Abstract:
An internal spinning system includes an annular attachment section having a front portion and a flange extending outwardly from the front portion in a substantially perpendicular manner. At least one bearing is coupled to the flange and extend outwardly therefrom in a substantially parallel manner. A back portion opposes the front portion, wherein the back portion and the front portion define a plurality of bolt holes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to vehicle wheels, and more particularly, to an internal spinning system having a section that spins independently from the associated vehicle wheel. 
   Rotating hubcaps and wheel covers are well known in the automotive field. Various mechanisms have been employed to control the spinning of the hubcap or a section of the hubcap while the vehicle is moving and while the vehicle is at rest. There are currently two primary spinning wheel-section systems, and these systems typically include some form of spinning hubcap. The first is a system for maintaining the wheel-section generally stationary relative to the rotating vehicle wheel. The second is a system for maintaining the wheel-section in a rotating manner relative to a stationary vehicle wheel. 
   Current systems for maintaining a relatively stationary wheel-section typically employ various types of weighting mechanisms, thereby maintaining the wheel-section (e.g. hubcap) orientation regardless of reverse or forward rotation of the associated wheel. 
   Current systems for maintaining a spinning hubcap relative to a stationary wheel include a spinner on the external section of the hubcap attached to the wheel. The spinner is attached through either a bearing clutch device or a ratchet type system for controlling hubcap rotation. 
   These wheel systems are however susceptible to theft, as their removal merely requires removal of the attaching bolts or lugs. A further difficulty with current spinning hubcap systems is that they are highly susceptible to hazardous road environments, such as road debris that may jar the spinning section of the hubcap, excessive mud or dirt that may be difficult to clean off the spinning section of the hubcaps, or any sideswiping incidents with other vehicles or road obstacles. Still a further disadvantage is that current spinning hubcap systems are not compatible with various import and domestic vehicle tires. 
   The disadvantages associated with current wheel-section spinning systems have made it apparent that a new spinning system is needed. The new system should be theft resistant and compatible with most import and domestic vehicle wheel sizes and types, and should be substantially resistant to hazardous road environments. The present invention is directed to these ends. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an internal spinning system includes a wheel having a rotor. The system further includes an annular attachment section having a first front portion, a flange extending outwardly from the first front portion and away from the wheel in a substantially perpendicular manner, and a first back portion opposing the front portion. The first back portion and the first front portion further define a plurality of bolt holes, whereby the annular attachment section bolts to the wheel. 
   Rotatably coupled to the attachment section is an annular spinning section. The spinning section includes a second front portion, a second back portion opposing the second front portion, a common external edge between the second front portion and the second back portion, the external edge comprising an ornamental spinning portion, and a substantially circular common internal edge. 
   A plurality of bearings are coupled to at least one of the annular attachment section or the annular spinning section, wherein the annular spinning section rotates as a function of rotation of the plurality of bearings. 
   One advantage of the present invention is that it may be incorporated in anti-theft wheels or rims, which are usually attached with a key or lock lug for anti-theft purposes related to the wheel. Therefore, the internal spinner may not be removed. An additional advantage of the present invention is that the wheel itself protects the internal spinner from road hazard environments, while the spinner protects the wheel like a brake dust cover. Still a further advantage is that the internal spinners may be attached to most import or domestic vehicles. Still further an advantage is that the present internal spinning system may be free wheel, forward spinning, or rearward spinning depending on the preference of the vehicle operator. 
   Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the description that follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     In order that the invention may be well understood, there will now be described some embodiments thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle system including an internal spinning system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a frontal view of the internal spinning system in accordance with  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the system of  FIG. 2  looking in the direction of line  3 – 3 ; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an enlarged view of a bearing of  FIG. 3  looking in the direction of line  4 – 4 ; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a front perspective view of the spinning section and attachment section of the internal spinning system in accordance with  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the back perspective view of the spinning section and attachment section of the internal spinning system in accordance with  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a sectional view of a vehicle wheel including the internal spinning system in accordance with  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention is illustrated with respect to an internal spinning system  10  for a vehicle  12  particularly suited to the automotive field. The present invention is, however, applicable to various other uses that may require internal spinning systems, as will be understood by one skilled in the art. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , an internal spinning system  10  for a vehicle  12 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, is illustrated. The vehicle  12  includes four internal spinning systems, e.g.  10  including associated wheels, e.g.  14 . The wheels  14 , in one embodiment, include anti-theft rims  16  and rotors  18 . 
   Each wheel  14  further includes a rim  16  substantially enclosing the internal spinning system  10  within the wheel  14 , i.e. the internal spinning system  10  is internal with respect to the rim  16  and the wheel  14 . The internal spinning system  10 , for each wheel  14 , is visible through openings, spokes, or arms of each rim  16 , i.e. the external portion of the rim. In an alternate embodiment, the internal spinning system  10  is coupled to or molded into the rim  16 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  5  and  6 , the internal spinning system  10  is illustrated. One embodiment of the internal spinning system  10  includes an attachment section  22  for attaching the system  10  to the wheel  14  and a spinning section  24  for rotating in response to vehicle wheel rotation. The attachment section  22  is rotatably coupled to the spinning section  24  through a plurality of bearings  26 . Alternate embodiments include a single bearing or ring bearing for rotational attachment. 
   The attachment section  22  is generally annular and adapted for coupling to the vehicle wheel  14 . The embodied attachment section  22  includes an opening  28  for receiving a portion of the wheel  14 . However, both the attachment section  22  and the spinning section  24  may alternately include solid surfaces and lack the aforementioned opening  28 . 
   The attachment section  22  further includes a plurality of openings  23 , here embodied as five, for bolting the attachment section  22  to the rotor  18  of the wheel  14 . 
   The attachment section  22  includes a back portion  30  (first back portion), an opposing front portion  32  (first front portion), and a common edge  34 . The front portion  32  includes a flange  36  extending outwardly therefrom and away from the wheel  14 . 
   The common edge  34  of the attachment section  22  is embodied as having a thin cross section (e.g. ⅛ inch), which moves the wheel  14  outwardly while maintaining a necessary thread tension for the lug nuts  20 , as required to hold the wheel  14  to the rotor  18 . 
   The flange  36  includes a plurality of ports  38  for supporting the plurality of bearings  26  on, for example, roll pins  27 . The flange  36  may be perpendicular to the attachment section  22  or angulated in relation thereto. 
   Alternate embodiments of the present invention include a roll rim on the flange having a roll surface for the bearings  26 , whereby the bearings  26  are instead coupled to the spinning section  24 , as will be further discussed later. 
   Alternate embodiments of the present invention include only the spinning section  24 , coupled to or molded into the rim  16 . However, the present invention is illustrated with respect to a spinning section  24  coupled to an attachment section  22 , which is coupled to the rotor  18  or the rim  16 . 
   The spinning section  24  is also annular in shape and includes a front portion  40  (second front portion), a back portion  42  (second back portion), an internal common edge  44  and an external common edge  45 . 
   The present embodiment of the spinning section  24  includes ornamental designs  46  extending outwardly from the external common edge  45 , whereby the designs  46  (ornamental spinning portion) may be changed depending on customer preference. In other words, a common external edge  45  is between the front portion  40  and the back portion  42 . The external edge  45  includes an ornamental spinning portion  46 . The spinning section may include polished aluminum, chrome or a powder coating, or any other coating known in the art. The inner common edge  44  includes, in one embodiment, a roll surface  48  such that the bearings  26  freely travel along the roll surface  48 . In other words, the present invention includes a substantially circular common internal edge  44  having a roll surface  48 . The common edge  44  may be coated with a seal to dampen noise occurring due to the contact of the attachment  22  and the spinning section  24 . Various noise dampening materials include rubber or various plastics. Important to note is that such noise dampening materials may also serve to insulate and seal exposed components of the system  10 . 
   Each of the bearings  26  includes a groove  50 , such that the bearings  26  together define a roll support  51 . The roll surface  48  of the spinning section  24  freely moves along the roll support  51 . The bearings  26  further include a pin  52  for coupling the bearings  26  to the attachment section  22 . The illustrated pin  52  extends from a base of each bearing  26 , however numerous other bearing pin designs are embodied in the present invention, such as having the bearing  26  attached to the spinning section  24  through the pin  52  coupled to sections of the spinning section  24 . 
   The internal spinning system  10  may allow for free spinning of the spinning section  24 , or alternately, either the spinning section  24 , the attachment section  22  may include rotation inhibitors  54 , such that spinning motion of the spinning section  24  is limited to spinning in one direction. The rotation inhibitors  54  may include spring mechanisms such that when the bearings  26  roll over them they spring down, and subsequently spring up thereby preventing reversal of rotational motion. As was mentioned however, the present invention may include a free rotation of the spinning section  24  such that in response to rotational motion of the wheel  14  in either direction, the spinning section  24  will continue to spin after the wheel rotation has been halted. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , an enlarged view of the bearing  26  of  FIG. 3 , looking in the direction of line  4 – 4 , is illustrated. In one embodiment of the present invention, the bearing  26  is rotatably coupled to the pin  52  and secured by a detachable washer  60 . Numerous other bearing arrangements will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , a cutaway view of an internal spinning system  10  including a wheel  14 , in accordance with  FIG. 1 , is illustrated. One skilled in the art will realize that typical vehicle wheels  14  include various wheel components, such as a rotor  18  that must be accommodated by a wheel system. Therefore, the internal spinning system  10  includes a wheel section opening  28  for receiving a portion of the wheel  14 . The internal spinning system  10  is attached to the wheel  14  via lug nuts  20 , such that the attachment section  22  of the internal spinning system  10  is attached to the wheel  14  to allow the spinning section  24  to spin as desired, i.e. clockwise, counterclockwise, or both. 
   In operation, the vehicle  12  travels either forward or rearward, whereby the spinning section  24  of the internal spinning system  10  rotates as a function of wheel rotation. As the vehicle comes to a halt, rotation continues for the spinning section  24  as long as momentum permits. 
   From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been brought to the art a new and improved internal spinning system. It is to be understood that the preceding description of the preferred embodiment is merely illustrative of some of the many specific embodiments that represent applications of the principals of the present invention. Numerous other arrangements will be evident to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.