Abstract:
A monitor display carried by a vehicle. The monitor display is mounted proximate a rim of a corresponding motive wheel of a vehicle. A rim of the motive wheel has a surface which is contoured to substantially conform to an inner surface of the monitor display. The monitor display is rigidly maintained in a non-rotating fashion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a regular application filed under 35 U.S.C. § 111 (a) claiming priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) (1), of provisional application Ser. No. 60/620,437, previously filed on Oct. 21, 2004 under 35 U.S.C. § 111(b). 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention deals broadly with the field of vehicles. More narrowly, however, it deals with the display of a visual presentation in a non-rotational manner at a rim of a motive wheel of the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle includes a suspension frame and a conduit extending from the suspension frame to the rim of a motive wheel. The conduit directs display transmission cable to the area of the rim so as to enable the display of a non-rotational presentation of any moving or non-moving portrayal, including movies, television programs and commercial advertising. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Motor vehicles can be categorized in numerous ways. One is by the “work:leisure” intended function of the vehicle. In the case of a work function, the rims of one are more motive wheels are typically built for strength and have little, if any, aesthetic attributes. 
   On the other hand, however, wheels of a leisure vehicle are typically adorned with some sort of appealing structure to make them more attractive. In the case of some vehicles, decorative hubcaps or wheel covers are put into place proximate corresponding rims of the motive wheels. In the prior art, such hubcaps or wheel covers are typically able to rotate relatively freely. In fact, the rotation is intended to impart a pleasing effect. 
   In the case of some vehicles, however, the decorative structure tends to achieve its goal only if the rim or proximate structure rotates such that a display tends to be maintained generally in a desired orientation. Illustrative of such a structure is the WHEEL ASSEMBLY depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,369 issued on Aug. 9, 2005 to Tommie L. McCaster, III and Jason T. Clifford. That document teaches a wheel assembly structure for a vehicle which includes a rim for mounting a tire, and a hub which includes a central portion and a connecting portion radiating from the central portion to the rim of that device. A plurality of lug holes are provided in a central portion of the hub. Lug studs pass through the lug holes, and a rear side of the central portion is mounted against an axle hub of the vehicle. The inventors envisioned the mounting of a functioning clock to a front side of the connecting portion of the hub. The clock, in turn conceals the lug holes from view. 
   The assembly of the McCaster, III et al. document, however, does not maintain the functioning clock in a consistent, rigid orientation wherein the clock is always oriented with the “12” precisely at the top. The way the orientation of the face portion of the clock is substantially maintained in an intended orientation is by providing a bottom weight face portion. 
   A plurality of roller bearings at the perimeter of the face portion are also provided. This allows the face of the clock to rotate freely, but the bottom weighting tends to enable the face of the clock to be maintained in a desired orientation. Nevertheless, the face will typically swing like a pendulum, and it might well be that such swinging is not only undesired, but also detrimental to the device structure. 
   The present invention is a structure which addresses the problems and limitations of the prior art. It serves to offer a structure which will maintain a visual presentation in a desired orientation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention deals with visual displays presented from vehicles. More particularly, however, the invention deals with the presentation of any moving or non-moving display, including movies, television programs and commercial advertising. The visual presentation is made at one or more rims of motive wheels of the vehicle. The visual presentation, it is intended, includes a monitor for projecting the presentation. 
   A vehicle for use for travel over land typically employs four motive wheels. Each wheel assembly includes a rim, generally circular relative to an axis. The assembly mounts a substantially annular tire, the tire defining a generally circular opening coaxial with the rim. Means are provided for generating a visual presentation in the opening so defined. The presentation, it is desired, is maintained in a generally defined orientation, and means are provided to retain the presentation in that orientation. 
   Apparatus can be provided to positively lock the visual presentation against rotation. This can be accomplished by structuring an apparatus in combination with a motive wheel which is generally coaxial along an axis of a drive shaft of the vehicle and wherein the motive wheel is mounted to a suspension frame. The apparatus can include a conduit, extending from the suspension frame to the rim. The conduit directs display transmission cabling to the rim. The apparatus further includes a stub drive shaft which is rotationally driven by the drive shaft of the vehicle. The stub drive shaft does, however, diverge at an acute angle from the vehicle drive shaft. Means, spaced radially from the axis of the vehicle&#39;s drive shaft, for transmitting rotation of the stub drive shaft to the motive wheel are included. 
   In such an embodiment, rotation of the stub drive shaft is transmitted to the motive wheel by means of a pinion gear, mounted at a distal end of the stub drive shaft, in engagement with a ring gear carried by the motive wheel. 
   The present invention is thus apparatus for enabling the making of a visual presentation at a rim of a motive wheel of a vehicle and for maintaining the visual presentation against rotation as the wheel turns while the vehicle moves over land. More specific features and advantages obtained in view of those features will become apparent with reference to the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, appended claims and accompanying drawing figures. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a left-side elevational view of a vehicle employing the display in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view illustrating various transmission components in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an elevational view illustrating a motive wheel of a vehicle employing the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a monitor casing of the present invention, some parts broken away; 
       FIG. 5  is an elevational view of a rim, having a tire mounted thereto, with a monitor casing installed therein; 
       FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , but without a tire mounted and with the monitor casing removed; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a portion of a hub drum having a ring gear mounted therewithin; 
       FIG. 8  is an elevational view illustrating the hub drum portion illustrated in  FIG. 7 ; and 
       FIG. 9  is an elevational view illustrating a hub drum cover. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  illustrates a vehicle  10  which incorporates a display in accordance with the present invention. The vehicle  10  illustrated is a HUMMER®, but it will be understood that the inventive concept could be integrated into virtually any type of land vehicle. 
   The vehicle  10  is shown as comprising a body  12 , an undercarriage  14  and, in the case of the particular vehicle illustrated, four wheels  16 . While various vehicles typically employ two-wheel drive (that is, either front or rear drive), other vehicles employ an option of shifting to four-wheel drive in a selective manner, or wherein four-wheel drive is utilized continuously. In the case of the present invention, it is only necessary that a single wheel be a drive, or motive, wheel. If the vehicle employs multiple motive wheels, the invention would be incorporated with regard to each. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates each wheel  16  as having a rim  18  to which a tire  20  is mounted. Each wheel  16  is also illustrated as having a rim  18  with a cavity  22 , generally circular in shape, formed therewithin facing outwardly. As will be seen in more detail with reference to  FIG. 3 , an assembly is provided which includes a monitor casing  24 . Such a monitor casing has a contour which conforms to a contour of a monitor body. This relationship will be discussed in more detail hereinafter. 
   As also seen in  FIG. 1 , monitors  26  are received within corresponding monitor casings  24 . The present invention serves to maintain such monitors  26  in an orientation wherein a display transmitted on the monitor  26  can easily be perceived visually. This includes orienting the monitors  26  such that they can be easily perceived by an observer without having to angle his head sideways either to the left or the right. A lower edge of the monitor  26  is, it is intended, maintained at least generally parallel to a surface which the vehicle traverses. In one embodiment, the invention incorporates structure which maintains the monitor  26  rigidly oriented with the lower edge thereof substantially parallel to the ground surface. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a main transmission drive  28  which enters a gear box  30 . The gear box  30  includes gearing arrangements which enable angular divergence of the main transmission drive  28  to one or more vehicle drive shafts  32  which are angularly spaced at 90° relative to the main transmission drive  28 . Typically, such drive shafts  32  serve to impart motive rotation to their corresponding wheels  16 . 
     FIG. 2  also illustrates a stub drive shaft  34 , geared to a corresponding drive shaft  32  of the vehicle, which is rotationally driven by the corresponding vehicle drive shaft  32 . A stub drive shaft  34  is shown diverging from its corresponding vehicle drive shaft  32  at an acute angle. A pinion gear  36  is mounted at a distal end  38  of each stub drive shaft  34 . 
   As will be able to be seen, the angle of the stub drive shaft  34  relative to its corresponding vehicle drive shaft  32  is a function of the length of the stub drive shaft  34  and the radial distance from an axis  40  along which the vehicle drive shaft  32  extends and the gearing of a ring gear  42  carried by the rim  18 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates, partly in section, a rim assembly in accordance with the present invention.  FIG. 3  illustrates the rim  18  mounting a tire  20  at the radial periphery  44  thereof. As one will observe, the rim  18  is mounted for rotation about the axis  40  of elongation of the corresponding vehicle drive shaft  32 . Rotation is imparted to the rim  18  by means of the pinion gear  36  driving in rotation the ring gear  42  mounted in a generally annular cavity  46  defined within a hub drum  48 . That is, the pinion gear  36  is enabled to drive the hub drum  48  and, in turn, the rim  18  because it engages the ring gear  42  at a location spaced radially from the axis  40 . 
   Rotation of the pinion gear  36  results from engagement of gearing carried by the vehicle drive shaft  32  with the pinion gear  36  radially inwardly from the ring gear  42 . While the figures illustrate the vehicle drive shaft gearing comprising a center gear  50 , coaxial with the axis  40 , in engagement with the pinion gear  36  within the hub drum  48 , it will be understood that the invention contemplates other embodiments wherein drive of the pinion gear  36  is imparted by means of the vehicle drive shaft  32  in other manners. 
     FIG. 3  also illustrates a center spindle  52  of a suspension frame  54  which passes through an aperture through the vehicle drive shaft  32 . The center spindle  52  does not rotate and defines a conduit which extends outwardly to receive transmission means (not shown) for generating a visual presentation at the monitor  26  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
   As previously described, an outwardly facing surface of the rim  18  defines a cavity  22  within which the monitor  26  can be received. A monitor casing  24 , as previously described, can be rigidly attached to the center spindle  52  to receive the monitor  26 . A protection plate  56 , transparent in nature, can cover the monitor  26  on the outer side of the rim  18  in order to protect the monitor  26  from damage or destruction. 
     FIG. 3  also shows a hub drum cover  58  as protecting the gearing arrangements from contamination by road salt, tar, etc. If necessary or desirable, insulative material can be applied at seams to further protect the inner components. 
     FIGS. 4-9  illustrate various piece parts of the invention.  FIG. 4  shows the monitor casing  24  in which the monitor  26  can be housed. That figure shows a monitor  26  received within the casing  24  and covered by the transparent protection cover  56 . Again, it will be understood that the outer surface of the monitor  26  will substantially conform to a surface defined by the monitor casing  24 . 
     FIG. 6  illustrates a rim  18  with its outer surface shown in more detail. Seen are the aperture through which connectors passing through the center spindle  52  run, and the cavity  22  within which a monitor  26  and monitor casing  24  are received. It will be understood that, while a particular aesthetic design is shown as being formed in the rim  18 , numerous designs are specifically contemplated. 
     FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 6 . In  FIG. 5 , however, a tire  20  is mounted on the rim  18 , and the monitor  26  and monitor casing  24  are installed within the cavity  22 . The monitor protective plate  56  is shown as overlying the monitor  26 . 
     FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate the hub drum  48 . As best seen in  FIG. 7 , and as shown in  FIG. 3 , the hub drum  48  has a lateral dimension sufficient to accommodate and enclose the pinion gear  36  and the center gear  50  mounted to the vehicle drive shaft  32 . As best seen in  FIG. 8 , the ring gear  42  is mounted within the hub drum  48  at an opening lip  60 . This arrangement precludes unnecessary wear of the hub drum wall. 
     FIG. 9  illustrates the hub drum cover  58 . The cover  58  can be secured in place occluding the normal aperture defined at the inner face of the rim  18 . 
   The present invention can be employed in portraying any type of visual presentation. Such presentations can range from motion pictures and television shows to advertising and promotional materials. 
   It will be understood that this disclosure, in many respects, is only illustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in matters of shape, size, material, and arrangement of parts without exceeding the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is as defined in the language of the appended claims.