Patent Publication Number: US-2011062771-A1

Title: Hub Cap for Vehicle Wheel

Description:
The object of the present invention is a hub cap for a vehicle wheel. 
     As known, hub caps are widely used, especially in the field of motor vehicles, for aesthetic purposes, that is, for covering the central opening of the rim and often, they serve as a support for the manufacturer&#39;s brand. 
     In order to allow quick mounting of the hub cap, a snap-wise coupling system is generally used. 
     However, when the vehicle is moving, and above all at predetermined speeds, the hub cap exhibits the tendency to vibrate, even noisily, negatively affecting the vehicle comfort. 
     Such problem has often been coped with by making the coupling system especially strong, with the drawback however of making the removal of the hub cap, sometimes required, for example for changing a punctured tyre with the spare one, very difficult. 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a hub cap for vehicle wheels provided with a coupling system to the hub which should be easy to mount, easy to remove and which should prevent or strongly limit the onset of vibrations at the same time. 
     Such object is achieved by a hub cap made according to the following claim  1 . The dependent claims describe embodiment variations. 
    
    
     
       The features and advantages of the hub cap according to the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description, made by way of an indicative and non-limiting example with reference to the annexed figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective front view of the hub cap according to an embodiment variation of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective back view of the hub cap of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross section view of a portion of the hub cap engaged with a portion of the hub; and 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross section view of a further portion of the hub cap engaged with a further portion of the hub. 
     
    
    
     With reference to the annexed figures, reference numeral  1  globally indicates a hub cap, according to an embodiment variation of the present invention, suitable for being removably associated to a hub H of a wheel, centrally provided with an opening O. 
     The hub cap  1  comprises a base  2 , generally with a discoid shape, having a main axis X, provided with an outer surface  4 , intended for facing outwards of the vehicle with hub cap mounted on the wheel, and an inner surface  6 , opposite the outer surface. 
     Base  2  is sized for covering, at least partly, opening O of hub H. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, hub cap  1  further comprises a covering  8 , suitable for covering at least partly the outer surface  4  of base  2 . 
     Preferably, externally, that is, on the side facing the outer surface of the base, covering  8  has a brand. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, covering  8  extends so as to cover also the edge of base  2 , folding along the thickness thereof. 
     Moreover, hub cap  1  comprises retaining means suitable for making covering  8  integral with base  2 . 
     For example, the retaining means comprise at least one folding tab  10 , protruding from the covering, for example peripherally thereof. 
     Preferably there is provided a plurality tabs  10 , circumferentially spaced, for example at constant regular intervals. 
     Tabs  10 , folded on the inner surface  6  of base  4 , retain covering  8  to base  2 . For example, the folding of the tabs is carried out by caulking. 
     According to an embodiment variation, the retaining means comprise ad adhesive material, placed on the outer surface  4  of base  2 , for gluing covering  8  to base  2 . 
     According to a further embodiment variation, the outer surface  4  of bottom base  2  is decorated and the hub cap is free from a covering thereof. 
     Preferably, the covering is made in a single piece, of a metal material. 
     Preferably, the main axis X of base  2  is central and perpendicular to the outer surface  4  thereof, so as to define also the mounting direction, according to which the hub cap is pushed in opening O of hub H for being mounted. 
     Moreover, hub cap  1  comprises engagement means suitable for engaging the hub cap with opening O of hub H. 
     The engagement means comprise a plurality of teeth protruding peripherally from base  2 , along the direction of the main axis X, circumferentially spaced. 
     The teeth exhibit different structural features, so that they can be distinguished into at least two groups: a first group of coupling teeth  12  and a second group of abutment teeth  14 . 
     The coupling teeth  12  are shaped for obtaining a snap-wise coupling with the wall that delimits opening O of hub H. 
     For example, the coupling tooth  12  comprises a tooth wall  16 , projecting from base  2 , which extends from a foot  16   a , jointed to base  2 , to an end top  16   b , axially opposite to foot  16   a.    
     The coupling tooth  12  further comprises a gripping projection  16   c , which extends from top  16   b  of tooth  12 , enlarging towards base  2 , making a sloping surface, for example having a pattern that enlarges radially externally towards base  2 . 
     Preferably, moreover, between the gripping projection  16   c  and base  2 , the coupling tooth  12  exhibits a recess  16   d , radially external, which extends circumferentially by the entire extension of the coupling tooth  12 . 
     In other words, the tooth wall  16  of tooth  12 , projects from base  2  from a position close to the peripheral edge thereof, but sufficiently recessed, so that the residual projection of base  2  and the gripping projection  16   c  of the tooth wall  16  form said recess  16   d.    
     Recess  16   d  exhibits such axial extension that in a deformed configuration of tooth  12 , the hub cap is associated to the hub, an annular projection R of hub H is axially seated in recess  16   d , for making said snap-wise coupling between the hub cap and the hub ( FIG. 3 ). 
     In other words, when the hub cap is associated to the hub, tooth  12  deforms interfering with the wall that delimits opening O; the gripping projection  16   c  moves underneath projection R and tooth  12 , at least partly, returns to the non-deformed configuration. The gripping projection  16   d , arranging in undercut to the annular projection R of the hub in the direction of extraction of the hub cap, makes a snap-wise coupling. 
     The abutment teeth  14 , on the other hand, are shaped for obtaining an abutment between the hub cap and the wall that delimits opening O in hub H, substantially avoiding being an obstacle to the axial extraction of the hub cap from the hub. 
     For example, the abutment tooth  14  comprises a tooth wall  18 , projecting from base  2 , which extends from a foot  18   a , jointed to base  2 , to an end top  18   b , axially opposite to foot  18   a.    
     The abutment tooth  14  further comprises an abutment projection  18   c , which extends from top  16   b  of tooth  14 , enlarging towards base  2 , making a sloping surface, for example having a pattern that enlarges radially externally towards base  2 . 
     The abutment projection  18   c  is jointed to foot  18   a  of tooth  14 , radially externally, forming a recess  18   d.    
     It should be noted that recess  18   d  exhibits such axial extension that the annular projection R of hub H does not seat within said recess  18   d  when the hub cap is associated to the hub. 
     In other words, no portion of the abutment projection  18   c  is in undercut to projection R of hub H in the direction and in the removal direction of the hub cap from the hub. 
     In this way, the abutment tooth  14  does not make a further coupling, but an abutment that strongly limits the vibrations of the hub cap. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the hub cap  1  comprises reinforcing means suitable for reinforcing the radial strength of teeth  12 ,  14 . 
     For example, the reinforcing means comprise at least one contrast element  20 , arranged at feet  16   a ,  18   a  of teeth  12 ,  14  and protruding from the inner surface  6  of base  2 . 
     For example, for each tooth  12 ,  14  there is provided a pair of contrast elements  20 , arranged circumferentially spaced, by the maximum possible angular distance. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the coupling teeth  12  and the abutment teeth  14  are arranged circumferentially, preferably angularly equally spaced, forming a periodical sequence, that is, repetitive. 
     For example, a particularly advantageous configuration, as it is suitable for balancing the effort required for mounting and removing the hub cap and limiting the vibrations, has proved to be the one shown ( FIG. 2 ), comprising ten teeth, arranged as follows: one coupling tooth  12 , two abutment teeth  14 , one coupling tooth  12 , one abutment tooth  14 , one coupling tooth  12 , two abutment teeth  14 , one coupling tooth  12  and one abutment tooth  14 . 
     Preferably, moreover, the base and the teeth are made in a single piece, for example by moulding, in a plastic material. 
     Innovatively, the hub cap according to the present invention is provided with a coupling system to the hub that is at the same time easy to mount, easy to be removed and which prevents or strongly limits the onset of vibrations. 
     Advantageously, moreover, the teeth exhibit a sufficiently sturdy structure to prevent breakage, but at the same time they ensure the desired flexibility. 
     It is clear that a man skilled in the art can make several changes and variations to the hub cap described above in order to meet specific and incidental needs. 
     For example, according to an embodiment variation, the base and the teeth are made of a metal material. 
     According to a further variation, the covering is made of a plastic material. 
     Also such alternative embodiments are to be deemed as comprised in the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.