Device for Maintaining the Orientation of an Emblem in an Automobile Wheel

• US 20150183266A1
• Filed: 07/19/2012
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zanini Auto Grup, S.A.
• Original Assignee: Zanini Auto Grup, S.A.
• Inventors: Hernandez Perdomo, Wilmar, Mayer Pujadas, Augusto, Sanahuja Clot, Jose, Fernandez Sanchez, Eduardo
• Granted Patent: US 9,694,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/571 Visibility
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/572 Visual appearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/20 having an element mounted for rotation independently of wheel rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/326 on or for wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/10 Road Vehicles

Abstract

The device for maintaining the orientation of an emblem (13) in an automobile wheel comprises means for maintaining said emblem in a substantially vertical orientation and is characterized in that said means for maintaining said emblem (13) in a substantially vertical orientation comprise:

• • detection means (15) for detecting the orientation of said emblem (13); and
  • a motor (14) provided with an output shaft (17), which output shaft (17) of the motor (14) rotates integrally with said emblem (13), such that said motor (14) rotates said emblem (13) to place it in its substantially vertical orientation depending on the orientation of the emblem detected by means of said detection means (15).

It allows modifying the orientation of the emblem in the case of automobile acceleration or deceleration almost instantaneously, such that the emblem appears to be substantially fixed.

Claims

1. Device for maintaining the orientation of an emblem in an automobile wheel, comprising means for maintaining said emblem in a substantially vertical orientation, characterized in that said means for maintaining said emblem in a substantially vertical orientation comprise:

detection means for detecting the orientation of said emblem; and

a motor provided with an output shaft, which output shaft of the motor rotates integrally with said emblem, such that said motor rotates said emblem to place it in its substantially vertical orientation depending on the orientation of the emblem detected by means of said detection means.

2. Device for maintaining the orientation of an emblem in an automobile wheel according to claim 1, wherein said motor is a servomotor.

3. Device for maintaining the orientation of an emblem in an automobile wheel according to claim 1, wherein said detection means for detecting the orientation of said emblem are two accelerometers.

4. Device for maintaining the orientation of an emblem in an automobile wheel according to claim 3, wherein said accelerometers are located with their measuring surfaces opposite one another.

5. Device for maintaining the orientation of an emblem in an automobile wheel according to claim 1, wherein said motor is fed by means of at least one battery.

6. Device for maintaining the orientation of an emblem in an automobile wheel according to claim 5, wherein said motor is also fed by means of an alternator linked to the automobile wheel.

7. Device for maintaining the orientation of an emblem in an automobile wheel according to claim 1, also comprising a light-emitting diode to light up the emblem.

8. Device for maintaining the orientation of an emblem in an automobile wheel according to claim 7, wherein said light-emitting diode is connected to a light-sensitive photodiode.

9. Device for maintaining the orientation of an emblem in an automobile wheel according to claim 1, wherein said motor comprises detection means for detecting the rotation of the output shaft of the motor.

10. Device for maintaining the orientation of an emblem in an automobile wheel according to claim 6, wherein said alternator comprises a rotor which rotates integrally with the axle of the automobile wheel by means of a gear and a crown wheel.

11. Device for maintaining the orientation of an emblem in an automobile wheel according to claim 5, wherein said motor and said at least one battery are housed inside a casing, said at least one battery being placed below said motor.

12. Device for maintaining the orientation of an emblem in an automobile wheel according to claim 9, wherein said detection means for detecting the rotation of the output shaft of the motor comprise an encoder or a potentiometer.