Patent Publication Number: US-2007119081-A1

Title: Wheel cover

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims priority to the Japanese Patent Application 2005-339677 dated on Nov. 25, 2005 and the Japanese Patent Application 2006-147602 dated on May 29, 2006, and is hereby incorporated with reference for all purposes.  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to wheel covers, and more particularly, to an improvement in electric decoration thereof.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      In the related art, in moving bodies provided with wheels, such as automobiles, wheel covers are mounted to the outer sides of the wheels to act as mud guards, to provide a visual design, and to reduce wind resistance.  
      Recently, there have been demands for applying decoration to the moving bodies.  
      One approach to satisfy such demands is to provide the wheel covers on these moving bodies with electric decoration.  
      One example of electric decorator in a wheel cover of the related art includes a light source and a power supply for supplying electrical power to the light source (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Sho-63-277452).  
      The wheel cover of the related art provides decoration by making the light source shine by supplying it with electrical power from the power supply.  
      In this type of wheel cover, however, even though decoration is achieved by providing the electric decoration, there is still some scope for improving the display performance, such as the ease of viewing.  
      More specifically, because the wheel cover is provided on a moving body, it is extremely important to make it easier to see the decoration thereof, compared with a case where it is provided on a stationary body.  
      In order to improve the viewability of the electric decoration, one approach considered in the related art is to provide a large display device and power supply in the wheel cover.  
      However, providing a large display device in the wheel cover greatly increases the total weight of the wheel cover, as well as the size and electrical power consumption. These weight, size, and power consumption problems become even more serious particularly in a wheel cover provided on a moving body.  
      Thus, such a large display device is not suitable as a solution to these problems.  
      Despite the need to improve the display performance of the electric decoration on the wheel cover, electric decoration has just added decoration and no technology suitable for improving the display performance thereof has yet been developed.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention has been conceived in light of the problems of the related art described above, and an object thereof is to provide a wheel cover that can improve the display performance of electric decoration.  
      In order to achieve the object described above, a wheel cover according to the present invention includes a wheel-cover main body, a power supply, and an electric decorator. The electric decorator includes a display plate and a light source.  
      The wheel cover main body is mounted to a wheel and rotates together with the wheel.  
      The electric decorator is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the wheel-cover main body in such a manner that it substantially does not rotate with the rotation of the wheel-cover main body.  
      The power supply supplies electrical power to the electric decorator.  
      The display plate includes a base member having a desired optical transparency and refractive index n 1 . A characteristic portion with a refractive index n 2  smaller than the refractive index n 1  of the base member (n 1 &gt;n 2 ) is formed in the base member.  
      The light source emits light when supplied with electrical power from the power supply, and this light passes through the interior of the display plate with the refractive index n 1 .  
      With this wheel cover, the characteristic portion of the display plate is made to shine intensely with the internal illumination of the display plate by the light source, compared with a non-characteristic portion of the base member.  
      The desired optical transparency mentioned here means optical transparency of the display plate with respect to the light from the light source.  
      In the present invention, the wheel cover may be configured such that the display plate includes an acrylic resin plate having the optical transparency and refractive index n 1  mentioned above; the characteristic portion includes a concave portion formed by engraving the acrylic resin plate; and the refractive index n 2  of the characteristic portion is the refractive index of air filling the concave portion formed by engraving the display plate.  
      In the present invention, the wheel cover may be configured such that the engraving is applied to a rear of the display plate; the light source is disposed at a side of the display plate; and the internal illumination of the display plate by the light source is performed laterally relative to the display plate.  
      In the present invention, it is preferable to comprise a side-face reflecting member.  
      The side-face reflecting member is disposed so as to cover a side face of the display plate and prevents leakage of the light inside the display plate to the outside via the side face of the display plate.  
      In the present invention, it is preferable to comprise a rear-face reflecting member.  
      The rear-face reflecting member is disposed so as to cover a rear face of the display plate, to which the engraving is applied, and prevents leakage of the light inside the display plate to the outside via the rear face of the display plate.  
      In the present invention, the wheel cover may be configured such that the display plate is a spoke-shaped display plate; and the characteristic portion of the display plate is provided on the entire surface of the spoked-shaped display plate.  
      In the present invention, the wheel cover may be configured such that the characteristic portion of the display plate comprises minute indentations and projections formed on the entire surface of the spoke-shaped display plate.  
      The spoke-shaped display plate of the present invention is indirectly provided on the wheel, with the wheel cover therebetween; that is to say, it includes a display plate provided on the wheel cover and a display plate directly connected to the wheel.  
      In the present invention, the wheel cover may be configured such that the light source comprises a light-emitting device; the power supply comprises a generator for generating electrical power in response to rotation of the wheel cover. The generator comprises a generator rotating shaft which rotates together with the wheel-cover main body, and a generator main body which is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the wheel-cover main body and which generates electrical power by rotation of the generator rotating shaft, the generator main body substantially does not rotate due to rotation of the wheel-cover main body.  
      In the present invention, it is preferable to comprise a weight and a stopper.  
      The weight is provided so as to be movable relative to the electric decorator within a predetermined range in a vertical plane parallel to a rotation plane of the wheel cover, at a point shifted from a center of the electric decorator.  
      The stopper is fixed to the electric decorator and restricts the range of relative motion of the weight with respect to the electric decorator when abutting against the weight.  
      Effect  
      With the wheel cover according to the present invention, the characteristic portion of the display plate is made to shine intensely with the internal illumination of the display plate by the light source, compared with the non-characteristic portion. Therefore, it is possible to improve the display performance of the electric decoration using a simple configuration.  
      In the present invention, by including a concave portion in the display plate, formed by subjecting the acrylic resin plate to engraving, it is possible to more reliably improve the display performance of the electric decoration.  
      In the present invention, by subjecting the rear of the display plate to engraving and performing internal illumination of the display plate laterally with respect to the display plate using the light source, it is possible to more reliably improve the display performance of the electric decoration.  
      In the present invention, by providing a side-face reflecting member at a side face of the display plate or a rear-face reflecting member at a rear face of the display plate, the display plate being subjected to engraving, it is possible to more reliably improve the display performance of the electric decoration.  
      In the present invention, by using a spoke-shaped display plate and by providing the characteristic portion on the entire front portion of the spoke-shaped display plate, it is possible to make the spoke portions of the spoked wheel shine intensely.  
      In the present invention, by forming minute indentations and projections on the entire front portion of the spoke-shaped display plate to serve as the characteristic portion of the display plate, it is possible to make the spoke portions of the spoked wheel shine even more intensely.  
      In the present invention, by including light-emitting devices in the light source and by including in the power supply a generator provided with a generator main body that substantially does not rotate due to the rotation of the wheel cover, it is possible to more reliably improve the display performance of the electric decoration.  
      In the present invention, by providing a weight that can move within a predetermined range relative to the electric decorator and a stopper that is fixed to the electric decorator and that abuts against the weight to restrict the range of relative motion of the weight with respect to the electric decorator, it is possible to reliably supply electrical power to the electric decorator. Furthermore, it is possible to reliably achieve the desired display performance of the electric decoration. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a wheel using a wheel cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a rear view of the wheel cover according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a view for explaining internal illumination of the wheel cover according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
       4  is a front view showing the internal illumination of the wheel cover according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIGS. 5A, 5B , and  5 C show a modification (center cap) of the wheel cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show a modification (spoked wheel) of the wheel cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are views illustrating the structure of a movable weight employed in the wheel cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIGS. 8A, 8B , and  8 C are views for explaining the operation of the movable weight shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.  
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an outline configuration of a wheel cover  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1  is a side view of a wheel using the wheel cover  10  according to this embodiment, and  FIG. 2  is a rear view of the wheel cover  10 .  
      In these figures, the wheel cover  10  includes a wheel-cover main body  12 , a power supply  14 , and electric decorator  16 .  
      The wheel-cover main body  12  is mounted to a wheel  17  for an automobile tire and rotates together with the wheel  17 .  
      The power supply  14  includes a generator  18 . The generator  18  generates electrical power by rotation of the wheel-cover main body  12  and supplies this electrical power to the electric decorator  16 .  
      The electric decorator  16  is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the wheel-cover main body  12  in such a manner that it does not substantially rotate due to the rotation of the wheel-cover main body  12 .  
      The electric decorator  16  includes a display plate  20  and light sources  22 , which is a feature of the present invention.  
      The display plate  20  includes a base member  24  and characteristic portions  26 . The base member  24  is optically transparent to light from the light sources  22  and has a refractive index n 1 , and the characteristic portions  26  have a refractive index n 2  that is smaller than the refractive index n 1 , of the base member  24  (that is, n 1 &gt;n 2 ).  
      The light sources  22  include light-emitting devices (LEDs). The light sources  22  output light when supplied with electrical power from the power supply  14 , and this light is transmitted inside the display plate  20 .  
      The structure of the wheel cover  10  according to this embodiment will be described more concretely below.  
      Wheel-cover Main Body  
      In this embodiment, a tire  36  is mounted on a rim  34  of the wheel  17 , which rotates together with an axle  30  of the automobile.  
      The wheel cover  10  of this embodiment is mounted to the outer side of the wheel  17  to serve as a full-wheel cap.  
      The wheel-cover main body  12  includes a frame member  38  and a front cover  40 .  
      The frame member  38  is mounted to the wheel  17 .  
      The front cover  40  is provided on the frame member  38 . In order for the front cover  40  to transmit illumination light coming from the display plate  20 , emitted by the light sources  22 , to outside the wheel cover  10 , it is optically transparent to the illumination light.  
      In this embodiment, it is preferred that the front cover  40  also function as a lens. It is also preferable that the front cover  40  modulate the illumination light coming from the display plate  20 , emitted by the light sources  22 , to a desired magnitude and transmit it to outside the front cover  40 .  
      Electric Decorator  
      In this embodiment, an acrylic resin plate is used as the display plate  20 .  
      Letters or images engraved in the base member  24  of the display plate  20  serve as the characteristic portions  26  of the display plate  20 .  
      The refractive index n 2  of the characteristic portions  26  in the display plate  20  correspond to the refractive index of air filling the indentations (concave portion) formed in the display plate  20  by the engraving process.  
      From among a plurality of possible machining positions, the rear face  20   b  of the display plate  20  is selected to form the characteristic portions  26 , which serve as letters or images engraved.  
      The light sources  22  are provided at an inner circumferential wall of the display plate  20 , which is donut-shaped. The light sources  22  perform illumination from the inner wall of the display plate  20  towards the interior of the display plate  20 .  
      Light Source and Power Supply  
      In this embodiment, from among a plurality of light sources, low-power-consumption light-emitting devices (LEDs) are selected as the light sources  22  of the wheel cover  10 . From among a plurality of power supplies, the generator  18  is selected as the power supply  14  of the wheel cover  10 .  
      The generator  18  includes a generator rotating shaft  62 , a generator main body  64 , and a generator weight  66 .  
      The generator rotating shaft  62  is disposed so as to be rotatable relative to the generator main body  64 . This generator rotating shaft  62  is fixed at the center of the rear face of the front cover  40 , by means of a shaft holder  68 .  
      The generator weight  66  is disposed at the bottom of the rear face of the display plate  20 .  
      The generator main body  64  is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the wheel-cover main body  12 . Therefore, the generator rotating shaft  62  rotates due to the rotation of the wheel-cover main body  12 , but the generator main body  64  substantially does not rotate due to the rotation of the wheel-cover main body  12 . Relative rotary motion is produced between the generator rotating shaft  62  and the generator main body  64  in the generator  18 , thus generating electrical power.  
      In this embodiment, the front surface  20   a  of the display plate  20  is fixed to the generator main body  64  via a ring plate  70 .  
      A base plate  72  is mechanically secured to the generator main body  64 .  
      The interior of the generator main body  64  and the base plate  72  are electrically connected via electrical wires  78 . The base plate  72  and electrodes  76  of the light sources  22  are electrically connected.  
      Accordingly, the electrical power produced by the generator  18  is supplied to the electrodes  76  via the base plate  72 , which causes the light sources  22  to emit light.  
      A watertight cover  79  is secured to the rear face of the display plate  20  to cover the power supply  14  from the rear.  
      The operation of the wheel cover  10  according to this embodiment, having the configuration outlined above, will be described below.  
      In this embodiment, when the wheel  17  rotates, the wheel-cover main body  12  rotates together, the generator  18  produces electrical power, and the light sources  22  illuminate.  
      Light  80  from the light sources  22  passes through the interior of the display plate  20  and makes the engraved letters or images, which are the characteristic portions  26 , shine intensely and stand out. In this embodiment, it is possible to improve the display performance of the electric decoration with such internal illumination of the display plate  20  by the light sources  22 .  
      In other words, from among a plurality of possible materials, an acrylic resin plate, which has excellent optical characteristics and in which the characteristic portions can be easily machined, is selected as the display plate  20  in this embodiment.  
      The base member  24 , which has the desired optical transparency and refractive index n 1 , is subjected to engraving to form the characteristic portions  26  of the display plate  20 . The refractive index n 2  of the characteristic portions  26  in the display plate  20  corresponds to the refractive index of air  50  filling the indentations engraved in the display plate  20 , as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
      Non-characteristic portions (non-engraved portions) of the base member  24  in the display plate  20  have no refractive index difference, and therefore, the light  80  inside the display plate  20  continues to propagate (be transmitted) inside the display plate  20 . Of the light  80  inside the display plate  20 , transmitted light  86  from the non-characteristic portions of the base member  24  is emitted from the display plate  20 . When viewing this transmitted light  86  from the front of the wheel cover  10 , it is observed as non-characteristic light  88 .  
      On the other hand, the refractive index difference inside the display plate  20  at the interfaces of the characteristic portions  26 , such as letters or images, and the non-characteristic portions of the base member  24  is large. Therefore, when the light  80  inside the display plate  20  is incident on the characteristic portions  26  having the refractive index n 2  from non-characteristic portions of the base member  24  having the refractive index n 1 , it is diffusely reflected at the interfaces (edge portions).  
      Scattered light  82  at the characteristic portions  26  in the base member  24  is emitted towards the front of the wheel, from the front surface  20   a  of the display plate  20 . When viewing the wheel cover  10  from the front, this scattered light  82  is observed as extremely bright characteristic light  84  that enhances edges.  
      As a result, when someone looks at the wheel cover  10  of this embodiment from the front, the characteristic light  84  at the characteristic portions  26  of the display plate  20  is more intense than the transmitted light  86  at the non-characteristic portions of the base member  24 , with the internal illumination of the display plate  20 .  
      Reflecting Member  
      In order to more reliably achieve the desired display performance of the electric decoration in this embodiment, it is important to use the light effectively. Therefore, it is extremely important to provide a reflecting member.  
      More specifically, in this embodiment, a side-face reflecting seal (side-face reflecting member)  90  or a rear-face reflecting seal (rear-face reflecting member)  92  is preferably provided.  
      The side-face reflecting seal  90  is provided on a side face of the display plate  20 . This side-face reflecting seal  90  prevents the light  80  inside the display plate  20  from leaking outside via the side face of the display plate  20 .  
      The rear-face reflecting seal  92  is provided to cover the rear face of the display plate  20 , which is subjected to engraving. This rear-face reflecting seal  92  prevents the light  80  inside the display plate  20  from leaking outside via the rear face of the display plate  20 .  
      As a result, in this embodiment, because it is possible to prevent wasteful light leakage in directions other than the direction (toward the front of the wheel cover) opposite the viewing direction of the illumination using the reflecting seals  90  and  92 , the light  80  from the light sources  22  can be used efficiently.  
      With this embodiment, therefore, in the illumination viewing direction (when viewed from the front surface of the wheel cover), it is possible to make the characteristic portions  26  of the display plate  20  shine more intensely than the non-characteristic portions of the base member  24  with the internal illumination of the display plate  20  by the light sources  22 . Therefore, this embodiment can more reliably provide the desired display performance of the electric decoration compared with a configuration in which efficient use of the light in this manner is not considered.  
      Characteristic Portions  
      In order to more reliably achieve the desired display performance of the electric decoration in this embodiment, selection of the display plate and selection of the method of machining the characteristic portions in the display plate are also extremely important.  
      Therefore, an acrylic resin plate, which has the required optical characteristics for obtaining sufficient illumination of the wheel cover  10  in this embodiment and excellent machinability, is employed as the display plate  20  in this embodiment.  
      Engraving, which features the ability to obtain sharper edges in the characteristic portions, such as letters or images, is selected as the method of machining the characteristic portions  26  of the display plate  20  in this embodiment.  
      As a result, it is possible to more reliably improve the display performance of the electric decoration compared with an approach in which no consideration is made about the display plate and the method of machining the characteristic portions in the display plate.  
      Characteristic-portion Machining Position and Illumination Position  
      In order to more reliably achieve the desired display performance of the electric decoration in this embodiment, selection of the machining positions of the characteristic portions and selection of the illumination positions are extremely important.  
      Therefore, in this embodiment, the rear face of the display plate  20  is subjected to engraving.  
      The light sources  22  are provided at a side of the display plate  20 .  
      Therefore, by performing the internal illumination of the display plate  20  laterally with respect to the display plate  20  using the light sources  22 , it is possible to reliably achieve more uniform illumination of the non-characteristic portions of the base member  24  at the front surface of the display plate  20 , compared with configurations in which the light sources  22  are disposed at other positions with respect to the display plate  20 .  
      Furthermore, because the rear face of the display plate  20  is subjected to engraving, the scattered light  82  emerging from the display plate  20  is more reliably concentrated in the direction opposite the viewing direction of the wheel cover (toward the front surface of the wheel cover).  
      Therefore, at the front surface of the display plate  20 , it is possible to reliably see the letters clearly at the characteristic portions in the more uniform illumination of the non-characteristic portion, compared with cases in which engraving is performed at other positions or the light sources  22  are disposed at other positions with respect to the display plate  20 .  
      Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to more reliably achieve improved display performance of the electric decoration compared with a case in which no consideration is made about the machining position of the characteristic portions and the illumination position.  
      Light Sources and Power Supply  
      Selection of the light sources and the power supply is extremely important to reliably achieve the desired display performance of the electric decoration.  
      Therefore, in this embodiment, from among a plurality of light sources, low-power-consumption, high-brightness light-emitting devices (LEDs) are selected as the light sources  22  of the wheel cover  10 .  
      In addition, from among a plurality of power supplies, the generator  18  is selected as the power supply  14  of the wheel cover  10  in this embodiment. The generator  18  has excellent compactness, is lightweight, does not require wires from outside the wheel cover, and can ensure reliable electrical power supply.  
      The generator  18  includes the generator rotating shaft  62 , which rotates together with the wheel-cover main body  12 , and the generator main body  64 , which is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the wheel-cover main body  12  and which generates electrical power as the generator rotating shaft  62  rotates. Hence, the generator main body  64  substantially does not rotate with the rotation of the wheel-cover main body  12 .  
      As a result, it is possible to ensure the reliable supply of electrical power with a simple configuration.  
      Therefore, it is possible to reliably perform internal illumination of the display plate  20  with the light sources  22 , which is a feature of this embodiment.  
      It is possible to more reliably achieve the desired display performance of the electric decoration compared with a case in which no consideration is made about the light sources and the power supply.  
      By configuring the wheel cover  10  according to this embodiment in this way, when viewing the wheel cover  10  from the front surface thereof, although the tire  36  and the wheel-cover main body  12  rotate, the display plate  20  is stationary, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The characteristic light  84  at the engraved portions shines intensely in the uniform non-characteristic light  88  at the non-engraved portions of the base member, thus clearly standing out. Therefore, the observer can clearly see the letters or images formed by the characteristic light  84 .  
      In this embodiment, it is possible to provide the light sources at positions other than at the side of the display plate, so long as it is still possible for the characteristic portions to shine intensely with the internal illumination of the display plate. In this embodiment, however, the side of the display plate is particularly preferable for obtaining more-uniform internal illumination in the display plate.  
      The characteristic portions may be located at positions other than the rear face of the display plate so long as it is possible to make the characteristic portions shine intensely with the internal illumination in the display plate. In this embodiment, however, to allow the characteristic portions to shine intensely with the internal illumination of the display plate, the rear face of the display plate is particularly preferable.  
      It is possible to use any combination of the positions (illumination direction) of the light sources and the positions of the characteristic portions in the display plate, so long as it is possible to make the edge portions shine intensely with the internal illumination in the display plate. In this embodiment, however, to allow the characteristic portions to intensely shine in the uniform internal illumination from the display plate, a combination of side illumination of the display plate using the light sources and providing the characteristic portions on the rear face of the display plate is particularly preferable.  
      Modifications  
      In the configurations described above, an example is given in which the wheel cover of this embodiment is used as a full wheel cap; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. It is preferable to use the wheel cover as a center cap or to make the wheel itself with the wheel cover of this embodiment.  
      Center Cap  
      In the configuration described above, an example is described in which an outer peripheral portion close to the outer edge than to the center portion of the wheel cover is made to shine; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. A configuration in which the center portion is made to shine is preferable; that is, it is also preferable to use the wheel cover of this invention as a center cap.  
       FIGS. 5A, 5B , and  5 C illustrate an outline configuration of a case in which a wheel cover according to an embodiment of the present invention is used as a center cap  110 .  FIG. 5A  is a front view of the center cap  110  according to the embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 5B  is a side view of the center cap. Parts that correspond to those in the configurations described above are indicated by the same reference numerals, plus  100 , and a description thereof is omitted here.  
      The center cap (wheel cover)  110  shown in these figures is mounted to the center portion of a wheel. This center cap  110  includes a center-cap main body  112  which rotates together with the wheel and a disc-shaped display plate  120  which is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the center-cap main body  112  in such a manner that it does not rotate due to the rotation of the center-cap main body  112 .  
      In this embodiment, in order to perform internal illumination of the center cap  110 , a plurality of light sources (LEDs)  122  are disposed at regular intervals around the outer circumferential wall of the display plate  120  such that the propagating directions of the light beams therefrom are towards the center of the center-cap main body  112 .  
      When the wheel rotates, the center-cap main body  112  rotates, whereas the electric decorator that includes the display plate  120 , the light sources  122 , and so forth and a generator main body  164  remain stationary. Thus, a generator rotating shaft  162  rotates together with the center-cap main body  112  relative to the generator main body  164 . The electrical power thus produced is supplied to the light sources  122 .  
      As a result, the entire display plate  120  of the center cap  110  shines. Particularly, the characteristic portions shine intensely.  
      When an observer views the center cap  110  from the front, as shown for example in  FIG. 5C , the tire  136  and the center-cap main body  112  rotate; however, with the display plate  120  remaining stationary, characteristic light  184  shines intensely at the characteristic portions, thus making it stand out in uniform non-characteristic light  188  at non-characteristic portions. Therefore, on the center cap  110 , the observer can clearly see a letter or an image in the characteristic light  184 .  
      Therefore, it is possible to improve the electric decoration performance of the center cap  110 .  
      In the center cap  110  shown in  FIGS. 5A  to  5 C, a weight may be incorporated inside the generator main body  164  or it may be provided on the exterior of the generator main body  164 .  
      In the configuration shown in  FIGS. 5A  to  5 C, when the generator main body  164  freely rotates together with the center-cap main body  112 , it is preferable that a weight be provided on the generator rotating shaft  162 .  
      Spoked Wheel  
      The above configurations have been described in terms of an example in which the display plate of the wheel cover is a substantially circular plate; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. It is also preferable to use a spoked configuration.  
      In this embodiment, it is preferable to constitute the tire wheel itself in the wheel cover. For example, it is preferable to use the present invention in a spoked wheel, such as that shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . Parts corresponding to those of the configurations described above are assigned the same reference numerals, plus  200 , and a description thereof is omitted here.  
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate an outline configuration of a spoked wheel according to this embodiment.  FIG. 6A  is a front view of the spoked wheel, and  FIG. 6B  is a side view of a spoke portion. The front surface (front portion) of the spoke portion points upwards in the drawing.  
      A spoked wheel (wheel cover)  210  shown in the figure includes a plurality of (for example, five) spoke portions  295 , and spoke-shaped display plates  220  corresponding thereto are provided along the respective spoke portions  295 .  
      Minute indentations and projections are formed on the entire front portion (at the front-surface side of the wheel) of the spoke-shaped display plates  220  to serve as characteristic portions in the display plates  220 , for example, minute indentations and projections like those on ground glass.  
      These minute indentations and projections are not provided in the rear or side portions of the display plates  220 ; they are provided only on the front of the display plates  220 .  
      To perform internal illumination in the spoke-shaped display plates  220  in this embodiment, corresponding light sources (LEDs)  222  are disposed in the center-side end faces of the spoke-shaped display plates  220 . The directions in which light travels are from the center-side end faces of the spoke-shaped display plates  220  towards the outer-circumference-side end faces thereof.  
      As a result, because the spoke-shaped display plates  220  shine due to rotation of the spoked wheel  210 , it is possible to make the spoke portions  295  shine intensely.  
      In other words, in this embodiment, the minute indentations and projections serving as the characteristic portions of the display plates  220  are not provided on the rear or the side of the display plates  220 ; they are provided only on the front of the display plates  220 .  
      Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 6B , substantially none of the light passing through the interior of the display plate  220  is emitted from the rear and side faces, which are faces other than the front faces of the spoke-shaped display plates  220 ; most of it is emitted only from the front  220   a.    
      Therefore, in this embodiment, because it is possible to efficiently make the spoke portions  295  of the spoked wheel  210  shine intensely, the electric decoration performance of the spoked wheel  210  can be further improved.  
      In order to improve the electric decoration performance of the spoked wheel  210 , it is possible to provide another electric decorator on the spoke portions  295  of the spoked wheel  210 ; however, the spoked wheel  210  shown in the figure is extremely advantageous in terms of both the electric decorator performance and simplified construction of the electric decorator.  
      In other words, to improve the electric decoration performance of the spoked wheel, it has normally been considered to arrange a plurality of light sources in a straight line, from the inner ends of the spoke portions of the spoked wheel to the outer ends thereof.  
      However, providing a plurality of light sources in a straight line makes it difficult to dispose a power supply mechanism on the wheel. For example, it is difficult to dispose wirings, boards, etc. for supplying power to each light source on the wheel. This problem is particularly severe in a spoked wheel, where space is limited, compared with a standard disc-shaped wheel.  
      Furthermore, by arranging a plurality of light sources in a straight line, the illumination comes from points, and it is not possible to obtain satisfactory electric decoration performance.  
      In contrast, this embodiment uses the internal illumination of the spoke-type display plates  220  to achieve superior electric decoration performance as well as a very simplified construction of the electric decorator.  
      Movable Weight  
      In order to reliably achieve the desired display performance of the electric decoration, it is also extremely important to reliably supply electrical power.  
      In this embodiment, a generator that generates electrical power by rotation of the wheel cover is used as the power supply. With a configuration using a generator, it is extremely advantageous to add a weight to the generator main body, at the stationary side of the generator, or to the rotating shaft of the generator.  
      The weight used here is a standard fixed weight and is fixed to the display plate, for example.  
      However, by attaching a fixed weight to the display plate, when the tire rotates at a constant rotational speed, magnetic forces that attract the generator main body and the rotary shaft of the generator each other and a gravitational force that tends to maintain the central position of the weight occur, causing resonance.  
      In contrast, in this embodiment, in order to prevent resonance such as that described above, a weight possessing dead-weight which can exert a force even stronger than the forces attracting the generator main body and the generator rotary shaft each other is accommodated inside a case fixed to electric decorator, including the display plate and so on, in such a manner as to be movable.  
      In this embodiment, by using such a movable weight, it is possible for the electric decorator, including the display plate and so on, to greatly reduce vibrations to the left and right, compared with a configuration in which a fixed weight is used. Therefore, it is possible to reliably supply electrical power from the generator.  
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate an outline configuration of a preferable movable weight used in a wheel cover according to this embodiment.  FIG. 7A  is a longitudinal sectional view of a vicinity of the movable weight, and  FIG. 7B  is a view from the front or rear of the vicinity of the movable weight. Parts corresponding to the configurations described above are indicated by the same reference numerals, plus  300 , and a description thereof is omitted.  
      A feature of the present invention is the use of a movable weight such as that shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . Therefore, in this embodiment, a weight  366  and a case-like stopper (stopper)  396  are provided.  
      The weight  366  is disposed so as to freely move relative to electric decorator  316 , including a display plate and so on, within a predetermined range in a vertical plane parallel to the rotation plane of the wheel-cover main body, at a position shifted from a central axis  394  of the electric decorator  316 .  
      The case-like stopper (stopper)  396  is fixed to the electric decorator  316  and abuts against the weight  366 , thus limiting the range of relative motion of the weight  366  with respect to the electric decorator  316 .  
      As a result, even if rotation occurs in the electric decorator  316 , including the display plate and so on, due to the effect described above, the weight  366  moves inside the case-like stopper  396  according to the vibration direction of the electric decorator  316  and abuts against one end  396   a  or another end  396   b  of the case-like stopper  396 . This allows a force that counteracts rotation of the electric decorator  316  to be exerted on the case-like stopper  396 . Thus, in this embodiment, because a force that counteracts the rotation of the electric decorator  316  is exerted, vibration of the electric decorator  316  can be reliably suppressed, and the electric decorator  316 , including the display plate and so on, can be kept stable.  
      The operation of the movable weight  366  will be described in more detail below with reference to  FIGS. 8A  to  8 C.  
       FIG. 8A  shows the stationary state of the electric decorator  316 ,  FIG. 8B  shows the electric decorator  316  rotated counter-clockwise, and  FIG. 8C  shows the electric decorator  316  rotated clockwise.  
      In the stationary state of the electric decorator  316 , as shown in  FIG. 8A , the weight  366  is stationary at a central position inside the case-like stopper  396 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 8B , when the electric decorator  316  rotates in the counter-clockwise direction, the relative position of the weight  366  inside the case-like stopper  396  moves in the clockwise direction, and the weight  366  and the other end  396   b  of the case-like stopper  396  abut against each other. This exerts a force that suppresses rotation of the electric decorator  316 , which tends to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction. Therefore, it is possible to rapidly bring about the stationary state of the electric decorator  316 , including the display plate and so on, as shown in  FIG. 8A .  
      As shown in  FIG. 8C , when the electric decorator  316  rotates clockwise, the relative position of the weight  366  inside the case-like stopper  396  moves in the counter-clockwise direction, and the weight  366  and the one end  396   a  of the case-like stopper  396  abut against each other. This exerts a force that suppresses rotation of the electric decorator  316 , which tends to rotate clockwise. Therefore, it is possible to rapidly bring about the stationary state of the electric decorator  316 , including the display plate and so on, as shown in  FIG. 8A .  
      In these figures, as an example, the weight  366  is illustrated as a solid object; however, so long as it allows the stationary state of the electric decorator  316 , including the display plate and so on, to be maintained, it is also possible to use a liquid, such as water, inside the case-like stopper  396 .