Wheel motor cover and method related thereto

The present invention involves a cover for an electric motor driven wheel of a vehicle. The cover comprises (a) an annular extension ring having a first lip and a second lip, (b) a cloth cap having (i) an annular first section slip fit over the second lip; and (ii) a top cap second section wherein the first section has at least one vent window therein for facilitating air flow, and (c) detachment clamps affixed to the ring adjacent the first lip for attaching the cover to the wheel. The present invention also involves a method for installing and replacing a cover for an electric motor driven wheel, the method involving providing the above wheel cover, installing the above wheel cover on an electric motor cover wheel, driving the vehicle, and replacing the wheel cover. The present wheel covers are light weight and easy to install. The invention also involves a wheel cover system comprising the above wheel cover and a plurality of cloth caps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to wheel covers, and more particularly 
relates to wheel motor covers 
2. Description of the Related Art 
Various wheel covers and hubcaps have been previously disclosed For 
example, Moss U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,891 issued Aug. 2, 1988 titled Wheel 
Motor Cover, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a cover 
for electric motor in a vehicle wheel wherein the cover has a flexible, 
air and water impervious sheet material and has a disc like configuration 
to fit an opening in the wheel at the cooling air exit from the motor. 
Moss also discloses the presence of openings and protective covers on the 
cover. Zbykovskii, et al, Soviet Union Patent 569,778 discloses a mine car 
axle box cover fixing; Deer Great Britain Patent 1,075,709 published Jul. 
12, 1967 discloses a hub cap comprising a molding of resilient synthetic 
resin composition optionally having textile fabric, glass fiber or other 
reinforcements incorporated in the composition; Rodionoff Great Britain 
Patent 469,632 published Jul. 29, 1937 discloses covers for hubs of motor 
vehicles, Cabanes French Patent 720,107 published Feb. 16, 1932 discloses 
a wheel cover for automobiles; Erns Australian Patent 219,983 published 
Sep. 11, 1958 discloses a wheel cap; Burckhardt, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 
4,503,944 issued Mar. 12, 1985 discloses cover plate; Beith U.S. Pat. No. 
3,726,566 issued Apr. 10, 1973 discloses a wheel cover; Reilly U.S. Pat. 
No. 3,149,883 issued Sep. 22, 1964 discloses a protective hub closure; 
Chase U.S. Pat. No. 2,299,796 issued Oct. 27, 1942 discloses a hub cap; 
Paddock U.S. Pat. No. 1,279,417 discloses a wheel guard; Smith U.S. Pat. 
No. 1,130,207 issued Mar. 2, 1915 discloses a wheel guard; Clark U.S. 
Design Pat. No. 303,649 issued Sept. 26, 1989 discloses a hub cap having a 
cloth center; Jeune U.S. Design Pat. No. 103,684 issued Mar. 23, 1937 
discloses a wheel; Horn U.S. Pat. No. 2,526,026 issued Oct. 17, 1950 
discloses a wheel cover attachment clip; Foster U.S. Pat. No. 3,619,010 
issued Nov. 9, 1971 discloses plastic hub cap; Clark U.S. Pat. No. 
3,863,949 issued Feb. 4, 1975 discloses a tire splash guard; Hampshire 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,918,762 issued Nov. 11, 1975 discloses a vehicle wheel 
cover; Lindhover, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,488 issued Jun. 18, 1981 
discloses a hub cover assembly; Lederman U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,807 issued 
Mar. 23, 1993 discloses a venting wheel bearing end cap; Koyama, et al. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,479 issued Jan. 11, 1994 discloses a resin wheel; Kuck 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,358 issued Jan. 9, 1996 discloses a vented plug for a 
hub cap; Denton U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,525 issued Apr. 9, 1996 discloses a 
hub cap; Arnot U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,661 issued Sep. 28, 1971 discloses a 
motorized wheel; Rogier U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,903 issued Jan. 7, 1996 
discloses a wheel hub enclosed by a cover; Rogier, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 
4,610,331 issued Sept. 9, 1986 discloses a wheel hub having a cover; Ruspa 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,394 issued Dec. 26, 1989 discloses a wheel cover disc; 
Sakurai, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,258 issued Apr. 3, 1990 discloses 
electric vehicle having covers; Atwood International Patent Application 
W087/00802 published Feb. 12, 1987 discloses wheel covers; and Dubost 
European Patent 409,686 published Jan. 23, 1991 discloses a detachable 
vehicle hub cap, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
Each of the above hub cap covers has one or more of the following 
disadvantages and/or problems: (a) difficulty in attachment and detachment 
for quick replacement; (b) lack of easy repair and/or replacement; (c) 
excessive weight; and/or (d) excessive replacement and/or repair costs. 
Consequently, there is a need for a wheel cover for electric motor driven 
wheels which permits easy repair, replacement, detachment and installation 
as well as being light weight. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention involves a cover for an electric motor driven wheel 
of a vehicle. The cover comprises (a) an annular extension ring having a 
first lip and a second lip, (b) a cloth cap having (i) an annular first 
section slip fit over the second lip; and (ii) a top cap section, wherein 
the annular first section has at least one vent window therein for 
facilitating air flow, and (c) detachment clamps affixed to the ring 
(adjacent the first lip) for attaching the cover to the wheel. The present 
invention also involves a method for installing and replacing a cover for 
an electric motor driven wheel, the method involving providing the above 
wheel cover, installing the above wheel cover on an electric motor wheel, 
driving the vehicle, and replacing the wheel cover. 
The present wheel covers are light weight and easy to install. The 
invention also involves a wheel cover system comprising the above wheel 
cover and a variety of cloth caps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
As best shown in FIG. 1, a cover (10) is provided for an electric motor 
driven wheel (12) (rear wheel (12)) of a vehicle (14) as best shown in 
FIG. 7. The cover (10) comprises (a) an annular extension ring (16), as 
best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, having and annular body (17), a first lip 
(18) located at the exterior region of the annular extension ring 
(body(17)) and a second lip (20) located at interior base region of the 
annular extension ring (16) (body (17)). Cover (10) further comprises a 
cloth cap (22) having (i) an annular first section (24) slip fit over the 
first lip (18) for secure attachment of the cloth cap to the annular 
extension ring (16). The cloth cap comprises a top cap second section (26) 
which extends across on end of the annular first section (24). The annular 
first section (24) has at least one vent window (28) therein for 
facilitating air flow to and from the electric motor (now shown) covered 
by the cover (10) to the environmental atmosphere The cover (10) further 
comprises attachment clamps (30) affixed to the annular extension ring 
(16) adjacent to the first lip (18) (between the first lip and the second 
lip on the radially outward exterior surface of the ring (16) (body (17)) 
for attaching the cover (10) to the wheel (12). 
The present invention also involves a wheel cover system comprising the 
cover (10) as set out above and a plurality of caps (22) for replacement 
of the original cap when it through use has been damaged. The ability of 
the caps to be easily replaced on the extension ring allows for simple and 
inexpensive replacement of damaged covers rather than the expensive 
replacement of the entire unit, particularly in situations where fiber 
glass cover units were originally utilized. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 
9, the cap (22) may have a circular elastic attachment band (23) about the 
perimeter of the base of the cape so that when the cap (22) is slip fit 
over the first lip (18), the elastic band (23) will be adjacent the fist 
lip. The elastic band (23) can be useful for slipping over first lip and 
being secured thereby to the ring during use. In the event of the cap (22) 
being damaged, the cap may be easily replaced, and optionally an adhesive 
material (glue, epoxy) may be used in conjunction with the cap for 
providing a greater level of affixing force to the cap relative to the 
ring. 
The present invention also involves a method for quick and easy 
installation of caps and replacement of caps, the method comprising 
installation of the above cover, driving of the wheeled vehicle, 
detachment of the cover from the wheel, then detachment of the cap from 
the cover and attachment of a new cap to the ring element of the cover. 
The present invention further involves a cover element (32) as best shown 
in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 and 8 for covering the front wheel of the powered 
vehicles having front wheel brakes which need covering. The cover element 
(32) may be attached to the front wheel (34) with attachment bolts (not 
shown) as are typically present on such front wheels. The cover element 
(32) includes a support ring (36) having a cloth covering (38) thereon and 
a plurality of windows (40). A brace element (42) is also provided 
comprising a brace ring (44) and a convex support frame (46) (convex 
cross) comprising a plurality of arcuate elongated brace members (48) 
(a,b). 
In use, the cover (10) is placed onto the wheel over the electric motor 
area and is attached thereto utilizing the attachment clamps (30). The 
vehicle is then driven and adequate ventilation is provided to the 
electric motor by the presence of the vent windows (28). During 
utilization, it is possible that the cap (22) will become sufficiently 
worn to require replacement At which point, the entire cover (10) can 
quickly and easily be detached and replaced as a whole or may be 
inexpensively repaired by replacement of the cap (22) with an alternative 
cap (22) by removing damaged cap from over the first lip and replacing a 
new cap onto the extension ring by slip fitting the new cap over the first 
lip. 
The braking elements on the front wheels (34) of such electric vehicles may 
be protected by cover element (32) and brace element (42) being utilized 
in combination by attachment to the front wheel (34). 
The fabric material utilized (for the cap (22) or for the cover element 
(32) may be a canvas material, as preferably material exhibiting a high 
degree of resistance. The ring preferably a metallic ring such as one made 
out of steel but optionally may be made an impact plastic material for 
further reducing the weight of the item