US3843201A

US3843201A - Wire wheel simulating wheel cover

Info

Publication number: US3843201A
Application number: US00280827A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Buerger
Original assignee: Del Met Corp
Current assignee: Del Met Corp
Priority date: 1972-08-15
Filing date: 1972-08-15
Publication date: 1974-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-22

Abstract

This wheel cover can be easily, quickly and cheaply assembled. It incorporates straight spoke simulating pieces which can be made of metal or plastic, and can be in rod or tubular form, which permits the rods to be chopped from long lengths. All the rods can be of similar length. An assembler can be taught very quickly to make the assembly with or without use of assembly fixtures. The device is of good appearance. The easy assembly leads to high production possibility because of the construction of the various parts, with less labor and time to make the assemblies. Caps on the ends of the rods may be force fitted on the rods, or the caps can be integral with the rods. Also the caps can be replaced by circular notches formed in the rods. For straight rods, long lengths can be cut or chopped to desired size. The cut or chopped straight pieces can be barrel plated since it allows tumbling whereas wires or rods with hooks are difficult to tumble because they interengage. The caps can be of plastic, rubber or metal fitted on the rods, or the rods can be made solid with cap simulating integral end portions. The inner and outer interfitting smaller rings and the large outer ring may be made of plastic.

Description

United States Patent [191 Buerger Oct. 22, 1974 WIRE WHEEL SIMULATING WHEEL COVER [75] Inventor: Herbert Buerger, Walton, NY.

[73] Assignee: Del-Met Corporation, Walton, N.Y.

Primary Examiner-Philip Goodman Attorney, Agent, or Firm.1. B. Felshin; Marvin Feldman [57] ABSTRACT This wheel cover can be easily, quickly and cheaply assembled. It incorporates straight spoke simulating pieces which can be made of metal or plastic, and can be in rod or tubular form, which permits the rods to be chopped from long lengths. All the rods can be of similar length. An assembler can be taught very quickly to make the assembly with or without use of assembly fixtures. The device is of good appearance. The easy assembly leads to high production possibility because of the construction of the various parts, with less labor and time to make the assemblies. Caps on the ends of the rods may be force fitted on the rods, or the caps can be integral with the rods. Also the caps can be replaced by circular notches formed in the rods. For straight rods, long lengths can be cut or chopped to desired size. The cut or chopped straight pieces can be barrel plated since it allows tumbling whereas wires or rods with hooks are difficult to tumble because they interengage. The caps can be of plastic, rubber or metal fitted on the rods, or the rods can be made solid with cap simulating integral end portions. The inner and outer interfitting smaller rings and the large outer ring may be made of plastic.

18 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDumzzmm mm :m

UwV IvMV FIGQ WIRE WHEEL SIMULATING WHEEL COVER This invention relates to wire wheel simulating wheel covers.

An object of this invention is to provide a wheel cover of the character described which shall comprise a plurality of parts which are easily assembled and clamped in assembled relation, quickly and without use of special tools or skilled labor and with little training.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wheel cover of the character described utilizing similar individual straight spoke simulating members or pieces which are straight and have no portions which can be interhooked, which can be easily tumble plated, and which can be cut from long lengths and easily chopped to desired length.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a wheel cover of the character described which comprises a wheel cover member provided with spring grip ring for gripping the tire rim of a wheel, a large ring fitted and centered in an annular portion of the wheel cover member, and telescoping inner and outer smaller rings concentric with the outer ring and also fitted and centered in a smaller annular portion of the wheel cover member, said larger and smaller inner telescoping rings having openings so located as to receive the outer ends of the spoke simultating members, and a central cup shaped member centered and fitted in the wheel cover member, inside said telescoping rings, and attached to the wheel cover member, to hold said wheel cover member, large and small rings and cup in assembled relation.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a wire wheel simulating wheel cover of the character described, a large ring and smaller inner and outer telescoping rings which are constructed to retain the outer and inner ends of straight spoke simulating members in crossing, inclined relation, and with the straight members inclined in one direction disposed above the straight members inclined in a crossing direction, the construction being such furthermore, that the large ring and the outer smaller ring are first placed in position, the lower rods are then placed in position with the outer ends inserted in a lower circle of openings in the larger ring, the inner ends of the rods placed in slots in the outer of the smaller telescoping rings, the outer ends of the upper rods then inserted in an upper circle of openings in the large ring, alternating with respect to the lower circle of openings, inserting the inner ends of the upper rods in other slots in said outer smaller ring and then telescoping the inner smaller ring with the outer smaller ring to lock the inner ends of all the rods in place, and then inserting the central cup in place and attaching said central cup to the center of the wheel cover member, to hold the telescoping rings in place.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a wheel cover of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, attractive in appearance, which shall allow easy replacement of spoke simulating members or other parts, if damaged, and which shall yet be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical side view of a wire wheel simulating wheel cover embodying the invention with parts broken away and in cross-section, and with a number of spoke simulating members shown in dot-dash lines;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged view of a portion of the wheel cover shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the inner smaller ring;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the outer smaller ring;

FIG. 6 is a partial, enlarged view illustrating the connection of the inner ends of the spoke simulating members with the telescoping inner and outer smaller ring;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 88 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 10 is a partial inner view of the larger, outer ring taken on line 1010 of FIG. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a wire wheel simulating wheel cover embodying the invention. Said wheel cover 10 comprises an annular wheel cover member 11 which may be made of stamped sheet metal. Said member 11 is shown in axial cross-section and in horizontal position in FIG. 2 of the drawing. This is the position in which various parts of the wheel cover 10 are assembled, although in use, the wheel cover has its axis in a horizontal position as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing. The wheel member will be described in its horizontal position of FIG. 2.

Said wheel cover member 11 has a central, flat, annular wall 12 from the periphery of which extends axially outwardly, an annular, cylindrical web or wall 13. Extending outwardly from cylindrical wall 13 is a radial, flat annular web 14 concentric with wall 12 and from which asecond cylindrical wall 15 extends axially outwardly, in coneentrieity with wall 13. Extending from wall 15 is a zig-zagging frusto-conical wall 16 terminating in a flat annular, radial wall 17 concentric with wall 14. Extending axially outwardly from wall 17 is a cylindrical wall 18. The term axially outwardly in this paragraph refers to the position of the wheel cover member in use. In FIG. 2, the cylindrical walls l3, l5 and 18 are shown to extend axially upwardly.

Wall 14 is located axially outwardly of wall 12. Wall 17 is located axially inwardly of the wall 14. Extending radially outwardly from cylindrical wall 18 is a flat annular wall 19 located between the planes of walls 12 and 17. Extending from the wall 19 in a radially outwardly and axially inwardly inclined direction, is a frusto-conical wall 20 from which an annular wall 21 extends radially outwardly between the planes of walls 17 and 19. Wall 21 terminates in an axially inwardly and radially inwardly rolled bead 22 which serves to attach a grip ring 23 to the cover wheel member 11.

Grip ring 23 may be made of spring metal and comprises an annular flange 24 contacting the inner surface of wall 21 of member 11, and extending into the rolled head 22. The outer rim edge of flange 24 may be bent inwardly slightly as at 25 within bead 22. Extending from flange 24 is a radially and axially inwardly curved wall 26 from the inner end of which extends radially inwardly, a wall 27 contacting the inner surface of wall 17. Extending axially inwardly from the inner end of wall 27 is a transversely corrugated, generally cylindrical wall 28 formed at its periphery with radially and axially outwardly extending bent-back alternating outer and

inner spring fingers

30, 31 to grip the inner surface of a usual tire rim flange of a vehicle wheel shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 2 at 35.

The rolled rim 22 firmly attaches members 11 and 28 together. Wall 12 may be formed with three equiangularly spaced holes 38 on a circle concentric with the axis of member 11, and of a radius smaller than that of said wall. The purpose of these holes 38 will be explained hereinafter. Members 11 and 28 are fabricated and assembled together before being assembled with remaining parts of the wheel cover 10, as described hereinafter. During such assembly, the attached together parts 11, 28 are held in any suitable manner in the position of FIG. 2, with the axis thereof in a vertical position.

Fitted in member 11 is an outer, larger ring 40 which may be made of rigid plastic or any other suitable material. Said ring 40 comprises a cylindrical portion 41 from which a flat flange 42 extends radially outwardly. The lower edge 41a of wall 41 contacts wall 17. Wall 41 is spaced radially inwardly of wall 18 and is concentric therewith. The outer edge 42a of flange 42 substantially contacts the inner surface of cylindrical wall 18. Said flange 42 is located close to the wall 19 as shown in FIG. 2. Said wall 41 is formed with a lower circle of openings 43 and with an upper circle of openings 44.

Openings

43 and 44 alternate. There are an even number of

holes

43, 44. They may be about 1 inch apart. In a wheel cover of 14 inch diameter, there may be 36

holes

43, 44. The

holes

43, 44 are spaced from the upper and lower ends of wall 41 (looking at FIG. The holes 43. 44 may be about one-quarter of an inch in diameter.

Fitted onto wall 14 and inside of cylindrical wall is an assembly of a pair of smaller telescoping or interfitting outer and

inner rings

46, 47, respectively, which may be made of rigid plastic or any other suitable material. The outer ring 46 of the smaller rings 46, 47, comprises a bottom flange 46a (looking at FIGS. 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9). Extending upwardly from flange 46a, is a corrugated shaped annular wall 46b comprising radially outer wall portions 460 arranged in a circle alternating with radially inner wall portions 46d and interconnected by

wall portions

46e, 46f inclined in opposite directions. Inclined wall portions 46ehave longer slots 48 extending down from the upper edges of said wall portions. Inclined wall portions 46f have shorter slots 49 extending clown from the upper edges of said wall portions. The upper edges of wall portions 46c, 46d, 46c, and 46fare in the same plane, as seen in FIG. 5 of the drawing.

The inner ring 47 of the pair of telescoping

smaller rings

46, 47, comprising a top flange 47a. Extending down from flange 47a is a corrugated annular wall 471) comprising radially outer wall portions 47c arranged in a circle, and radially inner wall portions 47d, alternating with each other and interconnected by oppositely

inclined wall portions

47e, 47f. The height of

wall portions

47c, 47d, 47c, and 47f (looking at FIGS. 2 to 9) is the same. Said walls 47c, 47d, 47:: and 47f have lower edges in the same plane. Walls 47f are formed with notches 50 extending up from the lower edges of said walls. The notches 50 terminate somewhat below flange 47a. The lower edges of

walls

47c, 47d, 47e, 47f are disposed above the lower semi-circular edges of notches 48. The upper semi-circular edges of notches 50 are abovethe lower semi-circular edges of notches 49. Wall portions 470 of ring 47 lie inside of wall portions 46c of ring 46. Wall portions 47d of ring 47 lie inside of wall portions 46d of ring 46. Inclined wall portions 47e of ring 47 lie inside of inclined wall portions 46c of ring 46. Inclined wall portions 47f of ring 47 lie inside of inclined wall portions 46f of ring 46. Thus,

notches

49 and 50 overlap to expose a circular opening through

inclined wall portions

46f, 46f, at a higher level than the portions of the lower ends of notches 48 which are disposed below the lower edges of wall portions 47e of ring 47, to provide through openings through wall portions 46c, 47e, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The upper holes alternate with the lower holes.

Mounted on and between the larger outer ring 40 and the telescoping

smaller rings

46, 47, are a plurality of upper, inclined spoke simulating rods 60 crossing a plurality of lower, inclined spoke simulating rods 61. The

rods

60, 61 may be similar in length.

Each rod 60 comprises a straight piece 62 of solid or tubular round stock with outer heads or caps 63 fitted on the outer ends, and caps 64 fitted on the inner ends thereof. The

caps

63, 64 may be similar and force fitted on the rods. Each may be formed with a socket portion 64 from 65 a pin 66 extends outwardly. The pins 66 at the outer ends of the lower members 61 project into the lower openings 43 of ring 40. The pins 66 at the inner ends of the lower members 61 project into lower ends of the notches 48 and are held down by the walls 47e of ring 47. The outer pins 66 of the upper members 60, project into the upper openings 44 of ring 40 whereas the inner pins 66 of the upper members 60 project through the overlapping ends of

notches

49, 50. It will be noted that the members 60 are inclined in one direction and members 61 are inclined in a crossing direction. Each member 60 crosses 3 members 61 and each member 61 crosses three members 60 (See FIGS. 1 and 3).

Fitted onto the central wall 12 of member 11 is a cup 70 made of stamped or drawn sheet metal and comprises a flat circular wall 71 overlying and registering with wall 12. Extending upwardly from wall 71 is a cylindrical wal 72 contacting the inner surface of cylindrical wall 13. Extending radially outwardly of cylindrical wall 72 is a flat web a wall 73 lying on flange 47a of ring 47. Extending radially and axially inwardly, from wall 73 is a frusto-conical wall 74 which overlies parts of inner caps 63 on

members

60, 61. Wall 71 is formed with three openings 75 which register with openings 38.

A central, decorative hub rests on wall 71 in concentricity with cylindrical wall 72 and has an outer flange 81 contacting wall 71 and its formed with screw threaded holes 82 receiving shanks of screws 83 passing up through registering holes 38, 75 to fix member 80 to the center of cup 70. A central decorative button 85 has an outer beveled flange 86 underlying an inwardly extending flange 87 on member 80 to centralize the button. Member 80 is whollly within cup 70.

It will now be understood that screws 83 serve to attach

rings

46, 47, together, and hence the

spoke similating rods

60, 61 in assembled relation.

The

members

60, 61 could be made all of plastic or metal, and also each could be made of a single piece of material, if desired. They may all also be of similar length. It is noted that each member 60 is inclined to a radial line through the outer end thereof, by the same angle that the next adjacent member 61 is inclined to a radial line through its outer end, but on the opposite side of said radial line.

The straight rods 62 can be chopped up to size from full lengths of rod or tubular stock. For different sized wheel covers, the full length stock can be cut to desired lengths. Also when metal rods are used, they can readily be barrel plated. With wire simulating elements with hooks or bent ends, it is difficult to tumble them in a barrel because they interhook.

The assembly of the entire wheel cover is easy. The

caps

63, 64 can be made of plastic, rubber, or metal and force fitted on the rods. The center cup is a stamped, drawn metal cup. Upon attaching the center cup to the cover wheel member 11, all the parts of the assembly are held together.

The whole assembly can be assembled on fixtures. The outer ring 40 and

inner rings

46, 47 can be dropped in place and are held in concentric relation by annular shoulers on member 11. The

straight members

60, 61 resemble wire spokes.

An assembly operator need not be highly skilled and can be taught to make the assembly, easily, after a short period of instruction.

If spoke

rods

60, 61 are damaged, they can be readily replaced. Any damaged part can be readily replaced. By unscrewing screws 83, all the parts can be disassembled readily. These wheel covers can be assembled even without fixtures because the parts are so constructed so as to be interfitted in proper relative positions. The assembly is of good appearance and cheaper to make because of high production possibilities, with less labor and less time consumption.

The caps can be replaced by circular notches on the rods. The caps do however add to the attractive appearance of the wheel covers.

It will be noted that the wire spoke simulating

members

60, 61 are in conical surfaces, being inclined axially as well as radially and being also inclined to radial planes passing through said members. The cup 70 being attached to the cover wheel member 11 due to its being bolted thereto, presses down on the telescoping rings. The spoke simulating members having abutting, relation to the outer large ring and to the telescoping smaller rings,clamps the outer large ring to the wheel cover member. It will also be noted that the outer larger ring and the inner telescoping rings are held in concentric relation by concentric cylindrical portions ofthe wheel cover member 11 and are clamped against flat, annular wall portions of the wheel cover member.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an article in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted'as illustrative only.

I claim:

1. A wire wheel simulating wheel cover comprising, a single wheel cover member, an outer larger single ring coaxially fitted within said wheel cover members; a pair of telescoping assembled smaller rings coaxially fitted on said wheel cover member and being axially offset from said larger ring, said outer ring being formed with an upper circle of equi-angularly spaced holes and a lower circle of equi-angularly spaced holes and a lower circle of equi-angularly spaced holes, alternating with the holes in the upper circle, said telescoping rings having means to form upper and lower circles of openings corresponding to the upper and lower circles of openings in the larger ring, and wire wheel spoke simulating members inclined axially of said cover member and having their outer ends in holes of the larger ring and their inner ends in corresponding holes in said telescoping rings, and means to fix said pair of smaller rings to said cover member, said wire wheel spoke simulating members having means to hold said outer ring on said cover member.

2. The combination of claim 1, said spoke simulating members all being straight.

3. The combination of claim 1, each spoke simulating member comprising a straight central elongated portion of uniform cross-section and heads at the ends of said elongated portion, said heads having outwardly extending reduced pin portions, wtih each reduced pin portion being slidably received in an opening and each head abutting a ring. t

4. The combination of claim .1, said spoke simulating members each comprising a straight piece with caps having enlarged socket portions force fitted on the ends of the straight piece and said caps having reduced pin portions extending outwardly of said socket portions, with each reduced pin portion being received in an opening and each enlarged socket portion abutting a ring.

5. The combination of claim 1, said means to flX' said pair of rings to said cover member comprising a cup-fitted on the center of said wheel cover member, and means to fix said cup to said wheel cover member in coaxial relation thereto.

6. The combination of claim 1, said wheel cover member having a central circular wall, and a cup having a bottom wall contacting the circular wall of said wheel cover member, a cylindrical wall disposed inside of said telescoping rings, and a flange overlying the outer ends of said pair of telescoping rings and means to attach the bottom wall of said cup to the circular wall of said wheel cover to constitute said means to fix said pair of smaller rings to said cover member.

7. The combination of claim 6, said wheel cover member having a cylindrical Wall extending from the circular wall thereof and contacting the outer side of the cylindrical wall of said cup to center said cup.

8. The combination of claim 7, said wheel cover member having a fiat annular wall, the axially inner ends of said telescoping assembled rings resting on said flat annular wall, and said wheel cover member having a cylindrical wall contacting the outer side of said axially inner ends of said assembled telescoping rings.

9. The combination of claim 8, said cover wheel member having a flat annular wall on which said outer ring rests, and a cylindrical wall into which said outer ring telescopesv 10. The combination, of claim 1 said wheel cover member having a cylindrical wall from which a flat annular wall extends radially inwardly, said outer large ring having a cylindrical wall resting on said flat annular wall, and having a flange extending radially outwardly therefrom and telescoping with said cylindrical wall of said wheel cover member, said cylindrical wall of said wheel cover member, said cylindrical wall of said large outer ring being formed with said upper and lower circles of holes.

11. The combination of claim I, said telescoping rings being of corrugated annular shape, one of said telescoping rings having a flat annular flange at one end located at one end of the other telescoping ring.

12. The combination of claim 11, said telescoping rings each having radially inner and radially outer wall' portions interconnected by oppositely inclined wall portions.

13. The combination of claim 12, said inclined wall portions of said rings having overlapping notches to form part of said hole forming means of said telescoping rings.

14. The combinationof claim 13, and one of said telescoping rings having notches partially overlapped by walls of the other of said telescoping rings to form another part of said hole forming means of said telescoping rings.

15. The combination of claim 1, and a spring grip ring fixed to the outer periphery of said wheel cover member.

16. A wire wheel simulating wheel cover comprising a single wheel cover member, a first ring fitted on said wheel cover member, a pair of telescoping second rings fitted on said wheel cover member, said first ring being concentric with and radially and axially spaced from said pair of second rings, said first ring being formed with angularly spaced openings, said pair of telescoping second rings having means to form openings corresponding to said openings in said first ring, and a plurality of straight wire wheel spoke simulating members being interfittable with one of the openings on said first ring and the other end of each of said wire wheel spoke simulating members being interfittable with a corresponding opening formed by said telescoping second rings, means to fix the pair of telescoping rings to said cover and said spoke members holding said first ring against said wire member.

17. A wire wheel simulating wheel cover, comprising a single wheel cover member, outer and inner ring means, means to clamp the inner ring means against the wheel cover member in fixed concentric relation to said wheel cover member, said inner and outer ring means being in axially spaced planes, and a plurality of straight spoke simulating members inclined axially and having means at their ends to engage said inner and outer ring means, and to keep said straight members from moving out of their axial positions relative to said outer and inner ring means, and to keep said outer ring means assembled with said cover member.

18. The combination of claim 17, said straight members being disposed in two axially spaced conical sets. l l= l

Claims

3. The combination of claim 1, each spoke simulating member comprising a straight central elongated portion of uniform cross-section and heads at the ends of said elongated portion, said heads having outwardly extending reduced pin portions, wtih each reduced pin portion being slidably received in an opening and each head abutting a ring.

4. The combination of claim 1, said spoke simulating members each comprising a straight piece with caps having enlarged socket portions force fitted on the ends of the straight piece and said caps having reduced pin portions extending outwardly of said socket portions, with each reduced pin portion being received in an opening and each enlarged socket portion abutting a ring.

5. The combination of claim 1, said means to fix said pair of rings to said cover member comprising a cup fitted on the center of said wheel cover member, and means to fix said cup to said wheel cover member in coaxial relation thereto.

8. The combination of claim 7, said wheel cover member having a flat annular wall, the axially inner ends of said telescoping assembled rings resting on said flat annular wall, and said wheel cover member having a cylindrical wall contacting the outer side of said axially inner ends of said assembled telescoping rings.

9. The combination of claim 8, said cover wheel member having a flat annular wall on which said outer ring rests, and a cylindrical wall into which said outer ring telescopes.

10. The combination, of claim 1 said wheel cover member having a cylindrical wall from which a flat annular wall extends radially inwardly, said outer large ring having a cylindrical wall resting on said flat annular wall, and having a flange extending radially outwardly therefrom and telescoping with said cylindrical wall of said wheel cover member, said cylindrical wall of said wheel cover member, said cylindrical wall of said large outer ring being formed with said upper and lower circles of holes.

11. The combination of claim 1, said telescoping rings being of corrugated annular shape, one of said telescoping rings having a flat annular flange at one end located at one end of the other telescoping ring.

12. The combination of claim 11, said telescoping rings each having radially inner and radially outer wall portions interconnected by oppositely inclined wall portions.

14. The combination of claim 13, and one of said telescoping rings having notches partially overlapped by walls of the other of said telescoping rings to form another part of said hole forming means of said telescoping rings.

18. The combination of claim 17, said straight members being disposed in two axially spaced conical sets.