Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This Invention relate to plastic wheel covers and,
more particularly, to a simulated wire wheel cover molded from
plastic.
A conventional simulated wire wheel cover normally
Incorporates a multlpllclty of wire type spokes aligned In two or
more separated Individual planes or conical surfaces to achieve
an authentic depth appearance of a wire wheel. The manufacture
and assembly of a simulated wire wheel cover made from metal or
plastic and having Independently formed spokes Is lime consuming
and expensive. For this reason, In recent years attempts have
been made to mold a simulated wire wheel cover from plastic with
Integrally molded spokes. Such plastic wire wheel covers are
frequently molded as two separate members, an axially Inner mom-
bier and an axially outer member which are secured together bysultable means. The use of tupelos plastic molded covers has
been adopted to avoid the complicated and costly mold construe-
lion required for a one-plece plastic cover with Integrally
molded spokes. While the axially Inner member Is normally
designed to be substantially structurally rigid, but, In any
event, Is physically protected from Impact by the outer member,
the axially outer member Is normally of fight construction since
It frequently consists of merely two radially spaced annular
members Interconnected by long radial spokes.
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Such axially outer members are especially vulnerable to damage
due to impacts by foreign objects, such as stones and the like.
In addition, the axially outer member of a wheel cover of this
type frequently projects axially outwardly beyond the tire of the
vehicle wheel on which it is mounted and is therefore also sub-
jet to breakage due to impact against curbs and the like.
The present invention provides a plastic simulated wire
wheel cover having a construction which renders it substantially
stronger than such covers of present-day design.
According to one aspect thereof the present invention
provides a plastic simulated wire wheel cover having a radially
outer annular member adjacent its outer periphery and a radially
inner annular member concentric with the center axis of the
cover, a plurality of spokes spanning the radial distance between
said members, the radially outer ends of the spokes being molded
integrally with the radially outer member and the radially inner
ends of the spokes being molded integrally with said inner mom-
berm the spokes being arranged circumferential in successive pairs about the inner annular member, the spokes in each pair
being inclined in opposite directions away from a true radial
direction, such that each spoke inclined in one direction inter-
sects two spokes inclined in the opposite direction at first and
second spaced points intermediate the integrally molded inner and
outer ends of said spoke, said spokes being molded integrally
together at said intersecting points and said spokes being metal
plated.
.
In particular, the wheel cover of the present invention
includes an axially inner member having an outer rim portion and
a central hub portion interconnected by spokes molded integrally
therewith. The axially outer member of the wheel cover is of
relatively light construction and comprises radially spaced inner
and outer annular members which are offset axially and are inter-
connected by radially extending spokes. Rigidity is imparted to
I
the axially outer member by arranging the spokes so that each
spoke intersects and is integrally connected to an adjacent spoke
adjacent its radially inner end and also intersects and is into-
rally connected with another adjacent spoke adjacent its radix
ally outer end. The integral connection of each spoke with toothier crossing spokes adds considerable strength to the outer
member of the cover and reduces substantially its tendency to be
easily broken from impact with foreign objects, such as stones,
etc.
In one embodiment of the present invention the into-
rally molded portion of the two spokes at each intersection has
an axial dimension substantially greater than half the axial
dimension of a spoke in cross section. Suitably the two points
of intersection on each spoke are spaced apart radially, one
closer to the annular inner member and the other closer to the
annular outer member. Desirably the inner and outer annular mom-
biers are spaced apart axially and the spokes incline axially
inwardly of the cover from the inner annular member to the outer
annular member. Suitably the radially inner and outer ends of
adjacent spokes are spaced apart circumferential on the inner
and outer annular members. Desirably the radially inner ends of
the spokes in each pair radiate outwardly from substantially the
same point on the inner annular member.
In another aspect thereof the present invention provides a
simulated plastic wire wheel cover comprising an axially inner
member and an axially outer member, said inner member having a
central annular section and an outer peripheral rim spaced
radially apart, a first set of spokes extending radially between
and integrally molded with said central section and said rim and
forming an open grillwork interconnecting them, said axially
outer member comprising an annular radially inner member secured
to said central section of the axially inner member and an annum
far radially outer member secured to said rim, a second set of spokes extending radially between said annular members and into-
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rally molded therewith at their opposite ends, the spokes in the
second set being arranged circumferential in successive pairs
at their radially inner ends, the spokes in each pair being
inclined in opposite directions away from a true radial direct
lion, such that each spoke in the second set intersects two spokes inclined in the opposite direction at first and second
spaced points intermediate the integrally molded opposite ends of
said spoke, the spokes being integrally molded together at their
points of intersections and said spokes being metal plated.
Desirably the radially inner and outer annular members of the
axially outer member are spaced apart axially and the spokes of
the second set incline axially inwardly from the radially inner
member. Suitably the circumferential adjacent spokes of the
first set incline circumferential in opposite directions and
intersect intermediate their ends, said last-mentioned spokes
being molded integrally together at their intersections.
In a still further aspect the present invention pro-
vises a plastic simulated wire wheel cover having a radially
2Q outer annular member adjacent its outer periphery and a radially
inner annular member concentric with the center axis of the
cover, a plurality of spokes spanning the radial dimension
between said members, the radially outer ends of the spokes being
molded integrally with the radially outer member and the radially
inner ends of the spokes being molded integrally with said inner
member, each spoke being oriented at a prescribed angle from a
true radial direction which is substantially equal and opposite
to the angle of its adjacent spokes, such that each spoke inter-
sects and is integrally joined to the next two circumferential
successive spokes at first and second points mediate the length
of the spoke to thereby form an open grillwork interconnecting
the outer and inner annular members.
The present invention will be further illustrated by
way of the accompanying drawings, in which:-
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Figure 1 Is a fragmentary plan view of a wheel cover
according to the present Invention;
Figure 2 Is a sectional view along the fine 2-2 In Fig-
5 use 1;
Fig. 3 Is a sectional view along the fine 3-3 In Figure
1 ;
Figure 4 Is a fragmentary sectional view of another
wheel cover according to the present Invention; and
Figure 5 Is a sectional view a long the fine 5-5 In
Fig. 4.
The wheel cover generally comprises an axially Inner
member 10 and an axially outer member 12. Inner member 10 come
pulses a central hub portion 14 and an annular outer rim 16
Interconnected by short radially extending spokes 18. The
central hub portion 14 has a flanged socket 20 at the center
thereof for receiving an ornamental medallion 22. As Indicated
In Figure 2, the hub portion 14 Is of generally conical shape In
section so as to be relatively rigid. The outer rim 16 Includes
a radially outwardly extending flange 24 at the axially outer
face thereof and a radially Inwardly extending flange 26 at the
axially Inner face thereof. A plurality of axially Inwardly
projecting lugs 238 are molded Integrally with flange I and are
spaced clrcumferentlally around rim it for receiving a wire ring
30 for retaining the wheel cover on a vehicle wheel rim The
arrangement of lugs 28 and ring 30 Is substantially Indentlcal
with that shown In U.S. Patent No. 4,207,919. When the wheel
cover Is applied to a vehicle wheel, flange I overlies the outer
periphery ox the wheel rim at the axially outer face of the
wheel.
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The axially outer member 12 of the cover
comprises a radially inner annular member 32 of U shape
in cross section and a radially outer annular member 34
which is also U shaped in cross section. Members 3~,34
are formed with axially inwardly projecting studs 36
spaced circumferential around these members. The
outer member 12 is adapted to be seated within the
inner member 10. Thus, the radially inner member 32
is centrally aperture to have a close fit with an
axially outwardly extending, generally cylindrical port
lion 38 adjacent the center of hub 14. The radially
outer member 34 has a close fit loath a circumferential
flange 40 on the inner member 10 extending axially
between flanges 24 and 26.
The annular members 32,34 are interconnected
by a plurality of integrally molded spokes 42,44 which
incline axially inwardly in a radially outward direct
lion as shown in FIG. 2. Adjacent spokes 42,44 incline
radially in generally opposite directions and are into-
rally molded at their opposite ends with members 32,34.
Furthermore, as clearly indicated in FIG. 2, each spoke
42 intersects and is integrally connected to two under-
lying spokes 44 as at 46 and 48. Thus, each of the
spokes on outer member 12 intersects and is integrally
connected to two adjacent spokes, one intersection being
adjacent the radially inner member 32 and the other
being spaced radially therefrom and somewhat closer to
the radially outer member 34. As shown in FIG. 3, the
extent of axial overlap of the spokes at their inter-
sections is greater than half the axial dimension of the spokes in cross section. Therefore, the two inter-
sections on each of the adjacent spokes substantially
strengthen the axially outer member 12 of the wheel
cover In addition, by making the spokes numerous and
by intersecting as shown in FIG, 1 the spokes 4~,44
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provide a grill work barrier at the axially outer face
of the wheel which prevents the penetration ox large
foreign objects into and against the axially inner memo
bier 10 of the wheel cover. It will be observed from
FIG. 1 that at their radially inner ends spokes 42,44
extend in a generally radial direction for a very short
distance and, thereafter, are inclined to the radius.
This particular configuration, which is also applied
to the intersecting spokes 18 on the axially inner
member 10 of the cover, imparts added ornamentation
to the cover.
The members 10 and 12 are secured together
in any suitable fashion. In the embodiment illustrate
Ed in FIGS. 1 and 2 these two members are secured
together by screws 50 extending through flange portion
52 of hub 14 and flange 26 of rim member 16 into the
studs 36 on the outer member 12.
The wheel cover illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5
differs slightly from the previous embodiment described.
Like the previously described embodiment, the wheel
cover of FIGS. and 5 includes an axially inner member
54 and an axially outer member 56. In this arrangement
the axially outer member 56 has a central hub I in
which is secured a medallion 60. The outer member 56
includes an outer rim portion 62 connected with hub 58
by successive pairs of spokes 64,66 which incline axial-
lye inwardly in a radially outward direction as shown in
FIG 5. At their inner ends adjacent spokes 64,66l in-
stead of being circumferential spaced, emanate from
a single point as at 68. Each spoke 54 intersects and
is integrally connected to two underlying spokes 66 as
at 70,72. As in the previous embodiment described,
each of the spokes on the outer member 56 is integrally
connected to two adjacent spokes, one intersection being
adjacent the hub I and the other being spaced radially
therefrom and closer to the rim portion 62. A plurality
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of circumferential spaced lugs 74 are molded on the underside
of rim portion 62 for accommodating the wire ring 76 utilized to
retain the wheel cover on a vehicle wheel rim, such as shown at
78.
The axially inner member 54 is formed with a central
flange 80 on which the hub 58 is seated, a curved body portion 82
and an annular outer rim portion 84 on which the rim portion 62
of the outer member is seated. The rim portion 84 is connected
o with the curved body portion 82 by a plurality of short radially
extending intersecting spokes 86. The two members 54,56 are con-
netted together by means of screws 88 extending outwardly through
flange 80 and rim portion 84 into studs 90 molded on the under-
side of the outer member 56. The extent of axial overlap of
spokes 64,66 at their points of intersection corresponds to that
shown in Fig. 3.
To simulate metal spokes, the plastic spokes of the
wheel cover are metal plates usually by conventional chrome plats
in and are normally chrome plates along with the rest of they'll cover as is well known in the art.
