Ornamental wheel

Abstract

The wheel of the present invention features a central hub enclosing recessed appendages. The appendages are preferable fin shaped or blade shaped. As the rotation of the wheel increases in speed, the appendages will extend out of the central hub due to centrifugal force. When fully extended, the appendages will extend to the outer-diameter of the tire. As the rotation of the wheel decreases in speed, the appendages will retract back into the hub. Tension from a spring or similar mechanism may be used to maintain the appendages in the recessed position when the wheel in not in motion. The present invention may also be in the form of wheel cover, such as a hubcap, wherein the recessed appendages are enclosed within the central portion of the wheel cover. The wheel cover is intended to be fastened to the wheel of an automobile in the same manner as hubcaps of the prior art. As the rotation of the wheel increases in speed, the appendages will extend out of the wheel cover due to centrifugal force. When fully extended, the appendages will extend to the outer-diameter of the tire. As the rotation of the wheel decreases in speed, the appendages will retract back into the wheel cover. Tension from a spring or similar mechanism may be used to maintain the appendages in the recessed position when the wheel in not in motion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The ornamental wheel cover will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are meant to be exemplary, not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in several FIGURES, in which:

FIG. 1, is a frontal view of the assembly arrangement of the present invention.

FIG. 2, is a frontal view of the assembly arrangement of the present invention with the appendages in an extended position.

FIG. 3, is a frontal view of a preferred embodiment of a single appendages in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4, is a side view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5, is a side view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6, is a side view of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the assembly arrangement of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Referring initially to FIG. 1, an assembly arrangement 1 comprises a wheel cover that may be mounted or otherwise attached to a vehicle wheel via mounting disc 3. The wheel cover 2 includes a number of appendages 4, preferably having a shape similar to a fin or blade. The appendages 4 are attached to the assembly at the central hub area 5 of the wheel cover 2 by a spring or hinge or other well-known fastening mechanism to allow for rotation of each appendage 4 at the point of attachment to the mounting disc 3. The appendages are held in a recessed or retracted position by an extendable or elastic fastening mechanism such as a spring or hinge in the central hub area 5 of the wheel cover 2 when the wheel is not in motion as shown in FIG. 1. As further shown in FIG. 1, the appendages 4 will move out of the recessed position, preferably rotating in direction 6, as the wheel rotates due to centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the wheel. The appendages 4 will extend further out from the central hub area 5 of the wheel cover 2 as the rate of rotation of the wheel increases. When in their fully extended position 8, the appendages 4 will extend towards the outer diameter 7 of the wheel as shown in FIG. 2. As the rotation of the wheel slows, causing a corresponding decrease in centrifugal force, the appendages 4 recede back towards the central hub area of the wheel, eventually returning to their fully recessed position when the wheel comes to a complete stop.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-6, a preferred embodiment of a single appendage 4 is shown. In a preferred embodiment, appendage 4 is attached to mounting disc 3 at internal bore 9. While it should be appreciated that the appendage 4 is not limited to any particular size or shape, a preferred embodiment of the appendage 4 is in the shape of a curved blade or fin 16 having a first flat side edge 10, a second flat side edge 11, a flat face 12, a flat inner surface 13, and a curved concave outer surface 14, and a curved outer edge.

A person of skill in the art will recognize that the assembly of the present invention can be manufactured in accordance with methods and materials well-known in the art for making wheels and wheel covers for automobiles. Further, the it will be understood by a person of skill in the art that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A wheel cover assembly connectable to a wheel of a vehicle comprising: a wheel mount;a plurality of fin shaped appendages wherein each appendage is fastened to the wheel assembly at a single point of attachment in a central hub area of the wheel assembly; andwherein each appendage is held in a retracted position by an elastic fastener in the central hub area of the wheel when the wheel is not in motion; andwherein each appendage rotates at its point of attachment as the wheel rotates so as to move out of the retracted position into an extended position.

2. The wheel cover assembly of claim 1 wherein said elastic fastener comprises a spring.

3. A wheel cover assembly connectable to a wheel of a vehicle comprising: a wheel mount;a plurality of blade shaped appendages wherein each appendage is fastened to the wheel assembly at a single point of attachment in a central hub area of the wheel assembly; andwherein each appendage is held in a retracted position by an elastic fastener in the central hub area of the wheel when the wheel is not in motion; andwherein each appendage rotates at its point of attachment as the wheel rotates so as to move out of the retracted position into an extended position.

4. The wheel cover assembly of claim 3 wherein said elastic fastener comprises a spring.

5. A wheel assembly comprising: a plurality of fin shaped appendages wherein each appendage is fastened to the wheel assembly at a single point of attachment in a central hub area of the wheel assembly; andwherein each appendage is held in a retracted position by an elastic fastener in the central hub area of the wheel when the wheel is not in motion; andwherein each appendage rotates at its point of attachment as the wheel rotates so as to move out of the retracted position into an extended position.

6. The wheel assembly of claim 5 wherein said elastic fastener comprises a spring.

7. A wheel assembly comprising: a plurality of blade shaped appendages wherein each appendage is fastened to the wheel assembly at a single point of attachment in a central hub area of the wheel assembly; andwherein each appendage is held in a retracted position by an elastic fastener in the central hub area of the wheel when the wheel is not in motion; andwherein each appendage rotates at its point of attachment as the wheel rotates so as to move out of the retracted position into an extended position.

8. The wheel assembly of claim 7 wherein said elastic fastener comprises a spring.