Wheel locking assembly and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9809055-B2
Application number	US-201615041143-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2016
Priority date	Feb 11, 2016
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

A wheel locking assembly is provided for securing a wheel to a wheel hub of a motor vehicle. That wheel locking assembly includes a locking cylinder and a wheel retainer. The wheel retainer is displaceable by means of the locking cylinder between an unlocked position, allowing removal of the wheel from the wheel hub and a locked position securing the wheel to the wheel hub. A related method for securing a wheel to a wheel hub of a motor vehicle is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A wheel locking assembly for securing a wheel to a wheel hub of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a locking cylinder;
a wheel retainer displaceable by said locking cylinder between an unlocked position, allowing removal of said wheel from said wheel hub, and a locked position securing said wheel to said wheel hub, wherein said wheel retainer includes a plurality of radially arrayed spring legs; and
a rotary cam connected to said locking cylinder and engaging said wheel retainer, wherein said rotary cam includes a plurality of lugs corresponding to the plurality of radially arrayed spring legs.

2. The wheel locking assembly of claim 1 , further including a dust cap covering a key slot in said locking cylinder.

3. The wheel locking assembly of claim 2 , further including a protective shroud concentrically received around said locking cylinder.

4. The wheel locking assembly of claim 3 , further including a wheel bearing plate concentrically received around said locking cylinder between said protective shroud and said rotary cam.

5. The wheel locking assembly of claim 4 , wherein said wheel bearing plate includes a plurality of apertures and said plurality of radially arrayed spring legs project through said plurality of apertures.

6. The wheel locking assembly of claim 5 , further including a spacer concentrically received over said locking cylinder between said wheel bearing plate and said rotary cam.

7. A method of securing a wheel to a wheel hub of a motor vehicle, comprising:
seating said wheel on said wheel hub;
positioning a wheel locking assembly over said wheel at a center of said wheel;
deploying a wheel retainer of said wheel locking assembly into a wheel locking position in engagement with a locking channel on said wheel hub;
providing said wheel retainer with a plurality of radially projecting legs that engage in a continuous channel on said wheel hub when deployed into said wheel locking position; and
extending said plurality of radially projecting legs through apertures provided in a wheel bearing plate carried on said wheel locking assembly.

8. The method of claim 7 , including turning a key to deploy said wheel retainer and secure said wheel to said wheel hub.

9. The method of claim 8 , including turning a rotary cam to deploy said wheel retainer into said wheel locking position.

10. A wheel locking assembly for securing a wheel to a wheel hub of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a locking cylinder;
a dust cap covering a key slot in said locking cylinder;
a protective shroud concentrically received around said locking cylinder;
a wheel retainer displaceable by said locking cylinder between an unlocked position, allowing removal of said wheel from said wheel hub, and a locked position securing said wheel to said wheel hub, wherein said wheel retainer includes a plurality of radially arrayed spring legs;
a rotary cam connected to said locking cylinder and engaging said wheel retainer; and
a wheel bearing plate concentrically received around said locking cylinder between said protective shroud and said rotary cam, wherein said wheel bearing plate includes a plurality of apertures and said plurality of radially arrayed spring legs project through said plurality of apertures.

11. The wheel locking assembly of claim 10 , further including a spacer concentrically received over said locking cylinder between said wheel bearing plate and said rotary cam.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hickey Joseph Prescott
• Mazaira Jordan
• So Zhao Ka Wai Kevin

Classifications

• B60B2900/3318

  by theft prevention · CPC title

• E05B73/00

  Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal; Miscellaneous locking devices {(motorcycle helmets A42B3/0413; supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening helmets B62J11/24; gun racks A47B81/005; showcases with theft protection A47F3/002; anti-theft means for peg-boards, grids or rods for hanging merchandise A47F5/0861; show stands, hangers, shelves with provision against unauthorised removal A47F7/024; for self-service hand-carts A47F10/04; locking skis A63C11/004; locking bolts, nuts or pins F16B41/00)} · CPC title

• E05B63/0052

  Locks mounted on the "frame" cooperating with means on the "wing" (E05B47/0046, E05B65/0829, E05B65/0847, E05B65/0882 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60B7/16 Primary

  Anti-theft devices · CPC title

• B60B7/0013

  Hub caps · CPC title