Abstract:
A vehicular tire sidewall cover is adapted to fit between the rim of a vehicle wheel and a tire mounted thereon. The cover has annular ribs adjacent to the tire and rim to assure an airtight seal and is of sufficiently sturdy elastomer to allow a bias against the tire. An alternative embodiment includes an overhanging lip which protects the wheel rim from dents and scrape

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This is a continuation-in-part of my pending provisional application Ser. No. 60/649,530, filed Feb. 4, 2005.  
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     N/A  
       REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
       [0003]     N/A  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0005]     This invention relates to the field of automotive aftermarket accessories and, more particularly, an accessory tire side wall cover that can be colored or patterned to suit the personal preferences of the owner of a vehicle, as well as protect the outer edge of the vehicle&#39;s wheel rim.  
         [0006]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0007]     Motor vehicle operators have, for many years, had a deep interest in providing aftermarket accessories that would personalize their vehicles and achieve distinctive appearances. In prior years, tire manufacturers provided tires with white or colored side walls as an alternative to the all black tire that was regularly produced. Most recently manufacturers have supplied tires with a colored tread.  
         [0008]     When the white side wall was in great demand, many manufacturers provided tires with one white side wall and one black side wall so that the owner could choose which side wall would be displayed when the tire was mounted on a vehicle. However, in recent years, manufacturers have been providing all black tires even though the desire for non-black side walls has not disappeared.  
         [0009]     Accessory white and colored side wall covers have been provided in the past. These aftermarket accessory side walls generally were composed of fairly soft rubber compounds and were mounted adjacent to the tire, between the bead of the installed tire and the wheel outer rim. The side wall covers tended to be thin and flexible and, in operation, could lift away from the surface of the underlying tire or could flutter under the aerodynamic stresses of wheel rotation.  
         [0010]     The aftermarket automotive industries recent drive to accessories and personalize vehicles has lead to the production of very unique and very expensive wheels for all vehicle makes. These very expensive wheels are prone to damage from everyday use, specifically damage to the outer edge of the wheel caused by curbs while parallel parking the vehicle. Without adequate protection, repeated abrasion and scuffing from contact with curbs leads to unsightly damage of the wheel and can ultimately weaken the side wall of the wheel so that it is more prone to failure.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     According to the present invention, a novel accessory side wall cover and protector is provided that can be installed adjacent the tire. The cover, having an annular shape, is composed of a fairly stiff rubber composition and is molded to be biased against the tire. An outer edge of the cover at the inner periphery of the annulus rests upon the wheel and circumferential ribs found on the inner and outer periphery of the cover engage the outer wall of the tire and the inner wall of the wheel rim to retain the cover against the wheel and tire as the tire is inflated.  
         [0012]     In an alternative embodiment, the outer edge of the cover at the outer periphery of the annulus includes a lip that covers the outer edge of the wheel rim with a fairly stiff rubber composition providing protection to the wheel rim from scuffing and abrasion.  
         [0013]     The cover is relatively thick in the area most likely to encounter abrasion from curbs and other structures that might damage the tire and wheel sidewalls. At the outermost periphery of the annulus, which is the thinnest portion of the cover, there is an interior groove that further biases the outer periphery of the cover against the tire wall to minimize the risk of separation from the tire at high rotational speeds.  
         [0014]     It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a tire accessory item that imparts the look of a colored sidewall to a conventional black side wall tire.  
         [0015]     It is a further object of invention to provide an annular protective side wall cover for the outer edge of the wheel rim.  
         [0016]     It is a further object of invention to provide an annular protective side wall cover for a tire.  
         [0017]     It is yet another object of the invention to provide an accessory tire cover that includes artistic elements of design or color to distinguish the vehicle upon which it is mounted from other vehicles.  
         [0018]     The novel features which are characteristic of the invention, both as to structure and method of operation thereof, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be understood from the following description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and they are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     For a further understanding of the objects and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like parts are given like reference numbers and wherein:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the side wall cover mounted to a wheel and tire assembly;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 , taken along the line  2 - 2  in the direction of the appended arrows;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a side section view of a side wall cover according to the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of a portion of an alternative side wall cover with a wheel rim protective flap mounted to a wheel and tire assembly; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a side section view of the alternative side wall cover of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     Turning first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an automotive wheel/tire assembly  10  with an annular side wall cover  12  according to the present invention mounted adjacent a tire  14  on a typical wheel  16 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the cover  12  is designed to look as if it is integral with the side wall of the tire  14 .  
         [0026]     In the preferred embodiment, approximately one half of the tire side wall  14  is covered by the side wall cover  12  which will generally be in a color that contrasts with the normal black color of the tire  14 . For a classical look, the cover  12  would be white. Individual personal preferences might suggest a broader color palette to express a more individualistic ownership style.  
         [0027]     Depending, of course, upon the design of the tire and the height of the tire side wall, the cover  14  could protect the side wall to a greater or lesser extent. What is important is that the vehicle owner has the option for greater customization of the appearance of the vehicle insofar as the wheels and tires are concerned.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the wheel/tire assembly  10  of  FIG. 1 , taken along line  2 - 2 . As shown, the tire  14  is typically mounted upon the wheel  16  with the tire bead  18  resting in the wheel well  20 . The tire bead  18  and the wheel well  20  cooperate to form an airtight seal so that the tire  14  retains inflation.  
         [0029]     As shown, the annular cover  12  is designed to be held in place between the tire bead  18  and the wheel&#39;s outer rim  22  by the air pressure within the tire  14 . The cover  12  can be stretched to fit over the wheel&#39;s outer rim  22 . The cover  12  is sized to have approximately the same inside diameter as the tire it is to protect. Although the example shown is a tubeless tire, the presence of an inner tube would not materially alter the relationships. The cross section profile of the cover  12 , which is convex on the outer surface and concave on the inner surface, includes a strong bias, urging the cover  12  against the tire  14  side wall.  
         [0030]     A series of inner concentric ribs  24 , and outer concentric ribs  34 , found on the cover  12  near the inner periphery  26  serve as barriers against any air leaks as between the tire bead  18 , outer rim  22 , and the cover  12  and to prevent extrusion of the cover  12  should the tire become overinflated. The specific features of the cover are best seen in  FIG. 3 , below.  
         [0031]     Turning to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a side section view of the tire cover  12  of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 3 , some of the details of construction of the cover  12  can be better seen. At the inner periphery  26  of the cover  12 , the inner circumferential ribs  24  and the outer circumferential ribs  34  can be seen. These ribs  24  and  34  have the dual functions of enabling the cover  12  to be better held in place between the tire bead  18  and wheel rim  22 , and also the ability to seal any inadvertent air leaks that may occur between the tire bead  18 , wheel rim  22 , and the cover  12 .  
         [0032]     The outer surface  36  of the cover  12  has an outer peripheral groove  28  into which the wheel rim  22  can fit. The cover  12  is molded with a curvature that heavily biases the cover  12  against the side wall of the tire  14 . At the uppermost edge of the cover  12 , an inner circumferential groove  30  creates a more flexible contact point which is urged against the tire  14  side wall. The provision of the circumferential groove  30  also allows for greater conformation of the cover  12  to the tire  14  sidewall.  
         [0033]     FIGS.  4  depicts an alternative embodiment of a cover and wheel/tire assembly  10 ′. The alternative embodiment adds to a cover  12 ′, an outer wheel rim protector  32  as an overhanging lip or flap. The wheel rim protector  32  covers the outer wheel rim  22  and helps protect the wheel rim  22  from contact with curbs, road debris, and other harmful elements.  
         [0034]     In  FIG. 5  there is shown in cross section view, the alternative embodiment tire cover  10 ′ of  FIG. 4 . An outer peripheral groove  28 ′ into which the wheel outer rim  22  can fit, is complemented by a wheel protector lip or flap  32 , which encompasses the entire outer wheel rim  22 . The other elements of the tire cover  10 ′ bear similar reference numbers to the corresponding elements of  FIG. 1 , modified by the addition of a prime (′).  
         [0035]     The selection of an appropriate rubber formulation for flexibility and stiffness is a design choice but should be optimized to maintain the cover  12  smoothly against the tire  14  side wall. Further, the cover is colored to suit the esthetic taste of the owner and may include combinations of color or patterns of color. These can be accomplished without fear of compromising the integrity and strength of the tire itself, which may impose restraints on such features as color, flexibility and hardness.  
         [0036]     The tire cover of the present invention is installed on a fully or partially deflated wheel and tire assembly. The cover is flexible enough to be stretched over the rim of the wheel so that it can be positioned adjacent the tire. As the tire inflates, the tire bead is seated and continued inflation secures the cover between the tire and the rim. When the tire is fully inflated, the cover is held at its base between the tire and the wheel rim by the circumferential ribs molded on both sides of the cover.  
         [0037]     The alternative embodiment containing the outer rim protector may be installed on a fully or partially deflated wheel and tire assembly. The cover is flexible enough to fit over the outer rim and adjacent to the tire. As the tire is inflated the pressure secures the cover between the tire and the outer rim. When the tire is fully inflated, the cover is held at its base between the tire and the wheel rim and, at its outer periphery, is held firmly against the tire sidewall.  
         [0038]     Variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and, accordingly, the breadth of the invention should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.