Adaptor hub for automotive wheel ornaments

An adaptor hub for attaching wheel ornaments is disclosed for use on wheels which are attached to the brake assembly by conventional lugs and lug nuts. The adaptor is attached to the wheel by threaded fasteners radially spaced about the wheel hub. A wheel ornament is threaded onto the adaptor. An adaptor cover is retained by the wheel ornament.

BACKGROUND 
This invention relates to a device which facilitates attachment of 
ornaments to automotive wheels. The growth of interest and value to 
vintage and classic automobiles, especially sports and touring 
automobiles, has led to an increasing interest and market for automotive 
products which provide the classic look of, and retain the distinctive 
features of, these automobiles. 
An area of keen interest has been the wheel style and particularly the 
"knock-off" style wheel used in racing, sports, and touring cars. The use 
of a single center "knock-off" hub nut significantly reduces the time 
required to remove and replace the wheel, an important factor in races and 
rallies. However, the "knock-off" hub is less reliable than the use of a 
number of wheel lugs and nuts used in conventional automotive wheels, 
especially for the motoring public which is unaware of the potential 
hazards of the "knock-off" wheels. 
Many unfortunate accidents have occurred utilizing these wheels, especially 
by owners and drivers less experienced in automotive performance equipment 
and its maintenance. The center "knock-off" locking hub has become loose 
and come off during driving resulting in loss of control of the vehicle. 
Conventionally attached wheels, utilizing several lugs and nuts to attach 
the wheel to the brake assembly, offer additional warning and backup if 
one of the fasteners becomes loosened or fails. 
For the general driving public, this situation has resulted in 
incorporating a number of devices including attaching devices or adaptor 
hubs and wheel ornaments to simulate the look of the "knock-off" wheel 
design on conventionally attached wheels. However, most of these devices 
suffer from being less than realistic in appearance. Other devices have 
adaptor hubs which utilize the wheel lugs or bolts to attach the adaptor 
to the wheel, requiring the removal of the lugs or bolts to remove the 
adaptor hub. U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,002 to Simpson and U.S. Pat. No. 
3,170,733 to Lamme are examples of devices which require removal of the 
wheel lug nuts to remove the adaptor hub. 
A particular need is in the case of the 1963 to 1966 Corvette whose owners 
wish to use the later conventionally attached wheels for safety yet retain 
the classic appearance of the "knock-off" wheel. Although the brake 
assemblies of the 1963 to 1966 Corvettes were supplied with conventional 
wheel lugs, the manufacturer supplied conversion hubs which bolted to the 
wheel lugs and allowed use of a competition wheel which could be attached 
with a "knock-off" locking hub. Later a wheel was supplied with lug holes 
so the wheel would be attached in the conventional manner without the 
conversion hub. Although the wheel was supplied with an attachment method 
for a hubcap to cover the center of the wheel, the hubcap lost the 
aesthetic appeal of the "knock-off" method. Therefore, owners of this 
valuable collectors automobile must choose between utilizing a wheel 
attachment method which is intended for competition and may introduce 
risks for unexperienced owners, or use a safer conventional attachment 
means which is aesthetically unpleasant and lowers the value of the 
automobile. 
SUMMARY 
My invention allows use of the conventional wheel attachment method, yet 
retains the authentic look of the "knock-off" wheel attachment method. My 
invention utilizes an adaptor hub for attaching a wheel ornament such as a 
actual "knock-off" locking hub to a wheel and utilizes conventional lug 
and lug nuts for attaching the wheel to the brake assembly. The adaptor 
hub is attached to the wheel independently of the lugs or lug nuts. 
Threaded fasteners are inserted in attachment holes spaced radially around 
the center of the hub adaptor and secure the adaptor hub to the wheel. The 
adaptor hub also has through holes located at the wheel lug locations and 
with a diameter large enough to attach and torque the lug nuts on the 
lugs. The adaptor hub is threaded on the outboard end to receive a 
"knock-off" locking hub. The device also includes a decorative hub cover 
with an annular opening which is secured by placing the cover over the hub 
before attaching the "knock-off" hub. 
My invention results in an aesthetically pleasing wheel which utilizes a 
safe, conventional wheel mounting method. The adaptor hub and "knock-off" 
hub are securely attached and can be removed without loosening or removing 
the wheel lugs or nuts. 
Although it is specifically designed to attach the actual "knock-off" hub 
for a 1967 or later Corvette wheel when attached to the brake assembly 
using conventional lug nuts, my invention could be used on other wheels 
which have, or could have added, drilled and tapped holes in the wheel for 
attachment of an adaptor hub.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
FIG. 1 is an assembly drawing of a device which will allow installation of 
a wheel ornament on a wheel installed with conventional wheel lugs and 
nuts. The adaptor hub 1 is machined or cast from a durable material such 
as aluminum, magnesium alloy, or steel, and has two sets of radially 
spaced holes 3 and 4. Adaptor hub attachment holes 3 are counterbored to 
accept a threaded fastener 10 such as a bolt, machine screw, or a socket 
head cap screw. The adaptor hub 1 covers the center of the wheel and is 
attached by fasteners 10 threaded into a drilled and tapped holes 2 in the 
wheel 9. Lug nut access holes 4 are spaced so the centerline of lug nut 
access holes 4 are aligned with the centerlines of the wheel lugs 8. Lug 
nut access holes 4 are through drilled and of a diameter larger than the 
head of a wheel lug wrench or socket whereby lug nuts 11 can be installed 
and tightened with a wheel lug wrench when the adaptor is installed on the 
wheel. 
The inboard end of hub adaptor 1 may be recessed in the center to allow 
clearance for the wheel bearing dust cap, or other wheel or wheel hub 
interferences. 
The wheel ornament 6 is threaded onto ornament threads 7 of adaptor hub 1. 
Ornament threads may be integrally machined with the adaptor hub 1. FIG. 2 
shows an alternative embodiment with threads 7 machined on a sleeve or 
journal 15 which is secured to adaptor hub 1A by interference fit 14. 
Ornament attachment threads may be machined on a sleeve or journal and 
secured to the adaptor hub by means of an interference fit 14 (FIG. 2). 
The threads may be machined to match an actual "knock-off" locking hub as 
in the case of a 1963-1966 Corvette or to match the internal threads of 
other standard or special wheel ornaments. The wheel ornament is threaded 
until its inboard face 12 contacts the outboard face 13 of the adaptor hub 
1. Torquing of the ornament will normally be adequate to prevent the 
ornament from loosening. Ornament torquing is not critical for safety 
because the ornament does not affix the wheel to the vehicle. Additional 
protection from loosening may be accomplished by using set screws or pins 
which engage the hub adaptor and wheel ornament. 
In its preferred embodiment, hub cover 5 is used to improve the aesthetic 
appearance of the assembly by covering the adaptor hub. The cover is 
retained on the wheel by the wheel ornament 6. The shape and appearance of 
the hub cover can be modified to suite the application. 
In its preferred embodiment, adaptor hub 1 is machined from aluminum to 
reduce unsprung weight. The ornament threads 7 are machined in a steel 
sleeve and assembled to adaptor hub 1 with an interference fit 14. Hub 
cover 5 is spun aluminum or stainless steel. 
In the case of lug attached wheels for a Corvette, drilled and tapped holes 
2 already exist. Attachment holes 3 on adaptor hub 1 align with holes 2 on 
wheel 9. Threaded fasteners 10 with threads matching the thread of holes 2 
secure the adaptor hub 1 to the wheel 9. Ornament thread 7 is made to 
accept the actual "knock-off" locking hub used with the conversion hub, 
resulting in an authentic replica of the actual "knock-off" wheel "look" 
while providing the safety of a conventional lug mounted wheel. 
Although the device is specifically designed for use on wheels already 
having a threaded engagement means such as drilled and tapped holes in the 
wheel which could be used for attachment of the adaptor hub, the present 
invention could be used as well on any vehicle wheel in which such an 
attachment means could be safely added.