Patent Application
20050151414
The present invention relates to a wheel cover assembly, and in particular to a retainer assembly for releasably coupling a wheel cap or cover with a vehicle wheel.
Ornamental outer coverings have been employed for providing a decorative surface to the exposed surface of a vehicle wheel for many years. These outer coverings offer design flexibility and various configurations that may be used to cover a single style wheel. In certain applications, the ornamental wheel covering is constructed of a polymeric material or plastic that is then coated with a metal plating. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,564,791; 5,577,809; 5,597,213; 5,630,654; 5,636,906; 5,845,973; and 6,085,829, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, represent different approaches for providing and attaching such claddings to existing wheels to provide a decorative appearing wheel.
Heretofore, wheel coverings have been assembled with the associated vehicle wheel by a variety of clips and/or fasteners having a configuration such that the cover member or wheel clad is in direct contact with at least a portion of the vehicle wheel, and/or a configuration wherein a significant amount of heat generated within the vehicle wheel, due to braking and the like, is transferred from the fastener to the attached wheel cladding. The heat received by the wheel may result in heat fatigue, thereby reducing the useful life of the wheel clad, as well as distortion and degradation to the aesthetic outer covering associated therewith. Moreover, previous wheel coverings and associated clips and/or fasteners have been configured to allow mating or coupling with only a single configuration of the vehicle wheel. This static sort of design for the vehicle wheels adds to the associated manufacturing costs across a line of vehicles, in that individual wheel coverings and associated clips and fasteners must be manufactured for each wheel of varying configuration.
Therefore, there is a current need for a connecting apparatus that insulates the wheel cover or cladding from heat being transferred between the vehicle wheel and the wheel cladding, while simultaneously providing a secure connection between the vehicle wheel and the wheel cover. Further, there is a current need for a connecting apparatus that is dynamic in configuration, so as to allow the wheel cover or cladding to be utilized with a variety of vehicle wheel configurations without requiring a complete redesign of the wheel cover.
One aspect of the present invention is to provide a wheel cover assembly that comprises a wheel cover including a body portion having an outer surface and an inner surface opposed across the body portion from the outer surface, and at least one elongated tubularly-shaped extension having a proximal portion connected to the body portion, and a distal portion extending in a direction away from the inner surface of the body portion. The wheel cover assembly also includes at least one connector member having a proximal end snappably coupled with the distal end of the extension of the wheel cover, and a distal end adapted to releasably couple with a vehicle wheel.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a wheel cover assembly that comprises a wheel cover including a body portion having an outer surface and an inner surface opposed across the body portion from the outer surface, and at least one extension having a proximal portion connected to the body portion, a distal portion extending in a direction away from the inner surface of the body portion, and an end wall. The wheel cover assembly also includes at least one connector member having an outer surface, an inner surface having at least one irregularity spaced along a length therefore, and a proximal end coupled with the at least one extension of the wheel cover such that the at least one connector member abuts the end wall of the at least one extension, wherein the irregularity is adapted to engage a vehicle wheel, thereby coupling the wheel cover with the vehicle wheel, and wherein the at least one extension does not support the outer surface of the at least one connector member.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a wheel cover assembly that comprises a wheel cover including a body portion having an outer surface and an inner surface opposed across the body portion from the outer surface, and at least extension having a proximal portion connected to the body portion, a distal portion extending in a direction away from the inner surface of the body portion, and an inner wall. The wheel cover assembly also includes at least one connector member including a proximal portion adapted to snappably couple with the at least one extension, and a distal portion adapted to snappably couple with a vehicle wheel.
The present inventive wheel cover assembly provides a more durable and heat resistant wheel covering that may be operated/installed by even unskilled personnel, can be easily and quickly assembled, is economical to manufacture, capable of a long operating life while installed on the associated vehicle wheel, is dynamically adaptable to varying wheel configurations and is particularly well adapted for the proposed use.
These and other advantages of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
The reference numeral 10 (
The body portion 20 of the cover member 16 is bowl-shaped having an end wall 36 and an inwardly-turned sidewall 38. The plurality of extensions or locking arrangements 24 are spaced circumferentially about and extend inwardly from the inner surface 23 of the end wall 36 and are integrally molded therewith. Each extension 24 includes a plurality of flexibly resilient locking fingers 40 and a plurality of alignment fingers 42. Each locking finger 40 is provided with an inwardly-extending tab 44 located at the distal end 28 thereof. Each alignment finger 42 includes four cross ribs 45, including an inner rib 46, a pair of arcuately-shaped side ribs 48, and an outer rib 50. In the illustrated example, the inner rib 46 and the side ribs 48 extend further from the inner surface 23 than outer rib 50, thereby providing outer rib 50 with an end support wall 52.
The connector members 30 of the locking ring 18 are interspaced by and integrally formed with a plurality of arcuately-shaped structural members or runners 54 that cooperate with the connector members 30 to provide the locking ring 18 with a substantially ring-shape. Each structural member 54 includes apertures 56 that extend therethrough, thereby reducing the material required in the construction thereof. Each connector member 30 is substantially tubularly-shaped and includes a body portion 57 and a plurality of flexibly resilient fingers 58 extending from the body portion 57. Each finger 58 includes a tab 60 located at the distal end 34 thereof, and a tab 62 extending inwardly from an inner surface 64 of each finger 58. A plurality of locking tabs 66 or lips extend circumferentially about the body portion 57 and are spaced circumferentially about the body portion 57 so as to align with the locking fingers 40 of the cover member 16, as described below.
In assembly, the locking ring 18 is aligned with the cover member 16 such that each connector member 30 is aligned with the extensions 24 of the cover member 16. However, it should be noted that it is not required that each and every connector member 30 axially align with a corresponding extension 24, as locking rings of varying configurations may be provided in order to couple the cover member 16 with wheels 12 of various configurations. In the illustrated example, the locking ring 18 (
The wheel cover assembly 14 (
The reference numeral 10A (
Each connector member 30A includes a body portion 98 and a plurality of longitudinally-extending flexibly-resilient fingers 100 extending outwardly from the body portion 98. Each finger 100 includes an inwardly-extending locking tab 102 and an alignment wall 104 extending inwardly from an inner surface 106 and having a stop wall 108 located at an end thereof. Each connector member 30A further includes an end wall 110 having a centrally-located aperture 112 extending therethrough.
In assembly, each connector member 30A is coupled with a corresponding extension 24A by aligning the aperture 112 of the connector member 30A with the aperture 92 of the extension 24A and threadably inserting a mechanical-type fastener, such as screw 114 through aperture 112 and into aperture 92, such that the end wall 110 of the connector member 30A is held in abutment with the end wall 96 of the corresponding extension 24A. Preferably, the screw 14 includes an enlarged rounded washer head 116, and a tri-lobular thread that cooperates to prevent loosening of the screw 114 and minimizing hoop stress as exerted on the end wall 110 of the connector member 30A. It should be noted that other means of attachment may be utilized, including orbital spin, heat staking, sonic staking, and the like.
The reference numeral 10B (
In assembly, each connector member 30B is aligned with the extensions 24B of the cover member 16B. In the illustrated example, the locking ring 18B and the cover member 16B are pressed together so as to cause the locking fingers 130 of each connector member 30B to flex inwardly in a direction as indicated by directional arrows 143 as the locking tab 132 of each finger 130 rides with the body portion 120 of the associated extension 24B, until the locking tabs 132 are received within the apertures 122, thereby securing the locking ring 18B with the cover member 16B. Once assembled, an underside 145 of the connector member 30B is supported by an end support wall 147 of the associated extension 24B.
As best illustrated in
The reference numeral 10C (
In assembly, the locking ring 18C is aligned with the cover member 16C such that each connector member 30C is aligned with the extensions 24C of the cover member 16C. In the illustrated example, the locking ring 18C and the cover member 16C are pressed together so as to cause the locking fingers 130C of each connector member 30C to flex inwardly in a direction as indicated by directional arrows 143C as the locking tab 146 of each finger 130C ride within the body portion 120C of the associated extension 24C, until the locking tabs 146 are mateably received by the locking groove 144, thereby securing the locking ring 18C with the cover member 16C. Once assembled, an underside 145C of the connector member 30C is supported by an end support wall 147C of the associated extension 24B.
As best illustrated in
The present inventive wheel cover assembly provides a more durable and heat resistant wheel covering that may be operated/installed by even unskilled personnel, can be easily and quickly assembled, is economical to manufacture, capable of a long operating life while installed on the associated vehicle wheel, is dynamically adaptable to varying wheel configurations and is particularly well adapted for the proposed use.
In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
