WO2010096050A1 - Dispositif d'enjoliveur - Google Patents

Dispositif d'enjoliveur Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2010096050A1
WO2010096050A1 PCT/US2009/034279 US2009034279W WO2010096050A1 WO 2010096050 A1 WO2010096050 A1 WO 2010096050A1 US 2009034279 W US2009034279 W US 2009034279W WO 2010096050 A1 WO2010096050 A1 WO 2010096050A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
base
processor
cover
rotational speed
spinner member
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2009/034279
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Martin C. Berens
Original Assignee
Berens Martin C
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Berens Martin C filed Critical Berens Martin C
Priority to PCT/US2009/034279 priority Critical patent/WO2010096050A1/fr
Publication of WO2010096050A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010096050A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/32—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating vehicle sides, e.g. clearance lights
    • B60Q1/326—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating vehicle sides, e.g. clearance lights on or for wheels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B7/00—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins
    • B60B7/0013—Hub caps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B7/00—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins
    • B60B7/0026—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins characterised by the surface
    • B60B7/0033—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins characterised by the surface the dominant aspect being the surface appearance
    • B60B7/0053—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins characterised by the surface the dominant aspect being the surface appearance the surface being decorated
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B7/00—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins
    • B60B7/0026—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins characterised by the surface
    • B60B7/0033—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins characterised by the surface the dominant aspect being the surface appearance
    • B60B7/006—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins characterised by the surface the dominant aspect being the surface appearance the surface being reflective or including lighting
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B7/00—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins
    • B60B7/04—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins built-up of several main parts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B7/00—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins
    • B60B7/06—Fastening arrangements therefor
    • B60B7/08—Fastening arrangements therefor having gripping elements consisting of formations integral with the cover
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B7/00—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins
    • B60B7/20—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins having an element mounted for rotation independently of wheel rotation

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to automobile hubcaps and, more particularly, to a hubcap device that enables the vehicle to be personalized by receiving picture inserts and including lighting features dependent on ambient light conditions and vehicle motion.
  • Vehicle customization has become very popular as a means of personal expression.
  • Personalized tags, bumper stickers, painting, decals, collectible license plates, or other ornamental devices are all ways in which a vehicle owner may demonstrate his personality and individuality.
  • displaying pictures, posters, or other generally opaque images upon a vehicle's windows may be unsafe and displaying them on the surface of the vehicle may cause damage to the finish.
  • Various devices have been proposed in the art for inserting pictures into a vehicle wheel hubcap so that the picture may be viewable as the vehicle is driven. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices and proposals are not useful for many varieties of vehicle wheels, are not user-friendly for interchanging picture inserts, or do not provide appropriate lighting for various ambient lighting situations.
  • a hubcap device into which desired pictures or images may be inserted interchangeably for attachment to vehicle wheel. Further, it would be desirable to have a hubcap device having a backlighting feature so that the picture may be viewed in dim or dark lighting conditions. Still further, it would be desirable to have a hubcap device that spins upon vehicle motion and varies the spinning and lighting features depending on motion and ambient lighting conditions.
  • a hubcap device for use with a wheel includes a base and at least one fastener for coupling the base to the wheel.
  • a cover may be removably coupled to the base and may be partially transparent in construction.
  • the hubcap device includes a spinner member between the base and the cover, the spinner member having a light element and being rotatably coupled to at least one of the base or the cover.
  • the hubcap device includes a battery for powering the light element and a processor for actuating the light element.
  • An insert is removably coupled to the cover, the spinners member being positioned between the insert and the base.
  • the hubcap device may include a photocell in communication with the processor to provide the processor with data corresponding to ambient light conditions, and wherein the processor includes programming to actuate the light element only in predetermined light conditions.
  • the hubcap device may include an optical interrupter coupled to the base or the cover. It may also include an optical sensor coupled to the spinner member to measure a rotational speed of the spinner member relative to a rotational speed of the base by detecting the optical interrupter, the optical sensor providing a relative rotational speed measurement to the processor.
  • the processor includes programming to actuate the light element only upon receiving predetermined relative rotational speed measurements.
  • a general object of this invention is to provide a hubcap device for use with a vehicle wheel for displaying a picture or image.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a hubcap device, as aforesaid, in which the picture spins during vehicle motion.
  • Still another object of this invention is to provide a hubcap device, as aforesaid, in which the picture is illuminated when predetermined ambient lighting conditions are detected.
  • Yet another object of this invention is to provide a hubcap device, as aforesaid, that may be removably attached to an automobile wheel.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a hubcap device, as aforesaid, in which the intensity of the light is increased with an increase in the rotational speed of the wheel.
  • a still further object of this invention is to provide a hubcap device, as aforesaid, that is user-friendly to use and cost effective to manufacturer.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hubcap device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the hubcap device as in Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3a is a top view of the hubcap device as in Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 3b is a sectional view taken along line 3b- 3b of Fig. 3a;
  • Fig. 3c is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from Fig. 3b;
  • Fig. 4a is a top view of a spinner device of the hubcap device as in Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 4b is sectional view taken along line 4b-4b of Fig. 4a;
  • Fig. 5a is a perspective view of the hubcap device attached to a wheel;
  • Fig. 5b is a top view of the hubcap device and wheel as in Fig. 5b;
  • Fig. 5c is a sectional view taken along line 5c- 5c of Fig. 5b;
  • Fig. 5d is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from Fig. 5c;
  • Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the electronic components of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
  • a hubcap device 100 for use with a wheel 10 includes a base 110, a cover
  • the base 110 may have a configuration that allows the base 110 to generally cover the wheel 10 when placed adjacent the wheel 10.
  • the base 110 may be constructed of any appropriate material, such as metal or plastic, for example, any may be any color. It is currently preferred that the base 110 be white or another reflective color for reasons discussed below, though other colors would also be appropriate.
  • Means for attaching the base 110 to the wheel 10 are included. More particularly, at least one fastener may couple the base 110 to the wheel 10.
  • a fastener that does not require a special wheel 10 and that does not damage the wheel 10 may be preferred, though other fasteners could alternately, or additionally, be used.
  • Appropriate fasteners include, for example, the clips 115, bolts, threads, adhesive, and welding.
  • the cover 120 is coupled to the base 110 in either a permanent or removable manner.
  • the cover 120 may, for example, be resilient and have a configuration that is complementary to a configuration of the base 110 so that the cover 120 effectively "snaps" inside the base 110.
  • the cover 120 may be at least partially transparent and may be constructed of a scratch- resistant clear plastic or any other appropriate material.
  • an insert 125 having indicia may be removably coupled to the cover 120.
  • the insert 125 may be at least partially transparent and may be constructed of a translucent plastic or any other appropriate material. Including multiple inserts 125 may allow the indicia to be inexpensively changed by replacing one insert 125 with another having different indicia.
  • the cover 120 may include indicia that will be backlit as further discussed below.
  • Figs. 2, 4a, 4b, and 5c show the spinner member 130.
  • the spinner member 130 is between the base 110 and the cover 120 (and between the base 110 and the insert 125 if the insert 125 is utilized).
  • the spinner member 130 has an axis of rotation 135 and may include a plurality of arms 132 radiating outwardly from the axis of rotation 135, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4a.
  • the spinner member 130 is rotatably coupled to the base 110 and/or the cover 120, and a bearing 134 (Fig.
  • Fig. 2 shows the spinner member 130 rotatably coupled to the base 110 along the axis of rotation 135 utilizing the bearing 134.
  • a light element 136 (e.g., a LED, an incandescent light bulb, a fluorescent light, etc.) may be included with the spinner member 130.
  • the hubcap device 100 shown in Figs. 2 and 4a has three light elements 136 consisting of LED 136a arrays coupled to the spinner arms 132 so that the LED arrays radiate outwardly along with the arms 132. As shown in Figs.
  • a battery 140 is included to power the light element(s) 136, and a processor 142 is included to actuate the light element(s) 136.
  • the battery 140 and the processor 142 may be coupled to the spinner member 130, as also shown in Figs. 2 and 6.
  • a photocell 144 may be in communication with the processor 142 to actuate the light element(s) 136 only in predetermined light conditions. More particularly, the photocell 144 may provide the processor 142 with data corresponding to light conditions (i.e., ambient light conditions), and the processor 142 may include programming to actuate the light element(s) 136 only in predetermined light conditions. For example, the processor may not actuate the light element(s) 136 in daylight or in otherwise light environments.
  • Means for measuring a rotational speed of the spinner member 130 relative to a rotational speed of the base 110 and providing a measurement to the processor 142 may be included, and the processor 142 may include programming to actuate the light element(s) 136 only upon receiving predetermined measurements (i.e., predetermined relative rotational speed measurements).
  • predetermined measurements i.e., predetermined relative rotational speed measurements.
  • an optical interrupter 146 may be coupled to the base 110 and/or the cover 120
  • an optical sensor 148 may be coupled to the spinner member 130 to measure the rotational speed of the spinner member 130 relative to the rotational speed of the base 110 by detecting the optical interrupter 146. The optical sensor 148 may then provide the relative rotational speed measurement to the processor.
  • an insert 125 may be coupled to the cover 120, and the cover 120 may be coupled to the base 110, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3c and discussed above.
  • the base 110 may be coupled to the wheel 10, such as by the clips 115 as shown in Fig. 5d.
  • the processor 142 may actuate the light element(s) 136 to backlight the indicia on the insert 125. If the insert 125 is not used, indicia on the cover 120 may be backlit. Coloring the base 110 white or another reflective color as noted above may increase the intensity of the light from the light element(s) 136 that exits the cover 120.
  • the photocell 144 may provide the processor 142 with data corresponding to ambient light conditions, and the processor 142 may utilize that data to actuate the light element(s) 136 only when the amount of ambient light is below a predetermined threshold.
  • the processor 142 may actuate the light element(s) 136 only when the spinner member 130 rotates relative to the base 110 at predetermined speeds. Relative rotational speed may be determined by the optical sensor 148 as set forth above. When the wheel 10 attached to the hubcap device 100 begins rotating, the spinner member 130 may remain relative stationary, which causes the relative rotational speed measurement to increase. Eventually, the spinner member 130 may rotate at the same or nearly the same speed as the wheel 10 (such as when the vehicle is traveling at a constant speed on a highway), which decreases the relative rotational speed measurement.
  • the processor 142 may, for example, actuate the light element(s) 136 only during predetermined rotational speeds (including predetermined changes in rotational speeds) that generally correspond to the vehicle accelerating and decelerating; this may conserve the battery 140 by keeping the light element(s) 136 from being actuated when a vehicle is traveling at a constant speed on a highway or parked for extended periods of time. It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Force Measurement Appropriate To Specific Purposes (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif d'enjoliveur (100) destiné à être utilisé avec une roue (10) et comprenant une base (110) et une fixation pour coupler la base (110) à la roue (10). Le dispositif d'enjoliveur (100) comprend un élément tournant (130) entre la base (110) et le couvercle (120), l'élément tournant (130) comportant un élément lumineux (136). Le dispositif d'enjoliveur (100) comprend une batterie (140) pour alimenter l'élément lumineux (136) et un processeur (142) pour actionner l'élément lumineux (136). Un insert (125) est couplé de façon amovible au couvercle (120), l'élément tournant (130) étant positionné entre l'insert (125) et la base (110). Le dispositif d'enjoliveur (100) peut comprendre une cellule photoélectrique (144) en communication avec le processeur (142), le processeur (142) comprenant une programmation pour actionner l'élément lumineux (136) dans des conditions lumineuses prédéterminées. Le dispositif (100) comprend un capteur optique (148) couplé à l'élément tournant (130) pour mesurer une vitesse de rotation de l'élément tournant (130) par rapport à une vitesse de rotation de la base (110), le capteur optique (148) fournissant une mesure de vitesse rotationnelle relative audit processeur (142).
PCT/US2009/034279 2009-02-17 2009-02-17 Dispositif d'enjoliveur WO2010096050A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2009/034279 WO2010096050A1 (fr) 2009-02-17 2009-02-17 Dispositif d'enjoliveur

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2009/034279 WO2010096050A1 (fr) 2009-02-17 2009-02-17 Dispositif d'enjoliveur

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010096050A1 true WO2010096050A1 (fr) 2010-08-26

Family

ID=42634125

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2009/034279 WO2010096050A1 (fr) 2009-02-17 2009-02-17 Dispositif d'enjoliveur

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2010096050A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3225420A1 (fr) * 2016-03-31 2017-10-04 JOST-Werke Deutschland GmbH Moyeu de véhicule utilitaire comprenant un enjoliveur de roue en plusieurs parties

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4214683A (en) * 1978-11-14 1980-07-29 Tale-Lite Systems, Inc. Illuminated wheel cover
US4562516A (en) * 1985-01-28 1985-12-31 Chastain Edward H Illuminating spinner
US5392200A (en) * 1993-01-26 1995-02-21 Milde; Marcus K. Circuit for providing illumination on a motor vehicle wheel
US6116762A (en) * 1998-03-02 2000-09-12 Fhk, Inc. Hubcap with decorative lighting
US20040075332A1 (en) * 2002-07-24 2004-04-22 Good Lawrence D. One way free spinning hubcap
US20050099820A1 (en) * 2003-11-12 2005-05-12 Cooper William G. Wheel illumination device
US20070002575A1 (en) * 2005-06-30 2007-01-04 Han-Chung Chiang Self-sufficient energy lighting device
US20080001467A1 (en) * 2003-09-08 2008-01-03 Stuart Gilly Wheel spinner assembly

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4214683A (en) * 1978-11-14 1980-07-29 Tale-Lite Systems, Inc. Illuminated wheel cover
US4562516A (en) * 1985-01-28 1985-12-31 Chastain Edward H Illuminating spinner
US5392200A (en) * 1993-01-26 1995-02-21 Milde; Marcus K. Circuit for providing illumination on a motor vehicle wheel
US6116762A (en) * 1998-03-02 2000-09-12 Fhk, Inc. Hubcap with decorative lighting
US20040075332A1 (en) * 2002-07-24 2004-04-22 Good Lawrence D. One way free spinning hubcap
US20080001467A1 (en) * 2003-09-08 2008-01-03 Stuart Gilly Wheel spinner assembly
US20050099820A1 (en) * 2003-11-12 2005-05-12 Cooper William G. Wheel illumination device
US20070002575A1 (en) * 2005-06-30 2007-01-04 Han-Chung Chiang Self-sufficient energy lighting device

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3225420A1 (fr) * 2016-03-31 2017-10-04 JOST-Werke Deutschland GmbH Moyeu de véhicule utilitaire comprenant un enjoliveur de roue en plusieurs parties

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