US 11,780,263 B2
Hybrid metal and composite polymer wheels for motor vehicles
William R. Rodgers, Bloomfield Township, MI (US); and Xiaosong Huang, Novi, MI (US)
Assigned to GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 5, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/90,306.
Prior Publication US 2022/0134801 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. B60B 5/02 (2006.01); B60B 21/04 (2006.01); B29C 70/48 (2006.01); B29C 70/74 (2006.01); B60B 1/14 (2006.01); B60B 3/04 (2006.01); B29K 705/12 (2006.01); B60B 27/02 (2006.01); B29K 307/04 (2006.01); B29L 31/32 (2006.01); B29K 63/00 (2006.01); B29K 105/08 (2006.01); B29K 705/02 (2006.01)
CPC B60B 5/02 (2013.01) [B29C 70/48 (2013.01); B29C 70/747 (2013.01); B60B 1/14 (2013.01); B60B 3/042 (2013.01); B60B 3/045 (2013.01); B60B 21/04 (2013.01); B29K 2063/00 (2013.01); B29K 2105/0845 (2013.01); B29K 2307/04 (2013.01); B29K 2705/02 (2013.01); B29K 2705/12 (2013.01); B29L 2031/32 (2013.01); B60B 27/02 (2013.01); B60B 2310/204 (2013.01); B60B 2310/302 (2013.01); B60B 2360/102 (2013.01); B60B 2360/104 (2013.01); B60B 2360/106 (2013.01); B60B 2360/108 (2013.01); B60B 2360/341 (2013.01); B60B 2360/3412 (2013.01); B60B 2360/3416 (2013.01); B60B 2360/3418 (2013.01); B60B 2360/368 (2013.01); B60B 2900/111 (2013.01); B60B 2900/112 (2013.01); B60B 2900/311 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wheel for a wheel assembly of a motor vehicle, the wheel assembly including a tire, and the motor vehicle including a vehicle body, the wheel comprising:
a wheel face with a central hub, an annular spoke rim circumscribing the central hub, and multiple spokes circumferentially spaced about and projecting radially outward from the central hub, the spokes extending between and connecting the annular spoke rim and the central hub, the central hub being configured to rotatably attach to the vehicle body, and the wheel face, including the central hub, the annular spoke rim, and the spokes, being fabricated as a single-piece structure from a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) material; and
a wheel barrel circumscribing the wheel face and including an annular rim configured to mount thereon the tire, the wheel barrel being fabricated from a metallic material and including a series of overmold through holes circumferentially spaced about and extending through the annular rim, wherein the FRP material extends through the overmold through holes and thereby mounts the wheel face to the wheel barrel,
wherein the annular rim includes a rim well with rim flanges projecting radially outwards from opposing edges of the rim well, and wherein the FRP material of the wheel face forms integral rivets and/or integral backing plates each abutting the rim well of the annular rim.