Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus and method of using same

• US 6,206,479 B1
• Filed: 06/09/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coyote Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Coyote Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Kiesel, Corey, Jackman, Douglas S., Fuller, Russell S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LONG B
• Application Number:
  US09/328,556
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 301/108.1, 301/35.63, 301/35.58, 301/35.55, 301/111, 301/37.21, 301/115, 301/108.5, 403/13
• US Class Current: 301/108.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/0013 Hub caps
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/04 built-up of several main parts B60B7/01, B60B7/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/08 having gripping elements consisting of formations integral with the cover

Abstract

Hub centric truck wheel cap apparatus including a cup shaped cap having a cylindrical wall configured with radially through windows. A set of spacer rings having lugs of different radial depths are provided for mating with the cap and projecting through such windows to form spacers in the annulus between selected wheels of different center bore diameters and a centering shoulder on a truck hub.

Claims

1. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus engaging an axially inwardly facing retainer surface in an annulus formed between a center bore of a truck wheel having an axially inwardly facing retainer surface and a truck hub and comprising:

an axially projecting cylindrical cup shaped hub cap formed on its axial inner extremity with at least one radially outwardly turned cap retainer flange for engaging behind said retainer surface, said cap further including radial clearance windows spaced circumferentially thereabout; and

a spacer ring constructed to be removably received in concentric relationship with said cap, said ring formed on its outer diameter with a retainer for retaining said ring in axial spaced relationship relative to said wheel, and spacer lugs spaced circumferentially therearound for receipt in said annulus for projecting radially through said windows and formed with respective radially outwardly facing bearing facets to engage with said axially inwardly facing retainer surface in said bore.

2. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said cap is constructed of plastic.

3. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said cap is formed on its axially inner end with radially out turned flanges to engage behind said wheel.

4. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said spacer ring is configured to be received telescopically in said cap.

5. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said cap is formed with a plurality of retainer fingers spaced circumferentially thereabout to be formed therebetween with said windows, said fingers being formed on their respective axially inner extremities with flange segments cooperating to form said retainer flange.

6. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said spacer ring is constructed of metal.

7. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said cap is configured with a plurality of retainer cap flange segments spaced equidistant therearound and spaced annularly apart to form therebetween clearance openings; and

said spacer ring includes a plurality of ring retainer flange segments interposed between the said cap flange segments.

8. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said retainer cap is constructed such that said retainer flange is frusto conically shaped, resembling a truncated cone.

9. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said ring is formed on its radial exterior with axial splines spaced radially apart to form therebetween axial key ways; and

said cap is formed with axial fingers configured for complemental receipt in the respective said key ways.

10. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said lugs are formed with said bearing surfaces configured to form sectors of a circle having a diameter of substantially 3.70 inches.

11. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said lugs are formed with said bearing surfaces configured to form sectors of a circle having a diameter of substantially 4.24 inches.

12. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said lugs are formed with said bearing surfaces configured to form sectors of a circle having a diameter of substantially 5.14 inches.

13. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said cap includes a plurality of retainer fingers having axial outer extremities spaced equidistant thereabout to form therebetween said windows and including at said axially outer extremities of the said respective retainer fingers respective retainer flange segments to be received against said retainer surface.

14. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus of claim 13 wherein:

said spacer ring is formed with splines received in said windows.

15. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus of claim 1 for mounting truck wheel of the type that includes a chamfer on the back side of said bore and wherein:

said retainer is configured to complementally engage said chamfer.

16. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus of claim 7 for use in mounting said wheel of the type that includes a chamfer on the back side of said bore and wherein:

said cap and ring retainer segments are configured to complement the shape of said chamfer and are formed to be received therebehind.

17. A method of mounting a truck hub having a center bore of a predetermined diameter to a hub having a centering shoulder of a selected diameter smaller than said predetermined diameter and including:

selecting a hub cap for covering said hub and configured to project inwardly through said bore and formed with at least one radially outwardly projecting retainer flange;

selecting a retainer ring configured to be mated with said cap and having radially projecting splines configured to be received in said windows positioned in the annulus formed between said shoulder and said bore to center a wheel on said shoulder;

mating said selected spacer ring with said cap; and

assembling said cap on said wheel by pushing said cap through said bore.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 that includes:

selecting said cap constructed of plastic.

19. A method as set forth in claim 17 that includes:

selecting a set of said spacer rings constructed for mating with said cap and with selected wheels having selected different center bore diameters.

20. A method as set forth in claim 17 that includes:

selecting said cap and spacer ring each formed with retainer flanges and that include;

positioning said retainer flanges on a chamfer on the axially inner side of said bore.

21. A method as set forth in claim 17 which includes:

machining said retainer ring to a radial dimension closely fitting said annulus between said shoulder and said bore.

22. Hub centric truck wheel spacer ring for mating with a cylindrical cup shaped hub cap, said hub cap being formed on its axial inner extremity with at least one radially outwardly turned cap retainer flange for engaging behind a chamfer and having radial clearance windows spaced circumferentially thereabout to engage in an annulus formed between the center bore of a truck wheel having an axially inwardly facing chamfer and the hub of said truck wheel and comprising:

a spacer ring constructed to be removably received in concentric relationship with said cap, said ring formed on its axially outer end with a retainer for retaining said ring in axial spaced relationship relative to said wheels, and spacer lugs spaced circumferentially therearound for receipt in said annulus for projecting radially through said windows and formed with respective radially outwardly facing bearing facets to engage with said axially inwardly facing retainer surface in said bore.

23. Hub centric truck wheel cap and spacer apparatus comprising:

a truck wheel formed with a center bore for receipt of a truck hub to cooperate in forming an annulus and configured with an axially inwardly facing chamfer circumscribing said bore and formed with an axially inwardly facing retainer surface;

an axially projecting cylindrical cup shaped hub cap formed on its axial inner extremity with a radially outwardly turned cap retainer flange for engaging behind said chamfer, said cap further including radial clearance windows spaced circumferentially thereabout; and

an axially elongated spacer ring constructed to be removably received in concentric relationship with said cap, said ring formed on its axially inner end with a retainer for retaining said ring in axial spaced relationship relative to said wheel and spacer lugs spaced circumferentially therearound for receipt in said annulus for projecting radially through said windows and formed with respective radially outwardly facing bearing facets to engage with said axially inwardly facing retainer surface.