AU2005100789A4 - Guard Cover - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: Keiltari Pty Ltd Trading as Truck Art Mark Thompson DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys 1 Nicholson Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia "Guard Cover" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: -1- Q:\OPERUPN\2005 JUL-DEC\SEPTEMBER\12647660 265INNOVDOC 22/9/05 P:\CPERUPN\KcIr\Guardova innov_2.doc2M9/05 -1- SGUARD COVER Field of the Invention 00 This invention relates to a guard cover, and more particularly, but not exclusively, Sto a guard cover for a wheel guard of a truck.

SBackground of the Invention It is common for trucks to have wheel guards attached to a chassis of the truck by fastening of the wheel guards to an underside of respective mounting bars, which extend outwardly of the chassis. The bars are exposed and may be considered unsightly, particularly in view of the effort which is often put into making the rest of the truck aesthetically pleasing.

Also, aside from aesthetic issues, the exposed mounting bars may hinder cleaning of the truck, as the mounting bars are prone to having dirt lodged between the mounting bars and the guards at locations which are difficult to access for cleaning.

Examples of the invention seek to provide a guard cover which overcomes or at least alleviates one or more of the above-mentioned problems.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cover for a wheel guard of a truck, the cover having a housing portion adapted for housing at least a portion of a mounting bar which supports the wheel guard to a chassis of the truck, and fastening means for fastening the guard cover relative to the wheel guard.

Preferably, the housing portion includes a tubular recess for housing the mounting bar. More preferably, the cover further includes a tapered portion on one or both sides of PA\OPERUPN\Kcialnr\Guard ov innv 22.do-22)9/05 -2- C/A the housing portion for providing a gradual rise in side profile from an edge of the tapered portion to the housing portion.

Preferably, the cover incorporates a holder for holding lights. In one form, the 00 holder is detachably mounted to the cover. In an alternative form, the holder is formed integrally as part of the cover.

SPreferably, the fastening means is concealed by the cover.

Preferably, the cover is able to be fitted to either a left-hand wheel guard or a righthand wheel guard.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an upper side of a cover; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an upper side of a light holder adapted for attachment to the cover shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an perspective view of an underside of a cover with a light holder attached; Figure 4 is a side perspective view of right-hand wheel guards of a truck fitted with guard covers; Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the wheel guards shown in Figure 4, a rear one of the wheel guards being fitted with a cover incorporating a light holder; P:\OPERPNKeilItGuard sove innov_22.do-29/05 -3- Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of a left-hand guard cover fitted to a left-hand wheel guard of the truck shown in Figures 4 and 5, the guard cover incorporating a light holder; Figure 7 is a rear view of the guard cover shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is an inside rear perspective view of the rear guard cover shown in Figure Figure 9 is a rear view of the truck shown in Figures 4 to 8; Figure 10 is a view of an upper of a cover; Figure 11 is a perspective view of an outside end of the cover shown in Figure Figure 12 is a perspective view of an inside end of the cover shown in Figures and 11; Figure 13 is a perspective view of an outside end of a cover incorporating a light holder; Figure 14 is a perspective view of an inside end of the cover shown in Figure 13; Figure 15 is a perspective view of an upper/rear of the cover shown in Figures 13 and 14.

Detailed Description With reference to Figures 1, 3, 5 and 8 in particular, there is shown a cover 10 for a wheel guard 12 of a truck 14, the cover 10 having a housing portion 16 adapted for housing at least a portion of a mounting bar 18 which supports the wheel guard 12 to a P:\OPERUPN\Kiillr\Gurd c innov 22.doc2209/05 -4- VI chassis of the truck 14, and fastening means 20 for fastening the guard cover 10 relative to the wheel guard 12.

So as not to disrupt the smooth and aesthetically pleasing outer surface of the cover 00oO 10, the fastening means 20 are in the form of threaded bolts which are moulded into the Scover 10, and do not protrude through the upper surface of the cover 10. As such, the Scover 10 is fastened relative to the wheel guard 12 by drilling corresponding holes in the Swheel guard 12 to receive the bolts, and by threading securing nuts onto the bolts from the underside of the wheel guard 12. It will be understood that in other forms the cover may be fastened relative to the wheel guard 12 by other means such as, for example, by fastening the cover 10 directly to the mounting bar 18.

In the example shown, the housing portion 16 includes a tubular recess 22 for housing the mounting bar 18. Figure 4 shows a side perspective of a pair of covers 10b which are mounted to neighbouring wheel guards 12a, 12b on a right-hand side of the truck 14. The outside surface 24 of the tubular recess 22 is correspondingly tubular, and tapered portions 26 extend either side of the housing portion 16 for providing a gradual rise in side profile from edges 28 of the tapered portions 26 to the housing portion 16. By concealing at least part of the mounting bar 18, particularly with the tapered portions 26 which smooth the profile over the mounting bar 18, the cover 10 provides an attractive and relatively streamlined finish. Moreover, the smooth outer surface of the cover 10 is easy to clean, may potentially be more aerodynamic, and is not as susceptible to trapping dirt as the exposed mounting bar 18.

The cover 10 may be moulded from a range of materials such as, for example, fibreglass or plastic, and can be produced in the same colour as the wheel guard 12 on which it is to be mounted, so as to provide colour-coding.

Figure 2 shows a holder 30 which is shaped so as to fit over part of the outer surface of the cover 10, as shown in Figures 3 and 5 to 9. The holder 30 is adapted for holding tail lights 32 of the truck 14 so such the same cover 10 may be used on all P \OPERUPN\Keilr\Guud av innovir22d-229 0, mounting bars 18, but that only the covers 10 on the rearmost mounting bars 18 (and/or Ni any other of the covers requiring lights, as the case may be) are fitted with the holder Two of the lights may be brake/tail lights 32a and a third light may be a turning indicator light 32b, as shown in Figures 5 to 9. Of course, in other examples the holder 30 may have 00oO different combinations and/or a different number of lights.

SWith reference to Figure 3, the holder is fastened to the cover 10 by way of bolts S34. In other examples the holder 30 may be formed integrally with the cover 10, however the present example depicted has the advantage that the same cover 10 is used regardless of whether the holder 30 is required. Also, as the cover 10 is symmetrical along the axis of the housing portion 16, the same part may be used both as a left-hand cover 10 and a righthand cover 10, subject of course to the holder 30 being moved to the opposite tapered portion 26 as required.

Figures 10 to 12 show a cover 10 prior to being fitted. Figures 11 and 12 clearly show that the outside end of the cover (see Figure 11) is closed, so as to conceal the end of a mounting bar and to close the interior of the cover 10, whereas the inside end of the cover 10 (see Figure 12) has a curved opening 36 to accommodate the mounting bar.

Figures 13 to 15 show a cover 10 incorporating a light holder 30 which is integrally formed as part of the cover 10. This is in contrast to the cover 10 shown in Figure 2 which, although of a similar overall shape, has the holder 30 formed as a separate part to the base component of the cover The cover 10 has been described above by way of examples only, and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

P;\OPER\JPN\Kciltar\Gurd covr innov 22.do22/09/05 -6- Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated step or integer or group of steps or integers but not the exclusion 0 of any other step or integer or group of steps or integers.

oO 0',

Claims (4)

1. A cover for a wheel guard of a truck, the cover having a housing portion adapted 0 for housing at least a portion of a mounting bar which supports the wheel guard to a 00 r 5 chassis of the truck, and fastening means for fastening the guard cover relative to O O the wheel guard.

S2. A cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing portion includes a tubular recess for housing the mounting bar.

3. A cover as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cover further includes a tapered portion on one or both sides of the housing portion for providing a gradual rise in side profile from an edge of the tapered portion to the housing portion.

4. A cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover incorporates a holder for holding lights. A cover for a wheel guard of a truck, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 22nd day of September, 2005 KEILTARI PTY LTD By Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE