GB2392426A

GB2392426A - Wheel cover

Info

Publication number: GB2392426A
Application number: GB0219998A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George William Mycock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-29
Filing date: 2002-08-29
Publication date: 2004-03-03
Also published as: GB0219998D0

Abstract

A vehicle wheel cover 10 to collect spray. The cover 10 being made of aluminium and having a generally channel shape configuration with a gently curving mid section (18) and steeply curved section (20). Mud guards 24 are mounted to either side of the cover 10 by resilient strips 26.

Description

I Wheel Cover This invention concerns a wheel cover for vehicles, and

particularly but not exclusively for lorries.

Wheel covers are widely used and required on trucks to catch spray coming off the wheels, and therefore substantially prevent spray from the truck affecting other road users. Conventionally wheel covers have been made of ribbed plastics material with the ribbing providing strength thereto. Ribs are however particularly prone to wear. This is particularly the case when air suspension is used, as during the night or during other long rests, the suspension tends to drop. On first starting, if the driver moves off relatively quickly the wheels can rub on the wheel covers as the suspension is still returning to its normal working height. This can mean the necessity to replace the covers, which is not an inexpensive operation.

According to the present invention there is provided a wheel cover for catching spray from a vehicle wheel, the cover having a main body locatable in use above the vehicle wheel, and at least one side wall which in use is extendible downwardly to the side of the wheel, the cover being made of metal.

The cover is preferably made of aluminium. At least one surface of the cover may be patterned.

The material of the cover is preferably less than 8mm thick, desirably less than 6mm thick and more desirably less than 4mm thick.

Mounting formations are preferably provided on the cover which permit mounting to a vehicle, and more particularly mud guards on a vehicle. The mounting formations may comprise a plurality of hooks. Resilient mounting members may be provided which are engageable with the mounting formations.

The mounting members may comprise strips of resilient material with one or more holes therein to engage with the cover mounting formations. A further

hole or other formation may be provided on the mounting members to permit mounting elsewhere on the vehicle.

The cover may have a pair of opposed side walls, and may have a generally channel configuration. The cover may be at least partially curved to correspond at least generally to the shape of the wheel.

The invention also provides a vehicle spray prevention arrangement, the arrangement comprising a cover according to any of the preceding five paragraphs, and at least one mudguard resiliently mounted to the cover.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a cover according to the invention in use; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cover of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a side view of a component usable with the cover of Fig. 1.

The drawings show a wheel cover 10 which in Fig. 1 is in use as part of a spray collection arrangement 12 on a lorry wheel 14. The cover 10 is made of aluminium of 3mm thickness with a "chequer plate" pattern 16 on the external surfaces thereof.

The cover 10 has a generally channel shape configuration with a gently curving mid-section 18 and more steeply curved end sections 20. Four mounting hooks 22 are provided on the outside of each end section 20.

In use as shown in Fig. 1, mudguards 24 are mounted to either side of the wheel 14. The cover 10 is mounted to the mudguards 24 by resilient strips 26 engaging between the hooks 22 and complimentary formations on the

mudguards. The strips 26 have a plurality of openings 28 along their length and a broader section 30 at one end. In use the strips 26 can be held in position by engagement in a channel formation on the mudguards 24, which channel is of size that the broader section 30 cannot pass therethrough. A respective one of the openings 28 is passed over the respective mounting hook 22.

In use the cover 10 in conjunction with the mudguards 24 will catch spray coming off the wheel 14 which will then in time drip onto the road or evaporate. The resilient strips 26 permit the cover 10 to move relative to the mudguards 24 as is necessary due to the motion of the vehicle, or for instance if the wheel 14 were to contact the wheel 10.

There is thus described a wheel cover which has significant advantages over existing arrangements. The described cover is made from a material of 3mm thickness, whilst prior arrangements as described above would typically have a thickness of around 15mm. The cover JO is very durable and can readily stand being rubbed against by the wheel 14, though this is less likely to occur due to the much lower thickness of the cover 10. The cover 10 is aesthetically pleasing and can be customised or decorated as required. The cover 10 can be repaired if necessary in contrast to existing plastic covers.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance the cover may have a somewhat different shape.

Different resilient mounting means may be provided.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to

those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A wheel cover for catching spray from a vehicle wheel, the cover 5 having a main body locatable in use above the vehicle wheel, and at least one side wall which in use is extendible downwardly to the side of the wheel, the cover being made of metal.

2. A cover according to claim 1, in which the cover is made of aluminium.

3. A cover according to claims 1 or 2, in which at least one surface of the cover is patterned.

4. A cover according to any of the preceding claims, in which the material 15 of the cover is less than 8mm thick.

5, A cover according to claim 4, in which the material of the cover is less than 6mm thick.

20

6. A cover according to claim 5, in which the material of the cover is less than 4mm thick.

7. A cover according to any of the preceding claims, in which mounting formations are provided on the cover which permit mounting to a vehicle.

8. A cover according to claim 7, in which mounting formations are provided on the cover which permit mounting to mud guards on a vehicle.

9. A cover according to claims 7 or 8, in which the mounting formations 30 comprise a plurality of hooks.

10. A cover according to claim 9, in which resilient mounting members are provided which are engageable with the mounting formations.

l

11. A cover according to claim 10, in which the mounting members comprise strips of resilient material with one or more holes therein to engage with the cover mounting formations.

12. A cover according to claim 11, in which a further hole or other formation is provided on the mounting members to permit mounting elsewhere on the vehicle.

JO

13. A cover according to any of the preceding claims, in which the cover has a pair of opposed side walls.

14. A cover according to claim 13, in which the side walls have a generally channel configuration.

15. A cover according to any of the preceding claims, in which the cover is at least partially curved to correspond at least generally to the shape of the wheel. 20

16. A vehicle spray prevention arrangement, the arrangement comprising a cover according to any of the preceding claims, and at least one mudguard resiliently mounted to the cover.

17. A wheel cover substantially as hereinbefore described and with 25 reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.