Abstract:
A wheel cover includes a quick fasten and release device for securing the wheel cover to a vehicle wheel. The device includes a clamp mechanism extending from a central location on the wheel cover. The clamp includes grappling fingers that engage the wheel hub flange when drawn into engagement by a mechanism operated by a handle accessible from the outward facing surface of the wheel cover.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to wheel covers for wheels having exposed axle hubs, and more specifically, to a wheel cover and mounting device for a wheel having an exposed axle hub. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Wheel covers can provide aesthetic and aerodynamic benefits to a vehicle. To allow access the wheel for service, for example to access the valve stem or the lugs, it is preferable that a wheel cover be easily mounted and removed. Conventional wheel cover mountings include spring clips that engage the wheel rim, but these can be insecure, in that a jolt to the wheel can dislodge the wheel cover. Other devices include brackets and threaded fasteners that engage the wheel lugs, but these are inconvenient to mount and remove. 
         [0003]    The invention provides a: wheel cover and mounting device that is simple and quick to attach and remove from a wheel hub. 
         [0004]    The invention is advantageously applied to an aerodynamic wheel cover having an outward-facing surface designed for low air drag as the wheel turns and moves through space. 
         [0005]    A wheel cover and mounting device according to the invention includes a wheel cover and a grappling device attached to the wheel cover. The grappling device includes gripping members for gripping the axle hub and a drive mechanism for selectively moving the gripping members between a gripping position and a releasing position, 
         [0006]    According to one aspect of the invention, the grappling device includes a body having a flange on which the wheel or is mounted. 
         [0007]    According to the invention, the gripping members are formed as tines or tongs having a hooked end to engage the axle hub. The tongs are pivotally mounted at an end opposite the hooked end to a. collar movably mounted on the body. The device further includes links that are pivotally mounted to a cuff. A link is pivotally connected to each of the tongs at a point spaced from the pivot end. The cuff is fixed to the body and the links control the movement of the tongs as the collar moves on the shaft to cause the tongs to close together to a gripping position or spread apart to a release position. 
         [0008]    According to the invention, a drive mechanism is included for causing the collar to move on the shaft for selectively moving the gripping members between the gripping position and the release position. The drive mechanism includes a handle accessible from an outer surface of the wheel cover, the handle being attached to a shaft mounted to and extending perpendicularly from the wheel cover. The handle extends through a hole in the wheel cover. 
         [0009]    According to one embodiment, the shaft is threaded and the collar carrying the gripping members is carried on a threaded carrier, the shaft and carrier being interengaged so that rotation of the shaft causes axial movement of the carrier and collar, which in turn causes the gripping members to move. 
         [0010]    According to another embodiment, the handle includes a cam and is pivotally connected to the shaft. Pivoting the handle against the wheel cover causes the shaft to slide axially. The collar and carrier are fixed to the shaft and move with it. The axial movement of the collar causes the gripping members to move between the gripping position and the release position. 
         [0011]    According to yet another embodiment, the shaft is mourned in body and spring biased toward the wheel cover. The collar is connected to the shaft so that axial sliding of the shaft causes the movement of the collar and corresponding pivoting of the gripping members. The shaft is pressed for movement by the handle connected to an end of the shaft accessible through a hole in the wheel cover. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description read in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a. wheel cover and mounting mechanism in accord with the invention shown with a section of an axle hub; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the wheel cover and mounting mechanism of  FIG. 1  from an opposite side; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the wheel cover and mounting mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the wheel cover and mounting mechanism taken along an axial plane of through the mounting mechanism; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the wheel cover showing an alternative operating device for the gripping: members; and, 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the wheel cover showing another alternative operating device for the gripping members. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    A wheel cover and mounting mechanism  10  according to an embodiment of the invention are shown in perspective view in  FIG. 1  along with an end portion of an axle hub  1 . The axle hub is of the type used on heavy trucks, and includes a flange  2 . 
         [0020]    The wheel cover  12  is formed as a disc having a centrally located hole  14  covered by a cap  16 . As described below, the hole  14  allows access to a handle for operating the mounting mechanism. An outer surface  15  of the wheel cover  12 , that is, the side that faces outward from the wheel when the cover is in the an installed position, is preferably smooth to provide a low aerodynamic drag surface. Radially extending ribs  18  are formed on an inner surface  17 , opposite the outer surface  15 , to provide stiffness to the wheel cover and are shaped to seat on a wheel rim when the cover is installed on a wheel. As seen in  FIG. 2 , two circumferential ribs  20 ,  22  are formed on the inner surface, also to provide stiffness. 
         [0021]    An embodiment of a mechanism  30  for gripping the axle hub  2  is shown in perspective view in  FIG. 2 . The mechanism  30  includes a body  32  mounted on the inner surface  17  of the wheel cover  12  at the hole  14 . A boss  24  is provided on the wheel cover  12  to support the body  32 . The mechanism  30  includes gripping members  34  integrated with a linkage, described below, that allows the gripping members  34  to be selectively moved between a gripping position and a release position. The gripping members  34  are shown here as tongs each having a hooked end  36  for gripping the flange  2  on the axle hub  1 . As seen in the figure, there are three tongs equally circumferentially spaced on the body  32 . 
         [0022]    Turning to the exploded view of the mechanism in  FIG. 3 , the tongs are each pivotally connected at a head  35  (opposite the hooked end  36 ) to a collar  40 . The collar  40  is slidably mounted on the body  32  for reciprocal movement in the axial direction, which when the device is mounted on the wheel cover  12  is perpendicular to the wheel cover. Each tong  34  is also connected at a point spaced from the head  35  by a link  42  to a cuff  44 . The cuff  44  is fixedly mounted to the body  32 , so that the links  42  control the movement of the tongs  34  as the collar slides in the axial direction. Movement of the collar  40  toward the wheel cover  12  causes the tongs  34  to move to the gripping position. Movement of the collar  40  away from the wheel cover  12  causes the tongs  34  to move to a spread, release position. 
         [0023]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , which shows an axial section through the wheel cover  12  and gripping mechanism, an embodiment of a device for operating the gripping members  34  is illustrated. The body  32  is formed as a hollow cylinder, with the collar  40  and cuff  44  disposed on an outer surface thereof. A shaft  50  extends through the body  32  and into the hole  14  in the wheel cover  12 . A handle  52  is attached to the shaft  50  and is accessible in the hole  14  under the cap  16 . The handle  52  provides a means for a user to operate the mechanism. 
         [0024]    A carrier  54  formed as a hollow cylinder is disposed in the body  32  in an annular space between the body and the shaft  50 . The shaft  52  is threaded on an outer surface and the carrier  54  is threaded on an inner surface, the two threaded surfaces being interengaged so that rotation of the shaft  50  by the handle  52  causes, in the manner of a worm, axial movement of the carrier  54 . The collar  40  is connected to the carrier  54  by a screw  56  that engages the carrier through a slot in the body  32 . Thus, the collar  40  moves with the carrier  54  as the shaft  50  is rotated. Preferably, the shaft  50  and carrier  54  threads are pitched so that only two or three turns are required to close the gripping members on the flange. 
         [0025]    Other arrangements for operating the gripping members are possible. For example, as shown in the simplified view of  FIG. 5 , the collar  40  could be connected directly to the shaft  50 , eliminating the carrier, and the shaft arranged for sliding movement in the body  32 . A handle  60  could include a cam  62  and the wheel cover have a cam surface  64 , by which pivoting or turning the handle moves the shaft axially in the body, and accordingly, moves the collar to operate the gripping members. 
         [0026]    Another alternative arrangement, illustrated in a simplified form in  FIG. 6 , involves the shaft  50  being biased by a spring  70  to an upper position in the body, that is, closest to the wheel cover. The collar  40  is connected to the shaft, eliminating the carrier. The spring  70  biases the collar and gripping members to the gripping position. A button  72  is placed on the end of the shaft  50  and is accessible in the hole  14  in the wheel cover. By pressing on the button  72 , the shaft  50  and collar  40  are moved axially downward, and the gripping members are moved to the released position. When the button  72  is released, the shaft  50  and collar  40 , under force of the spring, move to the upward position and the gripping members  34  to the closed position. 
         [0027]    Other arrangements are possible. For example, the spring could be a pneumatic spring. 
         [0028]    The invention has been described in terms of preferred principles, embodiments and components, however, those skilled in the art will recognize that substitutions may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.