Patent Grant
9375979
This is a national phase application based on the PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2012/001233 filed on Jun. 21, 2012, claiming priority to Japanese application Nos. 2011-139215 filed Jun. 23, 2011, and 2011-246327 filed Nov. 10, 2011, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a wheel cover to prevent corrosion, that covers at least a portion of an outside of a wheel.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 06-802 (JP 06-802 U) and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-256360 (JP 2006-256360 A) describe wheel covers that include, as separate members, a i) cover main body, and ii) a cover attaching portion that attaches the cover main body to a wheel. The cover main body is attached to the wheel by a cover attaching portion being inserted into a planned receiving hole to which a center ornament of the wheel attaches (hereinafter this receiving hole will simply be referred to as an “ornament receiving hole”), and an engaging protruding portion that is provided on the cover attaching member being engaged with an engageable protruding portion provided at the ornament receiving hole. Of these, the cover attaching portion described in JP 06-802 U includes a) a plurality of protruding members that extend in an axial direction and each of which has a pawl portion as an engaging protruding portion, and b) a disc-shaped retaining portion that retains these protruding members at an outer peripheral portion. The wheel cover is able to be attached to the wheel by the protruding members being passed through the cover main body, being inserted into the ornament receiving hole, and the pawl portions being engaged with the engageable protruding portion. Also, the wheel cover is able to be removed by the disc-shaped retaining portion being pulled on. The cover attaching portion described in JP 2006-256360 A includes a) a pair of protruding members that extend in an axial direction and in which engaging protruding portions are formed on an outer peripheral surface, b) a connecting rod that connects the pair of protruding members together at end portions thereof, and c) a driving member that is fixed to a center portion of the connecting rod and extends in the axial direction. When the driving member is pushed in the axial direction, pawl portions engage with engageable protruding portion, such that the wheel cover becomes attached to the wheel. Also, when the driving member is pulled in the axial direction, the connecting rod elastically deforms such that the distance between engaging protruding portions becomes smaller. The wheel cover is then able to be removed by separating the engaging protruding portions from the engageable protruding portion. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-193903 (JP 10-193903 A), Japanese Patent Application Publication. No. 09-132002 (JP 09-132002 A), and Japanese Patent No. 3256213 (JP 3256213 B) describe wheel covers that include a) a cover member and b) a cover attaching member that is integrally provided with the cover member. An annular bead (i.e., a concavo-convex portion) is provided in a middle portion in a radial direction of the cover main body of each of these wheel covers. Also, JP 09-132002 A describes a cover member in which an outer peripheral edge abuts against a tire, and the portion that abuts against this tire is R-shaped.
The invention provides a wheel cover that can be used with a variety of types of wheels, and that has a structure that is different from the wheel covers according to the related art described above.
The wheel cover according to the invention is configured such that, when force in a direction intersecting an axis is applied to one end portion of an engaging member that extends in a direction substantially parallel to the axis, an engaging portion of the wheel cover comes away from an engagable portion of the wheel. When attaching or removing the wheel cover to or from the wheel, force in a direction intersecting the axis, not force parallel to the axis, is applied by a worker. Therefore, according to this structure, the engaging portion may be easily separated from the engagable portion. Also, when removing the wheel cover from the wheel, the load applied to the engaging portion is able to be reduced. Thus, the engaging portion will not be easily damaged, so the number of times that the wheel cover may be used is able to be increased. Moreover, the wheel cover is able to be used with a plurality of types of wheels as long as certain conditions, such as that the engaging portion of the wheel cover be able to engage with the engagable portion of the wheel, are satisfied.
A first aspect of the invention relates to a wheel cover that covers at least a portion of an outside of a wheel. This wheel cover includes i) a cover main body that has an annular shape, and ii) a cover attaching portion that attaches the cover main body to the wheel by being attached to the wheel on an inner peripheral side of the cover main body. The cover attaching portion includes a) a plurality of engaging members, each of which has an engaging portion that selectively engages with an engagable portion of the wheel, the plurality of engaging members extending in a direction that includes a component of a direction parallel to an axis of the cover attaching portion, and b) an engaging member retaining portion that holds the plurality of engaging members to the cover attaching portion at the other end portion of each of the engaging members, in a state where the engaging portion of each of the engaging members is separated from the engagable portion of the wheel when force in a direction intersecting the axis is applied to one end portion of each of the plurality of engaging members.
With this structure, the cover attaching portion is attached to the inner peripheral side of the cover main body, and a portion (i.e., a portion on the inner peripheral side) of the cover main body overlaps with a portion (i.e., a portion on the outer peripheral side) of the cover attaching portion. Also, the engaging members extend in a direction that includes a component of a direction that is parallel to the axis of the cover attaching portion. For example, the engaging members may extend substantially parallel to the axis. Also, the axis of the cover attaching portion is parallel (and is also aligned with) an axis (a center axis) of the wheel when the cover attaching portion is attached to the wheel. When attaching or removing the wheel cover to or from the wheel (hereinafter simply referred to as “during attachment/removal”), force in a direction intersecting the axis is applied by a worker to one end portion of the engaging member. It is preferable that force in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axis, i.e., force in a direction substantially parallel to the radial direction, for example, be applied. The engaging member retaining portion may be regarded as a portion that holds the engaging members to the main body of the cover attaching portion (hereinafter, simply referred to as the “attaching portion main body”), or regarded as a portion of the attaching portion main body or as a portion that includes the attaching portion main body.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the engagable portion of the wheel may include an engagable protruding portion provided on an inner peripheral surface of an insertion hole provided along a center axis of the wheel. Also, the cover attaching portion may be a center attaching portion that attaches the cover main body to the wheel by being inserted into the insertion hole, and the plurality of engaging members may each have an engaging protruding portion as the engaging portion provided in a state opposing at least a portion of the engagable protruding portion.
With this structure, an ornament receiving hole (i.e., a planned hole where a center ornament is attached; hereinafter the same), for example, may be used as the insertion hole. An engagable protruding portion that protrudes to the inner peripheral side and extends in the circumferential direction is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the ornament receiving hole. Also, the engagable protruding portion may be provided continuous (in an annular shape) in the circumferential direction, or provided at a portion (in an arc-shape) in the circumferential direction, or the like. The engaging portion may be regarded as representing individual engaging protruding portions or may be regarded as a portion that includes a plurality of engaging protruding portions.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, each of the plurality of engaging members may have a shape that extends parallel to the axis, and the engaging members may be provided separated from each other in a circumferential direction. The engaging member retaining portion may hold the plurality of engaging members to the cover attaching portion at the other end portion, on an inner peripheral side of the plurality of engaging members, and be a rigid retaining portion that has a structure that is harder to deform in a radial direction of the cover attaching portion than the plurality of engaging members are.
With this structure, a plurality of engaging members are provided separated in the circumferential direction. For example, two may be provided in opposing positions (i.e., in positions separated by a center angle of 180°), three may be provided in positions separated by center angles of 120°, or four or more may be provided. Each of the plurality of engaging members extends substantially parallel to the axial direction, and one end portion is positioned at the open side of the insertion hole and is free. Also, the engaging protruding portions are provided on the other end portions, and are retained by the engaging member retaining portion. The engaging member retaining portion will not easily deform in the radial direction of the cover attaching portion. Therefore, when force in the inner peripheral direction is applied to the one end portions of the engaging members, the engaging members pivot (including elastically deform) about a portion near the other end portions, such that the engaging protruding portions move to the inner peripheral side and thus come away from the engagable protruding portion. The plurality of engaging members and the rigid retaining portion and the like may be regarded as forming pan inserting portion that is inserted into the insertion hole of the center attaching portion.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, one end portions of the engaging members may be positioned to an outside in the axial direction of a portion where the engaging protruding portions are provided, and may be free.
With this structure, the outside in the axial direction (also simply referred to as the “outside”) is the outside of the wheel when the wheel cover is attached to the wheel. In other words, the outside is the open side of the insertion hole when the cover attaching portion is inserted into the insertion hole of the wheel. Force in a direction intersecting the axis is applied to the outside of the engaging protruding portions, so the engaging protruding portions are able to easily pivot about the other end portions. As a result, the engaging protruding portions are able to be separated from the engagable portion.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the rigid retaining portion may include at least one reinforcing member that extends in the radial direction.
With this structure, having the reinforcing member be a plate-shaped member that extends in the longitudinal direction, for example, and providing this reinforcing member in a state such that the radial direction is the longitudinal direction enables deformation in the radial direction to be inhibited. When a pair of engaging members are provided in opposing positions, an engaging portion connecting member is a member that connects the pair of engaging members together in the radial direction, and the reinforcing member is provided on this engaging portion connecting member, a change in the distance in the radial direction between the pair of engaging members is able to be inhibited. As a result, even if force in the radial direction is applied to at least one of the engaging members, the engaging members will not easily come close together, so the engaging protruding portions will not easily separate from the engagable protruding portion. A single plate-shaped reinforcing member (e.g., a rib) may be provided, or a plurality thereof may be provided. However, deformation in the radial direction is better able to be inhibited when more, rather than fewer, of the reinforcing members are provided.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the rigid retaining portion may include an engaging portion connecting member that connects the plurality of engaging members together, and at least one reinforcing member that protrudes in the axial direction from the engaging portion connecting member, and extends in the longitudinal direction of the engaging portion connecting member.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the rigid retaining portion may also include a protruding portion connecting member that connects together in the radial direction portions of the plurality of engaging members where the engaging protruding portions are provided.
With this structure, a change in the distance in the radial direction between the engaging protruding portions is able to be inhibited, by directly connecting together portions of the engaging members where the engaging protruding portions are provided by the protruding portion connecting member. The protruding portion connecting member may be formed by a portion of at least one of the engaging portion connecting member and the reinforcing member described above, or it may be separate from the engaging portion connecting member and the reinforcing member. For example, when the protruding portion connecting member is formed by a portion of the reinforcing member, the engaging portion connecting member may be a member that is generally U-shaped, and the reinforcing member may be a flat plate member having a trapezoidal shape. If force that tries to bend the cover main body to the outside from the inside (i.e., force that tries to lift the cover main body up) is applied to the cover main body by wind or the like when the vehicle is transported with the wheel cover attached to the wheel, force from the inside toward the outside (i.e., force that tries to remove the cover attaching portion) will be consequently applied to the cover attaching portion. Therefore, if the engaging protruding portions are made so as not to easily deform in the inner peripheral direction (i.e., in a direction in which they come close to one another) at the cover attaching portion, the cover attaching portion will not easily come off.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the engaging member may also include a radial direction distance determining portion that, when a pair of the engaging members are provided in opposing positions and the cover attaching portion is provided between this pair of engaging members, inhibits the pair of engaging members from coming closer together when external force in the radial direction that acts between the pair of engaging members is smaller than a predetermined set value, and allows the pair of engaging members to come closer together when the external force is equal to or greater than the set value.
In this structure, the radial direction distance determining portion may include, for example, a first rod that is provided on one engaging member, extends in a direction that includes a radial direction component, and has a first abutting surface, and a second rod that is provided on the other engaging member, extends in a direction that includes a radial direction component, and has a second abutting surface. If, when the first abutting surface of the first rod is abutted against the second abutting surface of the second rod, external force in the radial direction that acts between the pair of engaging members is equal to or less than friction force generated between them, the pair of engaging members are inhibited from coming closer together. If the external force becomes greater than the friction force, sliding contact occurs between the first abutting surface and the second abutting surface, which allows the pair of engaging members to come closer together. For example, when force that tries to bend the cover main body outward is applied to the cover main body by wind or the like, outward force is also applied to the cover attaching portion, such that force that tries to bring the pair of engaging members closer together is applied. In this case, the force that tries to bring the pair of engaging members closer together, i.e., the force in the radial direction, is usually smaller than the set value. Therefore, the cover attaching portion is able to be better inhibited from being pulled of by wind or the like. Also, during attachment/detachment of the wheel cover to/from the wheel, force of equal to or greater than the set value is applied between the pair of engaging members by a worker. In this case, the pair of engaging members are allowed to come closer together.
In the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the center attaching portion may have a pair of the engaging members that oppose each other, and each of the pair of engaging members may have a curved shape. The one end portions may be positioned to the inner peripheral side of the other end portions, and the engaging member retaining portion may retain the pair of engaging members at the other end portions.
According to this structure, each of the engaging members is curved in a general U-shape, with the one end portion positioned on the inner peripheral side and the other end portion positioned on the outer peripheral side, and the engaging members being retained at the other end portions. When force toward the inner peripheral side is applied to the one end portions by a worker during attachment/removal, the engaging members pivot about the other end portions, such that the engaging protruding portions come away from the engagable protruding portion.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the one end portions may be connected together. According to this structure, connecting the one end portions together enables force in the direction that brings the one end portions closer together (i.e., force in the inner peripheral, direction) may easily be applied to both of the one end portions during attachment/removal, so operability may be improved.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the other end portions and the one end portions of the engaging members may be positioned on the open side of the insertion hole when the center attaching portion is inserted into the insertion hole, and the engaging protruding portions may be provided on the side opposite the open portion of the insertion hole near the curved portions of the engaging members. According to this structure, force in a direction intersecting the axis is applied to the outside of the engaging protruding portions during attachment/removal, so the engaging protruding portions may be easily pivoted about the other end portions, thus enabling the engaging protruding portions to be separated from the engagable protruding portion.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the engaging members may include reinforcing portions that protrude in the axial direction and extend in the longitudinal direction. According to this structure, when the engaging members themselves are made so as not to easily deform the radial direction, the engaging members are able to be better pivoted about the other end portions by force in the radial direction being applied to the one end portions, and the engaging protruding portions are able to be moved to the inner peripheral side by this pivoting.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, each of the plurality of engaging members may include at least two engaging protruding portions provided separated by a gap in a circumferential direction, the engaging protruding portion serving as the engaging portion.
If the engaging members are pivoted about the other end portions when the engaging members are plate-shaped and only one engaging protruding portion that is an engaging portion is provided extending in the circumferential direction, the difference between the position in the axial direction of the end portion in the circumferential direction of the engaging protruding portion, and the position in the axial direction of the center portion of the engaging protruding portion will be large. Therefore, during attachment/removal, the engaging protruding portion may be unable be easily engaged with, or easily disengaged from, the engagable protruding portion. On the other hand, the difference in the positions in the axial direction of the end portion and the center portion may be decreased by reducing the width (i.e., the length in the circumferential direction) of the engaging members, as well as reducing the width of the engaging protruding portion. However, when the number of the engaging members is the same, the engaging portion of the engaging protruding portion and the engagable protruding portion is less, so the cover attaching portion may come off more easily when force toward the outside is applied to the cover attaching portion due to wind or the like. Also, while it is possible to reduce the width of the engaging members and increase their number, doing so would make the structure complex. Therefore, by providing an engaging protruding portion on both sides, separated by a gap in the center portion in the circumferential direction of each of the engaging members, the difference in the positions in the axial direction between both end portions in the circumferential direction of the engaging protruding portion may be reduced, thus facilitating engagement and disengagement. Also, a decrease in the engaging portion is inhibited, so even if outward force due to wind or the like is applied, the cover attaching portion will not come off easily. Moreover, the structure is able to be simple. For example, this technical characteristic may be employed when the length (width) in the circumferential direction of the engaging members is equal to or greater than a center angle of 25°, equal to or greater than a center angle of 30°, equal to or greater than a center angle of 40°, or equal to or greater than a center angle of 50°. This is because, as described above, when the width of the engaging members is small, there is little merit to employing the characteristic. Also, a plurality of the engaging members are provided in the circumferential direction, so the width is smaller than a center angle of 180°. An engaging protruding portion that extends continuous in the width direction may be provided on each of the engaging members, and one or more cutouts may also be provided on this engaging protruding portion.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, an outer peripheral edge of each engaging protruding portion may be curved. According to this structure, the outer peripheral edge of the engaging protruding portion may have a shape that extends substantially along the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole, i.e., that extends in a general arc-shape. Therefore, compared with when the outer peripheral edge has a shape that extends linearly, the entire engaging protruding portion is able to engage with the engagable protruding portion formed at the insertion hole.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, each of the plurality of engaging members may include a pair of the engaging protruding portions, and each of the pair of engaging protruding portions may have a shape in which, on an outer peripheral edge of the engaging protruding portion, a distance, from the axis, of an end portion on a side opposite a side where the pair of engaging protruding portions are close together is greater than a distance, from the axis, of an end portion on the side where the pair of engaging protruding portions are close together.
In this structure, when two engaging protruding portions are provided separated from each other by a gap in the width direction (i.e., the circumferential direction) on an engaging member, the end portion that is on the center side of the engaging member, of each outer peripheral edge of the engaging protruding portion, i.e., the end portion on the side where the two engaging protruding portions are close together, will be referred to as the near side end portion, and the end portion on both end portion sides of the engaging member, of each outer peripheral edge of the engaging protruding portion will be referred to as the non-near side end portion. The radius of the non-near side end portion of each engaging protruding portion is larger than the radius of the near side end portion of each engaging protruding portion. However, the shape of the engaging protruding portion may be, for example, a shape in which the distance of the outer peripheral edge from the axis becomes continuously larger from the near side end portion toward the non-near side end portion, a shape such that that distance becomes larger in steps from the near side end portion toward the non-near side end portion, or a shape in which the distance from the axis becomes larger than at another portion, only near the non-near side end portion. Making the radius (i.e., the distance from the axis) of the non-near side end portion of the outer peripheral edge of the engaging protruding portion larger results in this non-near side end portion being the most difficult to come off. For example, even if the near side end portion of the engaging protruding portion disengages from the engageably protruding portion due to outward force being applied to the engaging member due to wind or the like as described above, the non-near side end portion is caught on the engagable protruding portion, so outward force applied to the engaging member will be received at each of the non-near side end portions. In this case, when comparing the non-near side end portions with the near side end portions, the non-near side end portions are positioned apart from each other, so when the force applied by wind or the like is the same, the force received by one non-near side end portion is less than the force received by the near side end portion. Therefore, if the maximum force that is able to be received by one engaging protruding portion is the same, a larger external force may be received when it is received by the non-near side end portion, so even if a large external force is applied, the cover attaching portion will not easily come off. Also, even if a large external force is applied, the force received by the engaging protruding portion is small, so the outer peripheral edge and the like will not easily be damaged, ground down, or deformed or the like. For these reasons, it is appropriate that the radius of the non-near side end portion be made larger than the radius of the near side end portion, and external force be received at the non-near side end portion.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the engagable portion of the wheel may include an engagable protruding portion provided on an inner peripheral surface of an insertion hole provided along the center axis of the wheel, and each of the plurality of engaging members may include i) an engaging protruding portion that is able to engage with the engagable protruding portion, and ii) an abutting surface that is able to abut against the inner peripheral surface.
In this structure, the abutting surface abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole of the wheel when the cover attaching portion is attached to the wheel. Therefore, when outward force is applied to the cover attaching portion due to wind or the like, friction force may be generated between the cover attaching portion and the wheel, thus making the cover attaching portion that much more resistant to coming off. Also, when outward force is applied due to wind or the like, this force is received by both the abutting surface and the outer peripheral edge (i.e., the portion that abuts with the engagable protruding portion). Therefore, providing the abutting surface enables the force that is applied to the outer peripheral edge to be reduced, so damage, grinding, and plastic deformation or the like are less likely to occur near the outer peripheral edge. The abutting surface is positioned to the inside of the outer peripheral edge when the cover attaching portion is attached to the wheel.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the plurality of engaging members may each include an engaging member main body that retains the engaging portion, and the engaging portion may be formed with material having a larger friction coefficient than the engaging member main body. In this structure, using material having a large friction coefficient, such as rubber, for example, enables the cover attaching portion to resist coming off easily. Also, material that is less rigid than the engaging member main body may also be used.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, an engaging protruding surrounding portion that includes the engaging protruding portion, of the engaging member, and a portion excluding the engaging protruding surrounding portion may be formed with material having different thermal expansion coefficients.
According to this structure, when the area near the engaging protruding portion is formed with material having an extremely small thermal expansion coefficient, for example, the dimensional stability of the engaging protruding portion may be improved, so a change in tightening force (also referred to as engaging force or binding force) caused by a change in temperature may be suppressed. Also, if the portion excluding the engaging protruding portion surrounding portion is made with material that expands when the temperature is high, then if the temperature becomes high while the vehicle is being transported, the force pushing the engaging protruding portion into the insertion hole may be increased, so a decrease in the binding force when the temperature is high may be inhibited. Resin normally has a positive thermal expansion coefficient. Furthermore, if the area near the engaging protruding portion is made with material having a negative expansion coefficient (i.e., that expands when the temperature is low), a decrease in binding force when the temperature is low may be inhibited.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, each of the plurality of engaging members may include plurality of engaging protruding portions having a different protrusion amount in a radial direction of the cover attaching portion and being separated at intervals in a direction of the axis from each other, the engaging protruding portion serving as the engaging portion.
According to this structure, the engaging members have the engaging protruding portions as the plurality of engaging portions with different protrusion amounts in the radial direction, and thus may also be used with wheels having ornament receiving holes with different inside diameters. Therefore, the wheel cover may be used with a large variety of types of wheels. The engaging protruding portions are preferably arranged such that those with small protrusion amounts are on the inside (i.e., the side opposite the opening of the insertion hole) in the axial direction, and those with large protrusion amounts are on the outside. This is because the engaging protruding portions with small protrusion amounts may be used when the engaging protruding portions with large protrusion amounts do not abut against the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole. The plurality of engaging protruding portions separated in the axial direction may all have the same protrusion amounts in the radial direction. In this case, even if the position in the axial direction in which the engagable protruding portion of the insertion hole is provided is different, the stress applied to the cover main body may be reduced, so the cover main body may be attached well. Also, the plurality of engaging protruding portions do not necessarily have to be arranged in a single line. They may also be provided in positions offset with respect to the axis.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the plurality of engaging members may each include an engaging member main body, and a protruding member that is pivotally retained in an engaged position engagable with the engagable protruding portion, and a disengaged position away from the engagable protruding portion.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the plurality of engaging members may each include a) an engaging member main body that retains the engaging protruding portion, and b) a spring member that is provided on the engaging member main body, and applies urging force in a direction pushing the engaging protruding portion against the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole.
In this structure, the spring member may be provided on an inner portion of the engaging member main body or on an outer portion of the engaging member main body. For example, the spring member may be provided along the surface of the main body of the engaging member. In either case, if the spring member is taut in a state applying urging force in a direction that pushes the engaging protruding portion against the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole, a large binding force is able to be obtained.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover attaching portion may include at least one guide member that extends in a direction substantially parallel to the axis.
According to this structure, providing the guide member facilitates insertion of the cover attaching portion into the insertion hole. The guide member is preferably provided at equidistant intervals in the circumferential direction, i.e., is preferably provided in positions separated by a center angle of 180°, or in positions separated by center angles of 120°, or the like. Also, the guide member is preferably provided between adjacent engaging members from among the plurality of engaging members, i.e., the guide member and the engaging member are preferably provided alternately in the circumferential direction.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the at least one guide member may include a sloped surface slopes in a direction radially outward toward the outside of the wheel, when the wheel cover is attached to the wheel.
In this structure, a sloped surface is provided on an end portion on the inside in the axial direction of the guide member. By providing the sloped surface, even if the cover attaching portion is inserted from a direction intersecting the axial direction, it is possible to correct the posture of the cover attaching portion to a posture parallel to the axis. As a result, the cover attaching portion is able to be inserted nicely into the insertion hole. The sloped surface may be a flat surface or a curved surface.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover attaching portion may be able to be inserted into an insertion hole of the wheel provided along a center axis of the wheel, and the at least one guide member (each of the guide members, if there is more than one) may include a) a guide member main body, and b) a force receiving portion that is provided protruding radially outward on the guide member main body, and that has an abutting surface that abuts against an inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole, when the cover attaching portion is inserted into the insertion hole.
According to this structure, the force receiving portion is abutted against the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole when the cover attaching portion is inserted into the insertion hole. Force applied between the wheel cover and the wheel is received by the engaging protruding portion and the force receiving portion, so providing the force receiving portion makes it possible to reduce the force that is received by the engaging protruding portion.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the abutting surface may be provided separated by a center angle of 180°. In this structure, at least a pair of the force receiving portions are preferably provided in positions separated by a center angle of 180°.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, a ratio of a width of the abutting surface to a width of the guide member main body may be equal to or less than ⅓.
If the width of the force receiving surface is too large, the resistance when the cover attaching portion is inserted into the insertion hole will be large, which is undesirable. Therefore, the ratio of the width of the abutting surface to the width of the guide member main body is preferably equal to or less than ⅓, as it is with this structure. Also, the ratio may be a value of equal to or less than 0.4, a value of equal to or less than 0.3, or a value of equal to or less than 0.25. Also, the abutting surface is preferably provided near both end portions in the width direction of the guide member main body. This is so that the interval (i.e., the distance) of the abutting surface may be increased, so that force in the radial direction may be received evenly over the entire circumference.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover attaching portion may include i) a plurality of guide members, ii) a guide connecting member that connects the plurality of guide members together, and iii) a reinforcing member that is provided on the guide connecting member and inhibits deformation in a radial direction of the cover attaching portion.
According to this structure, even if outward force is applied to the cover attaching portion due to wind or the like, such that force that tries to bring the plurality of guide member main bodies closer together is applied to the plurality of guide member main bodies, the guide member main bodies will not easily come closer together. As a result, the abutting surface will not easily come away from the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole, so abutment between the abutting surface and the inner peripheral surface is able to be well maintained.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the engaging member retaining portion may include an engaging portion connecting member that connects the plurality of engaging members that are connected to the guide connecting member.
According to this structure, the plurality of guide members are fixed to the attaching portion main body, the plurality of guide members are connected by the guide connecting member, and the engaging portion connecting member is connected to the guide connecting member. As a result, the engaging members are held to the attaching portion main body. The engaging member retaining portion may be regarded as being formed by the guide connecting member and the engaging portion connecting member and the like, and the engaging member retaining portion may be regarded as being formed by the guide connecting member, the engaging portion connecting member, and the attaching portion main body, and the like. In this case, the rigidity of the guide connecting member is large, so the engaging portion connecting member is able to be well retained. Also, the corner of the connecting portion of the guide connecting member and the engaging portion connecting member is able to be R-shaped, so in this case, the connecting portion (i.e., the guide connecting member and the engaging portion connecting member) will not easily deform or be damaged.
Also, in this wheel cover according to the structure described above, the wheel may include a tire, and a tire retaining portion that retains the tire. The cover main body may have a shape that abuts against the tire when the cover main body is attached to the wheel by the cover attaching portion.
According to this structure, the wheel cover extends to a position where it abuts against the tire, i.e., a side wall of the tire, so the disc portion of the wheel is able to be well protected by the wheel cover. For example, at least a portion of the outer peripheral edge portion is preferably shaped protruding to the inside when the wheel cover is attached to the wheel.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the outer peripheral edge of the cover main body may have a curved portion that abuts against the tire. According to this structure, the tire abuts against the portion that forms the R-shape of the cover main body (i.e., the curved portion), so the tire will not easily be scratched.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, a plurality of semispherical protruding portions may be formed separated in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral edge portion of the cover main body.
In this structure, the protruding portions are shaped protruding to the inside when the wheel cover is attached to the wheel. The abutting strength may be increased by the protrusions abutting against the tire, so relative rotation between the tire and the cover main body will not easily occur. Also, increasing the abutting strength between these enables the gap between the tire and the cover main body to be reduced. When the contact force between the cover main body and the tire is weak when the vehicle is traveling with the wheel cover attached to a wheel, the cover main body and the wheel may rotate relative to one another and consequently leave sliding marks on the outer peripheral surface of the tire. Also, the cover main body may rotate relative to the wheel due to vibrations or the like while the vehicle is being transported. Therefore, by increasing the contact force between the cover main body and the tire, the cover main body and the wheel tend to rotate together, making sliding contact between the cover main body and the tire less likely. Also, force that tries to bend the cover main body to the outside is applied to the cover main body due to outside air entering the gap between the cover main body and the tire from wind or the like while the vehicle is being transported. Therefore, if the gap between the cover main body and, the tire is made smaller, the force that tries to bend the cover main body to the outside will not as easily be applied, and thus that force may be reduced.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover main body may also include at least one depression provided in a middle portion in the radial direction.
The surrounding portion that includes the depression tends to deform easier than other portions. Therefore, according to this structure, deformation is absorbed at the surrounding portion that includes the depression. A plurality of the depressions may be provided separated in the circumferential direction, or the depression may be provided continuous in the circumferential direction. When the depression is provided in an annular shape, the depth of the concave portion may be made to differ cyclically in the circumferential direction (for example, deep portions and shallow portions may be provided). The depression provided continuous in the circumferential direction may be regarded as a single depression, or as being formed by a plurality of depressions. For example, in a depression provided continuous in the circumferential direction, a portion where the depth is uniform may be regarded as being a single depression. The depression has a wider open portion than a concavo-convex portion (i.e., a bead). The depression may also be provided overlapping with at least a portion of a bead. Also, the shape of the depression is arbitrary. A bottom surface may have a shape defined by at least one of a curve and a straight line. For example, the bottom surface may be generally oval-shaped, or multangular-shaped. Providing a complex-shaped depression continuous in the circumferential direction is thought to enable deformation to be more easily absorbed than providing simple-shaped depressions separated in the circumferential direction.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover main body may include at least one of one or more concavo-convex portions (i.e., beads) extending in the radial direction of the cover main body, and one or more concavo-convex portions (i.e., beads) extending in the circumferential direction.
In this structure, the bead extending in the radial direction may extend from an inner peripheral portion to an outer peripheral portion of the cover main body, may extend from the inner peripheral portion to a middle portion, may extend from the middle portion to the outer peripheral portion, or may extend at the middle portion, or the like. The inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion are portions near the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge, respectively. For example, the inner peripheral portion may be an annular portion within a set range from the inner peripheral edge, and the outer peripheral portion may be an annular portion within a set range from the outer peripheral edge. The middle portion is a portion that excludes the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion, and may be an annular portion within a set range that includes a position 1/n (n=2, 3, . . . ) of the radius of the cover main body. Also, an inner peripheral side end portion of the bead in the radial direction may be an outer peripheral edge (or an area near there) of a center connectable portion to which the center attaching portion is connected, and an outer peripheral side end portion may be an inner peripheral edge (or an area near there) of an outer peripheral edge portion on which the protrusions are formed or that is formed in an R-shape of the cover main body. The bead that extends in the circumferential direction may extend in an annular shape or in an arc-shape. Providing beads that extend in an arc-shape lined up in the circumferential direction enables them to be arranged in a generally annular shape. When a bead that extends in the circumferential direction is provided in the middle portion of the cover main body, the middle side end portion of the radial bead may be an edge (or an area near there) of the circumferential bead. Also, only one bead extending in the radial direction and only one bead extending in the circumferential direction may be provided, or a plurality of beads extending in the radial direction and a plurality of beads extending in the circumferential direction may be provided. One of the bead extending in the radial direction and the bead extending in the circumferential direction may be provided on the cover main body, but preferably both of the beads are provided on the cover main body. The rigidity of the cover main body may be set to a desired amount and desired strength distribution. As described above, there may be times when force from the inside toward the outside, i.e., force that tries to bend the cover main body outward, acts on the cover main body, due to wind or the like, while the vehicle is being transported. Therefore, providing the radial bead and the circumferential bead inhibits bending in the radial direction and the circumferential direction. Also, when force that tries to bend the cover main body outward due to wind or the like acts on the cover main body, the cover attaching portion may detach and the wheel cover may come off. Therefore, if the rigidity of the cover main body is increased, the outward force will not easily act on the cover attaching portion, so the wheel cover will not easily come off.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover main body may include at least one annular concavo-convex portion (i.e., an annular bead) provided on the outer peripheral side of the at least one depression.
The length in the radial direction between the rotational center axis of the wheel and the abutting point of the wheel cover and the tire, and the length in the axial direction between the open portion of the ornament receiving hole of the wheel and the abutting point of the wheel cover and the tire (these lengths may also be referred to as the “offset amounts”) are usually different for each type of wheel. Thus, when the wheel cover is attached to the wheel, the cover main body may deform depending on the type (i.e., the shape) of the wheel. Therefore, in the cover main body according to this structure, an annular concavo-convex portion (i.e., an annular bead) is provided on a portion to the outer peripheral side of the depression. This annular bead divides a portion to the inner peripheral side of the bead from a portion to the outer peripheral side of the bead, and thus inhibits deformation that occurs on the inner peripheral side from affecting the outer peripheral side. Therefore, even if the portion to the inner peripheral side of the bead deforms, the portion to the outer peripheral side is still able to abut nicely against the tire. In this sense, the middle portion where the depression is formed may be referred to as a “stress relieving portion”, and the portion to the outer peripheral side of the bead may be referred to as a “tire opposing portion”. A depression or the like is not provided on the tire opposing portion.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the annular concavo-convex portion (i.e., an annular bead) may be provided on the outer peripheral side of a position ⅓ the length in the radial direction of the cover main body, from the outer peripheral edge of the cover main body.
In this structure, when the cover main body has an annular shape, the annular bead is provided on a portion to the outer peripheral side of a position ⅓ of a difference R between the inside diameter and the outside diameter, from the outer peripheral edge. The annular bead is preferably provided to the outer peripheral side of 0.4 R, to the outer peripheral side of 0.3 R, to the outer peripheral side of 0.25 R, or to the outer peripheral side of 0.2 R, and preferably provided to the inner peripheral side of 0.1 R, to the inner peripheral side of 0.15 R, to the inner peripheral side of 0.2 R, or to the inner peripheral side of 0.3 R. The annular bead is provided in a position where the outer peripheral edge is able to nicely abut against the tire. If the annular bead is too far from the outer peripheral edge, the region of the stress relieving portion will become small, and deformation may not be able to be absorbed well. Also, if the annular bead is too close to the outer peripheral edge, the region of the tire opposing portion will become small, and the outer peripheral edge will tend to rise up off of the tire. Thus, the annular bead is preferably provided in the position described above.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover main body may include a plurality of liner concavo-convex portions (i.e., linear beads) that extend in the radial direction of the cover main body. In this structure, there are preferably three or more beads that extend linearly in the radial direction provided radially. For example, three beads may be provided at intervals with center angles of 120°, or four beads may be provided at intervals with center angles of 90°, or the like.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover main body may include i) a plurality of inner peripheral side short concavo-convex portions (i.e., inner peripheral side short beads) that extend linearly in the radial direction of the cover main body from an inner peripheral portion to a middle portion, and ii) a plurality of outer peripheral side short concavo-convex portions (i.e., outer peripheral side short beads) that extend linearly in the radial direction of the cover main body from the middle portion to an outer peripheral portion. The number of outer peripheral side short beads may be equal to or less than the number of inner peripheral side short beads.
According to this structure, even if the portion on the outer peripheral side of the cover main body bends easily, if the portion on the inner peripheral side is made to so that it will not bend easily, external force applied to the cover attaching portion may be reduced, so the wheel cover may be inhibited from easily coming off of the wheel. Therefore, the rigidity of the inner peripheral side is preferably greater than the rigidity of the outer peripheral side. The outer peripheral side short beads do not necessarily have to be provided. Also, the numbers of the outer peripheral side short beads may be the same as the number of the inner peripheral side short beads. Further, two or more each of the inner peripheral side short beads and the outer peripheral side short beads are preferably provided between adjacent long beads (i.e., long concavo-convex portions).
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the inner peripheral side short beads and the outer peripheral side short beads may be provided in same-phase positions.
When comparing a case in which the inner peripheral side short beads and the outer peripheral side short beads are alternately provided (i.e., when they are provided at offset phases) with a case in which the inner peripheral side short beads and the outer peripheral side short beads are provided at the same phases, the cover main body is able to resist deformation more, according to simulation and the like, when the inner peripheral side short beads and the outer peripheral side short beads are provided at the same phases, like this structure. The number of outer peripheral side short beads may be the same as the number of inner peripheral side short beads, or the number of outer peripheral side short beads may be less.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover main body may include a plurality of arc-shaped concavo-convex portions (i.e., arc-shaped beads) arranged lined up in the circumferential direction, with each of the arc-shaped beads between the plurality of linear beads that extend in the radial direction of the cover main body. In this structure, the arc-shaped beads may be provided between adjacent long beads (i.e., long concavo-convex portions), provided between short beads (i.e., short concavo-convex portions), and provided between a long bead and a short bead, and the like.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover main body may include a center connectable portion that is provided on an inner peripheral portion of the cover main body and on which the cover attaching portion is arranged. Also, a plurality of concavo-convex portions (i.e., beads) may be provided on a portion to the outer peripheral side of the center connectable portion.
According to this structure, a bead is provided to the outer peripheral side of the center connectable portion. As a result, external force that acts on the cover main body is received at a portion to the outer peripheral side of the center connectable portion, so that external force will not easily reach the center connectable portion. A step in the axial direction is provided on an outer peripheral side portion of the center connectable portion. By providing a barrier at this step, the effects from force applied to the outer peripheral side portion may be better inhibited from reaching the center connectable portion. Also, the center connectable portion is positioned to the outer peripheral side of the insertion hole of the wheel when the wheel cover is attached to the wheel.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the wheel cover may include a relative rotation inhibiting portion that inhibits relative rotation between the cover main body and the wheel.
According to this structure, inhibiting relative rotation in which there is sliding contact between the cover main body and the tire (hereinafter, simply referred to as “relative rotation”) makes it possible to inhibit the tire from being marked with sliding marks. The relative rotation inhibiting portion may be i) a portion that is provided on the cover main body and that includes a wheel engaging portion that is able to engage with the wheel in a state inhibiting relative rotation with respect to the wheel, or ii) a portion that is provided between the cover main body and the cover attaching portion, and that includes a cover/attaching portion relative rotation inhibiting portion that inhibits relative, rotation between the cover main body and the cover attaching portion. The cover attaching portion does not rotate relative to the wheel as easily as the cover main body does. Therefore, rotating force that acts on the cover main body is transmitted to the cover attaching portion via the cover/attaching portion relative rotation inhibiting portion, and is received by the cover attaching portion. As a result, relative rotation of the cover main body with respect to the wheel is inhibited. A portion that engages the cover main body with the tire with large contact force, or a portion that engages the cover main body in a state in which relative rotation with the wheel may be inhibited, using a spoke of the wheel, the gap between adjacent spokes, or end portions on the outer peripheral side of the wheel or the like corresponds to the wheel engaging portion.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, a portion of the cover main body may have a lower thermal expansion coefficient than another portion.
If a portion of the cover main body that easily elastically deforms or easily deforms with heat is formed with material having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than other portions, for example, like this structure, deformation of the overall cover main body due to heat may be reduced. Therefore, a decrease in contact with the tire may be inhibited. In particular, dimensional stability with respect to heat may be improved by using material having an extremely small thermal expansion coefficient or material in which the thermal expansion coefficient is a negative value. The portion that easily deforms from heat corresponds to an easily elastically deformable portion. For example, a portion that includes a concavo-convex portion (i.e., a bead) and a portion that includes a depression and the like correspond to easily elastically deformable portions. The entire cover main body may also be formed with material having a small thermal expansion coefficient, but in this case, there are issues such as an increase in material costs. Therefore, forming a portion with material having a small thermal expansion coefficient makes it possible to inhibit unnecessary deformation due to heat, and thus inhibit a decrease in contact with the tire, while reducing material costs.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the wheel cover may include a cover/attaching portion connecting portion that connects the cover main body and the cover attaching portion together. According to this structure, connecting the cover main body and the cover attaching portion facilitates attachment of the wheel cover to the wheel.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover/attaching portion connecting portion may include a plurality of connecting pawls that are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cover attaching portion and protrude radially outward. The cover main body may be connected to the cover attaching portion by the plurality of connecting pawls being caught on an inner peripheral edge portion of the cover main body.
In this structure, the connecting pawls are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the attaching portion main body, and the cover attaching portion and the cover main body are connected together using these connecting pawls. The connecting pawls may be provided at equidistant intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the attaching portion main body, or one or more pairs of connecting pawls may be provided opposing each other. The connecting pawls are preferably provided symmetrically with respect to a line orthogonal to the axis. The connecting pawls catch on the inner peripheral edge, or there around, of the cover main body.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, an end portion on the inner peripheral side of the cover main body may include a sloped surface that becomes closer to the inside toward the inner peripheral side. Also, the cover/attaching portion connecting portion may use one of i) a screw mechanism, ii) a ratchet mechanism, and iii) a tapered insertion mechanism, provided between the sloped surface and the main body of the cover attaching portion. In this structure, the cover/attaching portion connecting portion may use a screw mechanism, a ratchet mechanism, or a tapered insertion mechanism, provided between the attaching portion main body of the cover attaching portion and the sloped surface of the cover main body.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover/attaching portion connecting portion may include a relative rotation inhibiting type connecting portion that connects the cover main body and the cover attaching portion together in a state in which relative rotation between the two is inhibited.
In this structure, the cover/attaching portion connecting portion may or may not have a relative rotation inhibiting function. Therefore, the relative rotation inhibiting type connecting portion may include, for example, one or more radially protruding portions provided on one of the cover attaching portion and the cover main body, and a radially recessed portion that corresponds to the radially protruding portion and is provided on the other of the cover attaching portion and the cover main body. Also, the shape of a portion on which the cover attaching portion is arranged, of the center connectable portion provided on an inner peripheral portion of the cover main body may be a multangular shape when viewed from above, and the shape of the outer peripheral edge of the cover attaching portion may be a corresponding multangular shape.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover main body may include a center connectable portion that is provided on an inner peripheral portion of the cover main body and on which the cover attaching portion is arranged. Also, the center connectable portion may include i) an inner peripheral sloped portion that is formed on the inner peripheral edge and is sloped with respect to the axis, ii) an annular flat surface, and iii) an annular wall portion. Also, the annular wall portion may be corrugated. According to this structure, the center attaching portion abuts against the annular flat surface, and pushing force is applied in the axial direction. Also, forming the annular wall portion in a corrugated shape enables the rigidity of the wall portion to be increased, so even if the portion of the cover main body that is to the outer peripheral side of the annular wall portion bends, the portion of the cover main body that is to the inner peripheral side of the annular wall portion will not easily be affected.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover attaching portion may include a) an annular groove-shaped pressure apply portion that is provided on an outer peripheral portion and pushes the cover main body in the axial direction, and b) a radial reinforcing portion that is provided on an inside portion of the groove-shaped pressure apply portion and has a plurality of reinforcing members that extend in the radial direction.
According to this structure, the groove-shaped pressure apply portion is provided on the outer peripheral edge on the open side of the attaching portion main body, and is positioned to the outer peripheral side of the insertion hole of the wheel when the wheel cover is attached to the wheel. Providing the radial reinforcing portion on the groove-shaped pressure apply portion makes the groove-shaped pressure apply portion less prone to deforming in the radial direction. As a result, a decrease in the pushing force of the cover attaching portion against the cover main body may be inhibited, so the wheel cover will not easily come off.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover main body may include a center connectable portion that is provided on an inner peripheral portion of the cover main body and on which the cover attaching portion is arranged. Also, the center connectable portion may include i) an inner peripheral sloped portion that is formed on the inner peripheral edge and is sloped with respect to the axis, ii) an annular flat surface, and iii) an annular wall portion. The cover attaching portion may include an annular groove-shaped pressure apply portion that pushes the cover main body in the axial direction. A plurality of protruding portions may also be provided that protrude in the radial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the groove-shaped pressure apply portion, and in which the distance, from the axis, of the outer peripheral edge of the groove-shaped pressure apply portion is less than the distance, from the axis, of a boundary line between the annular wall portion and the annular flat surface of the cover main body.
According to this structure, the radius of the outer peripheral edge of the cover attaching portion is less than the radius of the outer peripheral edge of the annular flat surface of the cover main body, so the work of connecting the cover attaching portion to the cover main body is easier. Also, the radius to the protruding portions of the cover attaching portion is substantially the same as the radius of the outer peripheral edge of the annular flat surface of the cover main body, so rattling may be inhibited when the cover attaching portion is connected to the cover main body (i.e., when the wheel cover is attached to the wheel).
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover attaching portion may include a middle pushing portion that pushes toward the wheel, at a middle portion in the radial direction of the cover main body. According to this structure, for example, an arm portion may be provided on an outer peripheral portion of the cover attaching portion, and this arm portion may push the cover main body against the wheel at the middle portion in the radial direction. As a result, the cover main body is inhibited from rising up, so the outer peripheral edge may be made to abut nicely against the tire.
A second aspect of the invention relates to a wheel cover that covers at least a portion on an outside of a wheel that includes a tire and a tire retaining portion that retains the tire. The wheel cover is attached to the wheel in a state in which an outer peripheral edge of the wheel cover abuts against the tire, and the wheel cover includes i) at least one depression provided in a middle portion in a radial direction of the wheel cover, and ii) at least one annular concavo-convex portion (i.e., annular bead) provided on an outer peripheral side of a position that is ⅓ a length in the radial direction of the wheel cover from an outer peripheral edge, on an outer peripheral side of the at least one depression of the wheel cover. Here, the technical characteristics according to the structures described above may be employed in the wheel cover according to this aspect.
A third aspect of the invention relates to a wheel cover that covers at least a portion of an outside of a wheel. This wheel cover includes a cover main body that has an annular shape, and a cover attaching portion that attaches the cover main body to the wheel by being attached to the wheel on an inner peripheral side of the cover main body. The cover main body includes i) a plurality of long concavo-convex portions (i.e., long beads) that extend linearly in a radial direction of the cover main body, from an inner peripheral portion to an outer peripheral portion, ii) a plurality of inner peripheral side short concavo-convex portions (i.e., inner peripheral side short beads) that extend linearly in the radial direction of the cover main body, from the inner peripheral portion to a middle portion, and iii) a plurality of arc-shaped concavo-convex portions (i.e., arc-shaped beads) arranged aligned in a circumferential direction on an outer peripheral side of the plurality of inner peripheral side short beads. Here, the technical characteristics according to the structures described above may be employed in the wheel cover according to this aspect.
A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a wheel cover that covers at least a portion of an outside of a wheel. This wheel cover includes a cover main body that has an annular shape, and a cover attaching portion that attaches the cover main body to the wheel by being attached to the wheel on an inner peripheral side of the cover main body. The wheel includes a connectable protruding portion provided on an inner peripheral surface of an insertion hole provided along a center axis of the wheel, and the cover attaching portion includes an engaging recessed portion that is able to engage with the engagable protruding portion of the wheel and is provided slanted with respect to the center axis. According to this structure, the wheel cover is able to be attached to the wheel and removed from the wheel by relative rotation of the cover attaching portion relative with respect to the wheel about the center axis. Here, the technical characteristics according to the structures described above may be employed in the wheel cover according to this aspect.
A fifth aspect of the invention relates to a wheel cover that covers at least a portion of an outside of a wheel. This wheel cover includes a cover main body that has an annular shape, and a cover attaching portion that attaches the cover main body to the wheel by being attached to the wheel on an inner peripheral side of the cover main body. The cover attaching portion includes a) an engaging portion that is able to engage with an engagable portion of the wheel, and b) an engaging member main body that retains the engaging portion. The engaging member main body has a structure that is able to expand and contract in the axial direction. Here, the technical characteristics according to the structures described above may be employed in the wheel cover according to this aspect.
A sixth aspect of the invention relates to a wheel cover that covers at least a portion of an outside of a wheel. This wheel cover includes a cover main body that has an annular shape, and a cover attaching portion that attaches the cover main body to the wheel by being attached to the wheel on an inner peripheral side of the cover main body. The cover attaching portion includes a) a plurality of engaging members that are held to an attaching portion main body, have engaging portions that selectively engage with an engagable portion of the wheel, and extend in a direction that includes a component of a direction parallel to an axis, and b) a binding force applying member that is a separate member from the attaching portion main body and that pushes the plurality of engaging portions toward the engagable portion by being arranged between the plurality of engaging members. With this structure, the binding force applying member is attached between the plurality of engaging members after the attaching portion main body has been attached to the wheel. As a result, the engaging portions are able to be pushed toward the engagable portion. Here, the technical characteristics according to the structures described above may be employed in the wheel cover according to this aspect.
A seventh aspect of the invention relates to a wheel cover that covers at least a portion of an outside of a wheel. This wheel cover includes a cover main body, and a cover attaching portion that attaches the cover main body to the wheel. The cover attaching portion includes a) a plurality of engaging members that extend in a direction that includes a component parallel to the axis of the cover attaching portion and that have engaging portions that are able to engage with an engagable portion of the wheel, and b) an engaging member retaining portion that, with the engaging portions separated from the engagable portion as a result of force in a direction intersecting the axis being applied to one end portion of each of the plurality of engaging members, holds the plurality of engaging members at the other end portions. In this structure, the cover main body is not limited to being annular-shaped. Also, a spoke of the wheel or the like may be used as the engagable portion. Here, the technical characteristics according to the structures described above may be employed in the wheel cover according to this aspect.
Also, in the wheel cover according to the structure described above, the cover main body may include a structure in which a radius of the cover main body is able to be adjusted.
Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:
Hereinafter, example embodiments of the wheel cover for preventing corrosion of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The wheel cover covers at least a portion (i.e., a portion including a disc portion) of a wheel when a vehicle is being transported. In some cases, the vehicle may travel with the wheel cover attached to the wheel.
A wheel 10 includes a tire retaining portion 12 and a tire 14, as shown in
A wheel cover 30 is attached to the wheel 10. The wheel cover 30 mainly covers the outside of the disc portion 16 of the wheel 10, and includes, as separate members, a cover main body 32 and a center attaching portion 34 that serves as a cover attaching portion. The wheel cover 30 attaches to the wheel 10 by the center attaching portion 34 being inserted into the ornament receiving hole 20 while a portion of an outer peripheral portion of the center attaching portion 34 is overlapped with a portion of an inner peripheral portion of the cover main body 32. The cover main body 32 and the center attaching portion 34 may be made of resin material such as polypropylene or polyethylene, for example, but they may also be made of other material such as heavy paper or wood or the like. Regardless of the material of which they are made, it is desirable that the cover main body 32 and the center attaching portion 34 be able to bend and not be very rigid, i.e., it is desirable that they be flexible.
(Cover Main Body)
As shown in
The cover main body 32 has annular beads (annular concavo-convex portions) 40 and 42 that are formed in positions spaced apart from one another in the radial direction, as shown in
A depression 46 that is continuous in the circumferential direction is formed in a portion where the bead 40 is formed in the center portion of the cover main body 32. This depression 46 is provided extending in the radial direction, enveloping the entire bead 40. The depression 46 includes depressions 46a and 46b in which the depths of the concave portions (i.e., the depths in the axial direction) differ from each other. The depressions 46a and 46b are provided alternately in positions separated by 90°. The depressions 46a and 46b have both shapes in which the bottom surface is defined by a curved line and a straight line. The shapes and numbers of the depressions 46a and 46b are arbitrary. Forming the depression 46 enables the portion of the cover main body 32 that is on the inner peripheral side of the bead 42 to be able to deform easily, thereby enabling stress to easily be absorbed. The depression 46 is concave, oriented with the outside being open and the inside being the bottom portion, as shown in
Also, a connectable portion (a portion that overlaps with the center attaching portion 34) to which the center attaching portion 34 attaches is provided on a portion to the inner peripheral side of the portion of the cover main body 32 where the depression 46 is formed. This connectable portion includes an annular flat surface portion 48 that extends flat in the radial direction, and a sloped portion 50 that has a sloped surface that is sloped with respect to the axis L to the inner peripheral side of the flat surface portion 48. The sloped portion 50 includes a sloped surface that slopes farther inward toward the inner periphery. An inner peripheral edge portion 52 of the sloped portion 50 is a portion that protrudes in the inner peripheral direction (including the flat surface in the radial direction). The provision of the inner peripheral edge portion 52 is not absolutely essential. Hereinafter, the connectable portion may also be referred to as a “center connectable portion”.
(Center Attaching Portion)
As shown in
(Attaching Portion Main Body)
The attaching portion main body 60 includes a sloped surface that is sloped such that the radius increases from the inside of the axis L toward the outside of the axis L. The pressure apply portion 62 is provided on the outermost side of the sloped surface. The pressure apply portion 62 protrudes outward, with the outwardly protruding top surface being flat (i.e., a flat surface 65). The pressure apply portion 62 opposes the flat surface portion 48 of the cover main body 32 when the center attaching portion 34 is connected to the cover main body 32. Also, the flat surface 65 provided to facilitate the work of connecting the center attaching portion 34 to the cover main body 32 and the like, as will be described later.
(Cover/Attaching Portion Connecting Portion)
Four connecting pawls 66 are formed on the sloped surface of the attaching portion main body 60. The four connecting pawls 66 are provided in the same position in the axial direction, and in symmetrical positions with respect to lines B-B and C-C that extend in the radial direction, and have shapes in which plate-shaped members curve in the radial direction (i.e., shapes with a recess to the outside), as shown in
(Inserting Portion)
The inserting portion 64 is held to the attaching portion main body 60. The inserting portion 64 includes a pair of guide members 78a and 78b provided in positions in which the phases are 180° apart, and a pair of engaging members 82a and 82b. The guide members 78a and 78b and the engaging members 82a and 82b are alternately provided.
(Guide)
The guide members 78a and 78b extend substantially parallel to the axis L and each includes a guide portion main body 84a and 84b, a reinforcing rod 86a and 86b, and a sloped surface retaining member 88a and 88b and the like, as shown in
Also, force receiving portions 94a1 and 94a2 and force receiving portions 94b1 and 94b2 are provided on both end portions, in the circumferential direction, of the end portions on the outside in the axial direction, of the guide portion main bodies 84a and 84b. The force receiving portions 94a1 and 94a2 and the force receiving portions 94b1 and 94b2 extend in a direction parallel to the axis L, and the outer peripheral surfaces thereof are able to abut against the inner peripheral surface 21 of the ornament receiving hole 20 (hereinafter, the outer peripheral surfaces of the force receiving portions 94a1, 94a2, 94b1, and 94b2 may be referred to as “abutting surfaces”). The outside diameter defined by the outer peripheral surfaces of the guide portion main bodies 84a and 84b is smaller than the inside diameter of the ornament receiving hole 20. Therefore, if the force receiving portions 94 (the reference characters a1, a2, b1, and b2 will be omitted when referring to all of the force receiving portions collectively when it is not necessary to distinguish among the force receiving portions 94a1, 94a2, 94b1, and 94b2; the same also applies to other members, so when it is not necessary to differentiate among them, reference characters a and b will be omitted) are not provided, the guide portion main bodies 84a and 84b do not against the inner peripheral surface 21 of the ornament receiving hole 20 when the wheel cover 30 is attached to the wheel 10, so force applied between the wheel 10 and the wheel cover 30 is received by engaging protruding portions that will be described later. In contrast, when the force receiving portions 94 are provided, force is also received by the force receiving portions 94, so the force received by the engaging protruding portions is lessened. As a result, the engaging protruding portions are not as easily damaged. Accordingly, the force receiving portions 94 are preferably provided in opposing positions (i.e., positions spaced apart by a center angle of 180°). In this example embodiment, the relative positional relationship is such that the force receiving portions 94a1 and 94b2 oppose one another, and the force receiving portions 94a2 and 94b1 oppose one another. In this example embodiment, two each the force receiving portions 94 are provided on each of the guide portion main bodies 84a and 84b, with one force receiving portion 94 being provided on each end portion in the circumferential direction of each of the guide portion main bodies 84a and 84b. Alternatively, three or more of the force receiving portions 94 may be provided on each of the guide portion main bodies 84a and 84b. Also, one may be provided in a center portion in the circumferential direction of each of the guide portion main bodies 84a and 84b. On the other hand, while it is possible to provide the force receiving portions 94 across the entire guide portion main bodies 84a and 84b in the circumferential direction, if the area of the abutting surface of the force receiving portions 94 is too large, resistance when attaching the wheel cover 30 to the wheel 10 will increase. In contrast, providing the force receiving portions 94 on a portion in the circumferential direction of the guide portion main bodies 84 enables the load received by the engaging protruding portions to be reduced while avoiding excessive resistance.
(Engaging Portion)
As shown in
When force in the inner peripheral direction is applied to the one end portions 96a and 96b of the engaging members 82a and 82b, the engaging members 82a and 82b pivot about the other end portions 98a and 98b (also including elastic deformation (bending toward the inner peripheral side)), such that the engaging protruding portions 100a1, 100a2, 100b1, and 100b2 pivot toward the inner peripheral side. If the engaging protruding portions 100a were provided continuous in the circumferential direction (i.e., if they were not divided by the center portion), the difference between the positions in the axial direction of the center portions and the end portions in the circumferential direction of the engaging protruding portions 100a would increase (i.e., the center portion would be positioned farther to the outside in the axial direction) in the pivoted state. As a result, the center portions of the engaging protruding portions 100a may catch on the engageable protruding portion 22 of the ornament receiving hole 20, thus making smooth attachment/removal difficult. On the other hand, if the lengths in the circumferential direction of the engaging members 82 and the engaging protruding portions 100 are shortened, the difference in the positions in the axial direction between both end portions of the engaging protruding portions 100 would be less, but the portion that engages with the engageable protruding portion 22 would also be reduced, so the center attaching portion 34 is apt to come off. Also, it is possible to shorten the lengths in the circumferential direction of the engaging members 82 and increase the number of engaging members 82, but doing so would make the structure complex. In contrast, increasing the lengths in the circumferential direction of the engaging members 82a and 82b and providing the engaging protruding portions 100a1, 100a2, 100b1, and 10062 in sets of two with gaps in the center portions makes it possible to reduce the difference in the positions in the axial direction between both end portions in the circumferential direction of the engaging protruding portions 100a1, 100a2, 100b1, and 100b2, without making the structure complex. Doing so also makes the center attaching portion 34 less apt to come off.
If force in the inner peripheral direction were to be applied to the one end portions 96a and 96b when the reinforcing portions 104p, 104q, and 104r are not provided, the engaging portion connecting member 102 and the engaging members 82 would deform. Therefore, when the force is released, the engaging portion connecting member 102 and the engaging members 82 may not return sufficiently, so sufficient binding force may not be able to be obtained. In contrast, when the reinforcing portions 104p, 104q, and 104r are provided on the engaging portion connecting member 102, even if force is applied to the one end portions 96a and 96b, the engaging portion connecting member 102 will not easily deform. Instead, mainly the engaging members 82a and 82b will deform. Therefore, when the force is released, the engaging protruding portions 100 are able to pivot to the outer peripheral side, thus inhibiting the binding force from becoming insufficient. In this example embodiment, the guide connecting member 90 and the engaging portion connecting member 102 that includes the reinforcing portions 104p, 104q, and 104r form a rigid retaining portion.
(Attaching and Removing Operations)
Next, the operations of attaching and removing the wheel cover 30 structured as described above to and from the wheel 10 will be described.
(Attaching Operation)
(Operation 1)
The center attaching portion 34 and the cover main body 32 are connected together in advance. As shown in
(Operation 2)
The cover main body 32 and the center attaching portion 34 that have been connected together are then attached to the wheel 10. The center attaching portion 34 is inserted into the ornament receiving hole 20, and the worker applies force in the inner peripheral direction to the one end portions 96a and 96b of the engaging members 82a and 82b, as shown in
The attaching operation is not limited to being performed in the manner described above. For example, when the center attaching portion 34 is inserted into the ornament receiving hole 20, the center attaching portion 34 may simply be pushed in a direction parallel to the axis L (i.e., pushed at the flat surface 65 of the pressure apply portion 62). The engaging protruding portions 100a1, 100a2, 100b1, and 100b2 are able to be pushed in to the inside of the engageable protruding portion 22 by the elastic deformation of the engaging members 82a and 82b. Also, attachment of the cover main body 32 to the wheel 10 may also be performed simultaneously with the connection of the cover main body 32 to the center attaching portion 34. The cover main body 32 may be attached to the wheel 10, and the cover main body 32 may be connected to the center attaching portion 34, by placing the cover main body 32 against the wheel 10 and inserting the center attaching portion 34 into the ornament receiving hole 20.
(Removing Operation)
As shown in
In this way, in this example embodiment, the engaged state and the disengaged state of the engaging protruding portions 100 and the engageable protruding portion 22 are switched by the pivoting of the engaging protruding portions 100 following the pivoting (also including bending) of the engaging members 82. Therefore, during attachment/removal, the load that is applied to the engaging protruding portions 100 is reduced, so the engaging protruding portions 100 will not easily be damaged. As a result, the number of times that the wheel cover 30 can be used is able to be increased.
In the example embodiment described above, the engaging protruding portions 100a1, 100a2, 100b1, and I 00b2 and portions of the engaging members 82a and 82b other than the engaging protruding portions are made of the same type of resin material, but the engaging protruding portions may also be made of material with a larger friction coefficient than the portions of the engaging members 82a and 82b other than the engaging protruding portions.
A center attaching portion 150 of a wheel cover according to a second example embodiment will now be described with reference to
(Inserting Portion)
The inserting portion 156 includes a pair of guide members 160a and 160b, and a pair of engaging members 162a and 162b. As shown in
(Engaging Portions)
As shown in
(Attaching and Removing Operations)
When attaching the wheel cover structured as described above, a worker applies force in a direction that brings the one end portions 164a and 164b (i.e., the portions that form the inverted V-shape) closer together (i.e., toward the inner peripheral side), as shown in
It is not absolutely essential that the engaging members 162a and 162b be made of a single material. That is, the engaging protruding portions 168a and 168b (or surrounding portions that include the engaging protruding portions 168a and 168b) may be made of material with a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than other portions. Zirconium tungstate (ZrW2O3) and silicon oxide (LiO2—Al2O3-nSiO2) or the like correspond to materials with a small thermal expansion coefficient. These are also materials that expand slightly (i.e., materials in which the thermal expansion coefficient is negative) when the temperature decreases. General purpose resin such as polypropylene is material that expands (i.e., material in which the thermal expansion coefficient is positive) when the temperature rises, so the portion of the engaging members 162a and 162b other than the engaging protruding portions 168a and 168b can conceivably be made of material with a positive thermal expansion coefficient. In this way, if the dimensional stability of the engaging protruding portions 168a and 168b can be improved, a change in the tightening force (i.e., the binding force) caused by a change in temperature can be suppressed.
Next, a center attaching portion 190 of a wheel cover according to a third example embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
Next, a center attaching portion 200 of a wheel cover according to a fourth example embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
In the center attaching portion 200 structured as described above, when the rods 214a and 214b are pushed to the inner peripheral side against the urging force of the springs 222a and 222b, in the engaging member main bodies 202a and 202b, the protruding members 210a and 210b pivot about the pivot shafts 220a and 220b such that the engaging protruding portions 212a and 212b move to the inner peripheral side. As a result, the engaging protruding portions 212a and 212b move away from the engageable protruding portion 22. In this state, the wheel cover can be easily attached to or removed from the wheel 10 by moving (i.e., pushing in or pulling out) the center attaching portion 200 parallel to the axis L. In this example embodiment, the engaging members are formed by the protruding members 210a and 210b, the rods 214a and 214b correspond to one end portions of the protruding members 210a and 210b, portions that are retained by the pivot shafts 220a and 220b correspond to the other end portions, and the portion that includes the pivot shafts 220a and 220b of the engaging member main bodies 202a and 202b, and the engaging portion connecting member 102 and the like form an engaging member retaining portion. The rods 214a and 214b may be referred to as operating rods.
In this example embodiment, the engaging member main bodies 202a and 202b are pivoted by force in the inner peripheral direction being applied to one end portions 224a and 224b to the outsides of the engaging member main bodies 202a and 202b, and as a result, the protruding members 210a and 210b are pivoted. As the protruding members 210a and 210b pivot, the engaging protruding portions 212a and 2126 move to the inner peripheral side and disengage from the engageable protruding portion 22. In this way, the operation to attach the wheel cover to or remove the wheel cover from the wheel 10 may also be performed by operating the one end portions 224a and 224b to the inner peripheral side. Also, the protruding members 210a and 210b are also able to be pivotally held, at the inner peripheral side or the outer peripheral side of the protruding members 210a and 210b, to the engaging member main bodies 202a and 202b. Furthermore, the technical characteristics described in this example embodiment may be applied to the center attaching portion described in the second example embodiment. The outer peripheral edge of the engaging member main bodies 202a and 202b may be held to the attaching portion main body 152 of the center attaching portion 150 described in the second example embodiment. In this case, the protruding members 210a and 210b are made lengths whereby the rods 214a and 214b are positioned to the outside of the opening 158.
Next, a center attaching portion 230 of a wheel cover according to a fifth example embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
Next, a center attaching portion 270 of a wheel cover according to a sixth example embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
Next, a center attaching portion 300 of a wheel cover according to a seventh example embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
Next, a center attaching portion 320 of a wheel cover according to an eighth example embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
The center attaching portion 320 is pushed into the ornament receiving hole 330 in a direction parallel to the axis L by a worker, at a relative phase in which the engaging protruding portions 328a and 328b correspond to the gaps 332 and 334. After the engaging protruding portions 328a and 328b pass through the gaps 332 and 334, the engaging protruding portions 328a and 328b are rotated relative to the wheel, such that the engaging protruding portions 328a and 328b are positioned to the insides of the engagable protruding portions 336 and 338. As a result, the engaging protruding portions 328a and 328b engage with the engagable protruding portions 336 and 338, such that the wheel cover is attached to the wheel 10. Also, the center attaching portion 320 is relatively rotated about the axis L in the ornament receiving hole 330 by the worker, such that the engaging protruding portions 328a and 328b are placed in a relative phase corresponding to the gaps 332 and 334. The center attaching portion 320 is then pulled out in a direction parallel to the axis L. The wheel cover is removed from the wheel 10 by removing the center attaching portion 320 from the ornament receiving hole 330. The pair of engaging members may form a cylindrical shape that is able to expand and contract (i.e., telescope).
Next, a wheel cover according to a ninth example embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
Next, a wheel cover according to a tenth example embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
Next, a wheel cover according to an eleventh example embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
Next, a wheel cover according to a twelfth example embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
Next, a wheel cover according to a thirteenth example embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
Next, a wheel cover according to a fourteenth example embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
After the outside diameter of the cover main body 480 has been adjusted to the desired size, a plurality of the cover attaching portions 482 are attached (connected) to the cover main body 480, with the connecting member 500 positioned on the outside between adjacent elongated holes 494, and the engaging members 484a and 484b passing through the adjacent elongated holes 494. A worker then places the cover attaching portions 482 impositions in the gaps between adjacent spokes 24, i.e., places the engaging protruding portions 486a and 486b in positions to the inside of adjacent spokes 24. As a result, the cover main body 480 is attached to the wheel 10 by the cover attaching portions 482. Also, if force in the direction that brings one end portions 498a and 498b of the pair of engaging members 484a and 484b of the cover attaching portion 482 closer together is applied to the one end portions 498a and 498b, the distance between these engaging protruding portions 486a and 486b will become shorter, such that the engaging protruding portions 486a and 486b will separate from the spokes 24 and be arranged in gaps between adjacent spokes 24. As a result, the cover attaching portions 482 can be removed from the wheel 10, so the wheel cover can be removed from the wheel 10.
The main body portions 492 of the cover main body 480 may be shaped such that the outer peripheral edge curves to the inside. As a result, the cover main body 480 is able to be bowl-shaped overall, with the outer peripheral edge being closest to the wheel 10.
Next, a wheel cover according to a fifteenth example embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
Next, a wheel cover according to a sixteenth example embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
(Cover Main Body)
As shown in
Resistance force against external force that tries to bend the cover main body 600 in the radial direction can be increased by the long beads 610. For example, while the vehicle is being transported, force may be applied that tries to bend the cover main body 600 from the inside toward the outside (i.e., force in a direction that lifts the cover main body 600 up), due to wind or the like, but even in this case, the long beads 610 extend from the inner peripheral portion all the way to the outer peripheral portion, so the cover main body 600 is able to be well inhibited from deforming. Therefore, it is desirable to provide at least three of the long beads 610 radially, spaced apart by equal center angles. Also, the arc-shaped beads 616 and 618 are able to increase the resistance force against external force that tries to bend the cover main body 600 in the circumferential direction. For example, while the vehicle is being transported, force may be applied that tries to bend the cover main body 600 in the circumferential direction, due to wind or the like, but even in this case, the middle arc-shaped bead 616 is able to well inhibit bending in the circumferential direction. The middle arc-shaped bead 616 is preferably provided in a position approximately ½ of the radial length R0 of the cover main body 600. The outer peripheral side arc-shaped bead 618 is provided to the inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral edge portion 44, and also serves to inhibit deformation of the outer peripheral edge portion 44. The outer peripheral side arc-shaped bead 618 is able to keep the outer peripheral edge portion 44 in good contact with the tire 14.
In this way, the plurality of long beads 610, short beads 612 and 614 that extend in the radial direction, and the arc-shaped beads 616 and 618 that extend in the circumferential direction enable the rigidity of the cover main body 600 to be increased. The resistance force against an external force such as wind can be increased, so the cover main body 600 will not easily deform. Also, the inner peripheral side short beads 612 and the outer peripheral side short beads 614 are provided with the same phase, so the overall rigidity of the cover main body 600 is able to be increased compared with when the phases are offset, i.e., compared with when the outer peripheral side short beads 614 are positioned between adjacent inner peripheral side short beads 612. Depressions 619 are formed separated by gaps in the circumferential direction, in the radially middle portion of the cover main body 600. The depressions 619 facilitate elastic deformation in a direction parallel to the axis L, so the cover main body 600 can be elastically attached to the wheel 10.
Meanwhile, the inner peripheral portion of the cover main body 600 is a connectable portion (i.e., a center connectable portion) 620 to which the center attaching portion 602 connects. The connectable portion 620 is shaped having a stepped portion in the direction parallel to the axis L, and includes an inner peripheral side sloped portion 622 that is sloped with respect to the axis L, an annular flat surface portion 624, and an annular wall portion (a corrugated wall portion) 626. The inner peripheral side sloped portion 622 is formed on an inner peripheral edge, and the flat surface portion 624 is provided continuous with the inner peripheral side sloped portion 622. The wall portion 626 is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the flat surface portion 624. The flat surface portion 624 is a portion against which a pressure apply portion of the center attaching portion 602 abuts. Also, the flat surface portion 624 is a portion that extends in the radial direction (i.e., in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis L). The wall portion 626 extends in a direction crossing the flat surface portion 624, and has a generally corrugated shape with a plurality of radially recessed and protruding portions, as shown in
Also, as shown in
(Center Attaching Portion)
The center attaching portion 602 includes an attaching portion main body 640 and the inserting portion 644, as shown in
(Attaching Portion Main Body)
The attaching portion main body 640 is provided with a sloped surface that is sloped with respect to the axis L, and a pressure apply portion 646 is provided on the outside outer peripheral edge of this sloped surface. The pressure apply portion 646 is a pressure apply portion that is groove-shaped (this portion may also be referred to as a “groove-shaped pressure apply portion”) and has a generally U-shaped cross-section. The outside of the pressure apply portion 646 is a flat surface, as shown in
A plurality of protruding portions 659 that protrude in the radial direction at equidistant intervals are formed on the outer peripheral wall portion 658 of the pressure apply portion 646. As shown in
Three connecting pawls 660 are provided in positions separated by center angles of 120° on the outer peripheral side of the middle portion of the attaching portion main body 640. Also, a plate-shaped reinforcing member 664 is provided protruding from the outer peripheral side in the direction parallel to the axis L, along an opening 662. This plate-shaped reinforcing member 664 is provided in an annular shape (i.e., a ring shape), thus increasing the rigidity of the attaching portion main body 640.
(Inserting Portion)
The inserting portion 644 includes a pair of guide members 666a and 666b, and a pair of engaging members 668a and 668b.
(Guides)
Each of the pair of guide members 666a and 666b includes a guide member main body 669a and 669b, and two force receiving portions 672a1, 672a2, 672b1, and 672b2, one provided on each end portion in the width direction of the guide member main bodies 669a and 669b. As shown in
Also, a center angle θg (see
A plate-shaped outside reinforcing member 676 that extends in the radial direction and protrudes outward, and a plate-shaped inside reinforcing member 678 that extends in the radial direction and protrudes inward are provided on the guide connecting member 670. In this way, the plate-shaped reinforcing members 676 and 678 are provided on the outside and the inside, respectively, so the guide connecting member 670 will not easily deform in the radial direction, and the pair of guide members 666a and 666b will not easily separate from the inner peripheral surface 21 of the ornament receiving hole 20. In this example embodiment, three each of the plate-shaped outside reinforcing member 676 and the plate-shaped inside reinforcing member 678 are provided, but the number of these plate-shaped reinforcing members 676 and 678 may be appropriately determined based on the desired rigidity, material cost, and weight and the like. Also, the shape of a connecting portion 679 of the guide member main bodies 669a and 669b and the guide connecting member 670 is R-shaped. As a result, the connecting portion 679 will not easily break, so the strength can be increased.
(Engaging Portion)
With the pair of the engaging members 668a and 668b, one end portions 680a and 680b protrude outward from the opening 662, and two each of engaging protruding portions 684a1, 684a2, 684b1, and 684b2 are formed on other end portions 682a and 682b, as shown in
Also, a radius ri (the distance from the axis L; see
Furthermore, as shown in
Also, a center angle θh (see
Moreover, it is preferable that the ratio of the sum of a center angle θ1 corresponding to the length in the circumferential direction of the engaging protruding portions 684a1, 684a2, 684b1, and 684b2 and a center angle θ2 corresponding to the length in the circumferential direction of the force receiving portions 672a1, 672a2, 672b1, and 672b2, to 360° (2π) be equal to or greater than 0.2((θ1×4+θ2×4)/360°≧0.2). That is, when the wheel cover 598 is attached to the wheel 10, a higher ratio of the sum of the portions that abut against the inner peripheral surface 21 of the ornament receiving hole 20 (including the portion that is engaged with the engageable protruding portion 22), to the total circumference is able to more stably maintain the attached state. Therefore, in this example embodiment, the ratio is equal to or greater than 0.2. This ratio may also be equal to or greater than 0.25, equal to or greater than 0.3, or equal to or greater than 0.4.
Also, the pair of engaging members 668a and 668b are connected by an engaging portion connecting member 696 that is formed in a general U-shape, and three plate-shaped reinforcing members (ribs) 698 that extend in the radial direction are provided on the engaging portion connecting member 696. The plate-shaped reinforcing members 698 are generally trapezoidal-shaped, as shown in
As described above, in this example embodiment, the rigidity of the cover main body 600 is strengthened, so even if force is applied that tries to bend the cover main body 600 outward, due to wind or the like, when the vehicle is being transported, the cover main body 600 will not easily deform. Also, the rigidity of the center attaching portion 602 is also increased, so even if force in the radial direction or in the axial direction is applied, the pair of engaging members 668a and 668b and the pair of guide members 666a and 666b will not easily come closer together, so the center attaching portion 602 will not easily come off. Also, the inserting portion 644 will not easily move in the ornament receiving hole 20. Moreover, the abutting surfaces of the force receiving portions 672a1, 672a2, 672b1, and 672b2 and the abutting surfaces 694a1, 694a2, 694b1, and 694b2 that abut against the inner peripheral surface 21 of the ornament receiving hole 20 and the like make the outer peripheral edges 688a1, 688a2, 688b1, and 688b2 of, the engaging protruding portions 684a1, 684a2, 684b1, and 684b2 more resistant to breaking, being ground down, or plastic deforming or the like.
With the cover main body, the number of long beads 610, and the number of inner peripheral side short beads 612 and outer peripheral side short beads 614 are arbitrary, but the number of outer peripheral side short beads 614 is preferably equal to or less than the number of inner peripheral side short beads 612. Even if the cover main body 600 were to deform by bending outward at a portion to the outer peripheral side from a middle portion due to the number of outer peripheral side short beads 614 provided being small, if the inner peripheral side portion will not easily deform, the entire cover main body 600 is able to resist deforming in which it bends outward with the pressure apply portion 646 of the center attaching portion 602 as the fulcrum. Also, external force acting on the cover main body 600 is not easily affected by the center attaching portion 602, so external force parallel to the axis L is not easily applied to the center attaching portion 602. Preferably at least two of the inner peripheral side short beads 612 are provided between adjacent long beads 610 when the long beads 610 are provided at intervals of 90°. Also, preferably four or more long beads 610 are radially provided. Five or more or six or more long beads 610 may also be radially provided.
An example of a cover main body in which the number of outer peripheral side short beads is less than the number of inner peripheral side short beads will be described with reference to
Also, as shown in
In the first to the seventeenth example embodiments, the outer peripheral edge of the cover main body is R-shaped, but the shape of the outer peripheral edge is not limited to that in the foregoing example embodiments. For example, as shown in
The entire cover main body does not necessarily have to be formed with the same material. That is, a portion of the cover main body, may be formed with material that is different from the material of other portions. For example, as shown in
In this example embodiment, a relative rotation inhibiting portion that inhibits relative rotation of the cover main body with respect to the wheel 10 is provided on the cover main body.
The center attaching portion 820 has the friction surfaces 684a1, 684a2, 684b1, and 684b2, and 672a1, 672a2, 672b1, and 672b2 that abut against the inner peripheral surface 21 of the ornament receiving hole 20 of the wheel 10, so it will not rotate relative to the wheel 10 as easily the cover main body 830 will. Therefore, at times such as when the vehicle is running under its own power, or when vibration while the vehicle is being transported is applied, even if force in a direction that tries to make the cover main body 830 rotate relative to the wheel 10 is applied to the cover main body 830, that force is received at the center attaching portion 820. Relative rotation of the cover main body 830 with respect to the wheel 10 is inhibited, so sliding contact between the cover main body 830 and the tire 14 is inhibited. The structure of the relative rotation inhibiting portion 840 (that may also be referred to as a “unified rotation allowing portion”) that inhibits relative rotation between the cover main body and the center attaching portion is not limited to this. The relative rotation inhibiting portion 840 according to this example embodiment may also be regarded as a portion of the cover/attaching portion connecting portion.
The center attaching portion may be structured as shown in
As described above, in this example embodiment, as long as a large force in the radial direction is not applied to the center attaching portion 848, the pair of engaging members 850a and 850b will not come closer together. Therefore, even if force in the radial direction is mistakenly applied to the engaging members 850a and 850b when the center attaching portion 848 is attached, the engaging members 850a and 850b will not easily come closer together, so a good engagement state can be maintained.
As described above, a plurality of example embodiments of the invention have been described, but the invention may also be carried out by combining these example embodiments together. Also, the invention may also be carried out by combining parts of a plurality of example embodiments, or applying a portion of one example embodiment to another example embodiment, or the like. Furthermore, the invention may be carried out in modes that have been modified or improved in any of a variety of ways based on the knowledge of one skilled in the art, in addition to the modes of the foregoing example embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-139215 | Jun 2011 | JP | national |
| 2011-246327 | Nov 2011 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2012/001233 | 6/21/2012 | WO | 00 | 2/25/2014 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012/176049 | 12/27/2012 | WO | A |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20140167491 A1 | Jun 2014 | US |
