Claims:We Claim:

1. A wheel (100) of a vehicle, comprising:
- a rim (102) having a valve hole (104)
- a disc (106) attached to the rim (102), having
a plurality of spokes (108-a, 108-b,108-c,108-d) and a plurality of scallops (110-a, 110-b,110-c, 110-d) arranged circumferentially on a surface of the disc (106);
- an air valve (202) mounted in the valve hole (104) for inflating a pneumatic tyre; and
- a tyre pressure measuring device (206) integrated with the air valve (202) for sensing air pressure of the tyre,
- wherein a slot (302) is provided in at least one scallop of the plurality of scallops (110-a, 110-b, 110-c, 110-d) to compensate an overall weight unbalance of the wheel due to the tyre pressure measuring device (206).
2. The wheel (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one scallop of the plurality of scallops (110-a, 110-b, 110-c, 110-d) to which the slot (302) is provided, is located in-line/close to the valve hole (104).
3. The wheel (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the slot (302) is formed of a multitude of shapes including trapezoidal (302-1), dual-trapezoidal (302-2), rectangular (302-3), dual-rectangular (302-4), oval (302-5) and dual-oval (302-6).
, Description:FIELD OF INVENTION
[001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to a wheel of a vehicle designed in order to compensate a weight imbalance created as a result of installation of a tyre pressure measuring device in the wheel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[003] Typically, referring to Figure 1, in a wheel (100) of a vehicle, there is provided a rim (102) and a disc (106) that is attached to the rim (102). The rim (102) is generally a cylindrically shaped outer edge and is primarily responsible for mounting (supporting and sealing) a tyre to the wheel (100). The disc (106) has a plurality of spokes (108-a, 108-b, 108-c,108-d) and a plurality of scallops (110-a, 110-b, 110-c, 110-d) located on the circumference of the disc (106), and an air valve (202) is fitted in a valve hole (104) of the rim (102) to inflate the pneumatic tyre.
[004] In order to maintain performance such as driving performance, safety, durability, fuel economy, and the like of a vehicle at a desired level, it is necessary that the air pressure of the tyre be maintained at an appropriate level. Therefore, there has been an increasing demand for installing a tyre pressure measuring device for measuring the air pressure of the tyre all the time when the vehicle is moving. The tyre pressure measuring device (206), as shown in Figure 2, generally includes a pressure sensor that senses air pressure and a transmitting device that transmits a detection signal from the pressure sensor to a receiver disposed on the vehicle side. The tyre pressure measuring device (206) is configured so as to be integrated with the air valve (202), and the air valve (202) is mounted in the valve hole (104) of the rim (102) so that the tyre pressure measuring device (206) is disposed on the wheel rim (102).
[005] However, in cases where the air valve (202) that is integrated with the tyre pressure measuring device (206) as described above is mounted, overall weight of the wheel (100) is increased due to the weight of the tyre pressure measuring device (206). This causes overall weight unbalance in the wheel (100) due to the installation of resulting in non-uniform inertial motion of the wheel (100) during driving process. Consequently, this leads to shaking or quivering of the vehicle while in motion resulting into multiple disadvantages like, driving discomfort to the passengers in the vehicle, uneven wear and tear of tyre, bearings and defect in steering system in the long run.
[006] Towards this direction, there is a pressing need for overcoming the above mentioned challenges and to design the wheel (100) in an appropriate manner so as to comply with these requirements.
PRIOR ARTS OF INVENTION
[007] There are a few types of automobile wheels as can be found from the prior arts and these are discussed as follows.
[008] A prior art JP2007276784 titled “an automobile wheel” discloses an automobile wheel being capable of suitably retaining weight balance in a wheel circumferential direction when an air valve integrally formed with an air pressure detection device is attached. The wheel comprises a rim provided with a valve hole for mounting an air valve for injecting air into a tire and a disk provided with a hub hole formed in a center. According to the invention, a plurality of decorative holes provided along a circumferential direction on an outer side in a radial direction of the hub hole. The decorative holes are formed so that a hole interval between adjacent decorative holes gradually increases toward a position opposite the valve hole with respect to a center of the automobile wheel. The decorative holes are disposed at positions that are left-right symmetrical with respect to a center line connecting the position where the valve hole is disposed and the opposite position.
[009] Another prior art JP2004255961A1 titled “Wheel for automobile” capable of enhancing the vibration-proof characteristic of an air pressure sensing device for vibrations applied to the automobile when it is running. The wheel comprises a rim provided with a valve hole for mounting an air valve for injecting air into a tyre and a disk having a hub hole formed in a center. A plurality of substantially circular decorative holes is provided along a circumferential direction on an outer side in a radial direction of the hub hole. An oval decorative hole is provided adjacent to a valve hole on a vertical axis connecting the valve hole and a wheel center. The oval decorative hole is widened on both sides so as to be symmetrical with respect to the vertical axis.
[0010] Though according to the prior arts discussed, there are a few solutions proposed to address the problem, but these methods lacks feasibility as they are an expensive approach to implement. However, sophisticated cam piercing type press tools are required to punch the described holes in the discs. This sophisticated cam piercing type press tool (with multiple punches, multiple die buttons, and larger size) completely replaces both existing hole press tools and press machines (with single punch, single die button, and smaller in size) in assembly lines, resulting in high machinery installation and manufacturing cost. Also, the existing solutions provide non-uniformity of vent holes on discs in terms of shape and positioning, causing unsatisfactory aesthetic experience to the customers. Consequently, there is a need of a cost effective automobile wheel which is affordable by customers, easy to fabricate, mechanically strong enough to withstand the effect and easy to be implemented.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In view of the forgoing limitations inherent in the state of the art, some of the objects of the present invention, which at least one embodiment here satisfy, are listed below.
[0012] It is an object of the present subject matter to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks existing in the prior art systems and methods.
[0013] It is principal object of the present invention to provide a wheel capable of suitably retaining weight balance upon installation of a tyre pressure monitoring device.
[0014] It is another significant object of the present invention to design a wheel with uniformity of vent holes on disc in terms of shape and positioning for providing satisfactory customer experience.
[0015] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a wheel capable of providing driving comfort to the passengers in the vehicle.
[0016] It is an object of the present invention to provide a wheel for an automobile at a low machinery setup cost and manufacturing cost, which is affordable.
[0017] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention would be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an improved vehicle wheel for a passenger car and its structural features. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0019] According to an embodiment of the present subject matter, there is provided a wheel of a vehicle, comprising a rim having a valve hole and a disc attached to the rim.
[0020] In an aspect, the disc is having a plurality of spokes and a plurality of scallops arranged circumferentially on a surface of the disc, an air valve mounted in the valve hole for inflating a pneumatic tyre and a tyre pressure measuring device integrated with the air valve for sensing air pressure of the tyre.
[0021] In an aspect, a slot is provided in at least one of the scallops of the plurality of scallops to compensate an overall weight unbalance of the wheel due to the tyre pressure measuring device.
[0022] In an aspect, the at least one scallop of the plurality of scallops to which the slot is provided, is located in line or near to the valve hole.
[0023] In an aspect, in the wheel, the slot is created by removal of material from at least one scallop of the plurality of scallops. Here weight of the material removed from the at least one scallop of the plurality of scallops counterbalances the overall weight unbalance created due to the tyre pressure measuring device.
[0024] In an aspect, in the wheel, the slot in at least one scallop of the plurality of scallops includes a multitude of shapes and the slot can be a trapezoidal shaped slot, dual-trapezoidal shaped slot, rectangular shaped slot, dual-rectangular shaped slot, oval shaped slot or a dual-oval shaped slot.
[0025] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0026] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0027] Figure 1 illustrates a disc for a conventional wheel for a vehicle.

[0028] Figure 2 illustrates a tyre pressure measuring device, integrated with an air valve for sensing air pressure of the tyre, installed on a rim for a conventional wheel for a vehicle.

[0029] Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of the disc in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] Figure 4 illustrates a front view of the disc in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 5 illustrates a multitude of shapes of the slot of the scallop of the wheel for the vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] The figure depicts the embodiment of the present invention for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily 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 OF THE INVENTION

[0033] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein are not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0034] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.

[0035] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

[0036] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.

[0037] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0038] It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope.

[0039] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0040] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0041] The present invention relates to a wheel (100) comprising a plurality of scallops (110-a,110-b,110-c,110-d) located along the circumference of a disc (106) of the wheel (100) such that a slot (302) is provided in at least one scallop of the plurality of scallops (110-a, 110-b, 110-c,110-d) in order to compensate an unbalance in weight created due to an introduction of a tyre measuring device (206). The corresponding structural features of the wheel (100) are discussed in the subsequent sections.

[0042] Figure 3 and Figure 4 illustrates an isometric view and a front view of the disc portion (106) attached to the rim (102) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] In an aspect, the disc (106) is provided with a plurality of spokes (108-a, 108-b, 108-c, 108-d) and a plurality of scallops (110-a, 110-b,110-c,110-d). The disc (106) is assembled and welded to the rim (102) at the spokes (108-a, 108-b, 108-c, 108-d). A slot (302) is provided in at least one scallop of the plurality of scallops (110-a, 110-b, 110-c, 110-d) in order to counter balance the weight created due to introduction of the tyre measuring device (206) as discussed before.

[0044] In an aspect, the slot is created by removal of material from the at least one scallop of the plurality of scallops (110-a, 110-b, 110-c,110-d) located in-line or close to the valve hole (104). Herein, the material is removed in such a manner such that the weight of the tyre measuring device (206) is counterbalanced thereby reducing overall weight of the wheel (100).

[0045] In an aspect, the counter balancing of weight of the wheel (100) is pursued according to the following equation:

M1R1=M2R2

Here,
M1 = weight of the air valve (202) with the tyre pressure measuring device (206) – weight of the valve hole (104),
R1 = Distance of the center of the air valve (202) from center of the wheel (100),
M2 = Weight of the material removed from the scallop of the plurality of scallops (110-a, 110-b, 110-c, 110-d),
R2 = Distance of center of the removed material from the scallop of the plurality of scallops (110-a, 110-b, 110-c, 110-d) from center of the wheel (100).

[0046] In an aspect, by using this design of the wheel (100) as disclosed in the present invention, the problem related to shaking or quivering of the vehicle due to mass unbalance created by tyre measuring device can be addressed reasonably well.

[0047] Figure 5 illustrates a schematic view of the slot (302) formed in at least one scallop of the plurality of scallops (110-a, 110-b, 110-c, 110-d) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] In an aspect, the slot (302) can be trapezoidal shaped slot (302-1), dual-trapezoidal shaped slot (302-2), rectangular shaped slot (302-3), dual-rectangular shaped slot (302-4), oval shaped slot (302-5) or a dual-oval shaped slot (302-6).

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES

[0049] All in all, the improved vehicle wheel (100) disclosed in the present subject matter is having the following advantages:

a) The problem of shaking or quivering of the wheel (100) due to mass unbalance created by tyre measuring is reduced with slight reduction in an overall weight of the wheel (100)

b) The improved vehicle wheel (100) is being able to reduce the driving discomfort to the passengers in the vehicle, uneven wear and tear of tyre, bearings and defect in steering system in the long run.

c) The improved vehicle wheel (100) as disclosed herein, provides better driving comfort to the passenger in the vehicle.

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 disclosures 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. Also, 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 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 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.”

It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present disclosure contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the disclosure, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Also, while a feature of the present disclosure may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present disclosure. The present disclosure also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature.