WO1995011137A1

WO1995011137A1 - Cover assembly for a vehicle wheel

Info

Publication number: WO1995011137A1
Application number: PCT/GB1994/002273
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Charles Hutchison
Original assignee: Mark Charles Hutchison
Priority date: 1993-10-23
Filing date: 1994-10-18
Publication date: 1995-04-27
Also published as: AU7942294A; GB9321895D0

Abstract

A cover assembly for a vehicle wheel (12) comprises a first component (14) including means for mounting the first component (14) on a vehicle wheel (12) to rotate therewith. An eccentrically weighted second component (20) is concentrically mounted on the first component (14) by an annular bearing (24, 26) to enable the second component (20) to rotate relative to the first component (14). The second component (20) carries an exposed releasably mounted advertising disc (30).

Description

COVER ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE WHEEL

This invention relates to a _cover assembly for a vehicle wheel, in particular to a cover assembly which carries an advertising disc.

It is known to provide vehicle wheels with cover assemblies which include an advertising disc, which may for example advertise the name of the vehicle manufacturer or, in the case of a goods vehicle, the brand of goods being carried. Previously proposed assemblies suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, in time the advertising disc may become damaged or the advertising message may need to be changed. The replacement of the disc may require special tools or expertise which the vehicle owner does not have. Complicated constructions of the advertising disc mean that it may be an expensive component to manufacture so that the repeated replacement thereof is not cost-effective.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cover assembly for a vehicle wheel which may overcome these and other disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided a cover assembly for a vehicle wheel, characterised by comprising a first component including means for mounting the first component on a vehicle wheel to rotate therewith, and an eccentrically weighted second component mounted on the first component by a bearing to enable the second component to rotate relative to the first component.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second component is concentrically mounted on the first component by an annular bearing and the second component carries an exposed releasably mounted advertising disc, which may for example have a flat or domed configuration. The use of an annular bearing enables access to be available to the hub of the wheel, for example for purposes of maintenance, without the need to remove the first component from the wheel.

In use, the ^vehicle wheel is attached in the normal way to a vehicle, such as a taxi, bus, truck, private car or the like. As the vehicle moves and the wheel rotates, the first component rotates with the wheel. The second component is restrained from following the rotation of the vehicle wheel by reason of its eccentric weighting. The effect of gravity is such therefore that the second component, with its associated advertising disc, tends to remain in an upright orientation, enabling the message to be read by observers as the vehicle passes by. When the vehicle comes to a stop, particularly an abrupt stop, the second component tends to swing back and forth, attracting the observer's attention thereto. The cover assembly according to the invention thereby provides an effective advertising feature.

The cover assembly also acts as a dirt shield for the wheel. In time, the advertising disc may become dirty or scratched, or for marketing reasons the advertising message becomes out of date. By providing that the advertising disc is releasably mounted on the second component, and need itself include no complicated features which are expensive to manufacture, it is a simple and cost-effective matter to replace one advertising disc with another.

Preferably, the first component is ring-shaped. The means for mounting the first component on a vehicle wheel may include a plurality of mounting holes provided on the ring-shaped first component, adapted to co-operate with mounting studs on the vehicle wheel.

Alternatively, the means for mounting the first component to the vehicle wheel may include a plurality of releasable clips, which may be engaged, for example, in the ventilation holes of the wheel.

Preferably, the second component carries a plurality of bearing wheels wh:! h engage an annular bearing surface of the first component. Most preferably three such wheels are provided. With less than three bearing wheels, reliable mounting of the second component may not be possible. It is not normally necessary to provide more than three bearing wheels.

The second component may carry a weight positioned adjacent an edge thereof. The ideal mass of the weight will depend upon the size of the wheel and the degree of friction arising from the bearing, but for example the weight used in a cover assembly for a 400g wheel cover might have a mass of lOOg.

The second component may be ring-shaped or disc-shaped. A disc-shaped second component may provide better protection from dirt, whereas a ring-shaped second component may include less material and be cheaper to manufacture.Preferably, the advertising disc is so shaped to clip over a peripheral edge of the second component, this being a simple and cost-effective manner of releasably mounting the advertising disc.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a wheel cover assembly according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of a wheel cover assembly according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 3 is an exploded view of a wheel cover assembly according to a second alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a cover assembly for a vehicle wheel 12. A first component in the form of a ring 14 of circular cross-section includes three lugs 15 for mounting the ring 14 on a vehicle wheel 12 to rotate therewith. The ring may be formed of mild steel wire. Mounting holes 16 are provided in each of the lugs 15, so positioned as to accept mounting studs 18 on the vehicle wheel 12. The mounting studs 18 are each held in position by means of a star washer clip 13.

A disc-shaped second component 20 which may be formed of a thermoplastic material is concentrically mounted on the ring 14 by an annular bearing to enable the second component 20 to rotate relative to the ring 14. The annular bearing comprises three bearing wheels 24 of plastics material carried on the second component 20 by way of bearing wheel mounting screws 25. The bearing wheels 24 engage an annular bearing surface 26 of the ring 14. The second component 20 carries a weight 28 located in a recess 22 positioned adjacent one edge thereof. The second component is thereby eccentrically weighted.

The second component 20 carries an exposed releasably mounted advertising disc 30 of domed configuration the underside of which is so shaped to clip over a peripheral edge 32 of the second component 20. The exposed surface of the disc 30 carries an advertising message, which may be in the form of words and/or pictures. The disc 30 is preferably injection moulded thermoplastics material or metal and pre-printed with the desired message. Alternatively the disc 30 may simply be provided with a visually appealing decorative finish.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 2, the first component is in the form of a plane ring 19 and the means for mounting the first component 19 to the vehicle wheel 12 include six releasable spring clips 34 which are retained in ventilation holes 23 of the wheel 12. In this embodiment, the second component 21 is ring-shaped.

In the second alternative embodiment shown in Figure 3, the first component is in the form of a flat ring 17 in which the mounting holes 16 are formed.

Claims

1. A cover assembly for a vehicle wheel (12), characterised by comprising a first component (14, 17, 19) including means for mounting said first component (14, 17, 19) on a vehicle wheel (12) to rotate therewith, and an eccentrically weighted second component (20, 21) mounted on said first component (14, 17, 19) by a bearing (24, 26) to enable said second component (20, 21) to rotate relative to said first component (14, 17, 19).

2. A cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second component (20, 21) is concentrically mounted on said first component (14, 17, 19) by an annular bearing (24, 26) and said second component (20, 21) carries an exposed releasably mounted advertising disc (30).

3. A cover assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first component (14, 17, 19) is ring-shaped.

4. A cover assembly according to claim 3, wherein said means for mounting said first component (14, 17) on a vehicle wheel (12) include a plurality of mounting holes (16) provided on said ring-shaped first component (14, 17), adapted to co-operate with mounting studs (18) on a vehicle wheel (12).

5. A cover assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said means for mounting said first component (19) on a vehicle wheel (12) include a plurality of releasable clips (34).

6. A cover assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said second component (20, 21) carries a plurality of bearing wheels (24) which engage an annular bearing surface (26) of said first component (14, 17, 19).

7. A cover assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said second component (20, 21) carries a weight (28) positioned adjacent an edge thereof.

8- A cover assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said second component (20) is disc-shaped.

9. A cover assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said second component (21) is ring-shaped.

10. A cover assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said advertising disc (30) is so shaped to clip over a peripheral edge (32) of said second component (20, 21).