A new type of automobile hub cover locking device

Abstract

This utility model relates to the technical field of automotive wheel hubcap locking devices, specifically disclosing a novel automotive wheel hubcap locking device. The device includes a wheel hubcap, a decorative cover on top of the hubcap, and a locking assembly below the hubcap. The locking assembly includes a connecting cover movably positioned above the hubcap, with the decorative cover movably snapped onto the top of the connecting cover. The locking assembly also includes a washer. This utility model provides an automotive wheel hubcap locking device that solves the problems of traditional snap-on wheel hubcaps being prone to wear and loosening after repeated disassembly and reassembly. It adopts a central mechanical locking structure, using a rotating disc to drive the locking claws to radially extend and retract, achieving reliable locking. The locking force is uniform, with strong self-locking properties, vibration resistance, and anti-loosening capabilities. It is reusable, has a built-in elastic buffer structure, and the external decorative cover conceals the driving components, combining safety, durability, and anti-theft features. It effectively prevents the wheel hubcap from falling off during driving, improving reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of automobile wheel hub cover locking devices, specifically a novel automobile wheel hub cover locking device. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of the automotive industry, wheel covers, as an important part of vehicle appearance, not only serve a decorative purpose but also protect the central area of ​​the wheel hub and prevent mud and water from entering. Currently, most wheel covers are installed using a perimeter elastic clip system. These clips quickly engage with grooves on the wheel hub edge, resulting in a simple structure and convenient assembly, and are widely used in various vehicle models.

[0003] In actual operation, existing wheel hub covers usually have buckles around them, which are used to fasten them to the wheel hub. Over time, or after multiple disassemblies and replacements, the product is prone to wear and tear, which can prevent the product from achieving the purpose of locking. As a result, the wheel hub cover can easily fall off during wheel movement. To address this, we propose a new type of automotive wheel hub cover locking device. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a new type of automotive wheel hub cover locking device to solve the problem that, in actual operation, existing wheel hub covers usually have buckles around their perimeter, which are fastened to the wheel hub by the buckles. Over time, or after multiple disassemblies and replacements, the product is prone to wear and tear, resulting in the product failing to achieve a locking effect.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a novel automotive wheel hub cover locking device, comprising a wheel hub cover, a decorative cover disposed on the upper part of the wheel hub cover, and a locking assembly disposed on the lower part of the wheel hub cover. The locking assembly includes a connecting cover, the connecting cover being movably disposed on the upper part of the wheel hub cover, and the decorative cover being movably snapped onto the upper part of the connecting cover.

[0006] The locking assembly also includes washers, which are movably positioned below the hub cap. Several washer base support connecting screws are provided at the top of the connecting cap. The bottom end of the washer base support connecting screws passes through the connecting cap and is threadedly connected to the washer. Several washer spring base support connecting screws are threaded at the top of the washer.

[0007] The bottom end of the washer spring base connecting screw passes through the washer and extends downwards. A base cover is provided below the washer. Several base cover connecting screws are threaded on the top of the base cover. The bottom end of the base cover connecting screw passes through the base cover and extends downwards.

[0008] The bottom thread of the washer spring base support connecting screw is set at the top of the base support cover, and the outer side of the washer spring base support connecting screw is movably sleeved with the top of the washer spring base support and the bottom of the washer.

[0009] The bottom end of the washer base cover is connected to the top end of the spring and movably abuts against the top end of the base cover. A bottom cover is provided below the bottom cover. The bottom end of the bottom cover connecting screw is threaded at the top end of the bottom cover. A turntable is provided above the bottom cover.

[0010] The turntable has a connecting rod at its top, a hexagonal hole at its top, a threaded groove at its top, and four slots at the top of the bottom cover. Turntable locking claws are movably installed inside the slots, and each turntable locking claw has a downwardly extending sliding column at its bottom.

[0011] This utility model has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0012] This device employs a central mechanical locking method, using a rotary drive to achieve radial extension and retraction of the locking claws. The user simply inserts an Allen wrench into the hexagonal hole at the center of the turntable and rotates it, causing the internal sliding mechanism to move and push multiple locking claws outwards synchronously, securely engaging in the positioning groove at the center of the wheel hub, forming a reliable mechanical engagement. This structure avoids stress concentration issues associated with edge locking, ensuring even distribution of locking force, strong self-locking, and stable performance with repeated use. Simultaneously, the device incorporates a built-in elastic buffer structure that automatically compensates for gaps during driving vibrations, preventing loosening. A decorative cover conceals the drive components, combining aesthetics and anti-theft functionality. The overall structure is modular, ensuring reliable installation and easy disassembly. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0014] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall exploded structure of this utility model;

[0015] Figure 3 This is an enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point A of this utility model;

[0016] Figure 4 This is an enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point B of this utility model.

[0017] In the diagram: 1. Hub cover; 2. Decorative cover; 3. Locking assembly; 301. Connecting cover; 302. Washer; 303. Washer base support connecting screw; 304. Washer spring base support connecting screw; 305. Base support upper cover; 306. Base support lower cover connecting screw; 307. Washer base support upper cover connecting spring; 308. Base support lower cover; 309. Turntable; 310. Connecting rod; 311. Hexagonal hole; 312. Threaded groove; 313. Slot; 314. Turntable locking claw; 315. Sliding column. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0019] Please see Figure 1-4 This utility model provides a technical solution: a novel automotive wheel hub cover locking device, comprising a decorative cover 2, a wheel hub cover 1, a connecting cover 301, a washer 302, a base upper cover 305, a base lower cover 308, and a turntable 309 arranged sequentially from top to bottom. The whole device forms a modular multi-layer structure, which has the characteristics of convenient installation, reliable anti-loosening, shock absorption and buffering, and excellent anti-theft performance. In this embodiment, the wheel hub cover 1 has a centrally symmetrical structure with a central through hole at its top for assembling internal components; the decorative cover 2 is movably snapped onto the top of the connecting cover 301 and can be detachably fixed to the top of the connecting cover 301 by means of buckles or magnetic attraction, which serves to improve aesthetics and dust prevention, while also covering the internal structure and improving anti-theft performance.

[0020] The connecting cover 301 is movably disposed above the hub cover 1 and is threadedly connected to the washer 302 below it through several evenly distributed washer base support connecting screws 303. Specifically, the top end of the washer base support connecting screw 303 is screwed into the threaded hole of the connecting cover 301, and the bottom end passes through the hub cover 1 and engages with the washer 302, thereby axially fixing the connecting cover 301, the hub cover 1 and the washer 302 into one unit, but allowing a certain degree of elastic displacement. The washer 302 is located below the hub cover 1 and has an annular plate structure. Its central area has multiple threaded holes that pass through vertically for installing washer spring base support connecting screws 304. The washer spring base support connecting screws 304 pass through the washer 302 from top to bottom and extend below it.

[0021] A washer-spring-support-top-cover connecting spring 307 is fitted around the outer periphery of the washer-spring-support-top-connecting screw 304. This spring is a cylindrical helical compression spring. Its top end is in movable contact with the bottom surface of the washer 302, and its bottom end is in movable contact with the top surface of the support-top-cover 305, forming an axial elastic pre-tightening structure. When vibration occurs during vehicle operation, the spring can absorb impact energy, compensate for the small gaps between various components, and effectively prevent the threads from loosening due to vibration. The support-top-cover 305 is located below the washer 302, and its top is provided with a threaded hole corresponding to the washer-spring-support-top-connecting screw 304, so that the lower end of the washer-spring-support-top-connecting screw 304 can be screwed into and fastened in the support-top-cover 305, thereby elastically connecting the washer 302 and the support-top-cover 305.

[0022] Furthermore, the upper cover 305 and the lower cover 308 of the base are rigidly connected by a number of lower cover connecting screws 306. The lower cover connecting screws 306 pass through the top of the upper cover 305 and are threaded to the lower cover 308 below it, so that the two are firmly combined to form a stable bearing cavity. The turntable 309 is set above the lower cover 308 and is located in the space enclosed by the upper cover 305 and the lower cover 308. A connecting rod 310 extends upward from the center of the turntable 309. The top of the connecting rod 310 is provided with a hexagonal hole 311 for matching a hexagonal wrench or other special tools for rotation operation.

[0023] In this embodiment, the top surface of the turntable 309 is also provided with a threaded groove 312. The threaded groove 312 is a spiral guide groove, preferably an Archimedean spiral structure, extending more than one turn around the circumference of the turntable. The top of the bottom cover 308 is provided with four radially distributed slots 313. A turntable locking claw 314 is movably installed in each slot 313. One end of the turntable locking claw 314 extends into the threaded groove 312 and slides with it, while the other end extends out of the outer edge of the bottom cover 308. When the turntable 309 is driven to rotate through the hexagonal hole 311, the threaded groove 312 pushes the turntable locking claw 314 to move radially outward or inward: clockwise rotation: the locking claw 314 opens outward and engages in the positioning groove at the center of the wheel hub spokes to achieve mechanical locking; counterclockwise rotation: the locking claw 314 retracts inward and disengages from the wheel hub groove, facilitating overall disassembly and maintenance. Preferably, the outer end of the turntable locking claw 314 is provided with a chamfer or ball bearing structure to reduce insertion resistance and improve installation smoothness.

[0024] This utility model achieves precise conversion from rotary motion to radial locking action by setting a threaded groove on the turntable and cooperating with the sliding column structure on the locking claw. The specific working process is as follows: Figure 4As shown, the top surface of the turntable 309 is provided with a threaded groove 312 along the circumference. The groove is a continuous spiral groove, preferably a single-start or multi-start Archimedean spiral structure, to ensure smooth transmission and good self-locking performance. The threaded groove 312 extends from the inner ring to the outer ring of the turntable 309 to form one or more guide paths. At the bottom of each turntable locking claw 314, there is a downwardly extending sliding post 315. The sliding post 315 is a cylindrical protrusion with a size that matches the threaded groove 312 and can be slidably embedded in it. When the turntable 309 rotates, the sliding post 315 moves along the trajectory of the threaded groove 312, thereby driving the entire turntable locking claw 314 to move in the slot 313 of the bottom cover 308.

[0025] Furthermore, a connecting rod 310 extends upward from the center of the turntable 309. The top of the connecting rod 310 has an internal hexagonal hole 311, the cross-sectional shape of which is adapted to a standard internal hexagonal wrench. In use, the internal hexagonal wrench is inserted into the internal hexagonal hole 311, and torque is applied to rotate the turntable 309 around its central axis. When the operator rotates the internal hexagonal wrench clockwise, the turntable 309 rotates synchronously. The threaded groove 312 pushes the sliding pins at the bottom of each locking claw to move outward in a spiral direction; the four turntables are locked. Under the linkage of the sliding column 315 and the sliding groove 312, the claw 314 expands outward in a radial direction in a synchronous manner; the outer end of the turntable locking claw 314 gradually engages in the locking groove or spoke gap in the center of the wheel hub to achieve mechanical locking; at this time, a reliable circumferential and axial limit is formed between the turntable locking claw 314 and the wheel hub to prevent the wheel hub cover from loosening due to vibration or impact during vehicle operation. When disassembly or maintenance is required, the operator inserts an Allen wrench into the Allen hole 311 and rotates the turntable 309 counterclockwise.

[0026] The threaded groove 312 guides the sliding column to retract inward; each turntable locking claw 314 synchronously retracts radially inward, disengaging from the locking structure on the hub; the entire hub cover locking device can then be easily removed from the center of the hub for easy cleaning, replacement, or maintenance. Preferably, the starting and ending ends of the threaded groove 312 are provided with guide slopes or arc transition sections to ensure that the sliding column 315 enters and exits smoothly without jamming; at the same time, the end of the sliding column 315 can be provided with balls or wear-resistant bushings to reduce frictional resistance and improve service life. In addition, since the drive structure (internal hexagonal hole 311) is located in the center of the device and is partially obscured by the decorative cover 2 and the hub cover 1, the operating interface cannot be directly observed from the outside and must be accessed after the decorative cover is removed. Therefore, it has good anti-theft performance. With the spring preload structure (washer base cover connecting spring 307), this device can still maintain a stable locking force during long-term operation, avoiding failure due to thermal expansion and contraction or fatigue loosening.

[0027] This utility model, through its multi-layered integrated structural design, effectively solves the technical problems of existing wheel hubcaps that commonly use peripheral snap-fit ​​connections, such as easy wear, loosening, failure after repeated disassembly and reassembly, and detachment during operation. Specifically, traditional wheel hubcaps typically have elastic snaps around their perimeter, relying on the snaps and grooves on the wheel hub edge for fastening. After long-term use or frequent disassembly, these snaps are prone to fatigue deformation or breakage, leading to a significant decrease in locking force. This causes the wheel hubcap to loosen during vehicle operation due to vibration or centrifugal force, posing a significant safety hazard. This utility model addresses these issues. The new design abandons the aforementioned weak edge-locking method and instead adopts a mechanical locking mechanism in the central area, which significantly improves the reliability of the connection. The locking component 3 includes a connecting cover 301, a washer 302, a base upper cover 305, a base lower cover 308, and a turntable 309. The overall structure is assembled from top to bottom to form a stable load-bearing system. Among them, the hub cover 1 serves as the core connecting component, with a connecting cover 301 on its top. The top of the connecting cover 301 is threadedly connected to the washer 302 below through several washer base connecting screws 303, ensuring axial fixation of the upper and lower components.

[0028] Furthermore, a washer spring base connecting screw 304 is provided below the washer 302. A washer base cover connecting spring 307 is fitted onto the outside of this screw. The top of the spring abuts against the bottom end of the washer 302, and the bottom end abuts against the top of the base cover 305, forming an elastic pre-tightening system. This design allows the spring to absorb impact energy and compensate for minor displacements between components when the entire locking device is subjected to external vibrations, preventing thread loosening due to dynamic loads, thereby improving the structure's vibration resistance and... Crucially, this invention features a turntable 309 above the bottom cover 308. The turntable 309 receives external drive through the internal hexagonal hole 311 at the top of the connecting rod 310. When an internal hexagonal wrench is inserted and rotated, the turntable 309 rotates accordingly. The turntable 309 has a threaded groove 312, and the bottom of the turntable locking claw 314 has a sliding post. The sliding post is embedded in the threaded groove 312 and moves along its trajectory, thereby driving the turntable locking claw 314 to move radially outward or inward.

[0029] When the turntable 309 is rotated clockwise, the four turntable locking claws 314 expand outwards simultaneously and engage in the locking groove in the center of the wheel hub, achieving mechanical interlocking locking. Counterclockwise rotation causes the turntable locking claws 314 to retract, facilitating disassembly. This locking method differs from the elastic deformation connection of traditional snap-fit ​​devices; it is a rigid mechanical lock with uniform force distribution, strong self-locking, and is unaffected by material fatigue. Even after multiple disassemblies and reassemblies, it can maintain a stable locking force. In addition, the upper cover 305 and the lower cover 308 of the base are connected by several lower cover connecting screws 306, forming a stable support cavity that provides a reliable installation base for the turntable 309 and the turntable locking claws 314. The entire locking action occurs in the center area of ​​the wheel hub, away from the high centrifugal force zone during high-speed rotation, resulting in more reasonable force distribution and higher safety.

[0030] Meanwhile, the decorative cover 2 is attached to the top of the connecting cover 301, which not only beautifies the appearance but also covers the drive structure such as the internal hexagonal hole 311, preventing the outside from directly contacting the operating parts and providing good anti-theft performance. The overall structure is modularly designed, which is convenient for assembly and maintenance. All key connections adopt a combination of threaded fastening and elastic compensation, avoiding early failure caused by local stress concentration in traditional buckle structures.

[0031] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0032] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A novel automobile wheel hub cap locking device, characterized in that: The device includes a hubcap, a decorative cover on top of the hubcap, and a locking assembly on the bottom of the hubcap. The locking assembly includes a connecting cover, which is movably disposed on top of the hubcap, and the decorative cover is movably snapped onto top of the connecting cover.

2. The novel automotive wheel hub cap locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking assembly also includes a washer, which is movably disposed below the hub cover. The top of the connecting cover is provided with several washer base support connecting screws. The bottom end of the washer base support connecting screw passes through the connecting cover and is threadedly connected to the washer. The top of the washer is threaded with several washer spring base support connecting screws.

3. The novel automotive wheel hub cover locking device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom end of the washer spring base connecting screw passes through the washer and extends downwards. A base cover is provided below the washer. Several base cover connecting screws are threaded on the top of the base cover. The bottom end of the base cover connecting screw passes through the base cover and extends downwards.

4. The novel automotive wheel hub cap locking device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The bottom thread of the washer spring base support connecting screw is set at the top of the base support cover. The outer side of the washer spring base support connecting screw is movably sleeved with the washer base support cover connecting spring. The top of the washer base support cover connecting spring is movably abutting against the bottom of the washer.

5. The novel automotive wheel hub cover locking device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The bottom end of the washer base cover is connected to the top end of the spring and movably abuts against the top end of the base cover. A bottom cover is provided below the bottom cover. The bottom end of the bottom cover connecting screw is threaded to the top end of the bottom cover. A turntable is provided above the bottom cover.

6. The novel automotive wheel hub cover locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The top of the turntable is provided with a connecting rod, the top of the connecting rod is provided with a hexagonal hole, the top of the turntable is provided with a threaded groove, the top of the bottom cover is provided with four slots, the inside of the slots is provided with turntable locking claws, and the bottom of each turntable locking claw is provided with a downwardly extending sliding post.

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