JP2002059702A - Mounting click member of wheel cover - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrain generation of abnormal sound due to a stick slip by uniformly bringing a mounting click member head end part into contact with a rim inner surface. SOLUTION: The head end part of each of the mounting click members 2 is energized toward the inner surface of the rim 5 and a locking part is locked to the inner surface of the rim 5 by elastic force of a retainer 3. The mounting click member 2 is a resin made and roughly plate type member projected from a molding surface 1a of a wheel cover 1. Two streaks of first cutouts 6 extending from the head end to the side of the molding surface 1a are provided on the side of a central part in the circumferential direction S of the wheel cover 1. Depth of the two streak cutouts 6 is more than 1/2 of protruded length L from a standard surface H to the head end. A click part 8 is provided on the outside of the circumferential direction S of the wheel cover 1 of the first cutout 6, and a retainer presser 9 is provided on the outside of the circumferential direction S of the click part 8. A second cutout 10 shallower than the first cutout 6 extending to the side of the standard surface H from the side of the head end part is formed between the click part 8 and the retainer presser 9. The retainer presser 9 is formed into U shape in its cross section and is high in rigidity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the mounting of a wheel cover for covering a side surface of a wheel, and more particularly to a structure of a mounting claw member provided on the wheel cover for locking the wheel cover to an inner surface of a rim of a wheel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In some cases, a wheel cover is attached to a side surface of a wheel to cover the side surface of the wheel. The wheel cover is detachably attached by locking the side surface of the distal end of a mounting claw member protruding from the wheel cover to the inner surface of the rim of the wheel. At this time, in order to prevent the wheel cover from dropping off from the rim due to vibration during running, the tip of the mounting claw member is urged toward the rim by the elastic force of a ring-shaped retainer extending along the outer periphery of the wheel cover. The side surface of the tip of the mounting claw member is pressed against the inner surface of the rim.

Here, in order to ensure that the retainer is hooked to the tip of the mounting claw member, conventionally, for example, as shown in FIG. A notch 51 is provided, and 2
The center portion 51a between the notches 51 of the strip is located at a position away from the rim, and the claw portions 51b on both sides thereof are arranged on the rim side, so that the retainers 52 are alternately sandwiched. While the distal end is hung on the retainer 52, the side surface of the distal end of the mounting claw member 50 is urged toward the rim by the elastic force of the retainer 52.

[0004]

However, in the above configuration, since the rigidity of the distal end of the mounting claw member 50 to be hooked on the retainer 52 is high, when the pin is alternately sandwiched and hooked as described above, The retainer is deformed so as to be slightly wavy along the extending direction (the direction along the circumferential direction of the wheel cover), and the elastic force on the rim side by the retainer 52 becomes smaller when viewed over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction. There may be a portion where no elastic force acts in a direction that is straight in the direction, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the inner surface of the rim.

Further, since the two claw portions 51b are less rigid in the out-of-plane direction on the outside than on the inside, the two claw portions 51b are moved by the elastic force of the retainer 52 as shown in FIG. As shown inside (center part side)
There is more outside and it is easy to bend toward the rim 53 side. As described above, the locking portion on the side surface of the claw portion 51b is partially in contact with the inner surface of the rim 53, or the pressing force is particularly large on the outside even if the entire surface is in contact. As a result, for example, abnormal noise due to stick-slip may occur between the rim 53 and the claw portion 51b during low-speed traveling.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and has as its object to suppress the generation of abnormal noise due to the stick-slip by uniformly abutting the tip of the mounting claw member on the inner surface of the rim. .

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that a front end portion is formed by a retainer projecting from the back surface of a wheel cover and extending along the outer periphery of the wheel cover. Are urged toward the inner surface of the rim of the wheel to lock the engaging portions on the side surfaces of the front end portion to the inner surface of the rim. Two notches extending to the side, and the depth of the notches is set to at least half of the length from the back surface to the tip portion.
The front end of the central portion between the notches of the strip is brought into contact with the retainer from a side away from the rim, and the front end of the claw portion on the outer side in the circumferential direction from each of the notches is brought into contact with the retainer from the rim side. Thus, the retainer can be interposed and latched, and the locking portions are provided on the side surfaces of the both claw portions.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a retainer retainer is provided on the wheel cover in a circumferentially outer position than each of the pawl portions, and the retainer retainer and the pawl portion are provided. A second notch is provided between the retainer retainer and the claw portion, the second notch extending from the front end portion to the back surface side, and each of the retainer retainers protrudes from the back surface and extends from the claw portion. The rigidity is set high, and the position of the retainer is regulated by contacting the retainer from the rim side.

Next, the invention according to claim 3 is different from the structure according to claim 2 in that the depth of the second notch is
The depth of the notch provided between the center portion and the claw portion is shallower. Next, claim 4
The invention described in (1) is characterized in that, in contrast to the configuration described in (2) or (3) above, the retainer retainer has a U-shaped cross section opened in the radial direction of the wheel cover. is there.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of any of the second to fourth aspects, the central portion and the claw portion between the retainer presser are provided with the retainer presser. Characterized by being supported by the rear surface of the wheel cover via the rear. Next, the invention described in claim 6 is different from the configuration described in any one of claims 2 to 5 in that the wheel cover is positioned on the back side of the wheel cover with respect to the notch in the center portion and the claw portion. A flange extending in the circumferential direction of the cover is provided.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the invention, since the two notches are deep, the rigidity in the out-of-plane direction (radial direction of the wheel cover) inside (at the center portion side) of the two claw portions is improved. Therefore, the difference in out-of-plane rigidity between the inside and the outside of the claw portion is reduced. In addition, since the notch is deep, the out-of-plane rigidity of the tip portion of the claw portion and the center portion, that is, the portion that engages with the retainer itself is low as a whole. Deforms in an arc along the direction.

As a result, the engaging portion of the claw portion abuts uniformly on the inner surface of the rim, so that generation of abnormal noise due to stick-slip can be prevented or reduced. At this time, the rigidity of the entire claw portion may be too low. However, if the invention according to claim 2 is adopted, the rigidity required for the mounting claw member is increased by disposing the highly rigid retainer retainers on both sides. And deformation of the retainer in the out-of-plane direction can be suppressed by the retainer retainer. Here, even if a highly rigid retainer retainer is provided outside the claw portion, the rigidity of the claw portion is not significantly increased by providing the second notch between the claw portion and the retainer retainer.

Further, when the invention according to claim 3 is adopted,
Furthermore, the notch between the center part and the nail part is
Is deeper than the notch, the inside of the claw portion is lower in out-of-plane rigidity than the outside of the claw portion, and the inside of the claw portion is more likely to bend toward the rim side by the bias of the retainer, and is more uniformly engaged with the rim inner surface. It becomes possible. Further, when the invention of claim 4 is adopted, the rigidity in the out-of-plane direction can be increased by forming the section into a U-shape.

Further, the U-shaped inner space serves as a resin permeation path, and the fluidity of the resin to the rear surface of the wheel cover at the time of molding the retainer holding portion is improved. Here, when the retainer retainer has a simple columnar shape (solid columnar shape), if the thickness of the joint with the rear surface of the wheel cover is increased in order to secure necessary rigidity, Since the shrinkage occurs on the surface of the wheel cover, the joining portion becomes thin, and the rigidity required for the retainer retainer is not secured, and there is a possibility that the wheel cover may be improperly mounted. In addition,
The reason why the above-mentioned shrinkage occurs is that the volume of the resin decreases when the resin is plastically deformed. However, since the plastic deformation occurs by cooling, the resin starts from the outside and proceeds to the inside. Therefore, the change in the entire volume concentrates on the inside where the fluidity is maintained, so that the change appears on the surface of the wheel cover.

On the other hand, in the present invention, since shrinkage does not occur due to the improvement in fluidity, the appearance of the wheel cover surface is not adversely affected. Next, when the invention according to claim 5 is adopted, the out-of-plane rigidity of the claw portion can be further reduced while securing the necessary rigidity by the retainer presser, and the claw portion tip can be deformed so as to be more adapted to the retainer. .

In the case where the notch is deep as described above, the claw portion and the central portion are not directly supported by the wheel cover, and a space is formed between the notch portion and the wheel cover. If the rigidity of the shaping surface of the wheel cover is low, the mounting claw member, in particular, the claw portion may be deformed outward together with the shaping surface and may not engage with the rim at an optimum position.

In this respect, when the invention according to claim 6 is adopted, the rigidity of the joint with the modeling surface is increased while the rigidity of the claw portion is reduced, so that the deformation to the outside can be suppressed.

[0018]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1 which is a front view of a part of the wheel cover 1, a plurality of mounting claw members 2 are provided.
Are arranged at predetermined intervals along the outer periphery of the wheel cover 1, and a ring-shaped retainer 3 coaxial with the wheel cover 1 is arranged. As shown in FIG. 2, the elastic force of the retainer 3 The distal end portion of each mounting claw member 2 is urged toward the inner surface (outward in the radial direction K) of the rim 5 of the wheel 4 so that the engaging portion is engaged with the inner surface of the rim 5 by a predetermined urging force.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mounting claw member 2 is a resin-made and substantially plate-shaped member protruding from the modeling surface 1a on the back surface of the wheel cover 1. In the drawings, reference symbol H indicates a reference surface, and the reference surface H is a plane that comes into contact with the outer peripheral edge rear surface of the wheel cover 1. The mounting claw member 2
In the center of the wheel cover 1 in the circumferential direction S, there are provided two first notches 6 extending from the tip to the modeling surface 1a side (the reference surface H side). The depth of the two notches 6 is set to be at least 1/2, more preferably at least 2/3 of the protruding length L from the reference plane H to the tip.

The central portion 7 between the two first notches 6 is
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a flange 7 a extending in the radial direction K of the wheel cover 1 is provided on the reference surface H side so that a predetermined rigidity can be secured, and the retainer 3 is provided at the tip end thereof. A latchable recess 7b is provided. Further, a claw portion 8 is provided on the outer side of the first notch 6 in the circumferential direction S of the wheel cover 1, and the claw portion 8 is disposed in the circumferential direction S more than the claw portion 8.
A retainer presser 9 is provided on the outside. The claw portion 8 and the retainer retainer 9 are integrally connected at a reference surface H side portion. On the distal end portion, the first notch 6 extending from the distal end portion toward the reference surface H side between the both 8, 9. 2nd notch 1 shallower than
0 is formed. The second notch 10 has a claw portion 8
Even if the retainer presser 9 is provided on the outer side, the rigidity on the outer side of the claw portion 8 does not increase so much.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the claw portions 8 is provided with two locking portions 8a arranged in the circumferential direction S on the side surface of the tip portion on the rim 5 side. Further, a concave portion 8b for retaining the retainer 3 is provided on the opposite side surface. As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, each of the retainer pressers 9 has a U-shaped cross section opened outward in the radial direction K. As a result, the central portion 7
The rigidity in the out-of-plane direction (radial direction K) is set higher than that of the claw portion 8. The shape of the side surface of the tip portion is formed so as to engage with a predetermined arc shape (arc along the retainer 3).

The reference surface H side of both retainer retainers 9 is fixed to the molding surface 1a, but the claw portion 8 and the central portion 7 between the retainers 3 retainers are not fixed to the molding surface 1a. The out-of-plane stiffness of the claw portion 8 is further reduced so that the tip of the claw portion 8 can be deformed so as to fit into the retainer 3. However, as shown in FIG. 10, the claw portion 8 is easily opened outward due to the deformation of the reference surface H.
By providing the flange 11 extending in the circumferential direction S with respect to the reference surface H side of the claw portion 8 and the central portion 7, the rigidity of the reference surface H is increased and the claw portion 8 is prevented from opening outward.

In the mounting claw member 2 having the above-described configuration, even if the retainer 3 is alternately pinched and hooked between the pair of claw portions 8 and the center portion 7 along the circumferential direction S, the first notch 6 is formed. Is deeper, the rigidity is lowered inside each claw portion 8, and the inner side is easily bent toward the rim 5, and the locking portion 8 a can be uniformly locked on the inner surface of the rim 5. In particular, as described above, the inside also has low out-of-plane rigidity, and the claw portion 8 and the central portion 7 are not directly fixed to the modeling surface 1a. It becomes easy to bend in an arc shape in the out-of-plane direction around the center 7, and is deformed so as to conform to the retainer 3, so that the locking portion 8 a abuts the inner surface of the rim 5 more uniformly.

At this time, the claw portion 8 and the central portion 7 are not directly fixed to the molding surface 1a, but the flange 11 extending in the circumferential direction S is provided on the reference surface H side, so that the molding surface 1a is provided.
, A predetermined rigidity is ensured, and deformation such that the claw portion 8 spreads outward in the circumferential direction S can be suppressed. Can be abutted.

Further, by providing a retainer presser 9 having a higher rigidity in the radial direction K than the claw portion 8 and the center portion 7 outside each claw portion 8, the rigidity of the claw portion 8 can be increased as far as the retainer 3 is adapted. Even if it is lowered, a predetermined rigidity is secured for the entire mounting claw member 2. Further, since the rigidity of the claw portion 8 is low, the ring-shaped retainer 3 is required without the retainer presser 9.
Although there is a possibility that the retainer 3 will be deformed, the variation and deformation of the position of the retainer 3 are minimized by contacting the retainer retainer 9 with the retainer 3.

Since the retainer retainer 9 has a U-shaped cross section, it is possible to secure a resin flow passage having a predetermined cross-sectional area that communicates with the reference surface H inside the U-shape.
For this reason, the retainer presser 9 having a U-shaped cross section can be reliably obtained, and the wheel cover 1 at the modeling surface 1a can be obtained.
Because the resin necessary for molding flows into the back side of the part,
It doesn't look bad.

Here, the structure of the retainer retainer 9 is not limited to a U-shaped cross section, and may be, for example, a multi-column structure as shown in FIG. 11 or a closed structure as shown in FIG. In short, it is preferable to have a configuration having an opening extending from the tip end toward the reference plane H.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged view of a wheel cover according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a relationship between an attachment claw member, a wheel cover, and a rim of a wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the mounting claw member according to the embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the outside in the radial direction.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3 showing a central portion;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3 showing a claw portion.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 3, showing a tip portion of a claw portion.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 3 showing a retainer retainer.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line EE in FIG. 3 showing the retainer retainer.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line FF of FIG. 3 showing the retainer retainer.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a circumferential opening of the claw member.

FIG. 11 is a view showing another example of the retainer retainer.

FIG. 12 is a view showing another example of the retainer retainer.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a mounting claw member of a conventional example.

FIG. 14 is a view for explaining a problem of a conventional mounting claw member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 wheel cover 2 mounting claw member 3 retainer 4 wheel 5 rim 6 first notch 7 center portion 8 claw portion 9 retainer retainer 10 second notch 11 flange S circumferential direction K radial direction

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kenichi Horiuchi Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Osamu Hidekawa, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Ito 2 Takaracho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tetsu Wakabayashi 2 Takaracho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A front end portion is urged toward an inner surface of a rim of a wheel by a retainer projecting from a back surface of the wheel cover and extending along an outer periphery of the wheel cover, and a locking portion on a side surface of the front end portion is engaged with the inner surface of the rim. In the claw member of the wheel cover to be locked to the wheel cover, two notches are provided extending along the circumferential direction of the wheel cover from the front end to the back side of the wheel cover, and the depth of the notch is set to The length of the notch is at least half of the length of the notch, and the tip of the central portion between the two notches is brought into contact with the retainer from the side away from the rim, and the claw is circumferentially outside the notches. The retainer is sandwiched between the rim side and the retaining portion by being brought into contact with the retainer from the rim side, and the locking portions are provided on the side surfaces of the both claw portions. Only the claw member. 2. A retainer retainer is provided on the wheel cover circumferentially outward of each of the pawl portions, and the retainer retainer and the pawl portion are connected to each other. A second notch extending to the rear surface side is provided, and each of the retainer retainers protrudes from the rear surface and is set to have higher rigidity than the claw portion, and comes into contact with the retainer from the rim side to position the retainer. The mounting claw member for a wheel cover according to claim 1, wherein the claw member restricts the mounting. 3. The wheel cover according to claim 2, wherein a depth of the second notch is smaller than a depth of a notch provided between the center portion and the claw portion. Mounting claw member. 4. The mounting claw member for a wheel cover according to claim 2, wherein the retainer retainer has a U-shaped cross section opened in a radial direction of the wheel cover. 5. The device according to claim 2, wherein a center portion and a claw portion between the retainer retainers are supported on the back surface of the wheel cover via the retainer retainers. Mounting claw member for the wheel cover. 6. The wheel cover according to claim 2, wherein a flange extending in a circumferential direction of the wheel cover is provided at a position on the back surface side of the wheel cover relative to the notch in the center portion and the claw portion. A mounting claw member for a wheel cover according to any one of the above.