Vehicle wheel accessory capable of displaying different designs

A vehicle wheel accessory includes a hub, a plurality of blades having ornamental designs on opposite surfaces thereof, a plurality of radially extending spokes, coupled to said hub by a hinged spoke coupler; a biasing device contained within each blade for biasing the blade toward said hub and yet permitting said blade to be pulled outwardly away from said hub, enabling each blade to be rotated about an associated spoke for causing a first design on a first side of a blade to be displaced by a second design on a second opposite side of said blade; and wherein a plurality of anti-rotation locking devices are coupled to said hub for preventing blade rotation when lower portions of associated blades remain seated therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of vehicle wheel ornamentation.

U.S. patent to Fuller, U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,035 describes numerous known approaches to modify the appearance of a vehicle wheel to enhance the attractiveness of the wheel.

Carlson U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,268 discloses intertwined blade or spoke-like elements for enhancing the appearance of a vehicle rim. The second upper cast metal cover changes the appearance of the wheel when it is attached or detached from the lower spoke-like disk.

Beisch U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,990 discloses adding radially extending spokes to an inner wheel hub attachment to simulate a wire wheel sports car look.

Fowlkes U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,370 discloses a wheel spinner assembly independently rotatable relative to a corresponding wheel.

SUMMARY OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A vehicle wheel accessory includes a hub, a plurality of blades or vanes having ornamental designs on opposite surfaces thereof, a plurality of radially extending spokes, coupled to the hub via a hinged spoke coupler; a biasing device contained within each blade for biasing the blade toward said hub and yet permitting the blade to be pulled outwardly away from the hub, enabling each blade to be quickly and easily rotated about an associated spoke for causing a first design on a first side of a blade to be displaced by a second design on a second opposite side of the blade; and wherein a plurality of anti-rotation locking devices are coupled to the hub for preventing blade rotation when lower portions of associated blades remain seated therein.

The wheel accessory can be directly affixed to a vehicle wheel or can be coupled to an intermediate member such as a bearing assembly allowing the wheel accessory to rotate independently relative to a corresponding wheel as disclosed in Fowlkes U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,370.

The wheel accessory enables vehicle accessory designs to be quickly and easily changed in a couple of minutes without changing to another accessory.

The “flipper” vehicle wheel accessory itself, including hub9, may connect to a prior art coupling device on a vehicle rim which will allow the accessory to spin freely of the traditional rim behind it as mentioned previously. Alternatively, it may be directly rigidly connected to a conventional vehicle hub somewhat like a spare tire assembly is bolted to an automobile.

The overall configuration of a “flipper” vehicle wheel accessory is indicated inFIG. 1B. A hub9of the accessory supports a plurality of decorative blades1that have various designs or surface textures, shapes or finished styles upon front and back surfaces such as satin surfaces, grooved surfaces or other geometric designs that can even have various colors. Each blade1is coupled to hub9in a manner to enable the blade to turn over, or be flipped over 180 degrees, thus permitting the design on the blade back to be now visible in place of the previously visible design on the blade before being turned over 180 degrees. The blades1of course rotate along with the hub somewhat in the manner of a windmill. Optionally, additional blades14could be affixed to rim16B ofFIG. 1Aschematically illustrating a conventional automotive wheel rim for having a tire (not shown) mounted thereon. This further enhances the appearance of the wheel assembly.

The main components described are preferably utilized to assemble the wheel assembly. There is only one hub, and there are as many blades/springs/spokes as determined necessary by the design desired; five being typical as shown inFIG. 1.

A single vane or blade1shown inFIGS. 2 and 3comprises the wide, flat portions of the wheel accessory which may be rotated 180 degrees as mentioned above to change designs. The blade itself is fashioned with an upper internal cavity2and a lower internal cavity3. The cavities contain a cylindrical spoke shaft4. When the blade is in a closed or retracted position, shown inFIG. 2, the lower cavity3will encompass a hinge10where the spoke shaft connects to the hub9at portion11A, e.g. by welding. See alsoFIG. 4further illustrating the hinge and blade.

As shown inFIG. 2, the blade's rectangular base8fits into a rectangular receptacle11affixed to central hub9, e.g. by welding, which receptacle11contains the hinge10to which the spoke shaft4connects as shown inFIG. 2. The two external, visible, large surfaces of blade1, on opposite sides of the blade, would typically carry two different designs that can consist of different colors, finishes, metals, and other possible ornamental designs. These designs are indicated by wavy lines1A inFIG. 1B. Alternatively, commercially available ornamental stickers bearing colorful ornamental designs may be adhered to opposite sides of the blade surfaces. For example the blades could have all green designs for St. Patrick's Day or the blades could be colored red, white and blue for the Fourth of July.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, spring6can be a standard helical spring which preferably is stiff enough to hold the blade to the hub even while the wheel assembly is rotating or spinning, but compliant enough to be contracted or compressed while a person or device pulls the blade1outward in a radial direction away from the hub. The spring6fits around cylindrical spoke shaft4just below its cylindrical spoke head5. The spring rests upon an internal lip7in the blade. When the blade is pulled outward radially, the spring contracts and is compressed between the spoke head, and the internal lip7inside of the blade, as shown inFIG. 3, mechanically biasing the blade inwardly toward hub9and hub portion9A as shown inFIG. 4.

As mentioned above, the accessory enables the user to switch which design is visible on its flipper blades. To do this, the user pulls up on the blade to a position above the hub's rectangular receptacle11and above the hinge10between the spoke and hub portion9A as shown inFIG. 4. This also contracts the spring putting it in compression. Once the hinge is uncovered, the user can bend the blade towards him or her about its hinge at an angle of typically 30-45 degrees as shown inFIG. 4, and then rotate the blade 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis4aextending down the middle of the spoke shaft. In doing this, the user changes the visible view. If Design A was on the front visible side of the blade before the user turned it, and Design B was on the back side, rotating the blade 180 degrees would place Design B on the front, visible side, and Design A on the back, hidden side of the blade.

After rotating the blade, the user tips the blade back into its position shown inFIG. 3about its hinge10. Then the user allows the blade to slide into the hub's rectangular receptacles as shown inFIG. 2by virtue of the expansion and biasing effect of spring6and be effectively in place once again upon the hub but with the alternate design visible. Thus, spring6aids in maintaining seating of lower blade portion8within receptacle11. If the lower blade portion is shaped as a rectangular or square or as another shape e.g. as a hexagon etc., then the container11will be similarly shaped as a rectangle or square or hexagon.

The blades and other components may be made of metal or injection molded plastic.

The wheel accessory can also be utilized in vehicles other than automotive vehicles such as bicycles, carts or a wheelchair. For example if an embodiment of the invention were to be utilized on a slow speed vehicle such as a toy vehicle or a wheelchair, the hinge providing outward tipping of the blade as indicated inFIGS. 4 and 5could be eliminated and the blade could be flipped over 180 degrees in the outward position shown inFIG. 3and returned to the inward position shown inFIG. 2.

The wheel accessory can be directly affixed to a vehicle wheel or can be coupled to an intermediate member such as a bearing assembly allowing the wheel accessory to rotate independently relative to a corresponding wheel as disclosed in Fowlkes U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,370.

Known anti-theft devices known in the art may be utilized; e.g. D'Angelo U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,400.