Information
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Patent Grant
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6776459
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Patent Number
6,776,459
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Date Filed
Friday, June 28, 200222 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, August 17, 200420 years ago
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CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 301 3725
- 301 37101
- 301 37102
- 301 3721
- 301 3726
- 301 3738
- 301 37371
- 301 1081
- 301 1084
- 301 1085
- 301 37108
- 301 37109
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International Classifications
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an accessory that is attached to vehicles and it rotates on its axis as the force of the wind drives it. The rotation of the accessory is independent of the rotation of the wheel. It contains two or more air driven surfaces. The ratio of the drag coefficients of the leading surface to the trailing surface is equal to or greater than 1.01. The accessory spins either clockwise or counter clockwise as the vehicle picks up speed creating an extremely attractive view.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air driven accessory that rotates exclusively as a function of the air velocity surrounding the accessory that is attached to a motorcycle non-rotating axles. The rotating device and the cap end cone can be chrome-plated, anodized or painted and can be made using selected materials from the group of metals, alloys and plastics.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,094 discloses a revolving decorative wheel cover that is attached to a rotating wheel of an automobile. Through the use of a bearing, a wing like accessory is attached allowing the wings like portion of the attachment to rotate independently of the rotation of the wheel.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,219,391 discloses a revolving wheel disk cover attached to a rotating vehicle wheel. The disk cover is attachable to and removable from a rotating vehicle wheel in the same manner as a hubcap. As the vehicle moves, the resulting air flowing past the vehicle causes the disk cover to revolve independently of the wheel itself
U.S. Pat. No. 3,158,946 discloses a hubcap, which is attached to a rotating vehicle wheel, which includes a rotatable outer wire assembly. The outer wire assembly is adapted to continue to spin after the vehicle comes to a stop.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,715 discloses a stationary non-rotating wheel cover that is attached to an axle that allows the viewer to read or discern the wheel covers markings when the vehicle is in motion as well as stationary.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,158,946 discloses a spinning hub cap attached to a rotating vehicle wheel which contains an attractive, attention holding hub cap of the kind indicated, which is adapted to be spun relative to a vehicle wheel on which it is mounted, as the vehicle wheel rolls forwardly, and to continue to spin after the vehicle wheel has been brought to a stop.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is comprised of motorcycle wheel accessories that attaches to non-rotating axles of a motorcycle. Through the use of a bearing, an aerodynamically designed devise is attached to the stationary mounting cup and it rotates as a function of the surrounding air speed. The air driven rotating parts are attached to the mounting cup using screws. A mirror image of unit would be installed on the opposite side of the axle.
The accessories could have a finished look by anodizing, painting or chroming the external surface. The rotating device and cap end cone could be fabricated from metals, alloys or plastics. The mounting cup, bearing and lock in pin are fabricated using metal or alloys.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a cross section of a complete apparatus.
FIG. 2
is a cross section of the apparatus as it is assembled on the axle by setscrews.
FIG. 3
is a cross section of the apparatus as it is assembled on the axle with the securing nut by setscrews.
FIG. 4
provides a cross sectional view of how the bearing is attached to the rotating device.
FIG. 5
provides a cross sectional view of how the mounting cup is secured to the axle.
FIG. 6
is a cut-away of the mounting cup showing the setscrews.
FIG. 7
provides an exploding view of the complete apparatus.
FIG. 8
is a skeletal three-dimensional view of the rotating device showing the two air driving surfaces.
FIG. 9
is a photograph of the complete apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is cross sections of a complete inventive apparatus for both sides of the motorcycle front or rear axles. The assembly is attached to the axles by the use of the mounting cup
14
and secured to the axle by sets-crews
16
. Bearing
12
is inserted into the rotating device
11
and held in place by the locking clip
13
. The rotating device
11
is held in place to the mounting cup
14
by means of a screw
15
that attaches it to the mounting cup
14
and to the cone end cap
10
. The cone end cap
10
is held in place by the screw
15
.
FIG. 2
provides a cross section of the inventive apparatus shown in
FIG. 1
as it is attached to the axles
17
and by setscrews
16
.
FIG. 3
provides a cross section of the inventive apparatus shown in
FIG. 1
as it is attached to the other side of the axle that has a securing nut
18
and it is secured to the nut
18
by setscrews
16
.
FIG. 4
provides a cross section of how the bearing
12
is attached to the rotating device
11
.
Bearing
12
is held in place by the lock in clip
13
that is inserted into the groove
11
A machined into the rotating device
11
.
FIG. 5
provides a cross section of bow the mounting cup
14
is assembled on to the axle
17
and held in place by setscrews
16
.
FIG. 6
is a cut-away of
FIG. 5
showing how the setscrews
16
hold in place the mounting cup
14
to the axle
17
. The locations of the setscrews
16
are positioned at different angles on the mounting cup
14
so that they hold tight against the flats on the nut
18
.
FIG. 7
provides an exploding cross section view of the inventive apparatus shown on FIG.
1
.
FIG. 8
shows a three dimensional view of the air-driven rotating device
11
to illustrate the difference in the two surfaces that make the air-driven rotating device
11
rotate as a function of the air velocity striking these surfaces. The surface area
19
is larger than surface area
20
.
FIG. 9
is a photograph of the complete apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1-7
shows how the inventive apparatus is mounted and assembled onto the motorcycle axles. The mounting cups
14
are securely attached to the motorcycle axle
17
and
18
by the two setscrews
16
.
FIG. 8
shows details of the air-driven rotating device
11
. As the motorcycle gains speed, the air impinging on the flat surface
19
of the rotating devices
11
wing and exerts a force. That force is a function of the air velocity and the surface area exposed to such air velocity creating a rotating motion. Air velocity or speed is the only force causing the rotating device to rotate. On the opposite side of the above-mentioned flat surface
19
, the projected surface
20
is exposed to the same air velocity. Since surface
20
is smaller than surface
19
, this exerting a lesser force. This imbalance of the two opposing forces creates the rotation of the air-driven rotating device
11
. As the difference in project areas
19
and
20
increases, the rotational speed would also increase at same air velocities. The air-driven rotating device
11
is attached to the mounting cup
14
by the use of a securing screw
15
. This securing screw
15
holds together the cone end cap
10
and the air-driven rotating device
11
to the mounting cup
14
. The bearing
12
is held in place by the lock in clip
13
onto the rotating device
11
. The mounting cup
14
is secured to the axles by setscrews
16
.
Claims
- 1. A spinner attachment for an axle comprising:a mounting cup having a plurality of openings extending through a sidewall and an end thereof; a rotating device having a plurality wing portion; a bearing assembly fitted to the rotating device; a mounting screw extending through the opening in the end of the mounting cup for connecting the mounting cup to the device, the bearing assembly allowing the rotating device to rotate about the mounting screw; and a plurality of set screws extending through the openings in the sidewall of the mounting cup to fasten the mounting cup to the axle, of a vehicle.
- 2. The spinner attachment as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:an end cap attached to the mounting screw to secure the rotating device to the mounting screw for rotation thereon.
- 3. The spinner attachment as set forth in claim 2, wherein:the end cap is cone-shaped.
- 4. The spinner attachment as set forth in claim 1, wherein:the rotating device and the cap end can be chrome-plated, anodized, or painted.
- 5. The spinner device as set forth in claim 1 wherein:the end cap is made of a material selected from the group comprising metals, alloys, or plastics.
US Referenced Citations (13)