Hubcap with decorative lighting

• US 6,116,762 A
• Filed: 03/02/1998
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FHK, Inc. (Access Industries, Inc. (New York))
• Original Assignee: FHK, Inc. (Access Industries, Inc. (New York))
• Inventors: Kutlucinar, Iskender V.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zeade, Bertrand
• Application Number:
  US09/033,935
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 362/500, 362/545, 362/800, 362/802, 362/226, 429/96, 429/100, 429/163
• US Class Current: 362/500
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/326 on or for wheels

Abstract

A hubcap assembly having a hubcap for installation onto a wheel. The hubcap having an exterior surface provided with a central recess having first and second grooves on opposite sides of the central recess. The hubcap is also provided with openings with lights positioned thereunder. The plurality of lights are electrically connected to the first and second grooves. A battery pack engagable with and removable from the central recess is provided for supplying power to the plurality of lights. The battery pack has a housing provided with a first and second opening on opposite sides of the housing. First and second open cavities are formed on a top surface of the housing. A battery is secured inside of the housing. First and second electrodes are electrically connected to the battery. The first electrode extending through the first opening and the second electrode extending through the second opening. The first and second electrodes are biased so as to retractably extend from the housing to engage the first and second grooves, respectively, in the central recess in the hubcap to provide power to said plurality of lights. A first handle is slidably positioned in the first cavity. The first electrode extends through and cooperates with the first handle such that the first handle is biased toward an outside edge of the housing. The second handle is slidably positioned in the second cavity. The second electrode extends through and cooperates with the second handle such that the second handle is biased toward an outside edge of the housing.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising:

a housing provided with a first and second opening on opposite sides of said housing;

a battery secured inside of said housing; and

first and second electrodes connected to said battery, said first electrode extending through the first opening and said second electrode extending through the second opening, said first and second electrodes being biased so as to retractably extend from said housing.

2. A battery pack, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing is provided with first and second open cavities on a top surface thereof and wherein the battery pack further comprises:

a first handle slidably positioned in said first cavity, said first electrode extending through and cooperating with said first handle such that said first handle is biased toward an outside edge of said housing; and

a second handle slidably positioned in said second cavity, said second electrode extending through and cooperating with said second handle such that said second handle is biased toward an outside edge of said housing.

3. A battery pack, as set forth in claim 1, wherein, said first and second electrodes extend from said housing angled toward the top surface of said housing.

4. A hubcap assembly comprising:

a hubcap for installation onto a wheel, said hubcap having an exterior surface provided with a central recess and a plurality of openings;

a plurality of lights positioned under said plurality of openings; and

a battery pack engagable with and removable from the central recess for supplying power to said plurality of lights, said battery pack being removable while said hubcap is installed on the wheel.

5. A hubcap assembly, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the central recess on said hubcap is provided with first and second grooves on opposite sides of the central recess;

and wherein the battery pack comprises;

a housing provided with first and second openings on opposite sides of said housing;

a battery secured inside of said housing; and

first and second electrodes connected to said battery, said first electrode extending through the first opening and said second electrode extending through the second opening, said first and second electrodes being biased so as to retractably extend from said housing and engage the first and second grooves, respectively, in the central recess in said hubcap.

6. A hubcap assembly, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said housing is provided with first and second open cavities on a top surface thereof and wherein the battery pack further comprises:

a first handle slidably positioned in said first cavity, said first electrode extending through and cooperating with said first handle such that said first handle is biased toward an outside edge of said housing; and

a second handle slidably positioned in said second cavity, said second electrode extending through and cooperating with said second handle such that said second handle is biased toward an outside edge of said housing.

7. A hubcap assembly, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said plurality of lights comprise LEDs.

8. A hubcap assembly, as set forth in claim 4, wherein at least two lights are provided for each of said plurality of openings, each opening having at least two lights of different colors.

9. A hubcap assembly, as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a control circuit which illuminates one light in each opening at one time, the light being illuminated determined by a speed of rotation of said hubcap.

10. A hubcap assembly, as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a motion sensor in communication with the plurality of lights such that the plurality of lights are turned ON when the hubcap is rotating and the plurality of lights are turned OFF when the hubcap is not rotating.

11. A kit for adding decorative lighting to a vehicle, the kit comprising:

at least one hubcap for installation onto the wheels of the vehicle, said hubcap having an exterior surface provided with a plurality of openings;

a plurality of lights, at least one light being positioned under each of said plurality of openings on the at least one hubcap;

wherein the at least one hubcap is provided with a central recess and a battery pack engagable with and removable from the central recess for supplying power to said plurality of lights, said battery pack being removable while said at least one hubcap is installed on the wheel.

12. A kit, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the central recess on said at least one hubcap is provided with first and second grooves on opposite sides of the central recess;

and wherein the battery pack comprises;

a housing provided with first and second openings on opposite sides of said housing;

a battery secured inside of said housing; and

first and second electrodes connected to said battery, said first electrode extending through the first opening and said second electrode extending through the second opening, said first and second electrodes being biased so as to retractably extend from said housing and engage the first and second grooves in the central recess in said hubcap.

13. A hubcap kit, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said housing is provided with first and second open cavities on a top surface thereof and wherein the battery pack further comprises:

a first handle slidably positioned in said first cavity, said first electrode extending through and cooperating with said first handle such that said first handle is biased toward an outside edge of said housing; and

a second handle slidably positioned in said second cavity, said second electrode extending through and cooperating with said second handle such that said second handle is biased toward an outside edge of said housing.

14. A hubcap kit, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said battery pack is provided with a rechargeable battery, said hubcap kit further comprising:

a charging station which receives said battery pack and performs a recharging operation thereon.

15. A hubcap kit, as set forth in claim 11, wherein each of said hubcaps is provided with central recess and a battery pack engagable with and removable from the central recess for supplying power to the lights from among said plurality of lights positioned on the hubcap to which the battery pack is engaged.

16. A hubcap kit, as set forth in claim 11, wherein at least two lights are provided for each of said plurality of openings, each opening having at least two lights of different colors.

17. A hubcap kit, as set forth in claim 16, wherein only one light is illuminated in each opening at one time, the light being illuminated is determined by the speed of rotation of said hubcap.

20. A kit, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the vehicle is an automobile.

18. A hubcap assembly comprising:

a hubcap for installation onto a wheel, said hubcap having an exterior surface provided with a central recess provided with first and second grooves on opposite sides of the central recess, said hubcap being provided with a plurality of openings;

a plurality of lights positioned under said plurality of openings, said plurality of lights being electrically connected to the first and second grooves; and

a battery pack engagable with and removable from the central recess for supplying power to said plurality of lights, said battery pack comprises;

a housing provided with a first and second opening on opposite sides of said housing and first and second open cavities on a top surface thereof;

a battery secured inside of said housing;

first and second electrodes electrically connected to said battery, said first electrode extending through the first opening and said second electrode extending through the second opening, said first and second electrodes being biased so as to retractably extend from said housing and engage the first and second grooves, respectively, in the central recess in said hubcap to provide power to said plurality of lights;

a first handle slidably positioned in said first cavity, said first electrode extending through and cooperating with said first handle such that said first handle is biased toward an outside edge of said housing; and

a second handle slidably positioned in said second cavity, said second electrode extending through and cooperating with said second handle such that said second handle is biased toward an outside edge of said housing.

19. A lighted wheel comprising:

an exterior surface provided with a central recess and a plurality of openings;

a plurality of lights positioned under said plurality of openings;

a battery pack engagable with and removable from the central recess for supplying power to said plurality of lights, said battery pack being removable from the exterior surface.