WHEEL RETAINER AND LOOSE WHEEL INDICATOR FOR A VEHICLE

• Main Author: WELCH, DONALD W
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 19.09.2000
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING ORSUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES INGENERAL; LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS; MEASURING; MOTOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; TESTING; TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES ORSTRUCTURES; TESTING STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TRAILERS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR

A wheel retainer for the safety of all motor vehicles, and more particularly for trucks of all types, to prevent wheels or wheel assemblies from flying off movin g vehicles in the event of axle breakage or other mechanical failure which would c ause a wheel or wheel assembly to fly off. The wheel retainer comprises brackets for attachment to a truck frame and a retaining bar which is removably attached to t he brackets, the bar and brackets being positioned to prevent the wheel or wheel assembly from flying off of the vehicle. In a further modification of the wheel retainer, a loose wheel indicator is provided. The loose wheel indicator is adap ted to be mounted on a turnable or steerable wheel or wheel assembly such as a front wh eel of a vehicle. The loose wheel indicator causes an audible noise, audible to the vehicle driver, by contact created between the indicator assembly and the rim of a tire when the wheel or wheel assembly comes loose thereby warning the driver of the loose wheel hazard.