Abstract:
A spare wheel cover comprising: a vaulted external panel having an external side and an internal side, said external panel comprising: a first opening at the top thereof; and means for attaching holding straps; and a circular band for covering the circumference of the wheel, wherein the internal side of said external panel is adapted to be mounted against the wheel and wherein said means for attaching are adapted to hold straps, said straps wound around said wheel and said cover and wherein said vaulted external panel and said wheel define a storage volume.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority from and is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/845,256, filed 18 Sep. 2006, this U.S. Provisional Patent Application incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    The present invention pertains to wheel covers and more specifically to spare wheel covers having additional functionalities. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The use of a vehicle spare wheel cover is well known in the prior art. The main deficiency of existing spare wheel covers is their lack of functionality other than protecting the spare tire. 
         [0004]    Several patents and published applications have addressed this problem in different manners, as detailed below:
       US Published Application No. 20060055161 to Bartorelli et al;   U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,608 to Stout;   U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,479 to Lucas;   U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,017 to Buck;   U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,614 to Guarr;   International Published Application WO9525033 to Haslbeck; and   International Published Application WO2007027185 to Fischer et al None of the above referenced publications provide for advantageously storing a water bladder in the spare wheel cover.       
 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spare wheel cover comprising: a vaulted external panel having an external side and an internal side, said external panel comprising: a first opening at the top thereof; and means for attaching holding straps; and a circular band for covering the circumference of the wheel, wherein the internal side of said external panel is adapted to be mounted against the wheel and wherein said means for attaching are adapted to hold straps, said straps wound around said wheel and said cover and wherein said vaulted external panel and said wheel define a storage volume. 
         [0013]    According to a first embodiment, the spare wheel cover additionally comprises an internal partition adapted to be mounted between said external panel and said wheel. 
         [0014]    According to a second embodiment, the internal partition comprises means for attaching holing straps, respective to said means in said external panel. 
         [0015]    According to a third embodiment, the external panel additionally comprises, at the lower part thereof, a second opening. 
         [0016]    According to a fourth embodiment, the volume defined between said external panel and said wheel is adapted to store a water bladder, whereby said second opening is adapted to accommodate the plug of said water bladder. 
         [0017]    According to a fifth embodiment, the second opening comprises two connected holes, said two connected holes having different diameters. 
         [0018]    According to a sixth embodiment, the means for attaching holding straps comprise holes. 
         [0019]    According to a seventh embodiment, the means for attaching holding straps comprise protrusions. 
         [0020]    According to an eighth embodiment, the circular band is a metal band. 
         [0021]    According to a ninth embodiment, the circular band is a cloth band. 
         [0022]    According to a tenth embodiment, the circular cloth band Is made of vinyl. 
         [0023]    According to an eleventh embodiment, the circular cloth band comprises: a rigid band connected to one said thereof; and an elastic rope threaded through a hem on the other side thereof, wherein said rigid band is adapted to be mounted on said wheel circumference and wherein said elastic rope is adapted to draw the cloth band tightly to the wheel circumference. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is an overall view of the spare wheel cover according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 3   a  through  3   c  show an exemplary opening for inserting a water bladder plug according to the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is an overall view of the spare wheel cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the cover of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the bicycle rack according to the second embodiment; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  shows a bicycle hanging on the spare wheel cover according to the second embodiment; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 8   a  through  8   c  are schematic drawings of a fabric band according to the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIGS. 9 and 10  depict an exemplary plug according to the present invention; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 11  shows the spare wheel cover of the present invention strapped to the wheel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    The present invention provides a spare wheel cover for spare wheels attached externally, mostly on the back part of a vehicle. 
         [0035]    The spare wheel cover of the present invention provides additional functionality, as will be explained below in conjunction with the drawings. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  is an overall view of the spare wheel cover  100 , which has additional storage functionality.  FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the cover of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0037]    Spare wheel cover  100  comprises, in assembly order, an internal partition  105 , optionally used for aesthetic reasons, in order to hide the wheel, a vaulted external panel  110 , having an opening  115  at the top thereof and a metal band  120  for covering the circumference of the spare wheel and providing additional holding means for cover  100 . A securing strap  125 , made of non-elastic material such as Vinyl, is threaded through matching holes  130  in both the internal partition (if existing) and the external cover, and then drawn around the spare wheel, to secure the cover to the wheel. In an alternative embodiment, the securing strap may be wound around matching protrusions in both the internal partition (if existing) and the external cover and then drawn around the spare wheel, as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0038]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, metal band  120  may be replaced by a fabric band, rendering the spare wheel cover less expensive, as will be explained in detail in conjunction with  FIG. 8 . 
         [0039]    The vaulted shape of external panel  110  defines a storage volume between the wheel or the internal partition  105  and the external part of cover  100 , which may be used to store a variety of items. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the storage volume is used for storing a water bladder. According to this embodiment external panel  110  comprises an additional opening  135  at the bottom thereof, to enable pouring water without having to pull out the water bladder. A water bladder  140 , sealed by plug  150  on its lower part as known in the art, is inserted vertically through opening  115  into the storage volume, so that plug  150  emerges through opening  135  of the cover, ready for use. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 3   a  through  3   c  depict an exemplar process of securing the water bladder  140  to the spare wheel cover  100 .  FIG. 3   a  shows the details of an exemplary opening  135 , comprising two connected holes  155  and  160 , where the bottom hole  160  has a smaller diameter than the upper hole  155 . In  FIG. 3   b , the plug  150  is inserted from within the storage volume, through upper hole  155 . In  FIG. 3   c , the plug  150  is pushed towards the lower hole  160 , so that its narrower part fits tightly into the hole. The water bladder is thus secured inside the spare wheel cover and ready for use. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  depicts a general view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the spare wheel cover of the present invention functions both for storage and for carrying bicycles.  FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the cover of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0042]    Spare wheel cover  200  comprises, in assembly order, an external cover  210 , comprising a bicycle rack  215  and a band  220  for covering the spare wheel. As in the first embodiment, band  220  may be made of fabric or metal. 
         [0043]    The bicycle rack  215  comprises a hollow protruding portion  225 , which serves as a hanger for the bicycle. An opening  230  at the top of portion  225  serves for inserting a water bladder, or any other items to be stored. In the embodiment of a water bladder, the external cover will also have a bottom opening  235 , similar to opening  135  which has been described in conjunction with the first embodiment. A securing strap  240 , similar to strap  125  of the first embodiment, serves to attach the cover to the wheel. Additionally, an elastic rope  245  may be used to secure the bicycle hanging on the rack. 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the bicycle rack  215 , showing a niche  250  designed to accommodate the elastic rope  245 , which is connected on its two ends to the cover body, e.g. by threading it through holes  255 . After the bicycle has been hung on the rack, the elastic rope  245  is drawn into the niche  250 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  shows a bicycle hanging on the spare wheel cover according to the present invention. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 8   a  through  8   c  are schematic drawings of a fabric band covering the spare wheel, instead of the metal band, as described in the previous embodiments. In a preferred embodiment, the fabric band  300 , made of elastic fabric such as vinyl, comprises a rigid metal or plastic string  350  threaded into its hem on one side, for maintaining the circular structure of fabric band  300  and preventing it from slipping off the wheel and cover, and a tightening elastic rope  340 , such as a bangi rope, threaded through the opposite hem. When the tightening strap  340  is tightened, e.g. using a cord lock  320 , the fabric is stretched evenly. 
         [0047]    A fabric band has several advantages over a metal band; it is cheaper and it may adapt to various wheel sizes. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 9 and 10  depict an exemplary plug designed to close the bottom hole  135  of the spare wheel cover according to the present invention, when the storage volume does not contain a water bladder and may be used as general purpose storage. Plug  400  is preferably made of Plastic. 
         [0049]    In  FIG. 9   a , the plug  400  is shown in its open position and in  FIG. 9   b  the plug  400  is shown in its closed position, as will be explained below in conjunction with  FIG. 10 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 10   a  is a schematic drawing of plug  400  according to the present invention, comprising two connected spheres  410  and  420 , mounted on a common bottom  425 . Sphere  410  is elevated relative to sphere  420  and comprises a narrower “neck”  430 . 
         [0051]    In operation, sphere  410  is inserted into upper hole  155  from within the storage volume, plug  400  is then pushed downward so that neck  430  fits into lower hole  160  and at the same time sphere  420  covers the opening of hole  155 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 10   b  is a front view of the spare wheel cover according to this embodiment. 
         [0053]      FIG. 10   c  is a section view o-o of spare wheel cover of  FIG. 10   b.    
         [0054]      Fig. 10   d  is a detail view of area  440  of  FIG. 1   c , depicting plug  400  in position for sealing the storage volume.