Abstract:
Means for protecting automobile wheels and tires comprising a shield which is stored in a retracted, inconspicuous position under the vehicle fender when the vehicle is in use, but which can be extended to cover and protect the wheel and tire when the vehicle is not being driven.

Description:
RELATED CASES 
     This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/542,391, filed Apr. 4, 2000 and now abandoned. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to automobile equipment and is particularly directed to improved means for protecting automobile tires and the like. 
     PRIOR ART 
     Automobiles are an essential part of today&#39;s living style. Unfortunately, that also makes them prime targets for thieves and vandals. Primary targets for theft and vandalism are the wheels and tires. This has become increasingly true in recent years due to the popularity of expensive chrome or magnesium wheels. Also, one popular form of vandalism is slashing tires. Unfortunately, since the tires are exposed, they are easy targets and little or nothing has been done heretofore to overcome this problem. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION 
     These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome with the present invention and means are provided for positively and securely protecting the tires and wheels against theft or vandalism without interfering with normal operation of the vehicle. 
     The advantages of the present invention are preferably attained by providing a shield which is stored in a retracted, inconspicuous position under the vehicle fender when the vehicle is in use, but which can be extended to cover and protect the wheel and tire when the vehicle is not being driven. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved means for protecting automobile wheels and tires. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide improved means for protecting automobile wheels and tires which can be stored in a retracted, inconspicuous position when the vehicle is in use. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide improved means for protecting automobile tires which, when extended, will fully and positively protect the tires and wheels against theft or vandalism. 
     A specific object of the present invention is to provide improved means for protecting automobile wheels and tires comprising a shield which is stored in a retracted, inconspicuous position under the vehicle fender when the vehicle is in use, but which can be extended to cover and protect the wheel and tire when the vehicle is not being driven. 
     These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation, showing an automobile having the wheel protection device of the present invention in the stored position; 
     FIG. 2 is a view, similar to that of FIG. 1, showing the wheel protection device of the present invention extended, but not deployed; 
     FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the wheel protector of the present invention in the fully deployed position; and 
     FIG. 4 is a detail view showing the latch mechanism of the wheel protector of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation showing the wheel protector of the present invention in the stored position; and 
     FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation showing the wheel protector of the present invention extended but not deployed. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In that form of the present invention chosen for purposes of illustration, FIG. 1 shows an automobile, indicated generally at  10  having a wheel  12  with a tire  14  and having a fender  16  extending above the wheel  12 . In accordance with the present invention, a wheel protection device, indicated generally at  18 , comprising a box  20  is mounted under the fender  16  above the wheel  12  and contains a protective sheath  22 , as seen at  24  in FIG. 2, which is stored in a retracted position, as seen in FIG.  1 . The protective sheath  22  is pivotally mounted on a bracket  19  and carries a curved ratchet  21  which is engaged by a worm gear  23  driven by reversible motor  28 , as best seen in FIG.  3 . With the protective sheath  22 , in the retracted position, the automobile  10  an be driven in a normal manner and the protection device  18  will not interfere with the driving, but will remain hidden inconspicuously under the fender  16 . When the driver parks and wishes to protect the wheels  12 , the driver actuates a switch  26  on the dashboard which actuates a motor  28 . This causes worm gear  23  to travel along the curved ratchet  21  and to extend the protective sheath  22  to the position seen in FIG.  2 . As best seen in FIG. 3, the protective sheath  22  is formed of metal or other suitable material which will resist stabbing or other attempts to tamper with or remove it and is comprised of a plurality of overlapping and interconnected plates  30 , each having a leading edge flange  31  projecting inwardly and a trailing edge flange  33  wghich extends above and below the surface  35  of the plate  30 . When not extended, the plates  30  are stored within a housing member  37  which carries the curved ratchet  21  and has inwardly extending flanges  39  procided at each edge. Also, the housing member  37  contains a cable reel  41  which is driven by motor  28  and worm gear  23  through worm gear  43 . The cable reel  41  is a double reel and carries twocables  45  and  47  which extend about pulleys  49  and  51 , respectively, and pass through openings  53  in the trailing edge flanges  33  of the plates  30  and are attached to the leading edges of the leading plates  55  and  57 , as best seen in FIG.  4 . As seen in FIG. 3, when the protective sheath  22  extends, it extends about the tire  14  and substantially encloses the tire  14  and wheel  12 . This prevents potential vandals or thieves from obtaining access to the tires, wheel covers and lug nuts and, hence, prevents vandalism or theft. The protective sheath  22  comprises a plurality of interconnected plates  30  which overlap each other and which unfold as the sheath  22  is extended to enclose the tire  14  and wheel  12 , as seen in FIG.  3 . With the sheath  22  in this position, the sheath prevents anyone from gaining access to either the tire  14  or wheel  12  and, thereby prevents vandalism or reverse direction to retract the sheath  22  into the housing member  37  and, hence can have access to the tire  14  and wheel for servicing, changing and the like. When the plates  30  are fully retracted, tension on the cables  45  and  47  will prevent further rotation of cable reel  41  and, hence, of worm gear  43 . This causes worm gear  28  to travel off of worm gear  43  to the curved ratchet  21 , which causes the protetive sheath  22  to rotate to the stored position, as seen in FIG.  1 . When worm gear  28  reaches the end of the curved ratcht  21 , it strikes lilmit switch  63  which turns off motor  28  and returns it to the forward polarity theft. As seen in FIG. 4, the outer portions of the leding plates  53  and  55  are recessed, as seen at  59 , to allow the car to be towed or pushed, if necessary, but not to permit access to the tires  14  by knives, nails or the like. Also, as seen in FIG. 4, leading plate  57  carries a latch  61  which is urged by spring  63  to project through an opening  65  in the leading edge of plate  55  to latch the plates  55  and  57  together in the fully extended position. When desired, the driver can actuate switch  26  to cause motor  28  to rotate in the reverse direction to retract the sheath  22  into the housing member  37  and, hence, can have access to the tire  14  and wheel for servicing, changing and the like. 
     Obviously, numerous variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the form of the present invention described above and shown in the figures of the accompanying drawing are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.