AIR VALVE ADAPTOR FOR WHEEL RIM ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to an adaptor for wheel rim assembly and more particularly to alloy rim for use in connection with a tube or a tubeless tire.

BACKGROUND

Alloy wheel rims having a finished central spider or spoke section have become popular in recent years. These wheel rims acclaimed popularity due to inherent and evident deficiencies in the spoke wheel rims such as frequent spoke loosening causing wobbling at frequent intervals, air leakage and frequent punctures. But even these alloy wheel rims are still not equipped with certain feature which are in accordance with the needs of the customers such as alloy wheel rims are not readily convertible from tube tire to tubeless and vice-a-versa. The paramount reason behind the absence of this key feature is different mounting profile of the air valves used in tube and tubeless tire. These valves are indispensable part of the wheel as these valves provide the conduit for inflation and deflation of pressurized air into the tire or tube as the case may be. Various devices have been heretofore proposed in endeavor to acclimate both tube and tubeless tire on the alloy rims. All the constructions heretofore contemplated have substantial downside as they either laborious, unsafe or damages the essential part of the alloy rim such as valve seat. Consequently there arises the need for alloy rim able to reliably, rapidly, precisely, easily replaceable and equally well sen/able for use with both tube and tubeless tire without changing the entire wheel assembly.

Hence an adequately equipped alloy rim, which can accommodate both tube as well as tubeless tire, is proposed with its objects as elucidated hereinafter. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an alloy rim that enables the wheel assembly to accommodate both tube and tubeless tire. It is another object of the present invention to provide an alloy rim that is less prone to play of tube valve during air check, avoid any particle or water entry in the said alloy rim. It is another object of this invention to provide an alloy rim to withstand adequate air pressure and other known repair process over the life cycle of the alloy rim. Further the present invention also focuses, to provide an adaptor for the alloy rim which is easy to install and inexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an alloy rim for wheel assembly, wherein the said alloy rim enables the wheel assembly to be used for both tube tire and tubeless tire without changing the entire wheel assembly. Pursuant to present invention, an adaptor is secured to the tire seat of alloy rim, thereby eliminating the need of changing entire wheel assembly in case where rider wants to change type of wheel from tube tire to tubeless and vice-a-versa as adaptor secured to the alloy rim provides appropriate mounting geometry for tube tire and for mounting tubeless tire on the same alloy rim only adaptor is to be removed. Further the said adaptor is secured to the alloy rim in such a manner that it is positioned in between the left side rim wall and right side rim wall, thereby eliminating the gap between air valve and the left and right side rim walls and preventing the air valve from damage in case of tube tire. Also the said configuration of the alloy rim can withstand air pressure and avoid entry of any particle or water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates a conventional motorcycle to which the present invention is applicable.

Figure 2 illustrates a conventional wheel assembly to which the present invention is applicable.

Figure 3 illustrates and elucidates an alloy rim for wheel assembly.

Figure 4 shows an enlarged sectional view of the alloy rim mounted with tube tire, according to the present invention.

Figure 5 shows an enlarged sectional view of the alloy rim mounted with tubeless tire, according to the present invention.

Figure 6 illustrates an adaptor for tube tire in the rim alloy, according to the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of the preferred embodiment is provided using Figures 1,2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Figure 1 illustrates a motorcycle 100, wherein the motorcycle 100 includes an engine 9 a front wheel assembly 25, a rear wheel assembly 27, a body frame 19, a fuel tank 56. An Upper bracket 42 and a lower bracket 43 retain a front suspension 16 that supports front wheel 25. The front wheel 25 is connected at the lower end of the front fork 16. A head light 36 is arranged on an upper portion of the front fork 16. A side stand 58 is arranged on lower portion of engine unit the 9 of motorcycle 100. Left and right rear arm bracket portions support a rear arm 26 to swing vertically, and a rear wheel 27 is connected to rear end of the rear arm 26. The rear wheel 27 is arranged below seat and rotates by the driving force of engine transmitted by chains, belts and so on. A rear wheel suspension 34 is arranged between the rear arms 26. A tail light unit 64 is disposed on a rear cover 61.

Figure 2 illustrates a conventional wheel assembly 25 to which the present invention is applicable. An archetypal wheel of a two- wheeled vehicle are known to comprise of a tire (with tube or tubeless), alloy rim having a central hole connected to the circumferential periphery of the alloy rim through the spicier, and the axle is locked in the bore to fix the wheel assembly to vehicle. The wheel assembly 25 essentially consisting of, a tire (101) mounted on an alloy rim (120) through the known means. The alloy rim (120) consists of a spider (110) which are robust linking member to a wheel hub (490), a bore (130) provided in the said hub facilitate rear / front axle to pass thru', (not shown in figure) to fix the entire wheel assembly 25 to the vehicle. An air valve (150) for inflating tire comes out through the rim aperture.

Figure 3 illustrates and elucidates the alloy rim (120), wherein the said alloy rim (120) has two left and right side rim walls (220) and adjacent to them on inner side is a tire seat (201) and in between the said tire seats (201), a rim well (210) is formed. Further Figure 3 displays a valve Seat (230) typically machined surface and an aperture (390) in the alloy rim (120) for the air valve (150) to pass through.

Figures 4 & 5 illustrate mounting of both tube as well as tubeless tire on the alloy rim (120) respectively, according to the present invention. Figure 4 is the enlarged sectional view of the alloy rim (120) mounted with tube tire. Alloy Rim (120) of whose annular portion is coupled with a tube tire (301) engulfing a tube (310) fitted with the air valve (150), the said air valve (150) passes through an adaptor (330) which is secured to the valve seat (230) through known manufacturing processes. The adaptor is mounted on top of the valve seat.

Figure 5 is a magnified sectional view of the alloy rim (120) mounted with the tubeless tire (401) and shows the same alloy rim (120) fitted with tubeless tire (401) and the air valve (150) on the valve seat (230) according to the present invention, wherein the adaptor (330) (not present in figure 5) had been knocked off from the alloy rim (120) to accommodate the tubeless tire (401). In Figure 5 the air valve (150) protrudes through the aperture (390) in the alloy rim (120) and sits on the valve seat (230).

Figure 6 shows the side view of the adaptor (330), wherein the said adaptor (330) is a hallow shaft geometry with a step (72) on an outer diameter (74). The step (72) divides the adaptor (330) geometry in two sections, a right hand section (76) provides for merging of the adaptor (330) with a tire well (70) by proving a cut out of the shape in line with tire well (70) and a left hand section (75) provides for the packaging of the adaptor (330) to the air valve hole by fitting on inner diameter (73) of the air valve hole concentrically.

We Claim:

1. An alloy rim for wheel assembly comprising of: a U shaped tire seat formed radially outward from center of the wheel having a left side rim wall and a right side rim wall formed on opposing sides of the tire seat; a spider having plurality of arms radiating from the center of the wheel and connecting the tire seat; an air valve for inflating the tube/tubeless tire and is disposed in the tire seat wherein an adaptor of hallow shaft shape is secured to the tire seat and prevents movement of the air valve in a tube tire configuration; and wherein, in tubeless tire configuration the adaptor is removed.

2. The alloy rim for wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adaptor is also provided to prevent the air valve from damage by eliminating the gap between air valve and the left and right side rim walls.

3. The alloy rim for wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adaptor is provided between the left and right rim walls.

4. The alloy rim for wheel assembly, substantially as herein described in the specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.