Abstract:
A vehicle wheel overlay attachment system disclosed herein provides for wheel overlays, or wheel skins, that are readily installable over existing wheels by securing directly to a wheel center cap. The center cap is adapted to be inserted into the center hub portion of the wheel, much like a traditional center cap, but also contains a system for securing a wheel overlay to the center cap. When properly installed on the center cap, the wheel overlay will be snugly positioned over the wheel thereby changing the appearance of the vehicle wheel.

Description:
[0001]    The present disclosure relates to wheel overlays for automotive and other vehicle wheels and more specifically to functional and aesthetic improvements to known overlays for automotive and other vehicle wheels. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Known wheel overlays are deficient in that they do not provide efficient or effective fastening to the underlying wheel of an automobile or other vehicle. Wheel overlays are also sometimes referred to as wheel skins. Specifically, known wheel overlays do not provide fastening mechanisms that are easily attachable, do not provide fastening mechanisms that are easily removable, and do not rely on aesthetically pleasing clips or fastening members. Also, known overlays are not compatible with multiple toolings of the same wheel and the variances of those wheels since aesthetically, the wheels are the same but there can be slight differences in certain dimensions that impact the ability for the wheel overlay to attach to the wheel. What is needed is a wheel overlay system that satisfies these and other deficiencies of known automotive or other vehicle wheel overlay systems. 
         [0003]    Simulated chrome plated wheel covers designed to be installed over standard factory wheels are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,196, U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,253, U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,277, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,678 disclose embodiments of simulated chrome plated wheel covers or overlays that rely on fasteners arranged around the outside of the wheel to affix the cover to the wheel. In some of these embodiments, the described fasteners rely on an upward extending circumferential edge on the vehicle wheel to which the fasteners may be removably affixed. Typically the wheels to which such overlays are affixed are made of steel. In these embodiments, the wheel covers would either completely cover the lug nuts, or they would have openings corresponding to the positions of the lug nuts to enable access to the lug nuts (e.g., to allow the wheel to be removed) without taking the cover off. In these embodiments, if the wheel to which the overlay is going to be affixed lacks an upward extending circumferential edge, the known cover attachment mechanisms cannot be used. These known fasteners are also not aesthetically pleasing, as they are visible on the outer rim of the wheel cover and thus disrupt the aesthetic appearance of the wheel/overlay combination. 
         [0004]    Aluminum alloy wheels presented a different challenge for simulated wheel covers because the wheels often use spokes and do not typically have a recessed outer rim. U.S. Pat. No. 7,452,037 shows a wheel cover that may be attached to an alloy wheel by duplicating the shape of the original wheel on the interior and acting as a skin. Fasteners are generally not used to affix wheel covers to alloy wheels; instead the wheel contains slots that are used for inserting studs attached to the wheel cover. The cover substantially duplicates the entire outer surface of the wheel, however the sides of the spokes have a slight minimal gap or offset. This gap is only the width of a slot or slots provided within each spoke. When the wheel cover is placed over the wheel, a mating mushroom head stud, which may be integrally formed into the wheel overlay, is aligned with one edge of the slot and is easily inserted onto an area of the slot slightly larger than the diameter of the stud. The wheel cover is then rotated clockwise until the stud snaps into place in a smaller area of the slot, thereby changing the gap from one side of the spoke to the other. These covers may either cover the hub completely or match the contour of the hub, thereby permitting the lug nuts to be exposed for easy removal of the wheel. 
         [0005]    Creating wheel overlays that appear to be part of the wheel when mounted to the wheel presented a challenge as well. U.S. application Ser. No. 14/559,184, assigned to the assignee of the instant application, shows a vehicle wheel overlay system that is readily installable over existing wheels by attaching directly to lug nuts, studs, or other mounting hardware used to affix the wheel itself to the body of the vehicle. The overlay system provides for a wheel overlay that can be readily removed by disengaging lips of the extension(s) of the wheel overlay from the lug nuts holding the wheel to the vehicle, thus providing easy access to the lug nuts and enabling the wheel to be easily removed from the vehicle. In some embodiments, the plurality of lug nut engaging areas for engaging with and disengaging from a corresponding extension may be designed from various shapes, including but not limited to: rounded, angled and wedge-shaped. 
         [0006]    While this wheel overlay system represents an improvement over prior, known systems, additional improvements have nonetheless developed. The most recent challenge, which is addressed by the instant disclosure, relates to using a center cap assembly as part of the attachment mechanism. A center cap assembly may be used to securely attach a wheel overlay a wheel. In addition, there is a desire to use the original center cap so that the wheel overlay appears to be part of the original wheel. There is also a need to use multiple attachment mechanisms together to ensure the wheel overlay is securely attached to the wheel. The instant disclosure satisfies these and other problems not previously solved in the prior art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Various embodiments of the vehicle wheel overlay system disclosed herein provide for wheel overlays that are readily installable over existing wheels by attaching directly to a center cap assembly. The center cap assembly is adapted to be inserted into the center hub of the wheel, much like a traditional center cap, but also contains a mechanism or assembly for securing a wheel overlay to the center cap. When the wheel overlay is properly installed using the center cap assembly, the wheel overlay will be snugly positioned over the wheel without the drawbacks of traditional methods for affixing a wheel overlay to a wheel known in the art. The center cap assembly thus improves on prior known affixing mechanisms by ensuring that mounting forces are applied circumferentially around the wheel, as well as at the center of the wheel. 
         [0008]    Additionally, the wheel overlay disclosed herein may have an aesthetically pleasing finish, such as a chrome plated finish or a painted finish of a different color, to add to the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the disclosed wheel overlays are unfinished, or in a raw form, so that the consumer or an aftermarket paint specialist may paint the overlays any color or pattern desired. 
         [0009]    The instant disclosure also advantageously provides for wheel overlays that may be used on both steel and alloy wheels since both types of wheels may be (and typically are) designed with the inclusion of a center cap used to cover the wheel hub. Moreover, since the center cap design in some embodiments does not depend on whether steel or alloy wheels are being affixed to a vehicle, the fastening mechanism for wheel overlays may be the same regardless of the material from which the wheel is constructed. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, since wheels may vary in diameter, number of lugs nut, lug nut spacing, and outer rim design, it is advantageous to have a wheel overlay attachment system which may be readily adapted to be used with various overlay designs. An attachment system which depends on the center cap structure may be uniform in design even when other dimensions of the wheel vary, and thus provides a distinct advantage over known art. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the disclosed vehicle wheel overlay attachment system includes a fastening structure corresponding to the center cap of the wheel the user wishes to be covered by the wheel overlay. In some embodiments, this wheel will include the original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) wheel. The center cap assembly contains a system for securing the wheel overlay system to the center cap, such that the wheel overlay system is positioned over the vehicle wheel. In some embodiments, the center cap assembly will allow a second center cap to be affixed over the center cap. In one example, a user may attach a wheel overlay and wish to retain the look of the OEM center cap. This embodiment of the center cap assembly allows the user to affix both the wheel overlay and a second center cap to the wheel, the second center cap in this case being an OEM center cap. 
         [0012]    The wheel overlays disclosed herein may also contain other mechanisms for securing a wheel overlay. For example, a wheel overlay may be designed for a wheel operating in an extreme environment, such as off road, or to contain an especially complicated design. In such embodiments additional fastening systems to attach the wheel overlay may be necessary. Thus, a wheel overlay may be configured to contain both a center cap assembly and another attachment systems or techniques known in the art. 
         [0013]    Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1A  is a view of a front face of an example vehicle wheel, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1B  is a front view of an example wheel overlay, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1C  is an exploded view of the components of an example center cap assembly, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of how an example wheel overlay with a center cap assembly is put together and placed on an example vehicle wheel, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3A  is a view of a front face of an example vehicle wheel, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3B  is a front view of an example wheel overlay, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3C  is an exploded view of the components of a center cap assembly including an original center cap, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3D  is an exploded view of how an example center cap assembly is put together, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of how an example wheel overlay with a center cap assembly including an original center cap is put together and placed on an example vehicle wheel, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5A  is an exploded view of how an example wheel overlay with a threaded center retention cap including an original center cap is put together and placed on a an example vehicle wheel, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5B  is a blown-up image of the center of an example wheel overlay. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5C  is a blown-up image of the backside of a center of an example wheel overlay. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    In general, the vehicle wheel overlay systems disclosed herein affix to a vehicle wheel by using a center cap assembly. A center cap assembly may be configured to affix the vehicle wheel overlay to a vehicle wheel by engaging both the vehicle wheel at the center hub, and the vehicle wheel overlay. By engaging a vehicle wheel at the center hub, the wheel overlay may mirror the shape and appearance of an underlying wheel, while altering its outwardly visible finish, but such that an installed vehicle wheel overlay provides the appearance that no overlay is present at all. 
         [0027]    In various embodiments, the center cap assembly may be shaped to engage and mate with any underlying wheel. The center cap assembly may be configured to include any number of components to perform such engagement. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1A  is a front view of an example vehicle wheel, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. A vehicle wheel  110  may include a center recess  112 , a plurality of lug nut housings  114 , and at least one wheel spoke  116 . The plurality of lug nut housings  114  are radially spaced about a perimeter  113  of the center recess  112 . In an example embodiment, the vehicle wheel  110  may include five lug nut housings  114 . The vehicle wheel  110  may also include an outer edge  118 . In an example embodiment, the at least one wheel spoke  116  extends from the center recess  112  to the outer edge  118  of the vehicle wheel  110 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 1B  is a front view of an example vehicle wheel overlay  120 , according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle wheel overlay  120  may have a shape corresponding to a shape of the vehicle wheel  110  as shown in  FIG. 1A . The vehicle wheel overlay  120  may also have a center recess  122  where a center cap may be inserted. The vehicle wheel overlay  120  may be formed of plastic, polycarbonate, metal, acrylic, or any other suitable material depending on the aesthetic and durability requirements of the overlay. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1C  an enlarged view of hardware associated with a wheel overlay attachment system, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. Hardware associated with a wheel overlay attachment system may comprise a center cap  130 , a mechanism  140  for securing the wheel overlay, and a center cap  150  in the present embodiment. The center cap  130  may have threads  132  in the center for a mechanism  140  to thread into. The center cap  130  may be inserted into the vehicle wheel  110  inside the center recess  112  as shown in  FIG. 1A . The mechanism  140  may be selected from the group comprising: an adhesive strip, a magnet, a screw, a rivet, a bolt, and a clip engaging a portion of the wheel. The mechanism  140  may be formed of plastic, polycarbonate, metal, acrylic, or any other suitable material depending on the aesthetic and durability requirements of the mechanism  140 . The center cap  150  may be formed of plastic, polycarbonate, metal, acrylic, or any other suitable material depending on the aesthetic and durability requirements of the center cap. The center cap  150  may be an OEM center cap. Alternatively, the center cap  150  may be a different or aftermarket center cap. The center cap  150  may contain a mechanism for irremovably securing the center cap  150  to a vehicle wheel  110  center recess  112  as shown in  FIG. 1A . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of how an example wheel overlay attachment system is put together and placed on an example vehicle wheel, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle wheel overlay  120  may be placed over the vehicle wheel  110 . For example, the vehicle wheel overlay  120  may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the vehicle wheel  110 , which advantageously allows the vehicle wheel overlay  120  to form a tight fit with the vehicle wheel  110 . Next, a mechanism  140  for securing the wheel overlay  120  may be affixed to the center cap  130 . In this embodiment, the mechanism  140  is a bolt and it is screwed into threads  132  on center cap  130 . Then, the center cap  150 , which may be an OEM center cap like in this embodiment, may be inserted into the vehicle wheel overlay  120  inside the center recess  122 , thus covering the center cap  130  and mechanism  140 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 3A  is a view of a front face of an example vehicle wheel  310 , according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle wheel  310  may include a center recess  312 , a plurality of lug nut housings  314 , and at least one wheel spoke  316 . The plurality of lug nut housings  314  are radially spaced about a perimeter  313  of the center recess  312 . In an example embodiment, the vehicle wheel  310  may include six lug nut housings  314 . The vehicle wheel  310  may also include an outer edge  318 . In an example embodiment, at least one wheel spoke  316  extends from the center recess  312  to the outer edge  318  of the vehicle wheel  310 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 3B  is a front view of an example vehicle wheel overlay  320 , according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle wheel overlay  320  may have a shape corresponding to a shape of the vehicle wheel  310  as shown in  FIG. 3A . The vehicle wheel overlay  320  may also have a center hole  322  where a bolt may be inserted through. The vehicle wheel overlay  320  may also have a center hub  324  that can be used to hold a washer in place. The vehicle wheel overlay  320  also may have a recessed center  326  where a center cap may be inserted. The vehicle wheel overlay  320  may be formed of plastic, polycarbonate, metal, acrylic, or any other suitable material depending on the aesthetic and durability requirements of the overlay. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3C  is an enlarged view of hardware associated with a wheel overlay attachment system, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. The mechanism for securing a wheel overlay attachment mechanism may comprise a washer bolt  330 , a tension washer  340 , a center cap  350 , a washer  360 , a nut  370 , and a center cap  380  in the present embodiment. A washer bolt  330  may contain a bolt  332  and a washer  334 . A tension washer  340  may be made from a compressible material, such as but not limited to rubber, and may be configured such that the tension washer  340  expands when it is inserted into the center recess  312  of the vehicle wheel  310  to provide tension against the center recess  312 . A center cap  350  may be inserted into a vehicle wheel  310  inside the center recess  312 . A nut  370  may be configured to engage the bolt  332  of the washer bolt  330  with washer  360  between the nut  370  and the vehicle wheel overlay  320 . A center cap  380  may be inserted into a vehicle wheel overlay  320  inside the center recess  326 . The center cap  380  may be an OEM center cap. Alternatively, the center cap  380  may be an aftermarket center cap. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3D  is an exploded view of an example of how the hardware can be combined to make a center cap assembly  390 . To assemble the center cap assembly  390 , first the washer bolt  330  may be inserted through the tension washer  340 . Next, the washer bolt  330  may be inserted through the center cap  350 . The washer bolt  330 , tension washer  340 , and a center cap  350  in combination comprise an example center cap assembly  390 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of how an example wheel overlay with a center cap assembly including an original center cap is put together and placed on an example vehicle wheel, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. First, the center cap assembly  390  is placed in the center recess  312  in the vehicle wheel  310  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Then the vehicle wheel overlay  320  corresponding to this embodiment of the vehicle wheel  310  may be placed over the vehicle wheel  310  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The bolt  332  of washer bolt  330  protrudes from the center cap assembly  390  through the center hole  322  the vehicle wheel overlay  320 . Then, the washer  360  is placed over the bolt  332  of washer bolt  330 . Then the nut  370  is placed over the bolt  332 . The washer  360  contacts the center hub  324  of the wheel overlay  320 , and the nut  370  is threaded onto the bolt  332 , thus compressing the tension washer  340  and securing the wheel overlay  320  to the vehicle wheel  310 . Finally a center cap  380  may be affixed to the recessed center  326  of the wheel overlay  320 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 5A  is an exploded view of how an example wheel overlay with a threaded center retention cap including an original center cap is put together and placed on a an example vehicle wheel, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. First, the vehicle wheel overlay  520  corresponding to this embodiment of the vehicle wheel  510  may be placed over the vehicle wheel  510  as illustrated in  FIG. 5A . The center  522  of the vehicle wheel overlay  520  has threads  516  on legs  514  of length  518  which is determined based on what vehicle wheel the vehicle wheel overlay is made for.  FIG. 5B  shows a blown-up image of the center  522  of the vehicle wheel overlay  520 .  FIG. 5C  shows a blown-up image of the backside of the center  522  of the vehicle wheel overlay  520  with threads  516  and legs  514  of length  518 . The vehicle wheel overlay  520  is inserted into a center recess  512  of the vehicle wheel  510 . Then a threaded center retention cap  524  is placed into the center  522  of the vehicle wheel overlay  520  and threaded into threads  516 . Finally a center cap  526  may be affixed to the threaded center retention cap  524  of the wheel overlay  520 . When the threaded center retention cap  524  is screwed in, it prevents the legs  514  of center  522  from flexing inward, and thus prevents the vehicle wheel overlay  520  from falling off the vehicle wheel  510 . 
         [0038]    In still other embodiments, other mechanism to attach the wheel overlay may be used in conjunction with the center cap assemblies described herein. Other systems to attach a wheel overlay may include an adhesive strip, a magnet, a screw, a rivet, a bolt, and a clip engaging a portion of the wheel, and may be positioned at various locations on the vehicle wheel or wheel overlay, including but not limited to the lug nuts or lug nut housing, the interior surface of the wheel, the vehicle wheel outer edge, or the wheel spokes. Corresponding engagement areas may be placed on the vehicle wheel overlay to engage additional attachment mechanism positioned on the vehicle wheel. 
         [0039]    In various embodiments, the vehicle wheel overlay disclosed herein and designed to engage with the center cap may be formed of plastic, polycarbonate, metal, acrylic, or any other suitable material depending on the aesthetic and durability requirements of the overlay. As described below, the vehicle wheel overlays disclosed herein may be formed of different materials, such as by using a first material for the extensions and a second, different material for the remainder of the body of the vehicle wheel overlay. Other components of the wheel overlay assemblies described herein, such as the center cap, bolt, washer bolt, tension washer, center cap, washer bolt, nut, and center cap, may also be designed from various materials such as metals, plastics, ceramics, or other compounds as manufacturing techniques and durability allow. 
         [0040]    In other embodiments, center caps may contain ornamental designs subject to the user&#39;s choosing, including manufacturer&#39;s logos, and may be styled with any color of the user&#39;s choosing. The center cap may be a new center cap. In another example embodiment, the center cap may be the OEM center cap. 
         [0041]    In other embodiments, wheel overlays may include additional systems for securing to a vehicle wheel spokes, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,452,037, which is incorporated by reference herein. The wheel overlay can be configured to include any number of extensions to perform such engagement. The size, shape, and number of wheel spokes can be used to choose the configuration and shape of the extensions. In such embodiments, each wheel spoke has at least one slot completely through the spoke extending from the spoke&#39;s outer surface. The slot is configured with the purpose of receiving attachments for the wheel overlay. 
         [0042]    In various embodiments, the vehicle wheel overlay disclosed herein and designed to engage with the center cap, may also contain a plurality of lug nut engaging areas which can be can be shaped to engage and mate with any underlying wheel as disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 14/559,184, which is incorporated by reference herein. The wheel overlay can be configured to include any number of extensions to perform such engagement. The size, shape, and number of lug nuts can be used to choose the configuration and shape of the extensions. In various embodiments herein, the lug nut engaging areas may comprise a lip configured to engage the lug nut. It should be appreciated that this same structure may in some settings be referred to as a “lug” onto which lug nuts are threaded. 
         [0043]    The above description is exemplary of the features of the system disclosed herein. It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.