FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
[39 OF 1970]
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See Section 10 and Rule 13]
TITLE: “A CLAMPING ASSEMBLY FOR LOCKING WHEEL RIMS OF DIFFERENT SIZE IN A BOOT OF A VEHICLE”
Name and address of the Applicant:
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Limited, of Floor 3, 4, Plot-18, Nanavati Mahalaya, Mudhana Shetty Marg, BSE, Fort, Mumbai, Mumbai City, Maharashtra, 400001, India
Nationality: Indian
The following specification describes the nature of invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

TECHNICAL FIELD
Present disclosure generally relates to a field of automobiles. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a clamping assembly for locking wheel rims in a boot of a vehicle. Further, embodiments of the present disclosure relates to the clamping assembly with a height adjusting feature for locking the wheel rims of difference sizes in the boot of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Generally, vehicles are provided with spare wheels/tyres which can be used in case of damage (puncture or burst) of running tyres (thus, road tyres) of the vehicle. Such spare wheels are often positioned in a boot of the vehicle and are locked for securely positioning the spare wheels in the boot by using a locking device such as fasteners. Usually, dimensions (i.e., width) of the spare tyre (thus, wheel rim) is substantially smaller than the running wheel in order to reduce the space occupied by the spare wheel in the boot, reduce the manufacturing cost of a corresponding wheel rim of the spare wheel and the like. With such configurations of the running wheel and the spare wheel having varied dimensions, conventionally locking the running wheel and the spare wheel in the boot demanded for independent locking devices. Independent locking devices increases cost of manufacturing, demand for designing a dedicated space in the vehicle for positioning and also causes inconvenient to the operator on choosing the locking devices, which is undesired.
The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above and any other limitations associated with the prior arts.
The drawbacks/difficulties/disadvantages/limitations of the conventional techniques explained in the background section are just for exemplary purpose and the disclosure would never limit its scope only such limitations. A person skilled in the art would understand that this disclosure and below mentioned description may also solve other problems or overcome the other drawbacks/disadvantages of the conventional arts which are not explicitly captured above.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
One or more shortcomings of conventional system are overcome, and additional advantages are provided through the provision of a clamping assembly as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present
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disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
In one non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure, clamping assembly for locking wheel rims of different size in a boot of a vehicle is disclosed. The clamping assembly includes a height adjuster, which includes a base defined with a first slot and a pair of wings extending from the base. The pair of wings are defined with a second slot. Further, the clamping assembly includes a knob removably coupled to the height adjuster. The knob includes a head portion, a locking member extending away from the head portion and a pair of lugs extending from either sides of the head portion. The pair of lugs are selectively being accommodated in one of the first slot and the second slot to vary length of the locking member for locking wheel rims of different sizes.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, each of the pair of wings define a substantially C-shaped profile.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, each of the pair of wings includes a first portion extending upwardly from sides of the base and a second portion extending angularly from ends of the first portion.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the height adjuster is a unitary structure and made of a polymeric material.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the knob is a unitary structure and made of polymeric material.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, length of the locking member is larger when the pair of lugs are accommodated in the first slot.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, length of the locking member is larger when the pair of lugs are accommodated in the second slot.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, at least one wall of the first slot and the second slot is defined with one or more protrusions for snap fit accommodation of the pair of lugs with the first slot and the second slot.
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In an embodiment of the disclosure, the base of the height adjuster is defined with an opening. The opening is configured to removably receive and allow the locking member to protrude through the opening during coupling of the knob with the height adjuster.
In an embodiment, the locking member is a bolt.
It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
Figure. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a clamping assembly, depicting a first operating condition, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the clamping assembly, depicting a second operating condition, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a height adjuster of the clamping assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a knob of the clamping assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
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Figure. 5 illustrates a sectional view of the clamping assembly locking a bigger wheel rim in a boot of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure. 6 illustrates a sectional view of the clamping assembly locking a smaller wheel rim in the boot of the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
While the embodiments in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.
It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art would be motivated from the present disclosure and modify various constructions of the clamping assembly, which may vary from transmission to transmission. However, such modifications should be construed within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings show only those specific details that are pertinent to understand the embodiments of the present disclosure, so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such assembly. In other words, one or more elements in the assembly proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the assembly.
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The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to Figures. 1 to 6. In the Figures, the same element or elements which have similar functions are indicated by the same reference signs. In the figures, vehicle is not illustrated for the purpose of simplicity.
Figures. 1 and 2 illustrates a perspective view of the clamping assembly (100) for locking wheel rims of different sizes in a boot (119) of a vehicle. The phrase “different sizes of the wheel rims” may infer about the rims having different width. As an example, the vehicle may be but not limiting to passenger vehicles in which a designated space may be defined in the boot (119) for accommodating a spare wheel. In an embodiment, the clamping assembly (100) of the present disclosure aids in locking the wheel rims of different sizes [i.e., both the road wheel rim and the spare wheel rim] without the need of independent clamping assembly (100), unlike conventional arts which needs individual clamping assembly (100) for locking wheel rims of different sizes. As seen in Figures. 1 and 2, the clamping assembly (100) may include a knob (102) and a height adjuster (101), which may be removably coupled to each other. In an embodiment, the height adjuster (101) may be configured to receive the knob (102) in different positions to facilitate locking of the wheel rims of different sizes. Figure. 1 illustrates a first operating condition of the clamping assembly (100) for locking the wheel rim (116) of bigger size [i.e., a road wheel] and Figure. 2 illustrates a second operating condition of the clamping assembly (100) for locking the wheel rim (117) of a smaller size [i.e., a spare wheel].
Turning now to Figure. 3, which illustrates a perspective view of the height adjuster (101). The height adjuster (101) may include a base (104) and a pair of wings (105), extending from the base (104). The base (104) may be defined with a first slot (109) and the pair of wings (105) may be defined with a second slot (110). In an embodiment, as best seen in Figure. 2, each of the pair of wings (105) may include a first portion (106) which may extend upwardly from sides of the base (104) and a second portion (107) extending angularly from ends of the first portion (106). The second portion (107) may be defined with the second slot (110) at a substantially central portion. In an embodiment, the base (104) may be defined with an opening (111) at a substantially central portion. The opening (111) may be configured to accommodate a portion of the knob (102) during assembling of the knob (102) with the height adjuster (101). In an embodiment, the pair of wings (105) extending from sides of the base (104) may define a first slot (109) at ends of the base (104). In an embodiment, each of the pair of wings (105) may include a first portion (106) which may extend upwardly away from
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one end of a side of the base (104), a second portion (107) extend angularly or curvedly from the first portion (106) and a third portion (108) extending downwardly from the second portion (107) and adjoining an another end, opposite to the one end of the side. In an embodiment, each of the pair of wings (105) may resemble a substantially C-shaped profile. As apparent from Figure. 3, each of the pair of wings (105) may be defined with at least one second slot (110) in the second member. In an embodiment, the at least one second slot (110) may be defined on a substantially central portion of the second member.
In an embodiment, at least one wall of the first slot (109) and the second slot (110) may be defined with one or more protrusions (118), which may configured to facilitate snap fit connection between the height adjuster (101) and the knob (102).
In an embodiment, the height adjuster (101) may be a unitary structure and may be manufactured of polymeric material.
Referring now to Figure. 4, the knob (102) may include a head portion (112) and a locking member (113) extending from the head portion (112). As an example, the locking member (113) may be a bolt which may be fused with the head portion (112). Further, the knob (102) may include a pair of lugs (114) extending from either sides of the head portion (112). Each of the pair of lugs (114) may be configured to be selectively accommodated within the first slot (109) and the second slot (110) based on the size of the wheel rim to be locked. As seen in Figure. 1 the head portion (112) is positioned on the base (104) with the pair of lugs (114) being accommodated within the first slot (109) and the locking member (113) removably protruding through the opening (111) in the base (104). This configuration depicts a first operating condition of the clamping assembly (100) in which a length of the knob (102) [thus, the locking member (113)] from the height adjuster (101) is longer i.e., length of the locking member (113) increases at the first operating condition, and thus may facilitate in locking the wheel rim (116) with bigger size. Similarly, as seen in Figure. 2, the head portion (112) may be position on the pair of wings (105) where the pair of lugs (114) are accommodated within the second slot (110). This configuration depicts second operating condition of the clamping assembly (100) in which the length of the knob (102) [thus, the locking member (113)] from the height adjuster (101) is smaller i.e., length of the locking member (113) decreases at the second operating condition, and thus may facilitate in locking the wheel rim (117) with smaller size.

In an embodiment, the head portion (112) may be a unitary structure and may be manufactured of polymeric material.
In an embodiment, the clamping assembly (100) in its first position may also aid on locking the wheel rim having size which lies between the larger size and the smaller size.
Turning now to Figure. 5, which illustrates a sectional view of the wheel rim (116) of bigger size (i.e., a running wheel) that is locked in the boot (119) of the vehicle. The wheel rim (116) may be locked in the boot (119) by the clamping assembly (100), which may protrude through the portion of the wheel rim (116) and into a weld nut (115), which may be positioned on a vehicle floor. As seen in Figure. 1 the head portion (112) is positioned on the base (104) with the pair of lugs (114) accommodated within the first slot (109) and locking member (113) protrudes through the opening (111) in the base (104). In this configuration, length of the knob (102) [thus, the locking member (113)] from the height adjuster (101) is longer such that, the locking member (113) may protrude through the portion of the wheel rim (116) and may protrude into the weld nut (115), thereby locking the wheel rim (116) of bigger size in the boot (119).
Turning now to Figure. 6, which illustrates a sectional view of the wheel rim (117) of smaller size (i.e., spare wheel) being locked in the boot (119) of the vehicle. The wheel rim (117) may be locked in the boot (119) by the clamping assembly (100), which may protrude trough the portion of the wheel rim (117) and into the weld nut (115), positioned on the vehicle floor. As seen in Figure. 2 the head portion (112) is positioned on the base (104) with the pair of lugs (114) being accommodated within the second slot (110) and locking member (113) protrudes through the opening (111) in the base (104). In this configuration, length of the knob (102) [thus, the locking member (113)] from the height adjuster (101) is smaller such that, the locking member (113) may protrude through the portion of the wheel rim (117) and may protrude through the weld nut (115) without hitting onto the vehicle floor, thereby locking the wheel rim (117) in the boot (119).
Equivalents:
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural

as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to

contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
Referral Numerals:

Referral numeral Description
100 Clamping assembly
101 Height adjuster
102 Knob
104 Base
105 Wings
106 First portion
107 Second portion
109 First slot
110 Second slot
111 Opening
112 Head portion
113 Locking member
114 Lugs
115 Weld nut
116 Bigger size rim
117 Smaller size rim
118 Protrusion
119
boot

We Claim:
1. A clamping assembly (100) for locking wheel rims of different size in a boot (119) of
a vehicle, the assembly (100) comprising:
a height adjuster (101) comprising:
a base (104) defined with a first slot (109); and
a pair of wings (105) extending from the base (104), wherein the pair of wings (105) are defined with a second slot (110),
a knob (102) removably coupled to the height adjuster (101), the knob (102) comprises:
a head portion (112);
a locking member (113) extending away from the head portion (112);
a pair of lugs (114) extending from either sides of the head portion (112), wherein the pair of lugs (114) are selectively being accommodated in one of the first slot (109) and the second slot (110) to vary length of the locking member (113) for locking wheel rims of different sizes.
2. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the pair of wings (105) define a substantially C-shaped profile.
3. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the pair of wings (105) comprises:
a first portion (106) extending upwardly from sides of the base (104); and
a second portion (107) extending angularly from ends of the first portion
(106).
4. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height adjuster (101) is a unitary structure and made of a polymeric material.
5. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the knob (102) is a unitary structure and made of polymeric material.
6. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein length of the locking member (113) is larger when the pair of lugs (114) are accommodated in the first slot (109).

7. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein length of the locking member (113) is smaller when the pair of lugs (114) are accommodated in the second slot (109).
8. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one wall of the first slot (109) and the second slot (110) is defined with one or more protrusions (118) for snap fit accommodation of the pair of lugs (114) with the first slot (109) and the second slot (110).
9. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base (104) of the height adjuster (101) is defined with an opening (111), wherein the opening (111) is configured to removably receive and allow the locking member (113) to protrude through the opening (111) during coupling of the knob (102) with the height adjuster (101).
10. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking member (113) is a bolt.
Dated this 29th day of March, 2024