Abstract:
A vehicle tire cover for covering a spare tire is disclosed. The tire cover is physically adapted to display an image and is further adapted to enable a vehicle owner to routinely and rapidly change the image. In some embodiments, the cover includes a pouch having a transparent window for displaying the image. The pouch includes a closure mechanism that provides access to the interior of a pouch without removing the tire cover from a spare tire.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to automotive products in general, and, more particularly, to a vehicle tire cover. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The cargo or passenger capacity of a sport utility vehicle can be increased by removing the spare tire from inside of the vehicle and moving it to an alternate location on the vehicle. In such cases, the spare tire is typically relocated to an external mounting bracket that is disposed on the rear hatch of the vehicle. 
         [0003]    In order to protect such an externally-carried tire from UV radiation, smog, moisture, dirt and dust, the tire is often fitted with a cover. Although hard-shelled, spare-tire covers were popular in the past, soft and flexible designs are now favored. These soft, flexible covers offer substantial savings in weight and cost relative to a hard-shelled cover, and can be quickly and easily affixed to a spare tire. Flexible covers are particularly appealing to the after-market automotive-supply industry since, relative to hard covers, packaging, shipping and shelving costs as well as shelf space requirements are reduced. 
         [0004]    In addition to the utilitarian benefits it provides, a tire cover additionally enhances the aesthetics of the vehicle by concealing the otherwise exposed spare tire and wheel. Furthermore, tire covers often bear advertising or art, that latter serving as a way for a vehicle owner to personalize their vehicle. 
         [0005]    With regard to art-bearing tire covers, the artwork is usually printed directly onto the tire cover. On the other hand, a decorative tire cover that displays artwork from within the cover is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,863. In accordance with that patent, the tire cover has a large, central opening through which the artwork is displayed. Inner and outer annular mounting rings secure the artwork to the tire cover and inner and outer protective covers shield the art work from the elements. It appears that the tire cover must be removed form the spare tire in order to change the artwork. 
         [0006]    Notwithstanding a stated objective in U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,863 to provide a tire cover that enables artwork to be easily changed, the need to remove the tire cover to replace artwork is an inconvenience. In fact, unless it is trivially simple and convenient to change the image being displayed by a tire cover, an owner is not likely to routinely do so. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a vehicle tire cover for displaying decorative and/or informational images (e.g., pictures, drawings, words, numbers, symbols, etc.) while avoiding some of the disadvantages and costs of the prior art. 
         [0008]    In accordance with the invention, the vehicle tire cover is physically adapted to enable a vehicle owner to routinely and rapidly change the image being displayed. For example, in some embodiments, the tire cover includes an externally-accessible pouch having a transparent window for displaying an image. The pouch includes a closure mechanism (e.g., a zipper, snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners, etc.) that provides access to the interior of the pouch. The image usually appears on some type of cardboard or vinyl support or backer board. An image being displayed in pouch is readily exchanged for another image by disengaging (e.g., un-zippering, unsnapping, etc.) the closure mechanism, removing the displayed image, inserting a new image, and re-engaging the closure. In fact, in most embodiments, a user need not even remove the tire cover to change the image. 
         [0009]    In some other embodiments, the tire cover has two layers that are partially separable from one another. When partially separated, such as by disengaging a closure mechanism, an image can be inserted between the layers and displayed through a transparent window that is disposed in the outermost of the two layers. 
         [0010]    The ability to change an image without removing the tire cover makes it very convenient for a user to change, for example, a holiday-related image on a timely basis (e.g., from Labor Day, to Presidents&#39; Day, to Halloween, to Thanksgiving, to New Years, etc.) or for a sports fan to display and regularly rotate the logo of their favorite football, baseball, hockey, and basketball teams. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts a sport utility vehicle with a vehicle tire cover in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  depicts a side view of the vehicle tire cover of  FIG. 1 , wherein the tire cover includes a pouch in for displaying an image. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  depicts the vehicle tire cover of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , wherein a first image is being removed from the pouch and a second image being inserted therein. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 4 and 5  depict further details of an embodiment of the pouch of  FIG. 2 , illustrating the operation of a closure mechanism that provides access to the interior of the pouch. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  depicts a first implementation of the pouch of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  depicts a second implementation of the pouch of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  depicts a first alternative embodiment of a vehicle tire cover. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  depicts a second alternative embodiment of a vehicle tire cover. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  depicts a third alternative embodiment of a vehicle tire cover. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  depicts a kit comprising a vehicle tire cover and several images for use therewith. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    The following terms are defined for use in this Specification, including the appended claims:
       Coupled means “directly or indirectly attached.” For example, if a mirror is described as being “coupled to a door,” this would encompass the following embodiments, among any others:
           a piece of mirrored glass is fitted within an opening in the door;   a piece of mirror glass is disposed in a frame, and the frame and the mirrored glass are fitted within an opening in the door;   a piece of mirror glass is disposed in a frame, and the frame and the mirrored glass are attached to the surface of a door by clips.   
           In other words, the coupled item does not need to be in direct physical contact with the item it is being coupled to.   Supported image means a support or backer material that bears an image. The support can be rigid or flexible, and, in various embodiments, is vinyl, cardboard, or the like. The “image” itself can be any visual representation (e.g., a photograph, a painting, a drawing, words, letters, numbers, characters, etc.) that the owner of a vehicle would like to display. Non-limiting examples of images include a holiday greeting, the logo, name or other indicia of a sports team, the name of the manufacturer of the vehicle bearing the vehicle tire cover, pictures of family members of the vehicle owner, and an image of a favorite dog breed. The image can be applied to the support using any of a variety of well-known techniques, such as silk screening or various printing techniques. Furthermore, the image can be applied by the user, such as by hand-painting on the support, or taping a picture to the support, etc.       
 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  depicts a view of the back of sport utility vehicle  100 . Spare tire  102  and wheel  103  is disposed on tail gate or hatch  104  of vehicle  100 . The spare tire and wheel are typically coupled to tail gate  104  via brackets, etc., (not depicted) in well-known fashion. Vehicle tire cover  106  is depicted covering spare tire  102 . 
         [0029]    In the illustrative embodiment that is depicted in  FIG. 1 , vehicle tire cover  106  comprises a flexible, visually opaque, and weatherproof layer  108  of material. This layer shrouds the otherwise exposed sidewall and tread of spare tire  102  as well as accompanying wheel  103 , thereby protecting it from the elements. In various embodiments, layer  108  comprises a heavy-duty vinyl or other suitable polymer fabric, canvas, or the like. 
         [0030]    Vehicle tire cover  106  includes window  110  through which supported image  112 A is visible. Window  110  comprises a transparent material, such as a clear plastic, vinyl, or the like. 
         [0031]    In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, vehicle tire cover  106  includes structural adaptations that enable a user to quickly and easily change any particular supported image that is displayed through window  110  for another supported image. In some embodiments, the exchange of supported images can be performed while vehicle tire cover  106  is covering the spare tire. 
         [0032]    An example of an embodiment of vehicle tire cover  106  that provides rapid and easy exchange of supported images is depicted in  FIGS. 2  (side view) and  3  (front view). 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , pouch  214  is depicted on outward-facing surface of layer  108  of tire cover  106 . Pouch  214  is suitably sized to receive a supported image, such as supported image  112 A, which is shown therein. Outer wall  216  of pouch  214  comprises a transparent material, thereby serving as window  110  through which supported image  112 A is viewable. Pouch  214  incorporates closure mechanism  218 , such as a zipper, snaps, hook and loop fastener (Velcro®), or the like. 
         [0034]    In some embodiments, tire-shrouding layer  108  comprises discrete circular face portion  209  and discrete side portion  211  that are suitably attached to one another (e.g., sewing, heat bonding, etc.). In some other embodiments, layer  108  comprises a single piece of material. Elastic banding  213  can be fitted near a marginal region of vehicle tire cover  106  to ensure that when placed on spare tire  102 , the tire cover remains in place even while vehicle  100  is in motion or in otherwise windy conditions. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  depicts the exchange of two supported images, wherein supported image  112 A is removed from pouch  214  of tire cover  106  and supported image  112 B is inserted into the pouch. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 4 and 5  depict the operation of an embodiment of closure mechanism  218 . The closure mechanism provides access to interior region  420  of pouch  214  to facilitate insertion or removal of supported images, such as supported images  112 A and  112 B (e.g., see,  FIG. 3 ). In this embodiment, closure mechanism  218  is a zipper. Zipper halves  522   a  and  522   b  ( FIG. 5 ) are attached to the pouch  214  in any appropriate manner, such as via stitching or heat fusion. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  depicts closure mechanism  218  in an engaged state. In this state, interior region  420  of pouch  214  is sealed against the elements (e.g., rain, dirt, etc.), thereby protecting supported image  112 A that is disposed therein.  FIG. 5  depicts closure mechanism  218  in a disengaged state, such that interior region  420  is accessible to insert or withdraw a supported image, such as supported image  112 A. 
         [0038]    Closure mechanism  218  is preferably disposed on the lower portion of pouch  214 , thereby shielding the closure mechanism to some degree from falling rain. This reduces the likelihood that falling rain will penetrate pouch  214  through the closure mechanism and potentially damage the supported image therein. It is notable that since closure mechanism  218  is disposed on pouch  214 , and since the pouch is accessible from the exterior of tire cover  106 , supported images (e.g., supported images  112 A and  112 B of  FIG. 3 ) can be:
       exchanged by simply disengaging (e.g., un-zippering, etc.) closure mechanism  218 ; and   exchanged while tire cover  106  remains on the spare tire.       
 
         [0041]      FIGS. 6 and 7  depict two different structural implementations of pouch  214 . In the embodiment that is depicted in  FIG. 6 , pouch  214  comprises outer wall  624  and inner wall  626 . The inner wall is attached to exterior surface of layer  108  by any suitable method, such as stitching or heat fusion, as known to those skilled in the art. In this Figure, pouch  214  is shown separated from layer  108  of cover  106  to clearly depict layer  626  as being discrete from layer  108 . 
         [0042]    In the embodiment that is depicted in  FIG. 7 , pouch  214  is formed by attaching outer wall  724  to layer  108 . In other words, there is no “inner wall” (such as wall  626  in  FIG. 6 ) apart from that provided by a portion of layer  108 . Regardless of implementation, pouch  214  defines protected interior region  420  for receiving a supported image and includes closure mechanism  218 . 
         [0043]      FIGS. 8 ,  9 , and  10  depict further embodiments of vehicle tire cover  106  in accordance with the present invention. The embodiments that are depicted in these Figures do not incorporate a pouch that is disposed on outward-facing surface of layer  108 . Rather, for these embodiments, a “pouch” or otherwise reversibly-sealable region is effectively created between an inner layer, such as layer  808 , and a second layer  828  of material that is disposed over layer  808 . Layer  808  can be formed from the same type of material as layer  108  (e.g., heavy-duty vinyl or other suitable polymer fabric, canvas, or the like). 
         [0044]    In the embodiments that are depicted in  FIGS. 8-10 , layer  828  has a circular shape with a diameter that is about the same as the diameter of the spare tire. In other words, layer  828  is analogous to discrete circular face portion  209  of  FIG. 2 . Closure mechanism  818  is disposed at the periphery of layer  828 . The closure mechanism serves to at least partially reversibly-couple layers  808  and  828  to one another, thereby providing access to region  830  therebetween. 
         [0045]    Region  830  receives a supported image, such as supported image  112 C. Closure mechanism  818  is suitably implemented in various embodiments as snaps, a zipper, hook-and-loop fastener, or like and is advantageously disposed on the lower portion of the periphery of layer  828 . 
         [0046]    In the embodiments that are depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , layer  828  incorporates centrally-located window  810 , which can be formed from transparent plastic, vinyl, or the like. The annular region of material of layer  828  that surrounds window  810  can be the same type of material that is used for layer  808 . In these embodiments, a retention mechanism is used to fix a supported image in registration with window  810  so that it remains viewable. 
         [0047]    In the embodiment that is depicted in  FIG. 8 , the retention mechanism comprises retainer  832 . The retainer is a piece of transparent material having a semicircular shape that is disposed on surface  834  of layer  808 . Retainer  832  is in registration with window  810  and is appropriately-sized to receive a supported image, such as supported image  112 C. When disposed in retainer  832 , the supported image is viewable through window  810 . Retainer  832  can be formed of the same material as window  810 . 
         [0048]    In the embodiment that is depicted in  FIG. 9 , the retention mechanism is small sections  936  of hook-and-loop fastener that are disposed on surface  834  of layer  808  in registration with window  810 . Additional sections  938  of hook-and-loop fastener are disposed on the back of supported image  112 C. Sections  938  are situated so that they register with sections  936  of hook-and-loop fastener on layer  808 . The coupled sections  936  and  938  fix a supported image beneath window  810 . 
         [0049]    In some embodiments, no retention mechanism is used to maintain supported image  112 C in registration with window  810 . Rather, if appropriate materials are used, supported image  112 C will “stick” to window  810 , such that a separate retention mechanism is not required. For example, if both window  810  and supported image  112 C are formed from vinyl, they will tend to adhere to one another sufficiently to prevent movement, but will readily detach when a user wishes to exchange supported images. 
         [0050]    In the embodiment that is depicted in  FIG. 10 , there is no centrally-located window  810  in layer  828 . In this embodiment, the full extent of layer  828  is transparent. A larger supported image  112 D is used in conjunction with this embodiment; the diameter of supported image  112 D is slightly smaller than the diameter of layer  828  so that the supported image can fit in region  830  between layers  828  and  808 . 
         [0051]    In a further embodiment, not depicted, layer  828  can extend over the sidewalls of the spare tire so that this layer is coextensive with layer  808 . Elastic banding can be disposed at the periphery of layer  828 , such that it will secure layer  828  to the spare tire in the same manner as layer  808  (ala layer  108  with marginally-located elastic banding  213 ). In this embodiment, inserting a supported image between layer  828  and layer  808  requires that layer  828  is partially removed from the spare tire so that the supported image can be inserted between the layers. Layer  828  is re-secured over the spare tire via the elastic banding. 
         [0052]      FIG. 11  depicts a vehicle-tire cover kit  1100 , such as can be made available for sale to consumers, comprising vehicle-tire cover  106  and a plurality of supported images  112 A,  112 B,  112 C,  112 E, and  112 F. The supported images are dimensioned to be received in and displayed through pouch  214 . It is to be understood that in some other embodiments, kit  1100  includes a different embodiment of vehicle-tire cover  106 , such as the other embodiments disclosed herein, and/or different embodiments of supported images. 
         [0053]    It is to be understood that the disclosure teaches just one example of the illustrative embodiment and that many variations of the invention can easily be devised by those skilled in the art after reading this disclosure and that the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the following claims.