JPS6189102A - Vehicle wheel cover - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the outer surface of a wheel cover body flush to reduce air resistance and to provide an excellent spork-like external appearance, by forming radially extending bright metallic layers on the inner surface of a disc-like shape bright transparent resin cover body. CONSTITUTION:A wheel cover body 11 is made of a transparent resin and integrally formed in a disc-like shape. This cover body 11 is composed of a center recess section 11a adapted to incorporate therein an identification mark 12, etc., a gently conical transparent section 11b developing from the recess section 11a, and a flange section 11c formed in the outer perieperal zone of the transparent section 11c. Further, a plurality of linear bright metalic layers 11b, 11e are formed on the inner surface of the transparent section 11b, extending radially form the center section to the outer peripheral section thereof and crossing with each other. Further, a plurality of adapters 11g are formed in the inner surface of the flange section 11c, and are attached respectively thereto with retainers 17 which are adapted to be resiliently engaged with a goove 3c in the inner surface of rim 3b of a road wheel.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] This invention is attached to the road wheel of a vehicle.

The present invention relates to a vehicle wheel cover that has a spoke-like appearance.

[Conventional technology]

Figure 8 is a front view of a part of a conventional vehicle wheel cover described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-160603, Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along line B-B, and Figures C and 3 are partial views. FIG. In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes an inner cover, which includes a ring-shaped central member 1b formed on the inner periphery of a donut-shaped circular substrate 1a from which a portion corresponding to the hub 3a of the road wheel 3 has been removed in a circular shape, and a substrate 1a. A ring-shaped peripheral member 1c is formed to be attached to the rim 3b of the road wheel 3 via a clip 4 on the outer periphery of the road wheel 3. spoke portions 1d that protrude from a flat surface and intersect in a stepped manner;
le, these spoke portions ld, and a large diameter portion if formed at the base of le.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an outer cover, which includes a disk-shaped central member 2a that covers the center hole 1g of the inner cover 1 and a part of the central member 1b, and a ring-shaped peripheral member 2 that fits into the peripheral member IC of the inner cover 1.
b, spoke portions 2c and 2d that radially connect the central member 2a and the peripheral member 2b and intersect in a stepped manner, and a large diameter portion 2e formed at the base of these spoke portions 2c and 2d.
It has

The inner cover 1 and the outer cover 2 are formed by injection molding of synthetic resin or casting or die-casting of low-melting metal, and include central members 1b, 2a - peripheral members 1c, 2b, spoke parts ld, le, 2c, 2d. A metallic luster layer is formed on the surfaces of the large diameter portions if and 2e,
A dark black acceptance mark is formed on the remainder of the substrate 1a. The inner and outer covers 1 and 2 are concentrically stacked and fixed to the road wheel 3, giving it a spoke-like appearance.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In recent years, in order to minimize air resistance while driving, there has been a growing trend for vehicle bodies to have flush (flattened) outer surfaces, and it is desirable to have fewer protrusions, indentations, and other irregularities from the vehicle body. However, in the above-mentioned conventional wheel cover, the spokes are exposed on the outer surface, so as the road wheel rotates, turbulence of air flow occurs around the wheel cover, increasing air resistance, and the spokes are exposed on the outer surface. There is a problem in that dirt such as mud and dirt easily adheres to the surface of the product, and the adhering dirt is difficult to wash away with normal washing with water.

[Means for solving problems]

This invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and by providing a radial metallic luster layer on the inner surface of the wheel cover body, which is formed of transparent synthetic resin into an approximately disk shape, the outer surface of the wheel cover can be made flush. To provide a wheel force/<- for a vehicle that reduces air resistance, prevents mud and dirt from being visually recognized from the outside of the wheel cover, and exhibits an excellent spoke-like appearance.

The present invention includes a wheel cover body formed of a transparent synthetic resin into a substantially disk shape, and a plurality of metallic luster layers formed radially from the center side to the peripheral side on the inner surface of the wheel cover body. This is a unique vehicle wheel cover.

[For production]

The vehicle wheel cover having the above structure is used by being attached to the road wheel of a vehicle with the metallic luster layer on the inner surface. When in use, the metallic luster layer is visible from the outside through the transparent wheel cover body.

It has an excellent spoke-like appearance. Since a metallic luster layer is formed on the inner surface of the wheel cover body, air turbulence does not occur, and mud and dirt are not visible from the outside.
Excellent appearance can be maintained for a long period of time.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the wheel cover, Figure 3 is a back view of the wheel cover body, Figures 4 and 5 are partial perspective views of the wheel cover as seen from the back, and Figure 6 is a partial perspective view of the wheel cover as seen from the outer surface side. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the same parts, and the same reference numerals as in FIGS.

The wheel cover body 11 is made of polycarbonate.

The identification mark 12 is integrally molded into a roughly disc-shaped loose conical shape from transparent synthetic resin such as methyl methacrylate.
A loose cone-shaped see-through part 11b is formed that spreads outward in the outer circumferential direction from the central recess 11a that accommodates the objects, etc., and a flange part 11c is formed around the periphery of the see-through part 11b. A plurality of linear metallic luster layers 11d and 11e extending across the surface are formed so as to intersect with each other.

The metallic luster layers 11 d and 11 e have wide portions 11 f at their bases, and at the intersection, one metallic lustrous layer lie is provided with a cutout 13 along the other metallic lustrous layer lid. The cutout portion 13 is also formed between the metal hollow layers lid and lie and the wide portion 11f. Metallic luster layer 1
1d and 11e are formed by hot stamping, printing, etc. The inner surface of the wheel cover body 11 has metallic luster J.
511d and lie, a dark black protective coating layer 14 is formed thereon, and a decorative coating layer 15 is also formed between the central concave portion 11a and the transparent portion 11b on the outer surface side. .

A plurality of adapters l1 are integrally formed on the inner surface of the flange portion 11c of the wheel cover body 11 so as to protrude inward.
A retainer 17 having a loop in which the elastic fully bent line 16 protrudes outward in the radial direction in an arc shape is fitted into the retainer 17, and is elastically engaged with the groove 3c formed on the inner surface of the rim 3b of the road wheel 3. , the wheel cover main body 11 is fixedly held on the road wheel 3.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a trim ring, which is molded from an elastic material such as a stainless steel plate, and is attached to the wheel cover body 11.
The flange portion 11c is attached with one end folded back so as to block the transparent view of the flange portion 11c and improve the rigidity and strength of the flange portion 11c.

The vehicle wheel cover constructed as described above has the trim ring 18 attached to the flange portion 11c, and is attached to the road wheel 3 using the elasticity of the retainer 17 with the metallic gloss layers lid and lie facing the inner surface. use.

In use, the metallic luster layers lid and lie are visible from the outside through the wheel cover body 11, giving an excellent spoke-like appearance. At this time, since one of the metallic luster layers lid is continuous due to the cutout portion 13, the metallic lustrous layer lid
d and lie appear to intersect in a step-like manner.

In addition, since the outer surface of the wheel cover main body 11 can be formed smooth, turbulence in the surrounding air will not occur even when the wheel cover rotates, and even if dirt adheres to the metallic gloss layer, it will not be visible from the outside, resulting in an excellent Appearance can be maintained for a long time.

In addition, in the above description, the metallic luster layer is not limited to hot stamping and printing, but may be formed by chromium plating, vacuum metallization treatment such as chromium alloy sputtering, vapor deposition, etc. In addition, although a dark black coating film is formed on the back surface of the wheel cover body, it may remain transparent. In this case, the inner cover 1 shown in FIGS. 8 to C may be attached to the inside of the wheel cover body 11. You can also do it. The mounting structure of the wheel cover main body 11 to the road wheel 3 is not limited to the one shown in the drawings, and a similar structure may be adopted. Further, the shape, structure, material, etc. of the wheel cover main body 11 can be changed, and a hard coating can be formed on the outer surface to improve wear resistance, scratch resistance, weather resistance, etc.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, since a radial metallic luster layer is provided on the back side of the transparent wheel cover body, it has a spoke-like appearance, and the outer surface is flush, so there is no air turbulence while driving, and there is no dust from the outside. It has the advantage that the car is not visible, the car is easy to wash, and the excellent appearance can be maintained for a long time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front perspective view thereof, Fig. 3 is a back view of the wheel cover main body, and Figs. 4 and 5 are views as seen from the back side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the conventional vehicle wheel cover as seen from the outer surface side, FIG. 8 is a front view of a portion of a conventional vehicle wheel cover, and FIG. Figures C and 2 are partial perspective views. In each figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts, 11 is the wheel cover body, lla is the central recessed part, 11b is the transparent part, 11C is the flange part, or
, 11c is a metallic luster layer, 13 is a cutout, 14 is a protective coating layer, and 15 is a coating layer. Agent Patent Attorney Sei Yanagihara Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure C Name of the invention Relationship to the vehicle wheel cover 3° amendment case Patent applicant 4, agent Address: 105 Phone: 436-4700 Address:
3-15-8-7 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo Contents of amendment (1) "A" on page 2, line 7 and page 9, last line of the specification
is corrected to "7". (2) On page 2, line 9, "Figure 8" was changed to "Figure 8." rB-BJ to "■-■" and "C" to r9j. r[)” is corrected to “10”. (3) Page 6, line 1, rAJ to r7J, “DJ”
Corrected to 10. (4) On the last line of page 8, correct rAJ to "7" and correct rc and J to "9". (5) Page 10, line 1, "Figure 8" changed to "Figure 8", rB
-BJ is corrected to "■-■". (6) On page 10, line 2, correct "C" to "9" and rDJ to "1o". (7) Figures 8 to 3 of the drawings shall be corrected as shown in the attached sheet. Figure 7 Figure S

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) Features include a wheel cover body made of transparent synthetic resin and formed into an approximately disk shape, and a plurality of metallic luster layers formed radially from the center to the periphery on the inner surface of the wheel cover body. Wheel cover for vehicles. (2) The vehicle wheel cover according to claim 1, wherein the metallic luster layers are formed so as to intersect with each other. (3) The vehicle wheel cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at the intersection of the metallic luster layers, one metallic lustrous layer has a cutout along the other metallic lustrous layer. (4) The vehicle wheel cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the wheel cover body has a dark black coating on at least the inner surface excluding the metallic luster layer.