Universal temporary wheel

Abstract

A universal temporary wheel is provided that has a universal aperture pattern that is adapted to mate with different configurations of lug bolt patterns to enable the wheel to be used with various wheel hub configurations having various lug bolt patterns. The universal temporary wheel can be installed while a damaged wheel is being repaired to allow an automobile or other vehicle to be moved. Because the universal temporary wheel has a universal aperture pattern, the wheel can be used with a variety of wheel hub configurations and lug bolt patterns, thereby eliminating the need to stock a variety of temporary wheels having various aperture patterns.

Therefore the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A universal temporary wheel comprising:
 a wheel hub mounting plate comprising a central bore adapted to receive an axle and a pattern of apertures adapted to receive a plurality of different lug bolt patterns of a plurality of respective wheel hubs, each aperture being positioned radially from a center of the universal temporary wheel;   a wheel disc coupled to the wheel hub mounting plate;   a rim disposed on an outer perimeter of the wheel disc; and   an outer casing disposed around an outer perimeter of the rim.   
     
     
         2 . The universal temporary wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern of apertures comprises six apertures, the pattern of six apertures being adapted to receive at least a four-lug-bolt pattern of a four-lug-bolt wheel hub and at least a five-lug-bolt pattern of a five-lug-bolt wheel hub. 
     
     
         3 . The universal temporary wheel of  claim 2 , wherein the at least a four-lug-bolt pattern of a four-lug-bolt wheel hub comprises a first four-lug-bolt pattern of a first four-lug-bolt wheel hub and a second four-lug-bolt pattern of a second four-lug-bolt wheel hub. 
     
     
         4 . The universal temporary wheel of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first four-lug-bolt wheel hub comprises four lug bolts that are positioned at a first radial distance from a center of the first four-lug-bolt wheel hub; and   the second four-lug-bolt wheel hub comprises four lug bolts that are positioned at a second radial distance from a center of the second four-lug-bolt wheel hub, the second radial distance being greater than the first radial distance.   
     
     
         5 . The universal temporary wheel of  claim 2 , wherein the at least a five-lug-bolt pattern of a five-lug-bolt wheel hub comprises a first five-lug-bolt pattern of a first five-lug-bolt wheel hub and a second five-lug-bolt pattern of a second five-lug-bolt wheel hub. 
     
     
         6 . The universal temporary wheel of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first five-lug-bolt wheel hub comprises five lug bolts that are positioned at a first radial distance from a center of the first five-lug-bolt wheel hub; and   the second five-lug-bolt wheel hub comprises five lug bolts that are positioned at a second radial distance from a center of the second five-lug-bolt wheel hub, the second radial distance being greater than the first radial distance.   
     
     
         7 . The universal temporary wheel of  claim 2 , wherein the pattern of apertures comprises a first set of four apertures having a first shape and a second set of two apertures having a second shape. 
     
     
         8 . The universal temporary wheel of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first shape is a substantially discorectangular shape; and   the second shape comprises two substantially discorectangular shapes placed side-by-side and oriented at an acute angle relative to each other that are connected by a shape that extends laterally between adjacent sides of the substantially discorectangular shapes.   
     
     
         9 . The universal temporary wheel of  claim 7 , wherein each of the first set of four apertures has a first width and each of the second set of four apertures has a second width, the second width being greater than the first width. 
     
     
         10 . The universal temporary wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the outer casing comprises a tread and at least one rib that is unitary with the outer casing and extends outward from the tread, a length of the at least one rib being perpendicular to a length of the tread. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a wheel hub mounting plate, the wheel hub mounting plate having a central bore adapted to receive an axle;   a wheel disc coupled to the wheel hub mounting plate;   a rim disposed on an outer perimeter of the wheel disc;   an outer casing disposed around an outer perimeter of the rim; and   a pattern of six apertures formed on the wheel hub mounting plate.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the pattern of six apertures comprises a first set of four apertures having a first shape and a second set of two apertures having a second shape. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first shape is a substantially discorectangular shape and the second shape comprises two substantially discorectangular shapes oriented at an acute angle relative to each other and connected by a shape that extends laterally between adjacent sides of the discorectangular shapes. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first set of four apertures has a first width and each of the second set of four apertures has a second width, the second width being greater than the first width. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the pattern of six apertures is adapted to receive at least a four-lug-bolt pattern of a four-lug-bolt wheel hub and at least a five-lug-bolt pattern of a five-lug-bolt wheel hub. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least a four-lug-bolt pattern of the four-lug-bolt wheel hub is a first four-lug-bolt pattern of a first four-lug-bolt wheel hub, and the pattern of six apertures is further adapted to receive a second four-lug-bolt pattern of a second four-lug-bolt wheel hub that is different from the first four-lug-bolt pattern. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first four-lug-bolt wheel hub comprises four lug bolts that are positioned at a first radial distance from a center of the first four-lug-bolt wheel hub; and   the second four-lug-bolt wheel hub comprises four lug bolts that are positioned at a second radial distance from a center of the second four-lug-bolt wheel hub, the second radial distance being greater than the first radial distance.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least a five-lug-bolt pattern of the five-lug-bolt wheel hub is a first five-lug-bolt pattern of a first five-lug-bolt wheel hub, and the pattern of six apertures is further adapted to receive a second five-lug-bolt pattern of a second five-lug-bolt wheel hub. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first five-lug-bolt wheel hub comprises five lug bolts that are positioned at a first radial distance from a center of the first five-lug-bolt wheel hub; and   the second five-lug-bolt wheel hub comprises five lug bolts that are positioned at a second radial distance from a center of the second five-lug-bolt wheel hub, the second radial distance being greater than the first radial distance.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the outer casing comprises a tread and at least one rib that is unitary with the outer casing and extends outward from the tread.