Wheel with spokes including integral step providing improved access to a cargo bed of a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016297239-A1
Application number	US-201514684809-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 13, 2015
Priority date	Apr 13, 2015
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A wheel is provided for a motor vehicle. The wheel includes a hub, a rim and a plurality of spokes that extend between the hub and the rim. At least one of the spokes includes an integral step having a slip resistant surface.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A wheel for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a hub; a rim; and a plurality of spokes extending between said hub and said rim wherein at least one spoke of said plurality of spokes includes an integral step having a slip resistant surface.

2 . The wheel of claim 1 , wherein said slip resistant surface yields an increased coefficient of friction with a sole of a shoe.

3 . The wheel of claim 1 , wherein said slip resistant surface includes a raised lip.

4 . The wheel of claim 1 , wherein said slip resistant surface includes a skid resistant liner.

5 . The wheel of claim 1 , wherein said slip resistant surface includes a raised lip and a skid resistant liner.

6 . The wheel of claim 1 , wherein said slip resistant surface includes corrugations.

7 . The wheel of claim 6 , wherein said corrugations are on a bias with respect to a front face of said at least one spoke.

8 . The wheel of claim 7 , wherein said corrugations includes a plurality of channels that direct airflow toward a vehicle brake assembly adjacent said wheel.

9 . The wheel of claim 8 , wherein said plurality of channels are oriented to direct air away from said hub toward said rim as said air travels inwardly over said at least one spoke from said front face.

10 . The wheel of claim 1 , wherein a space is provided between two spokes so as to allow a predetermined size boot to be centered on a lower spoke of said two spokes and articulated through a predetermined climbing angle without contacting an upper spoke of said two spokes.

11 . A motor vehicle including said wheel of claim 1 .

12 . A method of improving access to a cargo bed or rooftop of a motor vehicle, comprising:
equipping the motor vehicle with at least one wheel including a spoke wherein said spoke has an integral step with a slip resistant surface.

13 . The method of claim 12 , including providing said slip resistant surface with a raised lip.

14 . The method of claim 12 , including providing said slip resistant surface with a skid resistant liner.

15 . The method of claim 12 , including providing said slip resistant surface with a raised lip and a skid resistant liner.

16 . The method of claim 12 , including providing said slip resistant surface with corrugations.

17 . The method of claim 12 , including providing said corrugations on a bias with respect to a front face of said spoke.

18 . The method of claim 12 , including directing air toward a brake assembly of the motor vehicle by means of air channels in said corrugations.

19 . The method of claim 12 , including providing said wheel with a number of spokes having, a thickness, a depth and an angle along said depth designed so that a predetermined size boot may be centered on a lower spoke and the boot may articulate through a climbing angle without contacting an upper spoke.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Perkins William Paul
• Miller Kenneth James

Classifications

• B60B1/06

  Wheels with compression spokes (wheels of high resiliency B60B9/00) · CPC title

• B60B19/00 Primary

  Wheels not otherwise provided for or having characteristics specified in one of the subgroups of this group · CPC title

• B60B2900/351

  versatility, e.g. usable for different purposes or different arrangements · CPC title

• B60B1/00

  Spoked wheels; Spokes thereof (non-metallic B60B5/00 {; spoked wheels comprising rail-engaging elements B60B17/001; making wheel spokes B21F39/00}) · CPC title

• B60B3/10

  apertured to simulate spoked wheels · CPC title