Wheel Insert Structure for Tire and Rim Scratch Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle wheel inserts do not effectively protect the tire from scratches and damage, and they often limit the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle wheel, while also not providing sufficient protection for the wheel rim and spoke.
Innovation Solution
An insert for a vehicle wheel comprising a body and a protection portion, where the body is made of a hard material and the protection portion is made of a soft material, integrated through a double-shot injection molding process, with a support protrusion and embedding protrusions to shield the tire and wheel rim, enhancing protection and appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the insert does not exceed the radius of the wheel rim, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the appearance effect is limited and tire protection is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is divided into two functional segments: a body portion that mounts on the wheel rim and provides structural support, and a protection portion that extends beyond the wheel rim radius to shield the tire. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the body for mounting simplicity and the protection portion for extended coverage and aesthetic effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection portion extends the insert functionality into a new radial dimension beyond the wheel rim radius. This dimensional extension allows the insert to reach and protect the tire sidewall area, transforming the insert from a purely rim-mounted component to a multi-layer protection system that spans multiple radial zones.
2Reliability
If the insert extends beyond the wheel rim radius to protect the tire, then the tire protection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insert employs composite material construction with a hard body portion for structural integrity and mounting stability, combined with a soft protection portion for effective tire contact and scratch resistance. This material composite approach enables the extended protection portion to provide reliable tire protection while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through integrated molding processes.
3Strength
If a hard material is used for the body, then the structural strength is improved, but the protection effectiveness against scratches is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The insert applies the principle of local quality by using different material properties in different regions: the body portion uses hard material optimized for structural strength and mounting durability, while the protection portion uses soft material optimized for scratch resistance and tire surface protection. Each region's material properties are locally optimized for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert combines hard and soft materials in a composite structure where the hard body provides structural support and the soft protection portion provides scratch resistance. This composite material system resolves the contradiction by allowing each material to perform its optimal function in its designated zone.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to an insert, a protection device, a wheel and a vehicle. The insert is used for a wheel, the wheel comprises a rim, spokes, and a tire, and the insert comprises: a body provided on the rim and/or the spokes; and a protection portion provided on the body, the protection portion at least partially shielding an outer surface of the tire. The technical solution of the embodiments of the present application can form a certain protection effect on a tire of a wheel, improve the reliability and safety of the wheel, and further improve the aesthetic appearance of the wheel.