Acting To Bias Portion Of Cover Into Engagement With Wheel Patents (Class 301/37.33)
  • Patent number: 11878550
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a clamping device for tensioning an attachment on a rim of a vehicle wheel, wherein the attachment configured to enable a driving operation with a restricted tire function in an operating state in which it is fastened on the vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: GV ENGINEERING GMBH
    Inventor: Konstantin Tsiberidis
  • Patent number: 8939517
    Abstract: A wheel cover assembly which includes a generally flat, circular wheel cover portion, an attachment assembly, and a manually releasable fastener selectively connecting the wheel cover portion to the attachment assembly, the wheel cover being predominately made from flexible laminar materials, the wheel cover portion comprising a mostly transparent window affixed to the manually releasable fastener, the window having an inwardly facing face which includes a flap for retaining a display card on the inside surface of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Moochout LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan E. Fleck
  • Patent number: 8845035
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel cover retention system includes a wheel defining an axis and includes a wheel rim and a wheel disc. The wheel disc has a generally radially outwardly extending retention groove formed in a generally axially extending portion of an inner mounting surface thereof. The cover includes an inner portion having a central opening. The inner portion is provided with at least one wheel cover retention member having at least one tab. A center cap is provided and includes at least one center cap retention member having at least one tab. The at least one tab of the at least one wheel cover retention member and the at least one tab of the center cap retention member are both received in the retention groove to secure both the wheel cover and the center cap to the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Heck, Douglas P. Mason, David Frankling, Rick Wyatt
  • Publication number: 20100007197
    Abstract: A snap on rim cover that includes resilient extensions that hold the rim cover tightly on to the wheel rim. The rim cover and extensions are sized for particular sized rims/wheels and may offer several safety benefits based on its function of preventing external structures from entering and interacting with the rotating structures of the wheel rim. Decorative elements and reflective safety elements may also be incorporated in the rim cover; including elements of personalization thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Vera Pascal, Kevin L. Hill, Alexander Karlin
  • Patent number: 7510248
    Abstract: A wheel rim cover mounting structure includes a wheel rim having equiangularly spaced mounting slots, a wheel rim cover, which has protruding flanges respectively inserted into the mounting slots of the wheel rim, protruding strips extending from the protruding flanges at an inner side and respectively stopped against the inner end edges of the mounting slots, and plugholes respectively provided at the protruding flanges at an outer side, and retaining spring plates each having a toothed plug panel respectively plugged into the plugholes of the wheel rim cover and a stop panel obliquely extending from the plug panel and stopped at the back side of the wheel rim and an oblique face panel obliquely extending from the stop panel opposite to the plug panel in direction reversed to the extending direction of the stop panel from the plug panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Inventor: Yen Ching Wang
  • Patent number: 7488045
    Abstract: A wheel cover includes a raised main body, and several composite fastening components to be joined to an iron ring of a wheel; the wheel cover main body has an annular portion on an inner side, and several hollow portions; each fastening component includes a holding base member, and a fastening piece; the holding base members are formed on the annular portion of the inner side of the raised body; the fastening piece are each formed on one of inner sides of peripheries of the hollow portions; each of the fastening pieces is joined to the raised main body at a connecting portion; in assembly, the fastening pieces are removed from the raised main body, and joined to the holding base members to constitute the fastening components; therefore, when several not-assembled wheel covers are stacked up, the fastening pieces won't cause increase to the volume of the pile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Guu Yih Plastics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hung-Sheng Wang
  • Patent number: 7314255
    Abstract: The invention structure of wheel rim cover includes: a cover body whose disc surface has a plurality of spokes separated by openings; many fasteners are set on an outer edge of a rearward end hole of each opening. The fasteners are grouped surrounding the end hole of a same opening, and are jointly supported by a spring ring. The whole cover body can make use of the fasteners to latch on the end hole of the opening of a targeted wheel rim to fasten the cover body on the wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Kuan Hsings Enterprise Corp.
    Inventor: Ming-Fang Wang
  • Patent number: 7284801
    Abstract: A wheel cover has several equidistant securing parts near to an edge, which each have a detained portion on an outward side thereof; a first one of the securing parts has an inwards-facing protruding portion; the first securing part has several holes on each of two ends of the detained portion and the protruding portion; a steel ring is inserted in chosen ones of the holes at two free ends and tightly pressed against all the securing parts except the first one such that free ends of the securing parts are radially outwardly displaced, and the securing parts are tightly pressed against an inward edge of a wheel to prevent the wheel cover from falling off; the holes of the first securing part are coplanar therefore there won't be reduction in the moment arm of force when changing steel rings and using other ones of the holes for connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Inventor: Hung-Sheng Wang
  • Patent number: 7213889
    Abstract: A wheel cover has a main body, several connecting elements spaced on an inward side of the main body, and coupling pieces used for securing the wheel cover to a wheel. Each connecting element has first and second connecting parts, which have different dimensions. Each coupling piece has a curved protrusion fitted into an annular groove of a wheel, to secure the wheel cover to the wheel. The distance between the curved protrusions and the main body of the wheel cover can be adjusted according to a size of a wheel by relocating each and every one of the coupling pieces to the other one of the connecting parts of a corresponding connecting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Inventor: Hung-Sheng Wang
  • Patent number: 6932434
    Abstract: An extensional hubcap docking structure. The structure includes anchoring mounts positioned on the back surface of a hubcap. Clip components are coupled onto the anchoring mounts, and elastic components are situated between each hubcap anchoring mount and clip component. When the hubcap is fully installed onto the wheel of a tire and the hubcap is subjected to an outward force that subsequently pulls the anchoring mounts, the elastic components compress and rebound such that the hubcap is kept safely and tightly positioned on the wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Kuan Hsings Enterprise Corp.
    Inventor: Ming-Fang Wang
  • Patent number: 6886891
    Abstract: In a structure of mounting a wheel cap to a wheel, a plurality of pairs of support plates are projectingly provided on an inner wall of the wheel cap made of a synthetic resin and arranged annularly so that the support plates in each pair are opposed to each other in a circumferential direction. A pair of elastic support legs extending from opposed surfaces of the support plates in each pair are integrally connected to each other to form a V-shape. A locking claw is formed on a connection between the support legs and capable of being engaged into a locking recess in an inner peripheral surface of a rim of the wheel. An annular setting spring is connected to the locking claws for biasing the locking claws in a direction to come into engagement in the locking recess. Thus, it is possible to form each of the support legs supporting each of the locking claws sufficiently long to enhance the flexibility of the support leg, thereby improving durability of the support legs and mounting property of the wheel cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Moriroku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouichi Hara, Yasufumi Sugauchi, Yuusuke Ikuma, Osamu Uchida, Yousuke Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20040251733
    Abstract: An extensional hubcap docking structure. The structure includes anchoring mounts positioned on the back surface of a hubcap. Clip components are coupled onto the anchoring mounts, and elastic components are situated between each hubcap anchoring mount and clip component. When the hubcap is fully installed onto the wheel of a tire and the hubcap is subjected to an outward force that subsequently pulls the anchoring mounts, the elastic components compress and rebound such that the hubcap is kept safely and tightly positioned on the wheel rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: Kuan Hsings Enterprise Corp.
    Inventor: Ming-Fang Wang
  • Publication number: 20040245847
    Abstract: A noise reducer mounted on the outside of a vehicle wheel utilizing hub bolts is disclosed. The noise reducer comprises a pressure plate and a vibration damper, wherein the pressure plate is provided with mounting holes and mounted on the outside of the wheel, and the vibration damper is disposed in a periphery zone of the pressure plate so that the vibration damper presses a disk portion of the wheel when the pressure plate is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Hirotsugu Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20040222688
    Abstract: A rim cap is constructed to include an inner cap for covering a vehicle wheel, the inner cap having back mounting lugs for fastening to a wheel rim. The inner cap has a plurality of through holes and a plurality of stub barrels around the through holes protruding inwardly. An outer cap is adapted to cover the inner cap, the outer cap having a plurality of cylindrical mounting rods protruding inwardly and inserted into the through holes of the inner cap. A plurality of screws equipped with a washer is fastened to the mounting rods of the outer cap and a compression spring surrounds each mounting rod and is mounted in each stub barrel between the inner cap back wall and the washer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: KEYSTONE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Mitch Nunes
  • Publication number: 20040195906
    Abstract: A wheel rim cover includes a cover body, a plurality of fitting blocks and a ring. Each fitting block has a press member to fit with a recessed edge of each fixing base of the cover body, with a stop member of each fitting block stopping at a projection of each fixing base, and with a hook member of each fitting block hooking in a hook hole of each fixing base. Then ring fits in all insert grooves of all the fitting blocks, forcing the hook members tightly hook with the hook holes of the fixing bases. The fitting blocks are convenient to assemble with and disassemble from the fixing bases so that cover bodies piled up take small space to reduce the cost for packaging and transporting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventor: Li Yue Huang Tsai
  • Patent number: 6799810
    Abstract: A double-deck wheel rim cover includes a wheel rim cover body formed integral with a plurality of support studs in the center portion of the inner side, with each support stud having a combining hole. A combining plate is fixed on the support studs, having a hollow combining shaft provided vertically in the center and having a combining hole. An inner decorative member is provided with a bearing in the center for receiving the combining shaft of the combining plate. The wheel rim cover body is further bored with plural windows to let the motion of the inner decorative member be seen therethrough. The inner decorative member is also provided with a weight-balancing member. When the automobile runs, there will produce a visual effect of different rotating speed of both the wheel rim cover body and the inner decorative member, acquiring functions of displaying both static and dynamic decoration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Inventor: Chu-Li Wang
  • Patent number: 6789854
    Abstract: Securing elements are provided for securing a wheel cover to a wheel, and are pivotally connected to connecting projections equidistantly spaced near an edge of an inward side of a wheel cover. Each securing element has a connecting plate, which projects downwards from a lower end thereof, and which has an engaging block projecting from an inward side, and an engaging space formed right above the engaging block. The securing elements are joined to respective connecting projections so that the former can be pivoted on the latter between an upright in-use position where the engaging blocks are fitted into the engaging holes and a not-in-use laid down position where the engaging blocks are disengaged from the engaging holes and where the engaging spaces receive the bar-shaped portions therein. Thus, wheels covers equipped with the securing elements can occupy less space when stacked up in a pile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Hung-Sheng Wang
  • Publication number: 20040145236
    Abstract: In the present invention, a first set of latch members and a second set of latch members are disposed on a wheel cover; wherein the first set of latch members encloses a first circular area with a first diameter D, the second set of latch members encloses a second circular area with a second diameter d, and the first diameter D is larger than the second diameter d, such that the wheel cover uses different sets of latch members to enclose areas of different diameters and fits the installation of different sized wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: Kuan Hsings Enterprise Corp.
    Inventor: Ming-Fang Wang
  • Publication number: 20040145234
    Abstract: Securing elements are provided for securing a wheel cover to a wheel, and are pivotally connected to connecting projections equidistantly spaced near an edge of an inward side of a wheel cover. Each securing element has a connecting plate, which projects downwards from a lower end thereof, and which has an engaging block projecting from an inward side, and an engaging space formed right above the engaging block. The securing elements are joined to respective connecting projections so that the former can be pivoted on the latter between an upright in-use position where the engaging blocks are fitted into the engaging holes and a not-in-use laid down position where the engaging blocks are disengaged from the engaging holes and where the engaging spaces receive the bar-shaped portions therein. Thus, wheels covers equipped with the securing elements can occupy less space when stacked up in a pile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: Hung-Sheng Wang
  • Publication number: 20040041459
    Abstract: In a structure of mounting a wheel cap to a wheel, a plurality of pairs of support plates are projectingly provided on an inner wall of the wheel cap made of a synthetic resin and arranged annularly so that the support plates in each pair are opposed to each other in a circumferential direction. A pair of elastic support legs extending from opposed surfaces of the support plates in each pair are integrally connected to each other to form a V-shape. A locking claw is formed on a connection between the support legs and capable of being engaged into a locking recess in an inner peripheral surface of a rim of the wheel. An annular setting spring is connected to the locking claws for biasing the locking claws in a direction to come into engagement in said locking recess. Thus, it is possible to form each of the support legs supporting each of the locking claws sufficiently long to enhance the flexibility of the support leg, thereby improving durability of the support legs and mounting property of the wheel cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Kouichi Hara, Yasufumi Sugauchi, Yuusuke Ikuma, Osamu Uchida, Yousuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6682150
    Abstract: A securing member is provided for securing a wheel cover to a wheel. The securing member has an upper part, and a lower part. The upper part has hooking portions extending from a lower portion. The lower part has an engaging protrusion sticking sideways from a lower portion. The securing member is pivotally connected to one of spaced connecting plates on the edge of a wheel cover. The connecting plates have engaging holes for the hooking portions and the engaging protrusion to be engaged with. The securing member can be connected to the connecting plate in in-use position with the engaging protrusion being inserted into one engaging hole. The securing member can be moved to not-in-use laid-down position so that wheels covers equipped with securing members of the same kind can occupy less space when stacked up in a pile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Yi-Ping Chen
  • Patent number: 6663188
    Abstract: A cover body (22) has mounting claws (25), which are provided on a peripheral part thereof and restrained by a wire ring (23) from deforming toward the center of the cover body. The cover body is attached to a disc wheel of a vehicle by these mounting claws in such a way as to cover an outer surface part of the disc wheel. In this wheel cover, the necessity for additionally attaching the wire ring to the cover body is eliminated by inserting the wire ring thereinto and performing die-forming. Further, the stiffness of the cover body can be enhanced. Thus, a forming cycle time can be decreased. Moreover, the thickness of the cover body can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Isao Sumi, Takashi Yamada, Eiji Saito, Keiichi Kitayama, Yasuhide Narita
  • Patent number: 6641226
    Abstract: The contact area between the wheel cover and an engaged part of a disc wheel is increased by providing a projecting part (21) on an outer surface (18a1) of a bulge part (18a), which is an engaging surface of a mounting claw (18) to be engaged with the annular engaged part of the disc wheel and used for mounting a wheel cover. Further, the friction therebetween is increased. Thus, an operation of hindering rotation of the wheel cover is achieved without forming a rib on the wheel cover and without forming a stopper on the disc wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Isao Sumi, Eiji Saito, Takashi Yamada, Keiichi Kitayama, Yasuhide Narita
  • Patent number: 6641225
    Abstract: Disclosed is a decorative tire sidewall shield cover that provides the tire sidewall (16) with added beauty and protection. The device is a substantially planar ring-like member having a central aperture (42) substantially of the same diameter as the wheel or hub (20) opening of the tire (18). The decorative sidewall shield can also have a centrally disposed flange or lip (30) that will be positioned between the tire rim (18) and wheel rim (20) being held in place by tire air pressure. In addition to an exterior shield for tires such as motor vehicles, the tire shield covers both sides of a tire, such as for a motorcycle. The material used would have abrasion resistance properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: Frank Amodeo, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20030075971
    Abstract: A hubcap, i.e., a wheel cover, to be clamped on a wheel rim, includes a spring (1) configured in the form of an at least a nearly regular polygon. At least a portion of the vertices (9) or vertex zones of the polygonal spring (1) is affixed to radially elastic supports (14) of the hubcap (11) for the purpose of keeping in snap-in manner the hubcap in an illustratively annular recess against the wheel rim. The vertices or vertex zones (9) rest in rotatable manner on the supports (14) and/or the polygonal spring is discontinuous at least at a portion of the vertices or vertex zones, in order that, when an external force acts radially on the vertices or vertex zones, there may be, besides the resulting radial inward displacement of the polygonal spring (1), also an additional displacement of the polygonal spring, i.e., of the individual segments between the vertices or vertex zones of the polygonal spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Alwin Geisel
  • Publication number: 20030034688
    Abstract: The contact area between the wheel cover and an engaged part of a disc wheel is increased by providing a projecting part (21) on an outer surface (18a1) of a bulge part (18a), which is an engaging surface of a mounting claw (18) to be engaged with the annular engaged part of the disc wheel and used for mounting a wheel cover. Further, the friction therebetween is increased. Thus, an operation of hindering rotation of the wheel cover is achieved without forming a rib on the wheel cover and without forming a stopper on the disc wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Isao Sumi, Eiji Saito, Takashi Yamada, Keiichi Kitayama, Yasuhide Narita
  • Publication number: 20030015911
    Abstract: A cover body (22) has mounting claws (25), which are provided on a peripheral part thereof and restrained by a wire ring (23) from deforming toward the center of the cover body. The cover body is attached to a disc wheel of a vehicle by these mounting claws in such a way as to cover an outer surface part of the disc wheel. In this wheel cover, the necessity for additionally attaching the wire ring to the cover body is eliminated by inserting the wire ring thereinto and performing die-forming. Further, the stiffness of the cover body can be enhanced. Thus, a forming cycle time can be decreased. Moreover, the thickness of the cover body can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Isao Sumi, Takashi Yamada, Eiji Saito, Keiichi Kitayama, Yasuhide Narita
  • Patent number: 6425640
    Abstract: The degree of tightness, which a wheel is attached to the wheel of an automobile, may be varied by selectively engaging the ends of a retention ring in a specially formed retention tab ring supporter. The retention ring is supported on a plurality of circumferentially spaced ring supports provided on the wheel cover, and the ends of the ring are retained by the retention tab ring supporter. The retention tab is provided with an opening to receive a blunt end of the retaining ring and two adjacent vertical slots for receiving a finger end of the retaining ring. Selection of either of the two vertical slots for receiving the finger end varies the practical diameter of the retention ring when engaged with the ring supporters thereby providing and adjustment in tightness between the wheel cover and the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Rally Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Saied Hussaini
  • Patent number: 6371570
    Abstract: A securing member for a steel ring of a wheel cover has a main body, two lateral supporting plates and a confining block. The main body projects from an inner side of the wheel cover, and has an engaging protrusion on an inner side of a top portion. The lateral supporting plates each extends inwardly of the wheel cover from a respective side of the main body, and has a gap on a top to form a receiving space between same and the engaging protrusion. The steel ring can be located in the receiving space. The confining block is formed on the inner side of the main body to support the steel ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventor: Johnny Wang