Description:FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is related to spare wheel retainer bracket in automotive vehicles. In particular, the present invention concerns a compact spare wheel retainer bracket used in automotive vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a spare wheel retainer bracket used for adjusting the wheel-rim offset between the required regular and temporary spare wheels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Normally, the automotive manufacturers provide one extra wheel for any contingency, e.g. to replace one of the deflated wheels. With the advent of alloyed wheels, particularly in passenger vehicle segment, it is becoming more commonplace to provide no such spare wheel or even provide a spare wheel for temporary use only, i.e. which is fit for taking you to a wheel repair point. The tyre of the temporary spare wheel in the vehicle should be of the same size and aspect ratio.

Although, the temporary spare wheel may have the same size and aspect ratio (a ratio of the height of sidewall of tyre as a percentage the width thereof), the wheel-rim of this temporary spare wheel is substantially offset from the regular/normal spare wheel due to a reduced cross-section thereof.

This necessitates to develop two different types of retainer bolt and increases the bracket size in Body-In-White (BIW), which leads to a serious packaging issue as well.

Therefore, there is an existing need in the relevant art for a temporary wheel which is compatible with the vehicle axles, and offers not only a low-cost, light-weight solution but also saves storage space by its adjustable nature.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Some of the objects of the present invention - satisfied by at least one embodiment of the present invention - are as follows:

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved and adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly which is low-cost and light-weight.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly which saves storage space in vehicle.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly which reduces the bracket size in BIW of the vehicle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly which caters to both temporary and regular/normal spare wheels.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly which facilitate in assembling the temporary as well as regular/normal spare wheels quite easily.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly which eliminates the requirement of providing two different retainer bolts in the vehicle.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, when read with the accompanying figures of drawing, which are however not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly for automotive vehicles, the bracket assembly is configured for adjusting the offset of the wheel rim for a regular spare wheel with a larger tyre or a temporary spare wheels with a smaller tyre, as and when required.

Typically, the retainer bracket assembly comprises:

• an actuation lever for adjusting the offset of the wheel rim;

• a wheel rim;

• two pairs of locking pin assemblies disposed at a predefined distance apart as per the required wheel rim offset;

• an outer cylinder block; and

• an inner cylinder assembly supported on a retainer spring;

wherein the outer cylinder block comprises a respective through opening with a conical inner surface for locking one of the locking pin assemblies for adjusting the offset for either a regular or a temporary spare wheels, as and when required.

Typically, the locking pin assemblies are screwed on the inner cylinder assembly.
Typically, the locking pin assemblies are welded on the inner cylinder assembly.

Typically, the outer cylinder block comprises a flat base closing the lower end thereof and a cylindrical portion connected thereto for sliding movement of the locking pin assemblies therein.

Typically, each of the locking pin assemblies comprises a body having spring with one end thereof supporting a plunger having a rounded end and the other end thereof resting on the base of the body within a cavity thereof to continuously urge the plunger to protrude outside the body.

Typically, the outer cylinder block further comprises a conical through opening configured on the opposed cylindrical surfaces adjacent the upper end of the outer cylinder block.

Typically, the inner cylinder assembly is supported on the retainer spring which in turn is centrally resting on the base of the outer cylinder block.

Typically, the inner cylinder assembly comprises an outer surface for fastening the pairs of locking pin assemblies thereon at a predefined distance apart from each other, and an inner threaded surface for screwing the externally threaded shaft of the wheel rim within the external threads on the inner cylindrical surface of the inner cylinder block assembly.

Typically, the wheel rim offset is set at a predefined value corresponding to the normal/regular spare wheel mounted with a larger tyre by pressing the lower pair of locking pin assemblies and by locking the pair of upper locking pin assemblies projecting out through the through openings and by protruding the plunger of the upper locking pin assemblies above the upper surface of the outer cylinder block by the expansion of the retainer spring.

Typically, the wheel rim offset is set at a predefined value corresponding to the temporary spare wheel mounted with a smaller tyre by pressing the plunger of the upper pair of locking pin assemblies within the cylindrical portion by sliding downwards and by subsequent expansion of the plunger projecting out of through openings, and by pressing the retainer spring downwards within the outer cylinder block.

In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a method for adjusting said offset of the wheel rim for a regular spare wheel with a larger tyre or for a temporary spare wheel with a smaller tyre by the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly for automotive vehicles, the method comprises the step of adjusting the offset of the wheel rim for a regular spare wheel with a larger tyre by pushing the plungers of the pair of upper pin assemblies inside the through openings and pressing them further to bring the pin assemblies completely within the cylindrical portion of the outer cylinder block, whereby the retainer spring pushes the lower pin assemblies upwards to project the plungers thereof out of the through openings for locking of the lower pin assemblies therein.

Typically, the method comprises the step of adjusting the offset (30) of the wheel rim for a temporary spare wheel with a smaller tyre by pushing the plungers of the pair of lower pin assemblies inside the through openings and pressing them further to bring the lower pin assemblies completely within the cylindrical portion of the outer cylinder block, and pushing the actuation lever downwards, whereby the retainer spring is compressed and the plungers of the upper pin assemblies project out of the through openings for locking of the upper pin assemblies therein.

Typically, the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly is fitted on an electric vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The embodiments herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:

The present invention will be briefly described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGURE 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the spare wheel of an automotive vehicle with a regular tyre for a normal/ regular spare wheel and a smaller tyre for a temporary spare wheel in a superimposed position.

FIGURE 2 shows an assembled view of the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly configured in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 3 shows a front view of the temporary wheel rim for the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly configured in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 4 shows a front cross-sectional view of the outer cylinder block of the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly configured in accordance with the present invention.
FIGURE 5 shows a front cross-sectional view of the inner cylinder block assembly with the fully expanded and compressed inner cylinder locking pin assembly of the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly configured in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 6a shows a front view of the retainer spring of the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly configured in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 6b shows a front view of the spring placed inside the locking pin assembly of the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly configured in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 7 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the locking pin assembly of Figure 5.

FIGURE 8 shows a front cross-sectional view of the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly of the present invention, in its expanded and locked condition for used in a regular spare wheel therein.

FIGURE 9 shows front cross-sectional view of the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly configured in accordance with the present invention, in its compressed and locked condition for used in a temporary spare wheel therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following, the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly for automotive vehicles configured in accordance with the present invention will be described in more details with reference to the accompanying drawings without limiting the scope and ambit of the present invention.

FIGURE 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the spare wheel of an automotive vehicle with a regular larger tyre 100 for a normal/ regular spare wheel and a smaller temporary tyre 50 for a temporary spare wheel mounted on a wheel disc 10 and visible here in a superimposed position to depict the offset 30 required to compensate for the different cross-sections of a regular/normal tyre 100 and a temporary tyre 50, while maintaining the same size and aspect ratio thereof. The spare wheel includes a wheel rim 20 for mounting a regular tyre 100 to serves as a normal spare wheel or as a temporary spare wheel 50 for moving the vehicle over comparatively shorter distances to reach wheel repair point.

FIGURE 2 shows an assembled view of the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly configured in accordance with the present invention. It includes an actuation lever 110, a wheel rim 120 for temporary spare wheel, two locking pin assemblies 130, an outer cylinder block 140 having a pair of through-openings 142 on diametrically opposed sides with conical inner surfaces 144 to facilitate the compression and expansion of spring 134 accommodated inside respective cavities 136 in bodies 132 of locking pin assemblies 130, an inner cylinder block assembly 160 having internal threads and which is supported on retainer spring 164. The pin assemblies 130 are fastened, e.g. by screwing or welding, on the inner cylinder 160.

FIGURE 3 shows a front view of the wheel rim 120 of the temporary spare wheel for the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly of Figure 2. It includes a flange 122 with a cylindrical surface 124 connected to a shaft 126 having external threads for tightening thereof inside the inner cylinder block assembly160.

FIGURE 4 shows a front cross-sectional view of the outer cylinder block 140 for the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly of Figure 2. The outer cylinder block 140 is closed at the lower end thereof for supporting the retainer spring 164 thereon and the upper end thereof is open with an inner diameter 146 to facilitate the sliding of the inner cylinder block assembly 160 with the wheel rim 120 and locking pin assemblies 130 inserted therein for adjusting the position of inner cylinder block assembly 160 to adjust the wheel-rim offset 30 between the regular and temporary spare wheels to achieve the corresponding aspect ratio of the wheels on the same axle for replacing one of the regular spare wheel with a temporary spare wheel and vice-versa.

FIGURE 5 shows a front cross-sectional view of the inner cylinder block assembly 160 with the fully expanded and compressed inner cylinder locking pin assembly 130 of the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly configured in accordance with the present invention. The locking pin assembly comprises a spring 134 accommodated inside a respective cavity 136 in the body 132 thereof. These locking pin assemblies 130 are inserted through a respective diametrical hole 166, 168 through the inner cylinder block 160.The springs 134 continuously urge both ends of the locking pin assemblies 130 outwards, which thereby slide on the inner diameter 146 of the outer cylinder block 140. However, when one of these locking pin assembly ends slide over the inner ends of the conical inner surface 144, the springs 134 push the ends of that locking pin assembly 130 to protrude outside the hole 142 on the outer cylinder block 140, whereby this locking pin assembly gets locked in this position to ensure the desired regular or temporary spared wheel width to match the requisite aspect ratio.
FIGURE 6a shows a front view of the retainer spring 164 of the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly configured in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 6b shows a front view of the spring 134 placed inside the locking pin assembly 130 of the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly configured in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 7 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the locking pin assembly 130 of Figure 5. Each locking pin assembly 130 includes a plunger 135 supported on a spring 134 which in turn rests on the base of the body 132 within a cavity 136 thereof. The plunger 135 is moveable within this cavity 136.

FIGURE 8 shows a front cross-sectional view of the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly of the present invention, in its expanded and upper/outer locked condition for using the retainer bracket for fixing a regular spare wheel on the relevant axle.

FIGURE 9 shows front cross-sectional view of the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly configured in accordance with the present invention, in its compressed and lower/inner locked condition for using the retainer bracket for fixing a temporary spare wheel on the relevant axle.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly configured in accordance with the present invention offers the following advantages:

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments.

It is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation. The exemplary embodiments described in this specification are intended merely to provide an understanding of various manners in which this embodiment may be used and to further enable the skilled person in the relevant art to practice this invention.

Although, the embodiments presented in this disclosure have been described in terms of its preferred embodiments, the skilled person in the art would readily recognize that these embodiments can be applied with modifications possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in this specification by making innumerable changes, variations, modifications, alterations and/or integrations in terms of materials and method used to configure, manufacture and assemble various constituents, components, subassemblies and assemblies, in terms of their size, shapes, orientations and interrelationships without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

The numerical values given of various physical parameters, dimensions and quantities are only approximate values and it is envisaged that the values higher or lower than the numerical value assigned to the physical parameters, dimensions and quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure unless there is a statement in the specification to the contrary.

Throughout this specification, the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, shall be understood to imply including a described element, integer or method step, or group of elements, integers or method steps, however, does not imply excluding any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or method steps.

The use of the expression “a”, “at least” or “at least one” shall imply using one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as used in the embodiment of the disclosure in order to achieve one or more of the intended objects or results of the present invention.

In the description, relative terms such as “lower”, “upper”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “above”, “below”, “up”, “down”, “top”, and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g. “horizontally”, “inwardly”, “outwardly”; “downwardly”, “upwardly” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the corresponding apparatus or device be constructed or operated in a particular orientation.

Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected”, refer to a relationship, wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 Wheel disc
20 Wheel rim
30 Offset
50 Temporary tyre
100 Regular larger tyre
110 Actuation lever
120 Wheel rim
122 Flange
124 Cylindrical surface
126 Shaft
130 Locking pin assembly
132 Body
134 Spring
135 Plunger
136 Cavity
140 Outer cylinder block
142 Through-openings
144 Conical inner surfaces
146 Inner diameter
148 Upper surface of outer cylinder block
160 Inner cylinder assembly
162 Upper surface of inner cylinder block
164 Retainer spring
166,168 Diametrical holes in inner cylinder block , Claims:We claim:

1. An adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly for automotive vehicles, said bracket assembly is configured for adjusting the offset (30) of the wheel rim (120) for a regular spare wheel with a larger tyre (100) or for a temporary spare wheels with a smaller tyre (50), as and when required.

2. The adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly as claimed in claim 1, said bracket assembly comprising:

• an actuation lever (110) for adjusting said offset (30) of wheel rim (120);

• two pairs of locking pin assemblies (130) disposed at a predefined distance apart as per the required wheel rim offset (30);

• an outer cylinder block (140); and

• an inner cylinder assembly (160) supported on a retainer spring (164);

wherein said outer cylinder block (140) comprises a respective through opening (142) with a conical inner surface (144) for locking one of said locking pin assemblies (130) for adjusting said offset (30) for either a regular or a temporary spare wheels (50) as and when required.

3. The adjustable retainer bracket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking pin assemblies (130) are screwed on said inner cylinder assembly (160).

4. The adjustable retainer bracket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking pin assemblies (130) are welded on said inner cylinder assembly (160).
5. The adjustable retainer bracket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer cylinder block (140) comprises a flat base closing the lower end thereof and a cylindrical portion (146) connected thereto for sliding movement of said locking pin assemblies (130) therein.

6. The adjustable retainer bracket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said locking pin assemblies (130) comprises a body (132) having a spring (134) with one end thereof supporting a plunger (135) having a rounded end and the other end thereof resting on the base of said body (132) within a cavity (136) thereof to continuously urge said plunger (135) to protrude outside said body (132).

7. The adjustable retainer bracket assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said outer cylinder block (140) further comprises a conical through opening (142) configured on the opposed cylindrical surfaces (144) adjacent the upper end of said outer cylinder block (140).

8. The adjustable retainer bracket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner cylinder assembly (160) is supported on said retainer spring (164) which in turn is centrally resting on the base of said outer cylinder block (140).

9. The adjustable retainer bracket assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said inner cylinder assembly (160) comprises an outer surface (160) for fastening said the pairs of locking pin assemblies (130) thereon at a predefined distance apart from each other, and an inner threaded surface for screwing the externally threaded shaft (126) of said wheel rim (120) within the external threads on said inner cylindrical surface (166) of said inner cylinder block assembly (160).
10. The adjustable retainer bracket assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said wheel rim offset (30) is set at a predefined value corresponding to the normal/regular spare wheel mounted with a larger tyre (100) by pressing the lower pair of locking pin assemblies (130) and by locking the upper pair of locking pin assemblies (130) projecting out through said through openings (142) and by protruding the plunger (135) of said upper locking pin assemblies (130) above the upper surface (148) of said outer cylinder block (140) by the expansion of said retainer spring (164).

11. The adjustable retainer bracket assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said wheel rim offset (30) is set at a predefined value corresponding to the temporary spare wheel mounted with a smaller tyre (50) by pressing the plunger (135) of said upper pair of locking pin assemblies (130) within said cylindrical portion (146) by sliding downwards and by subsequent expansion of said plunger (135) projecting out of through openings (142) and by pressing retainer spring (164) downwards within said outer cylinder block (140).

12. The adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly for automotive vehicles as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly is fitted on an electric vehicle.

13. A method for adjusting the offset (30) of wheel rim (120) for a regular spare wheel with a larger tyre (100) or for a temporary spare wheel with a smaller tyre (50) by the adjustable spare wheel retainer bracket assembly for automotive vehicles as claimed in the preceding claims, said method comprising the step of adjusting said offset (30) of the wheel rim (120) for a regular spare wheel with a larger tyre (100) by pushing the plungers (135) of said pair of upper pin assemblies (130) inside the through openings (142) and pressing them further to bring said pin assemblies (130) completely within the cylindrical portion (146) of said outer cylinder block (140), whereby said retainer spring (164) pushes said lower pin assemblies (130) upwards to project the plungers (135) thereof out of said through openings (142) for locking of said lower pin assemblies (130) therein.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said method comprises the step of adjusting said offset (30) of the wheel rim (120) for a temporary spare wheel with a smaller tyre (50) by pushing the plungers (135) of said pair of lower pin assemblies (130) inside the through openings (142) and pressing them further to bring said lower pin assemblies (130) completely within the cylindrical portion (146) of said outer cylinder block (140), and pushing said actuation lever (110) downwards, whereby said retainer spring (164) is compressed and the plungers (135) of said upper pin assemblies (130) project out of said through openings (142) for locking of said upper pin assemblies (130) therein.

Dated this 21st day of June 2022.

Digitally / e-Signed.

(SANJAY KESHARWANI)
APPLICANT’S PATENT AGENT
REGN. NO. IN/PA-2043.