Patent Publication Number: US-9428007-B1

Title: Illuminated vehicle wheel

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Decorative wheel covers have adorned vehicle wheels for almost a century. More recently, attempts have been made to provide lighted or illuminated wheel covers. While there are many commercial applications of electrical lamps, particularly light emitting diodes (LEDs), to various nonrotating parts of vehicles, few solutions to the illumination of rotating vehicle wheels have been commercially successful. 
     The environment surrounding a typical vehicle wheel is a hostile place for electrical lamps (including LEDs) and the electronics that drive them. An automobile wheel rotates at speeds of up to 17 revolutions per second or more, depending on vehicle speed and rim and tire size. The surface over which the wheel is travelling often is bumpy. The wheel is routinely exposed to water, silica, road salt and other particulate and fluid substances. A commercially successful illuminated wheel, therefore, must withstand all of these environmental stresses and still function. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the invention, an illuminated wheel is provided that includes a wheel rim and a lighting module for attachment to the wheel rim. The wheel has a sidewall that faces inwardly toward the axis. A lighting module seating surface is formed on a front face of the rim, at an angle to the axis, and to be disposed radially inwardly from the sidewall of the rim. Plural pin guides are formed in parallel to the axis to extend axially rearwardly from the lighting module seating surface. These pin guides are spaced apart from each other. Plural bolt holes are formed in the sidewall of the rim to extend radially outwardly from the rim sidewall. For each bolt hole, a bolt is provided. The bolt is slidably housed in the bolt hole and has an inner radial end. The bolt is operable to extend in a radial direction toward the axis so that the bolt assumes a locked position, attaching the lighting module to the rim. The bolt is retractable into the bolt hole in a radial outward direction so that the end thereof assumes an unlocked position. 
     The lighting module has a base and a plurality of pins that extend axially rearwardly from a rear surface of the base to be received in respective ones of the pin guides formed in the wheel rim. A sidewall of the lighting module extends axially forwardly from the rear surface of the base. A plurality of hollow bolt receivers are each formed to extend radially inwardly from the lighting module sidewall and to be angularly spaced apart from each other. Each bolt receiver is adapted to receive an end of a respective bolt when the end is in the locked position. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a lighting module is provided for affixation to a vehicle wheel. The lighting module has a base with an axially rearward surface formed at an angle to the wheel axis and a sidewall that extends axially forwardly from the inward surface. Plural mounting pins extend rearwardly from the rearward surface of the base and so as to be spaced apart from each other. In one embodiment, the mounting pins slide within respective axially aligned housings and are spring-biased to an axially rearwardly extended condition. A plurality of hollow bolt receivers are formed in the module sidewall so as to be angularly spaced apart from each other. An electronic circuit board is affixed to the module base and has a rearward surface disposed adjacent to the base and a forward surface disposed in opposition to the base. A plurality of light emitting diodes are affixed to the forward surface of the circuit board. The module further includes a transparent cover or lens that is affixed to the base so as to cover the forward surface of the circuit board. In one embodiment, integrated circuits comprising a logic circuit are mounted on the rearward side of the circuit board and are coupled to the light emitting diodes to selectively switch them on and off. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further aspects of the invention and their advantages can be discerned in the following detailed description, in which like characters denote like parts and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective front view of one embodiment of an illuminated wheel according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective back view of the illuminated wheel shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective front view of the illuminated wheel shown in  FIG. 1 , shown in an assembled condition; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of one-half of the illuminated wheel shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , taken in a plane including an axis of the wheel; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the lighting module and rim of  FIGS. 1 and 3-4 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic electrical circuit diagram of light emitting diodes and control circuitry capable of being used in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1-3 , an illuminated vehicle wheel according to the invention has two main components: a wheel rim  100  and a lighting module  200  that fits within the wheel rim. 
     The wheel rim  100  may be cast metal, such as aluminum, and is adapted to have a conventional vehicle tire (not shown) mounted to it. It is formed around a wheel axis X. The overall diameter of the rim  100  may be 16¼ inches for a standard sixteen-inch wheel, but alternatively could be any of many other standard wheel sizes. A forward or front face  102  of the rim  100  has a generally concavely dished aspect, such that an outer annular flange  104  is displaced axially forwardly of an annular lug plate  106 . The lug plate  106  has formed in it a plurality of wheel lug holes  108  that are meant to receive respective ones of the vehicle wheel lugs (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, there are five lug holes  108  but this number may be increased or decreased according to the make and model of the vehicle for which the rim  100  is made. The lug holes  108  are formed in parallel to axis X and, in the illustrated embodiment, are radially spaced from the axis X by a constant distance. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the lug plate  106  also has a number of parallel threaded mounting holes  110  that are formed in parallel to the axis X, are angularly spaced apart from each other by a constant distance, and are radially spaced from the axis X by a distance that is greater than the radial locus of the lug holes  106 . The mounting holes  110  may be used to mount wheel ornaments other than the lighting module described herein. The illustrated embodiment has five mounting holes  110 , but their number and position may be varied away from the embodiment shown. 
     Disposed at an even greater radial distance away from axis X are a plurality of hollow pin guides  112 . Each pin guide  112  is a blind smooth bore formed in parallel to axis X. In the illustrated embodiment, there are six such pin guides  112 , angularly spaced from each other by a constant distance. In other embodiments, there may be fewer or more pin guides  112 . In the illustrated embodiment, each pin guide  112  is housed in a respective wheel rim spoke  114 , but in other embodiments, the wheel rim  100  may be solid and not spoked. 
     Two or more wheel lock cylinders  116  (only one is shown in  FIG. 1 ) are inserted into respective wheel lock cylinder bores  118  (one shown in  FIG. 1 ). In the illustrated embodiment, there are two lock cylinders  116  that are angularly separated from each other around axis X by 180 degrees. In other embodiments more lock cylinders may be provided, preferably at equal angular spacings from each other around rim surface  120 . Each wheel lock cylinder bore  118  may be formed to be parallel to axis X and is radially spaced from axis X by a distance that is greater than the radial spacing of pin guides  112  from axis X. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock cylinder bores  118  are formed to extend axially inwardly from a circumferential surface  120  that may be annular or frustoconical. The surface  120  is axially forward from lug plate  106  but axially rearward from outer annular flange  104 . The cylinder bores  118  may be threaded. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, in which the rim  100  is cast metal, each cylinder bore  118  is surrounded by a cylinder bore housing  122  that extends axially rearwardly from the surface  120 . The housing  122  separates the bore  118  from the tire space  124  that will be occupied by an inflated vehicle tire (not shown), permitting the tire to hold air pressure. A respective front or forward face  126  of each lock cylinder  116  may accept a key (not shown), which may be rotated in one direction to lock the module  200  to the rim  100 , and which may be rotated in the opposite direction to unlock the module  200  from the rim  100 . 
     Lighting module  200  has three main components: a base  202 , an electronic circuit board  204  and a cover or lens  206 . The base  202  may be integrally formed, as by injection molding, of a tough thermoplastic polymer such as ABS. A general forward surface  208  of the base  202  may be planar and at right angles to axis X and may be sunk by a predetermined distance from a forward face  210  of a circumferential sidewall  212 . The sidewall  212  has an radially outward cylindrical surface  214  that will fit within the wheel rim  100  as will be described in further detail, and has a radially inward cylindrical surface  216 . A plurality of spaced-apart circuit board mounting bosses  218  extend axially forwardly from general forward surface  208  by a distance that is less than a depth of the inward cylindrical surface  216 . 
     A plurality of light emitting diode (LED) integrated circuits (ICs)  220  are mounted on a forward face  222  of the circuit board  204 . The circuit board  204  may be mounted at right angles to axis X. The LEDs  220  may be disposed in a spoke pattern as shown in  FIG. 5  or in any of many other patterns. In the illustrated embodiment, there are 173 LED ICs  220 , each of which have red, blue and green LED emitters proper, but the number of LED ICs  220  may be varied from the example shown. The circuit board  204  in this embodiment is circular, and its radius is less than the radius of inward cylindrical surface  216  of base  202 . A plurality of circuit board mounting holes  224  match, in number and radial and angular position, the mounting bosses  218 , and the circuit board and the components mounted thereon are assembled to base  202  by respective screws  226 . 
     The lens  206  may be molded of a tough transparent plastic such as polycarbonate. The lens  206  has a central convex portion  228  that is disposed radially inwardly from an outer annular flange  230 . The flange  230  of lens  206  mates to annular surface  210  of base  202 , and may be joined thereto by adhesive, mounting screws (not shown) or a combination thereof. 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , the base  202  has a general rearward surface  232  that may be flat. In one embodiment, the base  202  is adapted to fit against a substantially conical or concave, forward-facing seating surface  128  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the wheel rim  100 . In this instance, a mating, generally convex surface is built up with structure extending rearwardly from the general rear surface  232 . In the illustrated embodiment, this mating convex surface is defined by rearward edges  234  of respective rayed fins  236  that are equally angularly spaced around axis X. The fins  236  are integrally molded with the base  202  and extend rearwardly from the general rear surface  232 . A thickness of each of the fins  236  may be the same as a nominal injection molding thickness used to design the preferably plastic base  202 . By using fins  236  or other relatively thin structures, a large volume of plastic can be avoided, which will enhance moldability. In other embodiments, the fins  236  may be replaced or augmented by other rearwardly extending, thin structures, such as for example an intersecting network of walls. In the illustrated embodiment, and in conformity to the general concave nature of the rim seating surface  128  with which they are adapted to mate, the fins  236  are deeper near axis X than they are near outward cylindrical surface  214  of base  202 . 
     Also extending rearwardly from the general rear surface  232  are a plurality of battery housings  238 . The battery housings  238  are adapted to contain respective battery packs as will be described below. Each housing  238  has a peripheral wall  240 , which may have the nominal injection molding thickness, and which defines a rectangular/prismatic, rearwardly facing receptacle for a respective battery pack. A rearward face of each battery housing  238  includes a battery housing door  242  that may be affixed to the rest of housing  238  as by means of a flange  243  (see  FIG. 4 ) and an opposed screw  244 . The battery housings  238  should be equally angularly distributed around axis X so as to minimize wheel and module balancing problems; the battery packs that the battery housings contain are relatively heavy and their weight should be equally angularly distributed around axis X. Also for this reason, it is preferred that the battery housings  238  be positioned as close to axis X as is practicable. While four battery housings  238  are shown, their number can be increased or decreased according to the energy requirements of the lighting module electronics. While in the illustrated embodiment the housings  238  each occupy an angular position also occupied by an associated fin  236 , they could be disposed otherwise. 
     Also seen extending rearwardly from the general rear surface  232  of base  202  are a plurality of axially oriented mounting pins  246 . The radial and angular position of each mounting or alignment pin  246  matches that of a corresponding pin guide  112 . The axial mounting pins  246  are spaced apart from each other and may be equally angularly distributed around axis X, as shown. In the illustrated embodiment, each mounting pin  246  slides in an axial direction relative to a respective mounting pin housing  248 . In the illustrated embodiment, each mounting pin  246  takes the form of a cylinder and is rearwardly biased so as to protrude rearwardly out of pin housing  248 . The mounting pins  246  nevertheless are captured by their respective housings  248  and may not be separated from them. In the illustrated embodiment, there are six axial mounting pins  246  and their angular positions are shared by respective fins  236 . Their angular positions around axis X could be otherwise. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, the axial mounting pins  246  are each displaced by a constant radius from axis X, but this could be altered also. The housings  248  may be integrally molded with base  202  and may extend rearwardly from the general rear surface  232  of the base  202 ; the chambers defined by each of the housings  248  may also extend axially forwardly from general rear surface  232  of base  202 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a lighting module  200  as mounted to a wheel rim  100 . The outer sidewall surface  210  of base  202  is disposed radially inwardly from wheel rim surface  120 . This permits access to the front face  126  of the wheel lock cylinders  116 , and allows a user to lock module  200  to rim  100 , and to unlock module  200  from rim  100 , with a key (not shown). 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a representative mounting pin  246  is shown received within a respective pin guide  112 . Each pin guide  112  extends axially rearwardly from a lighting module seating surface  128 . A rearward end  250  of the mounting pin  246  is in contact with a bottom  252  of the pin guide  112 , which can be a smooth bore. The mounting pin  246  is urged to this disposition by a helical spring  254  that pushes the pin  246  away from a pin housing cap  256 . The spring force of helical spring  254  therefore urges base  202  forwardly from the seating surface  128 , mitigating any rattling of the module  200  relative to rim  100  and any vibration which otherwise may be transmitted by rim  100  to module  200 . 
     An internal sidewall of the pin housing  248  may be formed by a bore  258  that extends from a general front face  208  of the module base  202 . The bore  258  has a rearward portion  262  sized to slidably fit the main shaft  264  of the mounting pin  246 . A middle portion  266  of the bore  258  is sized to slidably fit a head  268  of the pin  246 ; the diameters of head  268  and portion  266  are larger than the respective diameters of main shaft  264  and rearward portion  262 . A forward portion  270  of the bore  258  is threaded and receives the pin housing cap  256  after the pin  246  and spring  254  are installed therein. 
     Each lock cylinder  116  has a bolt  130  that reciprocates into and out of the lock cylinder body in response to, e.g., twisting a key (not shown) in the lock cylinder  116 . In  FIG. 4 , the bolt  130  is shown in its radially inwardly extending, locked position. The bolt  130  may be cylindrical and may reciprocate along a right radius from axis X. The bolt  130  extends through a bolt hole  132  that is formed in a sidewall surface  134  of the wheel rim  100 . The sidewall  134  may be cylindrical around axis X and extends axially rearwardly from an annular or frustoconical wheel rim surface  120 . When bolt  130  is in a retracted position, its end  136  will be either flush with, or radially outwardly recessed from, the rim sidewall surface  134 . 
     In its locked position, the bolt  130  will radially inwardly extend into and be closely received within a respective bolt receptacle or receiver  272  that in turn is formed to radially inwardly extend from outward cylindrical surface  214  of base  202 . In one embodiment, to mount the module  200  to a rim  100 , the user must press the module  200  inward against the spring force of pin springs  254 , until the bolts  130  are in alignment with the hollow bolt receivers  272 . This force-fit takes out a source of rattling. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the rim sidewall  134  and the rim module seating surface  128  form a cavity into which the module base  202  is closely received. 
     Contained within each battery housing  238  (or, in some embodiments not requiring as much energy, some of them) is a battery pack  274 . The battery packs  274  supply a source of DC power to power supplies on the circuit board  204  through appropriate conductors  276 . 
     The circuit board  204  has a radial edge or periphery  278  that intentionally is spaced away from the inner surface  216  of base sidewall  212 . This is to prohibit the transmission to board  204  of any vibration from this source. The circuit board  204 &#39;s sole structural connection to the base  202  is through the circuit board mounting bosses  218 . The circuit board  204  has a general rearward surface  280  on which are mounted a large number of logic and driver components  282 . Components  282  mostly are integrated circuits but also may include a number of discrete, relatively large devices such as resistors, inductors and capacitors. The height of the tallest of these electronic components  282  defines an overall rear component height. The height (in an axial direction) of the circuit board mounting bosses  218  from general forward surface  208  is chosen to be larger than the overall rear component height, as including any potting or coating (such as an epoxy coating). Electronic components  282  supply power to and control the operation to the LED ICs  220  on the forward surface  208  of board  204 . 
     The tallest of the LED ICs  220  (in the illustrated embodiment, their height is uniform) defines an overall height of the LED ICs  220 . A depth of the cylindrical surface  216  is chosen to be greater than a sum of the height of mounting bosses  218 , the thickness of board  204 , and the overall height of LED ICs  220 . In this way, the circuit board  204  and LED ICs  220  will reside in a recess and be protected by module base sidewall  212 . An inner surface  284  of lens  206  is forwardly spaced from LED ICs  220  at all points. 
     An electronic schematic diagram for the lighting module  200  is shown in  FIG. 6 . Battery packs  274  constitute a main battery array that feeds DC voltage to an LED power supply  600  and a logic power supply  602 . Power supplies  600  and  602  respectively supply power to the LED ICs  220  and to the other logic circuits  282  mounted on the rear face  280  of board  204 . A recharging port  604  may be supplied that is connected to the battery array  274  via a battery charger IC  605 ; port  604  conveniently could be positioned on the rear face  232  of base  202 , and would be accessed by the user after the user dismounts the module  200  from rim  100 . 
     A microcontroller  606  is connected to each of an array of LED driver ICs  608  to control their operation, and each LED driver  608  in turn selectively drives up to 16 LED ICs  220  according to signals received from the microcontroller  606 . Each LED IC  220  is constituted by a red LED, a green LED and a blue LED so that any of a complete spectrum of colors can be obtained. An EEPROM memory  610  may be coupled to microcontroller  606  to store operational programs that, upon retrieval by microcontroller  606 , would dictate the selection, timing and sequence of turning on and off each of the LED ICs  220  and the color balance of each. A USB interface can be connected to the microcontroller  606  to provide user programming of the lighting module  200 . Another user interface connected to microcontroller  606  could be button interface  614 , which for example could provide a capability to manually turn on or turn off the entire unit and/or initiate a stored test sequence. If provided, a corresponding USB port (not shown) and mechanical button (not shown) could be disposed on the rear surface  232  of base  202 , in suitable recesses. Finally, the microcontroller  606  can be connected to an on-board wireless receiver or Bluetooth module  616  that would permit short-distance wireless communication to the microcontroller  606 . A user could use Bluetooth module  616  to command microcontroller  606  to turn on or off the entire lighting module  200 , to retrieve and execute one of many operational programs stored in EEPROM  610 , to program the EEPROM  610  and to perform various diagnostics. 
     In summary, an illuminated vehicle wheel has been provided that includes a wheel rim and a lighting module removably attached thereto by both radial bolts and axially oriented mounting pins. While illustrated embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated in the appended drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto but only by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.