Patent GB-791632-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to wheel covers
IPC: B60B7/00
Filed: 1955-10-14
Abstract: 791,632. Wheel covers. LYON, G. A. Oct. 14, 1955, No. 29360/55. Classes 144 (1) and 144 (2). A vehicle wheel cover 15 comprises radiallyspaced generally circular continuous portions 16, 18 interconnected by integral elongated spoke-like portions 20, 21 which act resiliently to enhance the " snap-on " engagement of retaining moans 25, formed on one or other of the cover portions adjacent the junction of the circular portions 16, 18 with the spoke-like portions 20,21, with a co-operating opposing formation 26 on the wheel. Figs. 1-3 show a wheel 11 having a disc body 13 which is secured to a rim 10 to leave ventilating gaps 12 therebetween for passage of brake-cooling air entering through the spaces between the cover-spokes 20, 21. The cover-spokes are formed by slits 32 in the cover disc 15, alternate spokes 21, 20 being bowed axially inwardly and outwardly, Fig. 2. To enhance the air-circulation, the spokes are skewed, Figs. 2, 3, to vane-like formation by relative rotation of the inner and outer circular portions 16, 18. Retention of the cover 15 on the wheel is effected by snap engagement of a radially outwardly bulging rib formation 25 on the inner spokes 21 within a radially inwardly opening groove 26 provided at the axially inner end of the tyre-bead seating flange 27 of the rim. The Specification describes various alternative constructions wherein snap retention of the cover is effected by radially outwardly directed humps, ribs or folds formed either on the spoke sections or the radially outer circular portions, engaging within grooves, or behind a plurality of radially inwardly directed humps, on the underside of the wheel rim, and wherein the spoke sections are either alternately axially inwardly and outwardly bowed to conform with, and lie against, correspondingly bowed spoke formations on the wheel disc, or are formed of angle-section with each spoke comprising axially inwardly bowed and divergent, radially extending, side limbs. In further arrangements the spokes may be formed by openings cut in the cover disc, the radial side edges of the openings being flanged axially inwardly ; also the retaining rib or humps may be formed on the radially inner circular portion of the cover, or on the radially inner ends of the spoke sections, to engage over axially inwardly and radially outwardly facing shoulders, ribs, or flanges, formed on, or struck out from, the opposing parts of the wheel body disc. Circumferential displacement of the cover on the wheel is prevented by the interengagement of the complementary spoke sections in the cover and wheel body, or by biting engagement of flanges on the cover spoke sections with abutting wheel body parts, or by spoke flanges or indentations on the cover embracing circumferentially the sides of cover securing humps on the underside of the wheel rim. Figs. 19 and 20 show an arrangement wherein a cover 155 has a central cup-shaped hub cap portion 157 and an outer wheel-rim embellishment 163 interconnected by a series of integral, wire-spokesimulating, flanged strips 161 which extend axially and radially outwardly, and circumferentially obliquely from a cover retaining radially inwardly directed rib fold 159 formed in the axially inner end 158 of the cap portion 157. The cover rib fold 159 engages over a radially outwardly and axially inwardly facing shoulder 142 on the wheel body 139 and is cammed inwardly thereby to cause the flanges 162 of the spoke strips 161 to abut the wheel body. To complete the wire-spoke simulation, a complementary oppositely directed series of spoke strips 168 are formed to project radially inwardly, from a ring 165 which has its outer peripheral edge clamped by the return-bent beaded periphery of the cover portion 163, the inner ends of the spokes 168 being engaged in holes 169 in hub cap portion 157.