Support for a hubcap of a wheel of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a support for a hubcap of a wheel of a motor vehicle. The support (2) comprises a base (4) delimited by an inner face (6) facing an outer face (8). The support (2) comprises at least a first means (10) for holding the base (4) to a rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle. The support (2) comprises at least a second means (12, 14) for holding a hubcap to said support (2). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Support for a hubcap of a wheel of a motor vehicle Technical field to which the invention relates

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of the automobile industry and, more specifically, to a device for holding a hubcap on a wheel of a motor vehicle. Technological background

[0002] It is known from the state of the art to use a hubcap to conceal the rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle, when the rim is not aesthetically pleasing.

[0003] To enable the attachment of a hubcap to a rim, the use of attachment tabs extending from the hubcap is proposed, so as to enable said tabs to grip a groove provided for this purpose on the surface of the rim. To ensure adequate retention of the hubcap on the rim, the attachment tabs are surrounded by an elastic metal ring.

[0004] This fixing technique nevertheless has the disadvantage of requiring the presence of a groove on the surface of the rim, to allow the fixing lugs to grip the rim. This therefore implies that during the manufacture of the rim, a groove dedicated to the fixing lugs of the hubcap must be made, or that this groove is created subsequently on an existing rim. The need to create this groove therefore results in significant additional manufacturing costs, whether for the initial production of the rim or for the adaptation of an already existing rim.

[0005] The present invention aims to propose an alternative way of holding a hubcap on a rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle, not requiring any particular adaptations of the rim. Subject of the invention

[0006] For this purpose, the invention proposes a support for a hubcap of a wheel of a motor vehicle. This support is remarkable in that it comprises a base delimited by an inner face opposite an outer face, and the support comprises at least a first means for holding the base to a rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle, and the support comprises at least a second means for holding a hubcap to said support.

[0007] According to the invention, the internal face of the support is intended to face a rim of a wheel for a motor vehicle.

[0008] Advantageously, the support is able to be fixed on a rim of a wheel by the or the first holding means, without requiring any particular adaptation of the rim, and the support comprises one or more second holding means allowing a hubcap to be held on the support.

[0009] The support according to the invention thus allows an alternative way of holding a hubcap on a rim of a car wheel, not requiring adaptations of the rim. As a result, the support according to the invention allows the fixing of a hubcap on a greater number of rims and in a more economical manner.

[0010] According to another embodiment of the invention, at least one first holding means and / or at least one second holding means are reversible type holding means. By the term "reversible" is meant the fact that the holding means are designed to be used temporarily and can be removed without leaving any permanent trace or damage.

[0011] According to another embodiment of the invention, at least one first holding means forms a passage connecting the outer face of the base to its inner face, and the passage is capable of allowing the insertion of a screw, preferably allowing the passage of a screw allowing the holding of a rim to the hub of a motor vehicle. Thus, advantageously, the support according to the invention can easily be mounted on a rim of a wheel, without it being necessary to adapt said rim. In other words, the first holding means(s) are adapted to cooperate with existing means for fixing a rim to a hub of a motor vehicle.

[0012] According to another embodiment of the invention, the external contour of the base forms a circle or substantially a circle. Preferably, the external contour of the base is adapted to fit into a hollow present in the center of a rim.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the invention, the base of the support is hollowed out in its center. This embodiment advantageously makes it possible to reduce the weight of the support.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the invention, at least one second means for holding the support comprises a wall which extends from the outer face of the base, and the wall comprises at least one groove capable of allowing the insertion of one or more fixing lugs of a trim.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the wall delimits a closed contour of cylindrical or substantially cylindrical shape.

[0016] According to another preferred embodiment, the outer face of the base is flat or substantially flat, and the shape delimited by the wall is centered on the base and said shape extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the outer face of the base.

[0017] Preferably, at least one first holding means is present between the wall and the outer contour of the base. This embodiment makes it possible to reduce the number of fixing lugs necessary to ensure that the hubcap is properly held on the support. According to another advantage, the length of the elastic metal ring possibly surrounding the fixing lugs of the hubcap may be shorter than in the prior art described above.

[0018] Of course, the various features, variants and embodiments mentioned above can be combined with each other in various combinations, to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0019] The present invention also relates to a hubcap for a rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one fixing lug capable of gripping a second means for holding a support according to the invention.

[0020] The invention also relates to a rim for a wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising a support as described above. Description of figures

[0021] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to preferred embodiments, given as non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

[0022] [Fig-1] illustrates a perspective view of a support, according to the invention, for a wheel trim of a motor vehicle;

[0023] [Fig.2] illustrates a longitudinal section of the support represented by [Fig.l];

[0024] [Fig.3] illustrates a partial view of a support according to the invention, fixed on a rim for a wheel of a motor vehicle, and allowing a hubcap to be held on said rim. Detailed description of the invention

[0025] As a reminder, the invention proposes an alternative for holding a hubcap on a rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle, not requiring any particular adaptations of the rim.

[0026] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a non-limiting embodiment of a support 2 according to the invention. The support consists of a base 4 delimited by an inner face 6 facing an outer face 8. The inner face 6 is intended to face a rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle.

[0027] Preferably, the outer face 8 is flat or substantially flat. The inner face 6 is parallel or substantially parallel to the outer face 8. The thickness of the base 4, corresponding to the smallest distance between its outer and inner face, is between 2 cm and 10 cm, preferably between 3 cm and 8 cm.

[0028] According to the present example, the outer contour of the base is circular or substantially circular. The base diameter is between 10 cm and 50 cm, preferably between 15 cm and 25 cm.

[0029] Preferably, as illustrated by [Fig.l], the base 4 is hollowed out in its center in order to lighten the weight of the support 2.

[0030] The base comprises several first holding means intended to allow the attachment of said base to a rim. According to the present example, as illustrated by [Fig.2], each first holding means forms a passage 10 connecting the outer face 8 to the inner face 6 of the base. Each passage is capable of allowing the insertion of a screw intended to hold a rim to a hub of a motor vehicle.

[0031] Thus, advantageously, the passages 10 make it possible to easily and quickly fix the support 2 to a rim, by means of nuts holding said rim to a hub of a motor vehicle. In other words, fixing the support 2 to a rim does not require any particular adaptation of the rim.

[0032] The support according to the invention also comprises a second holding means in the form of a wall 12 delimiting a closed contour and of cylindrical shape. More precisely, the wall 12 extends perpendicular to the outer face 8 of the base, and the wall is centered on said base so that the longitudinal axis of the cylinder formed by said wall passes through the center of the base.

[0033] According to the present example, the internal diameter of the cylinder formed by the wall 12 is between 3 cm and 20 cm, preferably between 5 cm and 10 cm. The height of the cylinder measured perpendicular to the external face 8 of the base is between 3 cm and 20 cm, preferably between 5 cm and 15 cm.

[0034] A groove 14 is present at the outer face 8 of the wall. The groove 14 forms a closed contour which is parallel or substantially parallel to the outer face of the base 4. As illustrated by [Fig. 3], when the support 2 is held against a rim 15, the groove 14 has a sufficient depth to allow the insertion of a part of a fixing lug 16 of a hubcap 18. Thus, advantageously, the fixing lugs of a hubcap are held at one end of the wall 12.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment, the fixing lugs 16 are surrounded by an elastic metal ring 20, in order to ensure adequate retention of the trim on the support 2.

[0036] Preferably, the wall 12 and the base 4 form a single piece, made from the same material. By way of non-limiting example, the support 2 may be formed from a metallic element or from a synthetic polymer.

Claims

Claims

1. Support (2) for a hubcap of a wheel of a motor vehicle, characterized in that the support (2) comprises a base (4) delimited by an inner face (6) facing an outer face (8), and in that the support (2) comprises at least a first means (10) for holding the base (4) to a rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle, and in that the support (2) comprises at least a second means (12, 14) for holding a hubcap to said support (2).

2. Support (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one first holding means and / or at least one second holding means are reversible type holding means.

3. Support (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one first holding means forms a passage (10) connecting the outer face (8) of the base (4) to its inner face (6), and in that the passage is capable of allowing the insertion of a screw.

4. Support (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the external contour of the base (4) forms a circle or substantially a circle.

5. Support (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the base (4) is hollowed out in its center.

6. Support (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one second holding means comprises a wall (12) which extends from the outer face (8) of the base (4), and in that the wall comprises at least one groove (14) capable of allowing the insertion of at least one fixing lug of a hubcap.

7. Support (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the wall (12) delimits a closed contour of cylindrical or substantially cylindrical shape.

8. Support (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the outer face (8) of the base (4) is flat or substantially flat, and in that the shape delimited by the wall (12) is centered on the base (4) and extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the outer face (8).

9. Support (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one first holding means (10) is present between the wall and the outer contour of the base (4).

10. Hubcap (18) for a rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle, ca- characterized in that it comprises at least one fixing lug (16) capable of gripping a second holding means (12, 14) of a support (2) according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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