Abstract:
Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for improving the aesthetic and aerodynamic characteristics of a wheel, while facilitating inspection of one or more components associated with the wheel. In one implementation, a flexible wheel cover assembly includes a flexible wheel cover comprising a sheet of material having an essentially round-shaped outer periphery and a center axis. A bracket physically couples the flexible wheel cover to a wheel hub of a vehicle, such that the center axis of the flexible wheel cover is aligned with a wheel axis. The sheet of material has a flexibility sufficient to bend while the wheel is stationary and flatten against a tire mounted on the wheel when the wheel is turning.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/904,668, entitled “FLEXIBLE WHEEL COVER ASSEMBLY” and filed Nov. 15, 2013, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Aspects of the present disclosure relate to covers for vehicle wheels and more particularly to a flexible wheel cover assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Wheel designs for vehicles (e.g., heavy trucks, trailers, or the like) typically include a metal wheel (e.g., a rim) onto which a pneumatic tire may be mounted. Conventional wheel designs generally fail to consider the overall aesthetic appeal or aerodynamic efficiency of the wheel. Further, while some rim covers (e.g., hub caps) seek to cover unsightly aspects of the rim, such rim covers typically prevent or otherwise hinder inspection of potential problems associated with the wheel that may develop during movement. It is with these, issues in mind, among others, that various aspects of the present disclosure were developed. 
     SUMMARY 
     Implementations described and claimed herein address the foregoing problems, among others, by improving the aesthetic and aerodynamic characteristics of a wheel, while facilitating inspection of one or more components associated with the wheel. Other implementations are also described and recited herein. Further, while multiple implementations are disclosed, still other implementations of the presently disclosed technology will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative implementations of the presently disclosed technology. As will be realized, the presently disclosed technology is capable of modifications in various aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the presently disclosed technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an example flexible wheel cover assembly configured on a wheel of a truck according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate various elements of the wheel cover assembly according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a profile view of an example wheel cover assembly configured on a wheel according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an enlarged, partial view of various features of the wheel cover assembly according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the present disclosure involve a flexible wheel cover assembly for various vehicles, such as trucks, trailers, buses, long-haul tractor trailer rigs, or the like. In one example, the flexible wheel cover assembly is used in conjunction with wheels that do not have an exposed drop center, such as wide based wheels. However, other vehicle and/or wheel types are contemplated. 
     In one aspect, the flexible wheel cover assembly improves the aesthetic and aerodynamic characteristics of a wheel, while facilitating inspection of one or more components associated with the wheel. The flexible wheel cover assembly includes a wheel cover mounted to one or more components of the wheel, such as a wheel hub, using a bracket. The wheel cover is a sheet of flexible material having a generally circular outer periphery and a center axis. The bracket directly or indirectly mounts the wheel cover to the wheel hub, such that the center axis of the flexible wheel cover is generally aligned with an axis of the wheel. 
     The wheel cover has a flexibility sufficient to bend while the wheel is stationary and flatten against a tire mounted on the wheel when the wheel is turning. Stated differently, while the vehicle is stationary, gravity causes at least a portion of the wheel cover to bend away from the wheel, and while the vehicle is in motion, centrifugal forces associated with the rotation of the wheel cause the wheel cover to flatten against the wheel forming an aerodynamic surface. As such, the flexible cover assembly facilitates a hands-free inspection of the wheel while the vehicle is stationary and increases aerodynamic efficiency of the wheel while the vehicle is moving. Further, the outer periphery of the flexible wheel cover may be greater than a diameter of the wheel and less than a diameter of the tire to provide an aesthetic impression of a larger rim and a lower profile tire when the flexible wheel cover flattens against the tire during movement. 
     In colder climates, air brakes, on vehicles, such as trailers, have a tendency to freeze, thereby preventing the associated wheel from rotating. If the vehicle is driven under these conditions, the frozen brakes are likely to flat spot or otherwise ruin the associated tire. However, it is often challenging for drivers to recognize the presence of these conditions. As such, the flexible wheel cover may be mounted such that the cover is prevented from moving independently of the bracket and/or the wheel, thus providing a visual indication of whether the brakes of a wheel are frozen. For example, the flexible wheel cover assembly provides a visual indication of a frozen wheel where the flexible wheel cover is in a bent state while the vehicle is moving, as opposed to a flattened state. 
     For a detailed description of an example flexible wheel cover assembly  100 , reference is made to  FIGS. 1-4 . The flexible wheel cover assembly  100  generally includes a flexible wheel cover  102  mounted a wheel hub  104  using a bracket  106 . The flexible wheel cover assembly  100  may also have a pair of disks  108   a  and  108   b  that sandwich the flexible wheel cover  102  therebetween when mounted on the wheel hub  104 . The wheel hub  104  is positioned at a center of a wheel  111 , which includes a rim or outer edge to hold a tire  110 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , when the wheel  111  is stationary (i.e., not rotating), gravity causes the flexible wheel cover  102  to bend. However, when the wheel  111  is rotating, centrifugal forces associated with the rotation cause the flexible wheel cover  102  to flatten against the tire  110  into an aerodynamic surface, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     In one implementation, the flexible wheel cover  102  has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the tire  110  and greater than a diameter of the wheel  111 , such that when the wheel  111  is rotating, the wheel cover  102  extends beyond the rim of the wheel  111  to provide an aesthetic impression of a larger rim and lower profile of the tire  110 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , in one implementation, the flexible wheel cover  102  has an outer diameter Dc that is relatively less than the diameter Dt formed by the outermost curvature of the tire  110 . In this manner, the flexible wheel cover  102  will not be unduly affected by wind turbulence as the wheel moves down the road. Further, in one implementation, the wheel cover  102  has a weight embedded or otherwise included at or near the outer periphery of the wheel cover  102  to further facilitate the flattening of the wheel cover  102  during rotation of the wheel  111 . 
     The flexible wheel cover  102  may be formed of any material capable of bending when the wheel  111  stationary and flattening under centrifugal forces caused by rotation of the wheel  111 . For example, the material may comprise polyvinyl chloride (PVC) embedded polyester. In one implementation, the material of the wheel cover  102  has a relatively low susceptibility to changes in temperature, such that the flexible wheel cover  102  may be utilized in different climates and seasons of the year. Generally, the material of the wheel cover  102  has a flexibility that permits transitions between a bent state, as shown in  FIG. 1 , and a flattened state, as shown in  FIG. 2 , based on a rotation of the wheel  111  and a robustness that provides protection to components associated with the wheel  111  during movement of the vehicle. 
     In one implementation, the rotation of the wheel  111  causes the wheel cover  102  to flatten against the tire  110  as the vehicle approaches road speeds. For example, where the tire  110  is approximately 22.5 inches, a rotation of approximately 500 to 520 revolutions-per-minute (rpm) causes the wheel cover  102  to flatten against the tire  110 . In another implementation, the wheel cover  102  may flatten against the tire  110  at any speed of, the vehicle. 
     The bracket  106  mounts the wheel cover  102  to the wheel hub  104 , such that the wheel cover  102  is prevented from moving independently of the wheel  111  and/or the bracket  106 . However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the wheel cover  102  may be mounted, directly or indirectly, to the wheel hub  104  and/or other components associated with the wheel  111  using bracket  106  or other mechanisms. As can be understood from  FIGS. 3-4 , in one implementation, the bracket  106  is formed from a piece of sheet metal bent into a U-like shape. The bracket  106  may be mounted or affixed to the wheel hub  104  using various mechanisms, for example, existing nuts or bolts used in connection with the wheel  111 . In one implementation, the bracket  106  is mounted to the wheel hub  104  using nuts  112  that secure an axle cover of an axle on which the wheel  111  is mounted. In another implementation, the bracket  106  is mounted to the wheel hub  104  using bolts  113  onto which the wheel  111  is mounted to the axle. In other implementations, the bracket  106  is mounted onto the wheel hub  104  using any suitable mechanism, such as a resilient mechanism that provides a snap-fit attachment. The bracket  106  may include a hole  114  that is aligned with an axis of the wheel  111  when mounted thereon. In one implementation, the hole  114  secures the flexible wheel cover  102  to the bracket  106  using  a  bolt  116 . However, other attachment and mounting mechanisms are contemplated. 
     As can be understood from  FIGS. 5-6 , the inner disk  108   a  and the outer disk  108   b  sandwich the wheel cover  102  therebetween when the wheel cover  102  is mounted. In one implementation, the disks  108   a  and/or  108   b  include rounded, smooth surfaces to prevent or reduce tearing of the wheel cover  102 , as well as increase aesthetic appeal and aerodynamic efficiency. The disks  108   a  and  108   b  may be any size suitable for the wheel  111  and/or the wheel cover  102 . For example, the disks  108   a  and  108   b  may be approximately 6.0 inches in diameter. The disks  108   a  and  108   b  may be made from various materials, for example, an injection molded plastic, metal, ceramic, or the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , in one implementation, the outer disk  108   b  includes one or more teeth  118  defining protrusions that extend through the wheel cover  102  and a corresponding one or more holes  120  defining depressions in the inner disk  108   a.  The teeth  118  transfer the rotational forces of the wheel  111  to the wheel cover  102 , such that the wheel cover  102  rotates as the wheel rotates. It will be appreciated that the inner disk  108   a  and/or the outer disk  108   b  may include various arrangements of teeth, holes, and/or other attachment features. For example, one disk may have a sawtooth-like shape that mates with a complementary sawtooth-like shape of the other disk to engage and hold the flexible wheel cover  102 . Additionally, the teeth may be formed on the outer disk  108   b  while the holes are formed in the inner disk  108   a.    
     It is believed that the present disclosure and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components without departing from the disclosed subject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form described is merely explanatory, and it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes. 
     While the present disclosure has been described with reference to various embodiments, it will be understood that these embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. More generally, embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure have been described in the context of particular implementations. Functionality may be separated or combined in blocks differently in various embodiments of the disclosure or described with different terminology. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims that follow.