EP4638145A1

EP4638145A1 - Wheel assembly of a motorcycle

Info

Publication number: EP4638145A1
Application number: EP23841540.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Walter Rosellini; Marco Profeti
Original assignee: Piaggio and C SpA
Current assignee: Piaggio and C SpA
Priority date: 2022-12-23
Filing date: 2023-12-21
Publication date: 2025-10-29
Also published as: WO2024134571A1; IT202200026694A1

Abstract

A wheel assembly of a motorcycle is described, comprising a wheel rim having an opening adapted to receive a hub defining a rotation axis, and a wheel cover shaped to be removably coupled to said wheel rim. The wheel rim comprises at least one edge and the wheel cover comprises at least one cover portion shaped to overlap with said edge. Removable engagement means are provided, which removably connect the cover portion to the wheel rim.

Description

WHEEL ASSEMBLY OF A MOTORCYCLE

DESCRIPTION

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[001] The present invention relates to a wheel assembly of a motorcycle, in particular for a motorcycle of the scooter type.

BACKGROUND ART

[002] Hubcaps to be applied to a wheel rim of a wheel are known, in particular in the automotive field. The hubcaps are commonly applied in a removable and interchangeable manner through snapengagement means which couple to a peripheral edging of the wheel rim.

[003] In the automotive field, the connection of the hubcaps to the wheel rim commonly comprises one or more tab portions obtained on the hubcap which are connected to an edge of the wheel rim. During the assembly, the hubcap tabs plastically deform under the action of a compression force, and once they have passed the edge of the wheel rim, they return to the initial configuration, creating a coupling with the wheel rim indeed.

[004] Therefore, the hubcap-wheel rim coupling in the automotive field is simple because there is no need for a system that ensures complete connection safety. This is due to the fact that if the hubcap detaches from one of the wheel rims of the car during travel, the danger for the vehicle driver is null.

[005] The above is not comparable instead for hubcaps or wheel covers applied to a wheel rim of a motor vehicle such as a motorbike or a scooter. In this case, indeed, safety is a primary aspect for driver's safety.

[006] In light of the above, the need is thus felt to provide a wheel assembly of a motor vehicle comprising a wheel cover provided with safety requirements.

SUMMARY

[007] The drawbacks of the prior art are now solved by a wheel assembly of a motorcycle comprising a wheel rim having an opening adapted to receive a hub defining a rotation axis, a wheel cover shaped to be removably coupled to said wheel rim. The wheel rim comprises at least one edge and the wheel cover comprises at least one cover portion shaped to overlap with the edge. Removable engagement means are also provided, which removably connect the cover portion to the edge of the wheel rim. The removable engagement means thus allow connecting the wheel cover to the wheel rim in a stable and safe manner.

[008] In particular, the wheel rim comprises at least one pair of first engagement portions, angularly spaced apart from each other, and the cover portion comprises at least one pair of second engagement portions, the second engagement portions couple in use to said first engagement portions, and the removable engagement means are inserted to mutually clamp the first engagement portions and the second engagement portions. The first engagement portions obtained on the wheel rim, in particular close to the edge, and the second engagement portions obtained on the wheel cover thus define a stable coupling of the wheel cover on the wheel rim, which avoids movements and in particular rotations thereof about the wheel axis.

[009] Advantageously, the first engagement portions form an interference shape coupling connection with the second engagement portions. The shape coupling alone thus ensures a correct assembly of the wheel cover on the wheel rim, defining the correct position and the assembly references. In case of incorrect assembly, for example in an overturned or angularly wrong position, the attachment portions of the wheel cover would not match with the attachment portions of the wheel rim and therefore it would not be possible to assemble the wheel cover on the wheel rim.

[0010] Preferably, the first engagement portions comprise a hole, and the second engagement portions comprise an opening, and said removable engagement means are screw means passing through said opening, which connect into said hole to connect the wheel cover to the wheel rim in a stable manner. The screw means thus ensure a removable and simultaneously safe and stable connection.

[0011] Advantageously, the first engagement portions comprise a first flat cap portion, and the second engagement portions comprise a second flat cap portion, which in use overlap coaxially with each other. The flat portions obtained on the respective attachment portions of the wheel rim and of the wheel cover allow obtaining a facilitated assembly of the screw means, keeping the wheel cover stationary per se when resting on the wheel rim during the assembly, and ensuring a substantially coaxial and aligned position between the opening of the wheel cover and the hole on the wheel rim.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, a first wheel cover and a second wheel cover are provided, arranged on opposite side from each other with respect to the wheel rim axis. [0013] These and other advantages will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment given by way of non-limiting indication with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a wheel assembly comprising a wheel rim and at least one wheel cover according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a front view of the wheel assembly in Figure 1, according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 shows a partial section view of the wheel assembly highlighting the connection between the wheel cover and the wheel rim according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the wheel assembly according to the present invention, comprising a front wheel cover and a rear wheel cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The following description of one or more embodiments of the invention relates to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings identify identical or similar elements. The subject of the invention is defined by the appended claims. Technical details, structures, or features of the solutions described below can be mutually combined in any manner.

[0016] In Figs. 1 and 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a wheel assembly for a motor vehicle, and in particular for a scooter.

[0017] In particular, the wheel assembly 100 comprises a wheel rim 102,103 with a central opening 101 adapted to receive a hub shaft of the motorcycle defining a rotation axis X-X. The wheel rim 102 comprises, as known, a central portion 108 in which a tire is mounted. The central portion 108 further comprises a hole 110 through which the valve 110 of the tire is inserted.

[0018] The assembly further comprises a wheel cover 10 - better shown in the exploded configuration in Figure 4 - shaped to be removably coupled to the wheel rim 102,103.

[0019] In detail, the wheel rim 102 comprises an edge 103 and the wheel cover 10 comprises at least one cover portion 12,13 shaped to overlap with the edge 103. The assembly further comprises engagement means 11 of the removable type, which removably connect the cover portion 12,13 to the wheel rim 102. [0020] In particular, the wheel rim 102 comprises at least one pair of first engagement portions 104, angularly spaced apart from each other, obtained close to the edge 103. The first engagement portions 104 are angularly spaced apart from each other with respect to the axis X-X.

[0021] Moreover, the cover portion 12,13 comprises at least one pair of second engagement portions 14,14'. As better shown in Figure 3, the second engagement portions 14 overlap, in use, with the first engagement portions 104 so as to achieve a stable and removable coupling. The removable engagement means 11 which clamp the wheel cover 10 and the wheel rim 102 are interposed between the first and second engagement portions.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of complementary first 104 and second 14 engagement portions is provided, obtained on the wheel rim 102 and on the wheel cover 10, respectively, which are equally spaced apart from one another.

[0023] In a first embodiment, the first engagement portions 104 form an interference shape coupling connection with the second engagement portions 14. The second engagement portions 14 are thus fitted onto the first engagement portions 104 forming an interlocking shape coupling, which thus locks the wheel cover 10 on the wheel rim 102.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, shown specifically in Figure 3, the first engagement portions 104 comprise a hole 104'. The second engagement portions 14 comprise an opening 14'. Screw means 11 passing through opening 14' are also provided, which connect into the threaded hole 104' to connect the wheel coverto the wheel rim in a stable manner. In particular, the screw means include a cap 11' with greater dimensions than the opening 14' obtained on the wheel cover 10. When the screw 11 is clamped, the cap 11' thus retains the wheel cover 10 in a stable position on the wheel rim 102.

[0025] In a further constructional aspect, the first engagement portions 104 are substantially frustoconical and comprise a first flat cap portion 105, and the second engagement portions 14 are complementary and comprise a second flat cap portion 15, which coaxially overlaps with the first flat cap portion 105 in use. The flat portions obtained on both the wheel rim 102 and the wheel cover 10 thus allow obtaining a reference for assembling the wheel cover 10. Indeed, by having the wheel cover 10 on the wheel rim 102, the flat reference portions 15, 105 allow determining a correct angular positioning of the wheel cover 10 with respect to the wheel rim 102, thus considerably facilitating the assembly thereof.

[0026] In further detailed aspects, the wheel cover 10 comprises an outer edge 12 facing the outside of the wheel rim 102, which is shaped so as to protrude on the outside of the edge 103. Thereby, the outer edge 12, at least partially cantilevered from the edge of the wheel rim 102 (Figure 3), allows obtaining a protection against impacts or damage to the peripheral edge 103 of the wheel rim 102, for example, when a sidewalk is impacted or the wheel falls into a hole. In this case, the outer edge 12 of the wheel cover 10 will cushion the impact and will at least partially avoid damage to edge 103 of the metal wheel rim.

[0027] Moreover, the wheel cover 10 comprises an inner edge 13 facing the center of the wheel rim 102. The inner edge 13 differentiates, as a function of the outline of the wheel cover, between a front wheel cover 10 or a rear wheel cover 10' of the wheel rim 102. The front wheel cover 10, shown in Figure 4, is provided with recesses 17 shaped to accommodate the spokes 107 of the wheel rim. The recesses 17 are designed so that the peripheral shape thereof replicates the base outline of the spokes 107 at the joining area with the wheel rim 102.

[0028] In the case of the rear wheel cover 10', however, the inner edge 13 has no recesses.

[0029] Advantageously, the wheel cover 10,10' is made of a plastic material. It can be painted and assembled on the wheel rim 102 with the purpose of protecting the edge 103 from impacts, but at the same time is an aesthetic accessory for customizing the wheel of the motorcycle.

[0030] The above description of one or more specific embodiments is capable of showing the invention from a conceptual point of view so that others, using the prior art, will be able to change and/or adapt the embodiments in various applications without further research and without departing from the inventive concept, and therefore it is understood that such adaptations and changes will be considerable as equivalents of the specific embodiment. The means and materials for carrying out the various functions described can be of various nature without departing from the scope of the invention. It is understood that the expressions or terms used have a merely descriptive and thus non-limiting purpose.

Claims

1. A wheel assembly (100) of a motorcycle comprising:

- a wheel rim (102,103) having an opening (101) adapted to receive a hub which defines a rotation axis (X-X),

- a wheel cover (10) shaped to be removably coupled to said wheel rim (102,103), wherein said wheel rim (102) comprises at least one edge (103) which extends circumferentially, and wherein said wheel cover (10) comprises at least one cover portion (12,13) shaped to overlap with said edge (103), and wherein removable engagement means (11) are provided, which removably connect the cover portion (12,13) to said wheel rim (102), and wherein there are provided a first wheel cover (10) and a second wheel cover (10') arranged on opposite sides with respect to the axis (X-X) of the wheel rim (102).

2. A wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the wheel rim (102) comprises at least one pair of first engagement portions (104), angularly spaced apart from each other, and wherein the cover portion (12,13) comprises at least one pair of second engagement portions (14) complementary to said first engagement portions (104), wherein said second engagement portions (14) connect, in use, to said first engagement portions (104), and wherein the removable engagement means (11) are inserted to clamp the first engagement portions (104) and the second engagement portions (14) so as to achieve a stable and removable coupling.

3. A wheel assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first engagement portions (104) form an interference shape coupling connection with the second engagement portions (14).

4. A wheel assembly according to claims 1-3, wherein the first engagement portions (104) comprise a hole (104'), and wherein the second engagement portions (14) comprise an opening (14'), and wherein said removable engagement means comprise screw means (11) passing through said opening (14') which connect into said hole (104') to connect the wheel cover (10) to the wheel rim (102) in a stable manner.

5. A wheel assembly according to claim 4, wherein the first engagement portions (104) comprise a first flat cap portion (105), and wherein the second engagement portions (14) comprise a second flat cap portion (15), which overlap coaxially with each other.

6. A wheel assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wheel cover (10) extends between an outer edge (12) facing the outside of the edge (103) of the wheel rim (102), and an inner edge (13) on the opposite side of the outer edge (12) facing the inside of the wheel rim (102), wherein the outer edge (12) of the wheel cover (10), in a side view, extends so as to be at least aligned with respect to the edge (103) of the wheel rim (102).

7. A wheel assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wheel cover (10) extends between an outer edge (12) facing the outside of the edge (103) of the wheel rim (102) and an inner edge (13) on the opposite side of the outer edge (12) facing the inside of the wheel rim (102), wherein the outer edge (12) of the wheel cover (10), in a side view, protrudes with respect to the edge (103) of the wheel rim (102).

8. A motorcycle comprising at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel, wherein said front wheel and/or rear wheel comprise a wheel assembly (100) according to claims 1-7.