Brake caliper cover

• US 9,278,498 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Collura, Samuel F.
• Original Assignee: Collura, Samuel F.
• Inventors: Collura, Samuel F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siconolfi, Robert A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Poon, Charles
• Application Number:
  US13/272,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20130095278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,608 Days
• Field of Search: 188/218.A, 188/73.46, 188/73.47, D12/180
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/06 for securing layers together; for attaching the product to another member, e.g. to a support , or to another product, e.g. groove/tongue, interlocking
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2055/002 assembled from a plurality of parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2055/0037 Protective covers
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 55/225 the braking members being brake pads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24008 including fastener for attaching to external surface

Abstract

A brake caliper cover system for existing brake caliper assembly in a vehicle. The brake caliper cover system has a front cover and a back cover. The front cover and back cover are disposed on the front and back sides of a brake caliper assembly, respectively. The front cover and back cover are fastened together about the brake caliper assembly.

Claims

1. A brake caliper cover system for a disc brake system having a brake caliper assembly positioned about a brake disc, the brake disc is at least partially uncovered, the brake caliper assembly having a front side and a back side, the brake caliper cover system comprising:

a front brake caliper cover having an inner surface, the inner surface configured to cover at least a front surface of the front side of the brake caliper assembly; and

a back brake caliper cover configured to cover at least a back surface of the back side of the brake caliper assembly, the back brake caliper cover completely seperatable from the front brake caliper cover, the back brake caliper cover joins with the front brake caliper cover along a spine side of the brake caliper assembly, the front brake caliper cover and the back brake caliper cover, when joined, surround the brake caliper assembly and leave the brake disc at least partially uncovered;

the back brake caliper cover supported at least by contact with one or more non-moving portions of the back surface of the back side of the brake caliper assembly and a connection to the front brake caliper cover when the front brake caliper cover is in contact with a non-moving portion of the front side of the brake caliper assembly;

at least two fasteners extending between and releaseably connecting the front brake caliper cover and the back brake caliper cover, the at least two fasteners located at opposite ends of the front brake caliper cover and the back brake caliper cover;

an operating space is defined between the front and back brake caliper covers allowing a moving portion of the brake caliper assembly to move within the operating space;

at least a first disc opening and a disc second opening configured to allow the brake disc to rotate through at least a portion of the brake caliper assembly and through the operating space.

2. The brake caliper cover system of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the front brake caliper cover comprises a cushioning layer.

3. The brake caliper cover system of claim 2, wherein the cushioning layer is a vibration dampening layer.

4. The brake caliper cover system of claim 1, wherein the at least two fasteners are bolts.

5. The brake caliper cover system of claim 1, wherein the front brake caliper cover encloses at least a front side and a spine side of a caliper housing of the caliper assembly, at least a front side and a spine side of a brake bracket of the caliper assembly.

6. The brake caliper cover system of claim 1, wherein the front brake caliper cover is configured to simulate a brake system that is different from the disc brake system on which the brake caliper cover system is installed.

7. The brake caliper cover system of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the front brake caliper cover is configured to complement a contour of at least a portion of a caliper housing of the caliper assembly and at least a portion of a brake bracket of the caliper assembly.

8. The brake caliper cover system of claim 1, wherein the back brake caliper cover comprises a recessed edge portion, a portion of the front brake caliper cover in contact with the back brake caliper cover fits over the recessed edge portion.

9. The brake caliper cover system of claim 1, wherein the front brake caliper cover extends to enclose at least a portion of the spine side of the caliper assembly.

10. The brake caliper cover system of claim 1, wherein the back brake caliper cover has an edge which defines an opening to allow a portion of the brake caliper assembly to protrude beyond the back brake caliper cover, the edge contours around the protruding portion of the brake caliper assembly.

11. The brake caliper cover system of claim 10, wherein a first end of the edge extends into a first lip extension, and a second end of the edge extends into a second lip extension, said first lip extension fits around a first portion of the spine side of the caliper assembly, and said second lip extension fits around a opposite second portion of the spine side of the caliper assembly.

12. The brake caliper cover system of claim 1, wherein the front brake caliper cover comprises one or more sidewalls forming a front cavity;

the back brake caliper cover comprises one or more sidewalls forming a back cavity;

the front and back cavities configured to form the operating space to at least partially enclose the brake caliper assembly when the front brake caliper cover and the back brake caliper cover are joined along the spine side of the brake caliper assembly.

13. The brake caliper cover system of claim 1, wherein the at least two fasteners extend transversely across the brake disc from the front brake caliper cover to the back brake caliper cover.

14. The brake caliper cover system of claim 13, wherein each of the front and back brake caliper covers have a first fastener region and an opposite second fastener region, the first and second fastener regions configured to be positioned laterally beyond opposite lateral sides of the brake caliper assembly, said fasteners connecting the front and back brake caliper covers in each of the first and second fastener regions of each of the front and back brake caliper covers.

15. The brake caliper cover system of claim 1, wherein

the at least two fasteners extend transversely across the brake disc from the front brake caliper cover to a connection with the back brake caliper cover;

each of the front and back brake caliper covers have a first fastener region and an opposite second fastener region, the first and second fastener regions configured to be positioned laterally beyond opposite lateral sides of the brake caliper assembly, said fasteners connecting the front and back brake caliper covers in each of the first and second fastener regions of each of the front and back brake caliper covers;

the connection of the front brake caliper cover to the back break caliper cover forms an at least partial enclosure to cover the brake caliper assembly, the partial enclosure completely covers the front side of the brake caliper assembly and at least partially covers the spine side of the brake caliper assembly.

16. A brake caliper cover system for a disc brake system having a brake caliper assembly and a rotatable brake disc, the rotatable brake disc is at least partially uncovered, the brake caliper cover system comprising:

a front cover configured to cover at least a front surface of a front side of the brake caliper assembly; and

a back cover configured to mount on at least a back surface of a back side of the brake caliper assembly, the back cover completely seperatable from the front cover, the back cover joins with the front cover along a spine side of the brake caliper assembly, the front cover and the back cover, when joined, surround the brake caliper assembly and leave the brake disc at least partially uncovered;

a portion of the back cover connects with a portion of the front cover along the spine side of the brake caliper assembly

at least one fastener connecting the front cover and the back cover, the at least one fastener configured to draw, when tightened, the front cover in contact with a non-movable portion of a front side of the brake caliper assembly and the back cover in contact with a non-moveable portion of a back side of the brake caliper assembly;

the back cover supported at least by contact with one or more non-moving portions of the back surface of the back side of the brake caliper assembly and a connection to the front cover when the front cover is in contact with a non-moving portion of the front side of the brake caliper assembly;

an operating space is defined between the front and back covers allowing a moving portion of the brake caliper assembly to move within the operating space;

at least a first disc opening and a disc second opening configured to allow the brake disc to rotate through at least a portion of the brake caliper assembly and through the operating space.

17. The brake caliper cover system of claim 16, wherein an inner surface of the front cover comprises a heat resistant vibration dampening layer.

18. A method of covering a front portion of a brake caliper assembly of a disc brake system, comprising the steps of:

supporting a back caliper cover on the brake caliper assembly by contact between the back caliper cover and a non-moving back portion of the brake caliper assembly, the back caliper cover covering at least a portion of a back surface of a back side of the brake caliper assembly;

covering at least a front surface of a front side of the brake caliper assembly with a front caliper cover and leavinge a brake disc outside of the front and back caliper covers at least partially uncovered; and

supporting the front caliper cover by fastening the front caliper cover to the back caliper cover and by drawing the front caliper cover against a non-moving front portion of the brake caliper assembly.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of supporting the back cover comprises the step of placing a plurality of upper support surfaces of the back cover in surface to surface contact with a spine side of the brake caliper assembly.