Fixing method of wheel cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016059902-A1
Application number	US-201414470048-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 27, 2014
Priority date	Aug 27, 2014
Publication date	Mar 3, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A number of variations may include a method comprising fixing a wheel cover on a wheel so that the wheel cover remains static as the wheel rotates on a horizontal axis and turns with the wheel as the wheel turns on a vertical axis comprising attaching a bearing system to a knuckle of a wheel; and attaching the wheel cover to the bearing system and the knuckle.

First claim

1 . A method comprising:
fixing a wheel cover on a wheel so that the wheel cover remains static as the wheel rotates on a horizontal axis and turns with the wheel as the wheel turns on a vertical axis comprising: attaching a bearing system to a knuckle of a wheel; and attaching the wheel cover to the bearing system and the knuckle.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the bearing system comprises a wheel holder, a bearing operatively connected to the wheel holder, and an outer cover bracket attached to the bearing, and wherein the wheel cover is attached to a spindle attached to the knuckle and the outer cover bracket.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein a circlip locks the bearing in place.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the wheel cover comprises an outer cover, an inner cover, an inner ring disposed within the outer cover and the inner cover, and an inner cover bracket attached to the inner cover, and wherein the inner ring is attached to the outer cover bracket and the inner cover bracket is attached to the spindle.

5 . A fixing method of a wheel cover to a wheel comprising:
providing a bearing system comprising a wheel holder, a bearing operatively connected to the wheel holder, and an outer cover bracket attached to the bearing; attaching the wheel holder to a wheel; and attaching a wheel cover to the bearing system and the wheel.

6 . The method of claim 5 wherein a circlip is attached to the bearing.

7 . The method of claim 5 wherein the wheel holder further comprises a spindle.

8 . The method of claim 5 wherein the wheel cover is static as the wheel rotates on a horizontal axis and turns on a vertical axis with the direction of the wheel.

9 . The method of claim 5 wherein the wheel cover is constructed and arranged to include a clearance between the tire and the outer cover.

10 . A product comprising:
a wheel cover comprising: an outer cover; an inner cover; an inner ring, wherein the outer cover and the inner cover are attached to the inner ring; and an inner cover bracket, wherein the inner cover bracket is attached to the inner cover.

11 . The product of claim 10 wherein the wheel cover is attached to a wheel.

12 . The product of claim 11 wherein the wheel further comprises a bearing system, wherein the bearing system comprises a wheel holder, a bearing operatively connected to the wheel holder, and an outer cover bracket attached to the bearing, and wherein the inner cover bracket is attached to the wheel and the inner ring is attached to the outer cover bracket.

13 . The product of claim 12 further comprising a circlip, wherein the circlip locks the bearing in place.

14 . The product of claim 10 wherein the inner cover comprises a body portion comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a ramp surface which extends between the first and the second surface; a wall which extends at a curved angle inward from an outer perimeter of the first surface and which is constructed and arranged to cover a portion of the perimeter and a portion of a side surface of the wheel;
and wherein a cutout is located in a top portion of the wall.

15 . The product of claim 10 wherein the outer cover comprises a body, wherein the body is circular in shape with a flat bottom edge, and wherein the body includes a lip which extends outward from the perimeter of the body and is constructed and arranged to attach to the inner ring.

16 . The product of claim 10 wherein the inner ring comprises a body which includes a circular portion, a first arm extending horizontally in a first direction from the circular portion and a second arm extending horizontally in a second direction from the circular portion, a third arm extending vertically upward from the circular portion, and an outer ring portion which connects the first, the second, and the third arms together.

17 . The product of claim 10 wherein the inner cover, the outer cover, and the inner ring comprise a carbon fiber.

18 . The product of claim 11 wherein the wheel is attached to a vehicle and wherein the wheel cover is static as the wheel rotates on a horizontal axis and turns on a vertical axis with the direction of the wheel.

19 . The product of claim 10 wherein the wheel cover is constructed and arranged to protect a wheel from contaminants.

20 . The product of claim 11 wherein there is a clearance between a top of the wheel and the wheel cover.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Xu Jie
• Wang Wenshui
• Guo Leon
• You Yantao

Classifications

• B62D25/166 Primary

  by rods or other distance-keeping devices · CPC title

• B62D65/02

  Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components · CPC title

• B62D25/186

  being attached or suspended laterally from the wheel (B62D25/184 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D25/16

  Mud-guards or wings; Wheel cover panels (equipped with means for freeing wheels or tyres from foreign matter B60S) · CPC title