GB2123763A

GB2123763A - Wheel cover securing-device

Info

Publication number: GB2123763A
Application number: GB08317954A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John V Liggett
Original assignee: Rockwell International Corp
Current assignee: Boeing North American Inc
Priority date: 1982-07-23
Filing date: 1983-07-01
Publication date: 1984-02-08
Also published as: DE3325501A1; GB8317954D0

Abstract

A device for securing a wheel cover 10 to a threaded end 16 of an axle spindle or the like includes a cylindrical body portion 22 with an internally threaded cavity 24 matching the threaded end 16, an enlarged head 26 on the body portion which applies a securing force to a central section 14 of the wheel cover as the body portion 22 extends through a hole 28 in the section 14 and a resilient circlip 32 removably installed in a circumferential groove 34 in the inboard end of the body portion 22 to prevent removal of the body portion from the hole 28. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wheel cover securing device BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Field of the Invention. This invention relates to a wheel cover securing device and more particularly to such a device which will remain in position in a center section of the wheel cover to be readily available for securing the wheel cover to a threaded end of an axle spindle or the like.

Description of the Prior Art. A number of wheel cover devices are rigidly mounted to the wheel at a center portion thereof and/or include a device for securing the wheel cover to the wheel at a center portion thereof. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,179,163 and 4,221,435 are examples of such wheel covers which utilize a centrally disposed element for rigidly securing the wheel cover device to the wheel. On the other hand, U. S. Patent No. 4,274,679 discloses a centrally located element which simply locks a wheel cover to the wheel since the cover is rigidly secured by means at its outer edge which directly grip the wheel rim. U. S. Patent Nos.

3,833,266; 3,918,764 and 4,061,400 disclose centrally mounted devices which appear to be capable of both supporting the wheel cover on the wheel and locking the cover in place to prevent unauthorized removal.

Heretofore, a number of these type of devices have required specifically designed components or adapting elements which were easily separated from the cover or wheel and could be lost or misplaced when the wheel cover is removed from the wheel. There remains a need for a centrally located wheel cover securing device for firmly securing the wheel cover to the wheel and/or for locking the wheel cover to the wheel for security purposes which is simple to provide, readily utilized in existing wheel configurations, and includes components which are not likely to be misplaced or damaged when the wheel cover is removed from the wheel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefor an object of this invention to provide a wheel cover securing device which is relatively inexpensive and easy to install and capable of being used on existing wheel configurations.

These and other objectives of the invention are provided in a preferred embodiment thereof in the form of a wheel cover securing device which is capable of securing a wheel cover to a threaded end of an axle spindle of the like. The wheel cover securing device includes a cylindrical body portion having an internally threaded cavity therein matching the threaded end of the axle spindle or the like. An enlarged head on an outboard end of the body portion allows the body portion to be received within a hole in a center section of the wheel cover with the head being capable of applying a securing force to the center section. A radially extending means on the inboard end of the body portion is larger than the hole to prevent the body portion from being removed from the hole after initial installation on the wheel cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a sectional side view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 as seen along line 2-2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As seen in Figure 1, a wheel cover 10 can be either of the type mentioned hereinabove. For example, the wheel cover 10 may include at its outer periphery (not shown) a plurality of clip elements which make gripping contact with the interior cylindrical surface of the rim for securing the wheel cover 10 to the wheel 12. While the clip elements are reliable for preventing accidental removal of the cover 10 from the wheel 12, it may also be desirable to insure that the wheel cover 10 is secured in such a manner that unauthorized removal or theft is unlikely. On the other hand, there are wheel covers 10 which basically rely on full support at a center section 14 thereof for the retention on the wheel 12.For such installations, it is essential that the wheel cover 10 be firmly drawn toward and secured to an element centrally located relative the wheel 12 on which it is to be mounted. For many front drive automobiles, a threaded end 1 6 of the front drive axle spindle simply and conveniently serves as such an element. Although not shown, a wheel to be mounted on a non-drive rear axle does not include such a spindle. However, there is often provided a wheel cover support pedestal similar to those shown in U.S. Patents 3,833,266; 3,918,764 and 4,274,679 which is secured to the wheel and supports a threaded element like the threaded end 16.

The present invention includes a preferred wheel cover securing device 20 which is capable of satisfying both types of means for securing the wheel cover 10 to the threaded end 1 6 of an axle spindle or the like. Specifically, the securing device 20 includes a cylindrical body portion 22 which has a threaded interior cavity 24 which matches the threaded end 1 6 of the spindle or a wheel cover support pedestal if one is needed. An enlarged head 26 on the outboard end of the body portion 22 allows the body portion 22 to be extended through a hole 28 in the center section 14 of the wheel cover 10.The enlarged head 26 is therefore capable of applying a securing force to the center section 14 for either rigidly securing the wheel cover 10 to the threaded end 1 6 and/or for preventing undesired removal of the wheel cover 10 from the wheel 12.

Although the head 26 is shown in simplified form, it should be clear that any number of means may be provided for applying a rotational force to threadably install or remove the securing device 20. For example, if the wheel cover 10 is rigidly to be held by the securing device 20 and theft or undesired removal is not considered a problem, the outer peripheral of the head 26 may be hexagonal or some other form to allow easy installation and removal with a wrench or similar tool. On the other hand, in those installations in which it is also desired to prevent unauthorized removal of the wheel cover 10, the outboard surface of the head 26 may be provided an irregular arrangement of grooves or indentions which can only be conveniently mated with a matching tool.Such a tool is often designed by the original car manufacturer and is provided to dealers and owners and not generally available to the public.

To insure that the wheel cover securing device 20 will be retained within the hole 28 after initial assembly of the wheel cover 10, radially extending means 30 is provided for the inboard end of the body portion 22. The preferred radially extending means 30, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, includes a resilient annular ring 32 which is capable of being expanded against internal biasing for retention within a circumferential groove 34 around the inboard end of the body portion 22. The annular ring has an outside diameter which is larger than the internal diameter of the hole 28 to prevent the body portion 22 from being withdrawn from the hole 28. With a securing device 20 securely retained in the center section 14 of the wheel cover 10 in this manner after initial assembly of the wheel cover 10, the wheel cover securing device 22 can be easily aligned with the threaded end 1 6 during installation on the wheel 12 but will not be accidentally lost or separated from the cover 10 whenever it is removed from the wheel 12.

Claims

1. A wheel cover securing capable of securing a wheel cover to a threaded end of an axle spindle or the like, said wheel cover securing device comprising: a cylindrical body portion having an internally threaded cavity therein matching said threaded end of said axle spindle or the like: an enlarged head on an outboard end of said body portion to allow said body portion to be received within a hole in a center section of said wheel cover with said head being capable of applying a securing force to said center section; and radially extending means on an inboard end of said body portion which is larger than said hole to retain said body portion in said hole.

2. The wheel cover securing device as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said inboard end of said body portion includes a circumferential groove and said radially extending means includes a resilient annular ring installed within said circular groove, said annular ring having an outside diameter which is larger than an inside diameter of said hole.

3. A wheel cover securing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.