John A Lehtinen

US Patent:

40350274, Jul 12, 1977

Filed:

Nov 20, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/633950

Inventors:

John G. Lehtinen - Union Lake MI

International Classification:

B60B 1100

US Classification:

301 38R

Abstract:

An emergency wheel is provided for use in conjunction with a vehicle wheel of the type including a recessed central portion mounted on a vehicle hub by fasteners secured through the central portion and supported from the hub. The emergency wheel defines a center axis thereof and includes a first portion having a plurality of large and small diameter openings formed therethrough spaced about and equally from the center axis with the openings being arranged in the conventional wheel lug pattern. A plurality of washers are provided for disposition over the large diameter openings and the latter are the size to receive conventional lug nuts or heads therethrough. A second portion is supported from the first portion for rotation relative thereto about the center axis and the first and second portions include radially outwardly projecting partial circular flange segments which, upon relative rotation of the first and second portions, are shiftable between first positions in registry with each other and second positions out of registry with each other forming a substantially continuous disc concentric with the center axis. Further, structure is provided for releasably locking the first and second portions in the second positions out of registry with each other to form the aforementioned disc.

US Patent:

43503942, Sep 21, 1982

Filed:

Jun 27, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/163862

Inventors:

John G. Lehtinen - Union Lake MI

International Classification:

B60B 1100

US Classification:

301 38R

Abstract:

First and second wheel sections are provided with the first section including structure for attachment to a vehicle wheel for rotation therewith. Structure is provided supporting the second section from the first section for angular displacement relative thereto about a predetermined axis and the first and second sections include outer partial circular edges having the aforementioned axes as their centers of curvature. The sections are relatively rotatably between first positions with the partial circular edges together defining an outer circular periphery of the wheel and second positions with the sections relatively angularly displaced 180. degree. and the partial circular edges thereof disposed in side-by-side relation. First latch structure is operatively connected between the sections for automatically releasably latching the sections in the first positions thereof upon displacement thereto from the second positions, and second latch structure is provided and operative to releasably latch the sections in the second positions thereof. Spring structure is provided and operatively connected between the sections for yieldingly resisting angular displacement of the second section relative to the first section, in either direction, from a position with the first and second sections in the first positions toward positions with the first and second sections in the second positions.