Wheel cover assembly with installable wheel rib and wheel cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11529826-B2
Application number	US-201916563526-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2019
Priority date	Sep 7, 2018
Publication date	Dec 20, 2022
Grant date	Dec 20, 2022

Abstract

A wheel cover assembly for a vehicle wheel may include a wheel rib that is attachable to a rim inner surface of a wheel rim of the vehicle wheel, a cover body having a cover body outer surface, a cover body inner surface, and a cover body outer edge having an outer diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of the wheel rib and less than an inner diameter of an open end flange of the wheel rim. A cover mounting mechanism operatively connected to the cover body has a cover locking position wherein the cover mounting mechanism engages the wheel rib to retain the wheel rib between the cover mounting mechanism and the cover body and secure the wheel cover assembly to the vehicle wheel when the wheel rib is attached to the rim inner surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wheel cover assembly for a vehicle wheel having a wheel rim with a rim inner surface, an open end flange having an open end flange inner diameter, the wheel cover assembly comprising:
a wheel rib having an annular shape, a rib inner diameter, and a rib outer diameter that is less than the open end flange inner diameter so that the wheel rib is attachable to the rim inner surface of the wheel rim to extend inward from the rim inner surface of the wheel rim proximate the open end flange;
a cover body having a cover body outer surface, a cover body inner surface opposite the cover body outer surface, and a cover body outer edge having a cover body outer diameter that is greater than the rib inner diameter and less than the open end flange inner diameter; and
a cover mounting mechanism operatively connected to the cover body and having a cover locking position,
wherein the cover mounting mechanism engages the wheel rib when the cover body inner surface is facing the wheel rib and engaging one of the wheel rib and the rim inner surface to retain the wheel rib between the cover mounting mechanism and the cover body and secure the wheel cover assembly to the vehicle wheel when the wheel rib is attached to the rim inner surface,
wherein the cover mounting mechanism includes
a plurality of locking arms extending from the cover body inner surface and circumferentially spaced about the cover body inner surface proximate the cover body outer edge,
wherein each of the plurality of locking arms includes
a locking arm body extending from the cover body inner surface and having a body proximal end connected to the cover body inner surface, a body distal end opposite the body proximal end, an outer surface extending from the body proximal end to the body distal end, a radial inner surface opposite the outer surface and extending from the body proximal end to the body distal end, and a groove in the radial inner surface, and
a locking arm detent extending radially outward from the outer surface of the locking arm body proximate the body distal end, and
wherein the locking arm detent defines a cover mounting mechanism outer diameter that is greater than the rib inner diameter, and wherein the locking arm bodies deflect radially inward when the locking arm detents are engaged by the wheel rib and deflect radially outward when the locking arm detents are disposed on an opposite side of the wheel rib from the cover body so that the wheel rib is retained between the locking arm detents and the cover body inner surface, and

a tension ring,
wherein the tension ring includes a first circumferential end, a second circumferential end, and a circumferential opening between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end,
wherein the tension ring is installed within the groove of the locking arm body, such that the tension ring is positioned within the same radially extending plane defined by the rib, and wherein the tension ring is configured to deflect radially inward at the circumferential opening when the locking arm bodies deflect radially inward, and wherein the tension ring is configured to deflect radially outward at the circumferential opening when the locking arm detents are disposed on the opposite side of the wheel rib from the cover body.

2. The wheel cover assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a weld attaching the wheel rib to the rim inner surface.

3. The wheel cover assembly according to claim 2 , therein the weld extends around a circumference of the wheel rib.

4. The wheel cover assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a rib seal attached between the rim inner surface and a rib outer edge to attach the wheel rib to the rim inner surface.

5. The wheel cover assembly according to claim 1 , comprising an adhesive attaching the wheel rib to the rim inner surface.

6. The wheel cover assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of attachment blocks mounted to the rim inner surface and circumferentially spaced about the rim inner surface, wherein the wheel rib is attached to the plurality of attachment blocks to attach the wheel rib to the rim inner surface.

7. A method for mounting a wheel cover assembly to a vehicle wheel having a wheel rim, the method for mounting the wheel cover assembly comprising:
attaching a wheel rib having an annular shape to a rim inner surface of the wheel rim proximate an open end flange of the wheel rim having an open end flange inner diameter so that the wheel rib extends radially inward from the rim inner surface; positioning a cover body of the wheel cover assembly proximate the wheel rib;
and engaging the wheel rib with a cover mounting mechanism when the cover body is facing the wheel rib so that the wheel cover assembly engages one of the wheel rib and the rim inner surface to retain the wheel rib between the cover mounting mechanism and the cover body to secure the wheel cover assembly to the vehicle wheel,
wherein the cover mounting mechanism includes
a plurality of locking arms extending from the cover body,
wherein each of the plurality of locking arms includes
a locking arm body having an outer surface, a radial inner surface opposite the outer surface, and a groove in the radial inner surface, and
a locking arm detent extending radially outward from the outer surface of the locking arm body, and
wherein the locking arm bodies deflect radially inward when the locking arm detents are engaged by the wheel rib and deflect radially outward when the locking arm detents are disposed on an opposite side of the wheel rib from the cover body so that the wheel rib is retained between the locking arm detents and a cover body inner surface, and
a tension ring,
wherein the tension ring includes a first circumferential end, a second circumferential end, and a circumferential opening between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end,
wherein the tension ring is installed within the groove of the locking arm body, such that the tension ring is positioned within the same radially extending plane defined by the rib, and wherein the tension ring is configured to deflect radially inward at the circumferential opening when the locking arm bodies deflect radially inward, and wherein the tension ring is configured to deflect radially outward at the circumferential opening when the locking arm detents are disposed on the opposite side of the wheel rib from the cover body.

8. The method for mounting the wheel cover assembly according to claim 7 , wherein attaching the wheel rib comprises welding the wheel rib to the rim inner surface.

9. The method for mounting the wheel cover assembly according to claim 8 , wherein welding the wheel rib comprises forming a weld around a circumference of the wheel rib.

10. The method for mounting the wheel cover assembly according to claim 7 , wherein attaching the wheel rib comprises: attaching a rib seal to the rim inner surface; and attaching the wheel rib to the rib seal.

11. The method for mounting the wheel cover assembly according to claim 7 , wherein attaching the wheel rib comprises attaching the wheel rib to the rim inner surface with an adhesive.

12. The method for mounting the wheel cover assembly according to claim 7 , wherein attaching the wheel rib comprises: mounting a plurality of attachment blocks to the rim inner surface with the plurality of attachment blocks being circumferentially spaced about, the rim inner surface; and attaching the wheel rib to the plurality of attachment blocks.

13. A wheel cover assembly for a vehicle wheel having a wheel rim, the wheel cover assembly comprising:
a wheel rib hav

Assignees

• Howmet Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Wallace Spencer
• Brest Matt

Classifications

• Y02T10/88

  Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses · CPC title

• B60B2900/1216

  due to air-drag · CPC title

• B60B21/12

  Appurtenances, e.g. lining bands · CPC title

• B60B2310/302

  by welding · CPC title

• B60B7/063

  to the rim · CPC title