Patent ID: 6082829
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: B60B

Abstract:
A wheel and overlay assembly comprising:a wheel having a standardized disk and a rim flange circumscribing said standardized disk, said standardized disk and rim flange having an outboard surface with said rim flange at an outer peripheral region thereof, said outboard surface of said wheel having a first plurality of turbine openings, each of said first plurality of turbine openings having a predetermined peripheral shape defined by the structural integrity of said wheel;an overlay covering a least a portion of said outboard surface, said overlay having:an inboard surface facing said outboard surface of said wheel;an outboard surface opposite said inboard surface, at least a portion of said inboard surface being spaced apart from said outboard surface of said wheel to define at least one void therebetween;a plurality of predetermined contours on said outboard surface opposite said inboard surface, said plurality of predetermined contours adapted to provide a predetermined aesthetic characteristic on a particular vehicle; anda second plurality of turbine openings in said overlay, at least one of said second plurality of turbine openings in said overlay being at least partially complementary to one of said first plurality of turbine openings in said outboard surface of said wheel so as to communicate with said one of said first plurality of turbine openings in said outboard surface of said wheel, at least one of said second plurality of turbine openings in said overlay being defined by a portion of said overlay extending peripherally into a complementary one of said first plurality of turbine openings in said outboard surface of said wheel so as to redefine said predetermined peripheral shape of said complementary one of said first plurality of turbine openings in said outboard surface of said wheel;a rib member disposed between said outboard surface of said wheel and said inboard surface of said overlay, said rib member having one end portion abutting said outboard surface of said wheel and spaced from at least one of said first plurality of turbine openings in said wheel such that said overlay is stabilized relative to said wheel in an axial direction of said wheel; andmeans for attaching said overlay to said wheel such that said second plurality of turbine openings in said overlay define a different peripheral shape from said predetermined peripheral shape of said first plurality of turbine openings in said outboard surface of said wheel, to define said aesthetic predetermined characteristics of said particular vehicle.