Patent Publication Number: US-2012043803-A1

Title: Hub cover attachment assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a hub cover attachment assembly, and in particular to a hub cover attachment assembly that includes a washer plate that operably connects a wheel cover to a bracket assembly while simultaneously coupling with an emblem assembly juxtaposed in the wheel cover. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is to provide a hub cover attachment assembly having a bracket assembly detachably connected to an axle hub. A wheel cover is adjacent the bracket assembly. A washer plate operably connects the wheel cover to the bracket assembly and detachably couples with an emblem assembly disposed in the wheel cover. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a hub cover attachment assembly having a bracket assembly detachably connected to an axle hub. A washer plate is operably connected to the bracket assembly. A wheel cover is at least partially disposed between the bracket assembly and the washer plate, and covers a portion of the bracket assembly from view. An emblem assembly is disposed over and detachably coupled with the washer plate. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of attaching a hub cover assembly including detachably connecting a bracket assembly to an axle hub. A washer plate is operably connected to the bracket assembly. A wheel cover is positioned at least partially between the bracket assembly and the washer plate. The bracket assembly is covered with the wheel cover. An emblem assembly is detachably coupled with the washer plate. 
     The present inventive wheel assembly is durable, provides a low manufacturing cost, includes an uncomplicated design, may be assembled with basic tools, and can be easily and quickly assembled by even relatively unskilled operators. The wheel assembly is capable of a long operating life, and is particularly well adapted for the proposed use, specifically for providing an outer drive axle dually-wheel type assembly or super-single drive axle wheel assembly with an aesthetic look similar to that typically associated with stylized wheels for standard passenger-type vehicles, and provides styling flexibility for such applications. Further, the wheel assembly may be personalized to display particular images, such as company names and logos, operator chosen symbols and the like, and may include a variety of metallic finishes, paint finishes, or combinations thereof. 
     These and advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the vehicle wheel assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the hub cover attachment assembly of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of one embodiment of the hub cover attachment assembly of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the reference numeral  10  generally designates a vehicle wheel assembly embodying the present invention. In the illustrated example, the wheel assembly  10  includes a vehicle wheel  12  and a wheel cover  14  attached to the vehicle wheel  12  via a wheel cover bracket assembly  16 . The wheel assembly  10  forms a dually-wheel assembly having an outer wheel  20  adjacent to an inner wheel  18 , in an arrangement typically applicable to light, medium, and heavy duty vehicles (i.e., pickup trucks, vans, buses, heavy duty trucks and trailers, recreational vehicles, motor homes, etc.), and in particular, vehicles within commercial vehicle weight classifications  1 - 8 , as established by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, which utilizes dually-wheel configurations. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , a central hub portion  22  of the outer wheel  20  is placed over a vehicle axle hub  24  such that the vehicle axle hub  24  extends through a central aperture  26  of the central hub portion  22 . The central hub portion  22  is surrounded by multiple, equidistantly spaced lug bolts  30  spaced circumferentially about the central aperture  26 . The lug bolts  30  are received within corresponding lug bolt apertures  32  located within the central hub portion  22  of the vehicle wheel  12 . A plurality of hub axle studs  34  extend axially outward from an end  36  of the vehicle axle hub  24 , and are equidistantly spaced in a circular pattern about the circumference thereof. The vehicle wheel  12  further includes an outer rim  40  extending circumferentially about the vehicle wheel  12 , and a web portion  42  extending between the central hub portion  22 . In the illustrated example, the web portion  42  includes a plurality of apertures  44  extending therethrough, for drainage, weight reduction and/or aesthetic purposes. The vehicle wheel  12  is comprised of steel, aluminum, or an alloy adequate for construction of the same. 
     The wheel cover  14  includes a central portion  50 , an outer rim portion  52  circumscribing the wheel cover  14 , and a web portion  54  extending between the central portion  50  and the outer rim portion  52  of the wheel cover  14 . The central portion  50 , the outer rim portion  52 , and the web portion  54  of the wheel cover  14  include a single-integral piece that cooperates to form an outer surface of the wheel cover  14 . An inner surface of the wheel cover  14  may include a glossy black finish material resistant to chrome plating, thereby reducing the costs associated with plating the wheel cover  14  and resulting in an inner surface that is more resistant to corrosion. In the illustrated example, the web portion  54  includes a plurality of turbine openings  56  and radially-extending supports  58  spaced equidistantly and circumferentially about the web portion  54 . This construction provides an aesthetic appearance similar to those typically associated with wheel assemblies for passenger vehicles. It is noted that the wheel cover  14  may include numerous styling configurations and geometries typically used in stylized automotive and light truck wheels. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the central portion  50  of the wheel cover  14  includes an axially inwardly-extending recess  60  adapted to receive a hub cover attachment assembly  62  having a cap  64 , such as an emblem cap, therein. The cap  64  is covered by a decorative lens  66  that adds to the aesthetics. The cap  64  is connected to a washer plate  68  by a plurality of dual lock material members  70  having a hook and loop type construction and held in place by a two-way adhesive backing strip  71  ( FIG. 1 ). The two-way adhesive backing strip  71  includes apertures  72  designed to align with apertures  74  on the washer plate  68 . The apertures  72 ,  74  are designed to receive mechanical fasteners, as outlined in further detail below. The cap  64  and washer plate  68  are disposed in the axially inwardly-extending recess  60 . The decorative lens  66  is provided with a logo, indicia, emblem, or other symbol or verbiage designed for that particular application. 
     Referring again to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bracket assembly  16  connects with the axle hub  24  and includes a pair of L-shaped brackets  80  each including a body portion  82  having an elongated slot  84 , and a securing portion  86  extending orthogonally from the body portion  82  and including an aperture  88  extending therethrough. The aperture  88  includes a knockout  89  designed to accommodate various-sized hub axle studs  34 . The bracket assembly  16  also includes a U-shaped bracket  90  including a support section  92 , and a pair of attachment legs  94  that extend orthogonally from the support section  92 . Each of the attachment legs  94  includes an elongated slot  96 , and a pair of guide walls  98  extending longitudinally therealong. The support section  92  includes a pair of bolt-receiving apertures  100  extending therethrough, as discussed below. 
     In assembly, each of the L-shaped brackets  80  are secured to associated hub axle studs  34  by jam nuts  82 , such that the securing portion  86  of each L-shaped bracket  80  is located between adjacent hub axle studs  34 . A pair of lock bolts  102  extend through the slots  84 ,  96  of brackets  80 ,  90  and engage threaded fasteners  104 , thereby allowing the U-shaped bracket  90  to be secured at various positions relative to the L-shaped brackets  80 . A pair of wheel cover mounting studs  106  are located within the recess  60  of the wheel cover  14 , extend through apertures  108  located within the recess  60  and through the apertures  100  of the U-shaped bracket  90 , and are held in place by associated cinch nuts  110 , thereby securing the wheel cover  14  to the bracket assembly  16 , and consequently, the vehicle wheel assembly  10 . 
     The linear adjustability between the second bracket  90  and the first brackets  80  allows the bracket assembly  16  to be utilized to secure wheel covers  14  of various shapes, sizes and depths to the associated vehicle and vehicle wheel, and to account for axial stack-up tolerance variations from axle hub components, wheel components, bracket components and the like. Specifically, the bracket assembly  16  allows adjustment such that the outer rim portion  52  of the wheel cover  14  aligns with the outer rim  40  of the vehicle wheel  12 , and as a result, provides a recessed style outer dually-wheel with a relatively more shallow aesthetic appearance, such as those associated with single-wheel applications utilized on typical passenger vehicles. More specifically, the rim outer portions  52  of the wheel cover  14  align with the outer rim  40  of the vehicle wheel  12 , such that the combination of the vehicle wheel  12  and the wheel cover  14  provide an aesthetic appearance of a single-piece wheel construction, e.g., cast aluminum or forged wheels. It is noted that the bridging of the wheel cover  14  area across substantially the entire outer visible surface of the vehicle wheel  12 , including a wheel rim balance weight flange area, provides a full-surface appearance typically associated with single wheel assemblies with high offsets and aerodynamic characteristics. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , a plurality of cushioning members including foam pads  120  and a foam rim insert  122  are shown in the illustrated embodiment and help seat the wheel cover  14  on the outer wheel  20 . The foam pads  120  may be positioned between the web portion  54  of the wheel cover  14  and the web portion  54  of the vehicle wheel  12  and provide proper radial alignment of the wheel cover  14  with respect to the vehicle wheel  12 , and further cooperate with the bracket assembly  16  to provide radial uniformity of the wheel cover  14  and the vehicle wheel  12 . The foam pads  120  also reduce vibrations transmitted from the vehicle wheel  12  to the wheel cladding and the vibratory noise associated therewith. A foam rim insert  122  may also be included that circumferentially extends about the wheel cover  14  and is positioned between the outer rim portion  52  of the wheel cover  14  and the outer rim  40  of the vehicle wheel  12 . The foam rim insert  122  reduces frictional noise and protects the wheel cover  14  from damage caused by frictional contact between the wheel cover  14  and the vehicle wheel  12 . The cap  64  is then secured radially outboard of the recess  60 , thereby covering the bolts  106  and providing an aesthetic customization to the vehicle wheel assembly  10 , and further providing a degree of theft deterrence. 
     The present inventive hub cover attachment assembly  12  provides a cost effective alternative attachment design for connecting the wheel cover  14  to the vehicle wheel  12 . Specifically, the bracket assembly  16  detachably connects to the end  36  of the vehicle axle hub  24 . The wheel cover mounting studs  106  extend through the apertures  74  of the washer plate  68  and operably connect the wheel cover  14  to the bracket assembly  16 . The cap  66  is detachably coupled with the washer plate  68 . Accordingly, the washer plate  68  provides two functions. Specifically, the washer plate  68  distributes the attachment bolt forces that connect the wheel cover  14  to the bracket assembly  16  and also secures the emblem cap assembly on the wheel cover  14 . In the event, a user wishes to change the wheel cover  14 , the emblem cap assembly is simply removed from the washer plate  68  and mechanical fasteners that extend through the washer plate  68  are removed to thus remove the wheel cover  14 . This alternative design is capable of long use, while providing an aesthetically pleasing wheel cover  14  on a large dually-wheel type vehicle. 
     Additionally, the present inventive vehicle wheel assembly  10  is durable, provides a low manufacturing cost, includes an uncomplicated design, may be assembled with basic tools, and can be easily and quickly assembled, installed and/or removed by even relatively unskilled operators, thereby allowing for wheel and tire maintenance, and inspections in minimal time. The vehicle wheel assembly  10  is capable of a long operating life, and is particularly well adapted for the proposed use, specifically for providing a dually-wheel type assembly with an aesthetic look similar to that typically associated with single-wheel assemblies for standard passenger-type vehicles. Further, the vehicle wheel assembly  10  may be personalized to display particular images, such as company names and logos, operator chosen symbols and the like. 
     In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.