Wheel cover assembly and method of mounting

• US 9,511,624 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2016
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RealWheels Corporation
• Original Assignee: RealWheels Corporation
• Inventors: Polka, John
• Primary Examiner(s): FOLLMAN, BRODIE J
• Application Number:
  US15/005,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20160193870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/1216 due to air-drag
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/0073 being completely closed, i.e. having no cooling openings for the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/04 built-up of several main parts B60B7/01, B60B7/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/066 to the hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/068 to the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/14 comprising screw-threaded means
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 29/06 Accessories for tyre-inflating valves, e.g. housings, guards, covers for valve caps, locks, not otherwise provided for B60C23/0496 takes precedence; tools for screwing and unscrewing valve caps B25B27/0057; pump connectors F04B33/005
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49542 with means for retaining trim member on wheel

Abstract

The present invention relates to attaching aerodynamic wheel covers to the wheel of a truck or other heavy duty vehicle, and to a method of installation that does not require the removal of the nuts retaining the wheel to the hub of the axle and allows the air pressure of tires on such wheels to be easily adjusted.

Claims

1. A cover for covering a wheel of a vehicle, the vehicle having a hub surrounded by a plurality of parallel spaced studs, each of the studs having a longitudinal axis and there being a fixed distance between adjacent ones of the longitudinal axes, the wheel having a web with a plurality of holes therein for receiving the studs and a nut threaded on each of the studs to retain the wheel to the hub, the cover comprising:

a first retainer member having a planar portion for contacting one of the parallel spaced studs, the planar portion having a surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stud while in contact with the parallel spaced studs;

a second retainer member having a planar portion for contacting one of the parallel spaced studs, the planar portion having a surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stud while in contact with the parallel spaced studs;

a connecting member spanning the first and second retainer members, the connecting member including a first air valve extension and a second air valve extension both positioned on the connecting member;

a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm both extending from the connecting member; and

an adjustment member for adjusting the relative position of the connecting member with respect to the first and second retainer members.

2. The cover of claim 1 including a member for rigidly locking and unlocking the connecting member to the first and second retainer members.

3. The cover of claim 2 wherein the locking member is a threaded fastener and a nut.

4. The cover of claim 1 wherein the first air valve extension is attached to the first mounting arm.

5. The cover of claim 1 wherein the second air valve extension is attached to the second mounting arm.

6. The cover of claim 4 wherein the first air valve extension is attached to the first mounting arm through a threaded connection.

7. The cover of claim 5 wherein the second air valve extension is attached to the second mounting arm through a threaded connection.