Patent Application
20160318336
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to decorative wheel covers, and more particularly it pertains to after market decorative automobile center wheel covers displaying iconic symbols.
2. Description of Related Art
In the business of decorative wheel covers, the provision of center wheel covers or hub cap, has been a particular problem. A fair amount of expense is required in providing such wheel covers. Generally prior art wheel covers (hub caps) are formed separately from the wheel itself. A name, company escutcheon, or logo is often provided on the hub cap, which is made separate and removable from the wheel to allow access to the wheel center for changing tires. Many different methods and types of apparatuses are utilized in the prior art for fixing such decorative wheel covers or hub caps to automobile wheels. For example, on many automobiles a metal plate is provided on the back side of the wheel which is joined by screws, locating pins, and the like, in tapped holes and guide holes in the wheel center. Other prior methods include the use of springs, many sorts of clips, slots, cams, to fasten wheel decorative wheel covers to automobile wheels.
The present invention overcomes these problems by achieving the following objectives: providing a decorative wheel cover, which is light weight, theft-proof, resistant to being loosened by road shock and vibration, inexpensive, adorning, and yet easy to install without the use of tools. The various forms of the present invention meets all of these objectives, and provides generally improved decorative wheel covers over the prior art.
The present invention is directed toward systems and methods to achieve the objectives above. The present invention comprises a decorative wheel cover that can be mounted and dismounted without tools on the wheel rim of any conventional automobile wheel between the tire and rim. The wheel cover comprising a circular decorative disc sign and a circular disc frame, including a plurality of radially retractable claw arm assemblies, circumferentially spaced apart including two opposing ends. The First end of each claw arm assembly points towards the circular disc frame center. The second end of each claw arm assembly includes claws which clamp to the circumferential edge of the wheel rim between the tire and rim. The claw arm assemblies are retractable such that the claws can clamp to any size conventional consumer automobile wheel. The claws are adapted to wedge between the circumferential rim edge and the tire. Once the claws are clamped to the rim, the claw arm assemblies may be manually retracted, wherein the claw arm assembly first ends are radially biased toward the disc frame center, such that the claws form a grip tight enough so that the wheel cover does not dismount during on-road driving conditions. The disc frame and claw arm assemblies are made of durable material, strong enough to absorb vibrations of on-road conditions. The geometry of the disc frame and claw arm assemblies are adapted to absorb on-road vibrations as well.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent upon a reading of the following brief descriptions of the drawing figures, detailed descriptions of preferred embodiments of the invention, the appended claims and drawings.
The above mentioned and other objects and features of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the appended drawings. In the course of the following detailed description, reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:
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Another preferred embodiment comprises a plurality of electric motors and a wireless remote control (not shown). Each motor includes a wireless controller. Each spring shaft (25) is inserted with a separate motor. The wireless remote control operates the motors in synchronization. The motors are sized to further bias the continuous force coil springs (27) to pull each continuous force coil spring flattened end (35) toward the disc center, in turn pulling each claw arm (28) toward the disc center, in turn creating enough resistance in the claw arm claw ends, so that when a person activates the remote control, doing so causes the continuous force coil spring (28) to pull the claw arms (28) toward the disc frame center, causing the claw arm claw ends to clamp down on the wheel rim circumferential edge; wherein, the decorative wheel cover (32) is more tightly secured to the wheel rim (34), enabling the wheel cover to remain attached to the rim during on-road use.
In another embodiment, the geometry and material of the disc frame are designed to absorb vibrations of on-road use. In this case, the disc frame straight portions (39) are designed slender, and the material of the disc frame straight portions (39) are durable but pliable, so that the disc frame straight portions transfers the vibrations to the disc frame inner ring (37), such that the disc frame inner ring vibrates, but the claw ends remain attached to the wheel rim circumferential edge.
In a preferred embodiment, the disc frame straight portions (39) are made of durable and flexible thermoplastic. In another embodiment, the disc frame (21) is made of durable brittle plastic that will shatter into small pieces upon sharp impact, such as when a wheel rim hits a pothole. The shattered small pieces eliminate the possibility of a dislodged wheel cover becoming airborne upon impact with a pothole causing a car accident. Thermoplastic is inexpensive, and the manufacturing techniques, commonly known in the art, to manufacture the wheel cover (32) are inexpensive.
In another preferred embodiment designed for wheels with a plurality of spokes circumferentially spaced apart about the center of the wheel rim (not shown), the disc sign (26) is made of durable textile fabric; the disc sign (26) includes a plurality of straps; each strap has fasteners; the straps are circumferentially spaced apart about and adjacent to the circumferential edge of the disc sign, such that the disc sign is mountable directly onto a wheel rim (34); wherein each strap can be wrapped around a separate wheel spoke, and fastened, such that the disc sign does not dislodge from the wheel rim during on-road use.
All of the above descriptions are merely illustrative of the many applications of the present invention. Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, it should be understood that the present invention might be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.
