheel barrel from a radially outward end of each spoke to the junction rim, wherein a radially outer surface of each axial extension is substantially parallel to a radially inner surface of the respective axial extension; wherein a cavity is defined between the inboard side of the wheel center piece and the inboard side of the wheel, the cavity having an axial width that is greater than half the total wheel barrel width, and the cavity being configured to accommodate braking components when attached to the front of a front wheel drive vehicle; and wherein the radially inner surface of the wheel barrel comprises an interior lip having an interior lip depth extending from the outboard side of the wheel to the junction rim, the interior lip depth being at least about half the total wheel barrel width.