Wheel cover with self generating light arrangement

• US 20040218397A1
• Filed: 10/03/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Xing Wen Luo
• Original Assignee: Xing Wen Luo
• Inventors: Luo, Xing Wen
• Application Number:
  US10/677,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20040218397A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/500
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/006 the surface being reflective or including lighting
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/04 built-up of several main parts B60B7/01, B60B7/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/063 to the rim
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/08 having gripping elements consisting of formations integral with the cover
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/326 on or for wheels

Abstract

A wheel cover includes a cover body having an outer side, an opposed inner side, a holding slot formed on the cover body to communicate the outer side with the inner side, and a plurality of attaching arms extended from the inner side of the cover body for detachably attaching the cover body on the wheel. A self generating light arrangement includes a power generating unit coaxially mounted on the inner side of the cover body, wherein the power generating unit is adapted for self-generating electricity by means of induction when the cover body is rotated with respect to the wheel, and at least an illuminating unit, which is electrically connected with the power generating unit, securely mounted at the holding slot of the cover body in such a manner that when the cover body is driven to rotate, the illuminating unit is activated for providing a light effect.

Claims

1. A wheel cover adapted for mounting on a wheel, comprising:

a cover body having an outer side, an opposed inner side defining a receiving cavity, at least a holding slot formed on said cover body to communicate said outer side with said inner side, and a plurality of attaching arms extended from said inner side of said cover body for detachably attaching said cover body on said wheel; and

a self generating light arrangement, comprising;

a power generating unit comprising a power generator coaxially supported on said inner side of said cover body within said receiving cavity, wherein said power generator comprises a plurality of induction units positioned in a radial manner to define an induction cavity therewithin and a magnet rotatably disposed within said induction cavity such that said cover body is driven to rotate to provide a relatively rotational movement between said induction units and said magnet for self-generating electricity by means of induction when said cover body is rotated with respect to said wheel; and

at least an illuminating unit, which is electrically connected with said power generating unit, securely mounted at said holding slot of said cover body in such a manner that when said cover body is driven to rotate, said illuminating unit is activated for providing a light effect.

2. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 1, wherein said induction units are raidially attached on said inner side of said cover such that when said cover body is driven to rotate, said induction units are rotated around said magnet for generating electricity.

3. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 2, wherein said power generator further comprises a retaining member attached to said magnet for applying a gravity force on said magnet, so as to hold said magnet in a stationary manner within said induction cavity during rotating said induction units.

4. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 2, wherein said power generating unit comprises a protective shelter mounted at a center of said inner side of said cover body to receive said power generator in position, wherein said self generating light arrangement further comprises two electric wires extended from two terminals of said power generator respectively to said illuminating unit on said inner side of said cover body through said protective shelter.

5. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 3, wherein said power generating unit comprises a protective shelter mounted at a center of said inner side of said cover body to receive said power generator in position, wherein said self generating light arrangement further comprises two electric wires extended from two terminals of said power generator respectively to said illuminating unit on said inner side of said cover body through said protective shelter.

6. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 4, wherein said protective shelter further has two guiding grooves respectively aligned with said two terminals of said power generator when said two terminals of said power generator are enclosed within said protective shelter such that said two electric wires are electrically extended from said two terminals of said power generator to said illuminating unit through said two guiding grooves respectively.

7. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 5, wherein said protective shelter further has two guiding grooves respectively aligned with said two terminals of said power generator when said two terminals of said power generator are enclosed within said protective shelter such that said two electric wires are electrically extended from said two terminals of said power generator to said illuminating unit through said two guiding grooves respectively.

8. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 1, wherein said illuminating unit comprises an illuminator securely received in said holding slot of said cover body, wherein said illuminator has a head portion protruded from said outer side of said cover body in such a manner that when said illuminator is activated by said power generating unit, said illuminator is capable of producing said light effect at said outer side of said cover body.

9. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 3, wherein said illuminating unit comprises an illuminator securely received in said holding slot of said cover body, wherein said illuminator has a head portion protruded from said outer side of said cover body in such a manner that when said illuminator is activated by said power generating unit, said illuminator is capable of producing said light effect at said outer side of said cover body.

10. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 7, wherein said illuminating unit comprises an illuminator securely received in said holding slot of said cover body, wherein said illuminator has a head portion protruded from said outer side of said cover body in such a manner that when said illuminator is activated by said power generating unit, said illuminator is capable of producing said light effect at said outer side of said cover body.

11. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 8, wherein said illuminator is a LED having a head portion protruded from said outer side of said cover body.

12. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 9, wherein said illuminator is a LED having a head portion protruded from said outer side of said cover body.

13. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 10, wherein said illuminator is a LED having a head portion protruded from said outer side of said cover body.

14. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 8, wherein said illuminating unit further comprises a reflective housing mounted on said outer side of said cover body at said holding slot thereof to align with said illuminator for reflecting a light from said illuminator.

15. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 10, wherein said illuminating unit further comprises a reflective housing mounted on said outer side of said cover body at said holding slot thereof to align with said illuminator for reflecting a light from said illuminator.

16. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 11, wherein said illuminating unit further comprises a reflective housing mounted on said outer side of said cover body at said holding slot thereof to align with said illuminator for reflecting a light from said illuminator.

17. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 13, wherein said illuminating unit further comprises a reflective housing mounted on said outer side of said cover body at said holding slot thereof to align with said illuminator for reflecting a light from said illuminator.

18. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 14, wherein said reflective housing comprises a semi-spherical reflective cell, having an inner reflective surface, mounted on said outer side of said cover body at said holding slot thereof and a transparent lens mounted on said reflective cell, wherein said illuminator is positioned at a focus point of said reflective cell such that said inner reflective surface of said reflective cell is adapted for reflecting said light from said illuminator to outside through said transparent lens.

19. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 15, wherein said reflective housing comprises a semi-spherical reflective cell, having an inner reflective surface, mounted on said outer side of said cover body at said holding slot thereof and a transparent lens mounted on said reflective cell, wherein said illuminator is positioned at a focus point of said reflective cell such that said inner reflective surface of said reflective cell is adapted for reflecting said light from said illuminator to outside through said transparent lens.

20. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 16, wherein said reflective housing comprises a semi-spherical reflective cell, having an inner reflective surface, mounted on said outer side of said cover body at said holding slot thereof and a transparent lens mounted on said reflective cell, wherein said illuminator is positioned at a focus point of said reflective cell such that said inner reflective surface of said reflective cell is adapted for reflecting said light from said illuminator to outside through said transparent lens.

21. The wheel cover, as recited in claim 17, wherein said reflective housing comprises a semi-spherical reflective cell, having an inner reflective surface, mounted on said outer side of said cover body at said holding slot thereof and a transparent lens mounted on said reflective cell, wherein said illuminator is positioned at a focus point of said reflective cell such that said inner reflective surface of said reflective cell is adapted for reflecting said light from said illuminator to outside through said transparent lens.