Hubcap attachment

• US 4,470,638 A
• Filed: 09/30/1982
• Issued: 09/11/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bartco Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bartco Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Bartylla, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Application Number:
  US06/431,845
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 301/37 P, 301/37 CD, 301/37 C, 301/108 R, 301/108 A, 301/37 S, 301/108 S
• US Class Current: 301/37.34
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/10 comprising a plurality of spaced spring clips individually mounted on the cover, e.g. riveted, welded or readily releasable

Abstract

A hubcap attachment for attaching a hubcap to the axle hub of a vehicle. The attachment comprises a generally circular, rigid base plate, flexible hubcap retaining means carried by the base plate at its periphery for releasably but firmly mounting the hubcap to the base plate, and adjustable hub attachment means. The latter means comprises a generally circular belt tightenable about the circumference of an axle hub. Attachment means are provided to mount the belt generally concentrically of the base plate.

Claims

1. A hubcap attachment for attaching a hubcap to the axle hub of a vehicle, comprising a generally circular, rigid base plate, flexible hubcap retaining means carried by the base plate at its periphery for releaseably but firmly mounting a hubcap to the base plate, adjustable hub attachment means comprising a generally circular belt tightenable about the circumference of an axle hub, and attachment means mounting the belt generally concentrically of the base plate and spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the base plate, the attachment means including a belt-supporting portion extending generally axially from the base plate and bendable, when the belt is tightened, to permit the belt to firmly engage the outer circumference of an axle hub.

2. The attachment of claim 1 wherein the base plate is formed with a central aperture through which the end of an axle hub may extend.

3. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises a plurality of flexible brackets mounted concentrically to the base plate but spaced inwardly from its outer periphery.

4. The attachment of claim 1 in which the belt comprises a metal strap laying in a plane parallel to the plane of the mounting plate.

5. The attachment means of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4 in which the hubcap retaining means comprises a plurality of springy metal fingers arranged about and carried by the periphery of the mounting plate, each finger having a leg portion extending from the base plate and terminating in an outwardly concave portion forming a recess for receiving an inwardly-projecting mounting rim of a hubcap.

6. A hubcap attachment for attaching a hubcap to the axle hub of a vehicle, comprising a generally circular, rigid base plate having a central aperture therein defining an inner concentric rim, hubcap retaining means comprising a plurality of springy metal fingers arranged about and carried by the outer periphery of the mounting plate, each finger having a leg portion terminating in an outwardly concave portion forming a recess for receiving an inwardly projecting mounting rim of a hubcap, a generally circular metal belt tightenable about the circumference of an axle hub, and attachment means mounting the belt generally concentrically of the base plate and comprising a plurality of flexible brackets carried concentrically of the base plate adjacent its inner rim, each bracket having a belt-supporting portion extending generally axially from the base plate and resiliently bendable, when the belt is tightened, to permit the belt to firmly engage the outer circumference of an axle hub.

7. A hubcap attachment for attaching a hubcap to the axle hub of a vehicle, comprising a generally circular rigid base plate, hubcap retaining means carried by the base plate at its periphery for releaseably but firmly mounting a hubcap to the base plate, and adjustable hub attachment means for mounting the hubcap attachment to the axle hub of a vehicle comprising a generally circular belt tightenable about the circumference of an axle hub, and belt attachment means mounting the belt concentrically of the base plate and spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the base plate, the attachment means comprising a plurality of flexible brackets carried concentrically of the base plate but spaced inwardly from its outer periphery, each bracket having a belt-supporting portion extending generally axially from the base plate and bendable, when the belt is tightened, to permit the belt to firmly engage the outer circumference of an axle hub.