Abstract: A lighted hubcap includes a cap body that has an outboard side and an opposing inboard side. When the cap body is secured to the wheel of a passenger vehicle, the outboard side faces away from the vehicle. At least one light emitter is incorporated in the cap body so that it emits light from the outboard side of the cap body when energized. A permanent magnet assembly is pivotally secured to the cap body and weighted so that the permanent magnet assembly is in a generally fixed orientation with respect to the passenger vehicle. Electrically conducting windings are secured to the inboard side concentrically about the permanent magnet assembly and are connected to the light emitters. The windings are in magnetic flux coupling relationship with the permanent magnet assembly so that upon rotation of the wheel and, concomitantly, the windings about the generally fixedly oriented permanent magnet assembly, alternating current is generated in the winding for energizing the light emitters.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 23, 1988
Date of Patent:
January 16, 1990
Assignee:
Manual Powell
Inventors:
Manual Powell, Lawrence J. Goffney, Jr.