Patent ID: 9469155
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: B60B

Claim Text:
1. A vehicle comprising: a hub extending longitudinally inward from a wheel; a collar disposed over the hub and mounted for translation relative to the hub; a panel assembly with a support extending radially outward from the collar and first and second panels each pivotally connected to opposing lateral edges of the support for pivoting between an expanded position and a collapsed position and translating radially for selectively closing a wheel opening; an actuator mounted to the wheel for providing an input force in a first and a second direction; a translation adjustment mechanism coupled to the actuator for adjusting the collar and panel assembly longitudinally inward and outward in response to the input force; and a pivot adjustment mechanism coupled to the actuator for pivoting the panels between the expanded and collapsed positions in response to the input force; wherein the translation adjustment mechanism and the pivot adjustment mechanism are coupled to each other to collectively adjust between a closed position where the panel assembly is adjusted longitudinally outward and expanded to engage adjacent wheel spokes about the wheel opening to restrict airflow therethrough, and an open position where the panel assembly is adjusted longitudinally inward and collapsed to allow air flow through the wheel opening.