HUB CAP FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE WHEEL AND MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH A HUB CAP

Abstract

The invention relates to a hubcap (17) for a motor vehicle wheel, said hubcap (17) being configured to be fixed to a vehicle wheel rim, and to have at least one face (18b), called the external face, facing outwards when said hubcap (17) is in the mounted position, characterized in that said hubcap (17) comprises elastic elements (20), on the one hand, projecting from said external face (18b), and on the other hand, mounted to move according to at least one degree of freedom. Abstract figure: [Fig. 2]

Description

Title of the invention: HUB COVER FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE WHEEL AND MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH A HUB COVER

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, and more particularly relates to a hubcap for a motor vehicle wheel. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising such a hubcap.

[0002] Generally speaking, a motor vehicle wheel is usually provided with a valve and a hubcap. [Fig. 1] illustrates a very schematic, exploded and perspective view of a motor vehicle wheel 1 of the prior art. Said wheel 1 thus comprises a rim 3, a tire 5 mounted on the rim 3, and a hubcap 7 configured to be fixed on said rim 3.

[0003] Said wheel 1 also generally comprises a valve (not shown) which projects from the tire 5, and extends for example through one of the openings or one of the perforations of the hubcap 7.

[0004] Said rim 3 further comprises fixing members, such as screws and nuts, making it possible to fix the rim 3 to a hub (not shown). Said hubcap 7, for its part, is for example fixed to the rim 3 by means of screws and nuts, snap-fastening means, etc., and / or by means of clipping tabs (not visible) which clip onto a complementary shape (for example a hook) arranged on the rim 3, then the hubcap 7 is held in position by a retention wire (not shown).

[0005] Generally, the sidewall of a tire is configured to come into contact with an obstacle before the wheel trim, but this is not always the case. Indeed, during a side collision of the vehicle, the wheel trims may be subjected to impacts, for example by coming into contact with an obstacle, such as a sidewalk, resulting in the hubcaps being damaged or deformed. In addition, during such a collision, the hubcap may move, rotating relative to the central axis of the wheel, and damage the tire valve.

[0006] This is of course an unacceptable situation and it is necessary to find a solution limiting the degradation of the hubcap and the tire valve for such collisions.

[0007] The present invention thus proposes to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new type of hubcap for a motor vehicle wheel, said hubcap being configured to be fixed to a vehicle wheel rim, and to have at least one face, called the external face, facing outwards when said hubcap is in the mounted position, characterized in that said trim comprises elastic elements which, on the one hand, project from said external face, and on the other hand, are mounted to move according to at least one degree of freedom.

[0008] The hubcap according to the invention thus comprises movably mounted elastic elements which are configured to project beyond the external face of the hubcap and thus be the first elements to come into contact with an obstacle during a collision (in particular a lateral collision), which therefore makes it possible to absorb the energy of the impact and to limit, or even prevent, the rotation of the hubcap during said impact.

[0009] It will be noted that the mobility of said elastic elements makes it possible both to dissipate the energy of an impact and to limit the rotation of said hubcap (the elastic elements moving in place of the hubcap). The hubcap according to the invention therefore makes it possible to reduce the damage suffered by the hubcap and the tire, and therefore the associated repair costs (the price of the elastic elements being very low compared to those of the hubcap and / or the tire).

[0010] According to another possible characteristic, said elastic elements have a substantially elongated shape. Advantageously, the elastic elements have an elongated shape, for example a substantially cylindrical shape, thus making it possible to optimize the probability of said elements of being the first elements to come into contact with an obstacle during a lateral collision, but also to have a shape having at least one degree of freedom in line with the desired goal, that is to say to limit the deterioration of the hubcap and / or the tire of the wheel on which the hubcap is mounted.

[0011] According to another possible characteristic, said trim has a substantially discoidal shape (or substantially a disc shape). Said trim thus advantageously has a main extension plane. In addition, said trim therefore has a central part, or center, as well as a circumferential edge which corresponds to the outer contour of said trim.

[0012] Said hubcap further comprises two opposite main faces: a first face, called the internal face, which is oriented, in the mounted position, towards a wheel rim (or towards the vehicle), and a second face, corresponding to the external face, which is oriented, in the mounted position, towards the outside of the vehicle.

[0013] According to another possible characteristic, said elastic elements extend substantially radially (or substantially parallel to the radii of the hubcap). The elastic elements advantageously extend from the center of the trim outwardly, for example in the direction of the circumferential edge of said trim.

[0014] According to another possible characteristic, said elastic elements are configured to present an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the main extension plane of said hubcap. The degree of freedom of said elastic elements is advantageously an axis of rotation along the longitudinal axis of said elements, said elastic elements being configured to rotate on themselves relative to their longitudinal axis.

[0015] According to another possible characteristic, said trim comprises receiving cavities configured to house at least one of said elastic elements. Advantageously, the elastic elements are mounted or arranged in cavities configured to, on the one hand, allow at least one degree of freedom to said elastic elements, and on the other hand, for a portion of each of said elements to project beyond the main extension plane of said trim (the portion of said projecting elements extending away from the external face of the trim).

[0016] According to another possible characteristic, said elastic elements are distributed circumferentially. By the fact that the elastic elements are distributed circumferentially, it is meant that said elements are distributed regularly around the center of the hubcap, this in order to optimize the probabilities that the elastic elements come into contact first with an obstacle during a collision.

[0017] According to another possible characteristic, said elastic elements are configured to be removable. Thus, if the elastic elements become damaged during an impact following a collision, instead of the structure of the hubcap, it is easy and inexpensive to change the elastic elements with new elements, in order to restore the protection conferred to the hubcap by said elastic elements against other future collisions.

[0018] According to another possible characteristic, said elastic elements are made of rubber or plastic material, such as polyurethane (or PU), a thermoplastic elastomer (or TPE), polycarbonate (or PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (or ABS), polypropylene (or PP), ethylene-vinyl acetate (or EVA), high density polyethylene (or HDPE), etc. Advantageously, said elements are made of a plastic or rubber material, in order to better absorb and dissipate the energy of an impact, while being inexpensive and easy to conform to the shape of the cavity provided in the hubcap.

[0019] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle wheel, said wheel comprising a rim, a tire mounted on said rim and a hubcap fixed to said rim, characterized in that the hubcap is a hubcap as defined above.

[0020] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, for example thermal, hybrid or electric, characterized in that said vehicle comprises a wheel as defined above.

[0021] The invention will be better understood, and other aims, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given solely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - [Fig.l] illustrates a schematic and perspective side view of a motor vehicle wheel of the prior art; - [Fig.2] is a schematic and perspective side view of a hubcap according to the invention.

[0022] In the following description, the term "comprise" is synonymous with "include" and is not limiting in that it allows the presence of other elements in the vehicle, or the structure to which it relates. It is understood that the term "comprise" includes the terms "consist of".

[0023] In addition, an orthogonal reference frame XYZ is defined with respect to the vehicle, namely: - an X axis, defining a longitudinal and horizontal direction of the vehicle; - a Y axis, defining a transverse and horizontal direction, which with the X axis defines a horizontal (transverse) XY plane; - a Z axis, defining a vertical direction, orthogonal to the horizontal XY plane, the Z axis with the X axis defining a vertical (longitudinal) XZ plane.

[0024] In the present application, it will be noted that "substantially parallel" means a direction deviating by at most 20°, or even at most 10° or at most 5° from a parallel direction. It will also be noted that "substantially orthogonal" means a direction deviating by at most 20°, or even at most 10° or at most 5° from an angle of a value of 90°.

[0025] [Fig. 2] thus illustrates a schematic and perspective side view of a hubcap 17 according to the invention which is intended to be mounted (or fixed) on a wheel rim of a motor vehicle. Said motor vehicle, for example thermal, hybrid or electric, comprises one or more wheels (not shown) which each comprise a rim, a tire mounted on said rim and a hubcap 17, said hubcap 17 being fixed on said rim.

[0026] Said trim 17 is generally made of metal and / or plastic, the plastic being for example polypropylene (or PP) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (or ABS). In addition, said trim 17 advantageously has a substantially discoidal shape (or substantially a disc shape), said trim 17 therefore having a main extension plane (this extending substantially in a vertical or XZ plane in the mounted position).

[0027] Said trim 17 thus has a central part 17a, or center, as well as a circumferential edge 17b which corresponds to the external contour of said trim 17. In addition, said trim 17 advantageously comprises an opening 17c (or an opening) configured so that a tire valve (not shown) passes through said opening 17c when the hubcap 17 is in the mounted position.

[0028] The hubcap 17 also comprises two opposite main faces 18a and 18b: a first face 18a, called the “internal face”, which is oriented, in the mounted position, towards the rim of the wheel (or towards the vehicle), and a second face 18b, called the “external face”, which is oriented, in the mounted position, towards the outside of the vehicle (or towards the outside of the rim).

[0029] The hubcap 17 is thus configured to be fixed, at its internal face 18a, to the rim of a vehicle wheel. The fixing of the hubcap 17 is for example carried out by means of fixing members, such as screws, nuts, bolts, etc., and / or by means of clipping tabs (not visible) arranged on the internal face 18a of the hubcap, said tabs being configured to clip (or clip) onto a complementary shape arranged on the rim, then for the hubcap to be held in position by a retention wire (also not shown).

[0030] Furthermore, said trim 17 comprises one or more elastic elements 20, also referred to as “rollers”, which are fixed (or mounted) on the trim 17.

[0031] For this, said trim 17 comprises, for example, cavities configured to house at least one of said elastic elements 20. Thus, in the mounted position, on the trim 17, the elastic elements 20, on the one hand, are mounted to move in the cavities, and on the other hand, each have a portion projecting beyond the main extension plane of said trim 17, and therefore the external face 18b.

[0032] The elastic elements 20 thus have mobility according to at least one degree of freedom when said elements 20 are mounted or arranged in one of the cavities of said trim 17, in other words each of said elastic elements 20 is mounted in pivot connection in the associated cavity.

[0033] Said elastic elements 20 are further distributed circumferentially on the external face 18b of the trim 17, that is to say that said elements 20 are distributed regularly around the center 18a of the trim 17.

[0034] Said elastic elements 20 are advantageously made of rubber or plastic material, such as polyurethane (or PU), a thermoplastic elastomer (or TPE), polycarbonate (or PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (or ABS), polypropylene (or PP), ethylene-vinyl acetate (or EVA), high-density polyethylene (or HDPE), etc. In addition, said elastic elements 20 are advantageously made of a single piece.

[0035] Advantageously, said elastic elements 20 are mounted or configured to be removable, that is to say that said elements 20 can be removed or disassembled from the cavity accommodating them, for example to change said elements 20 with others. Said elastic elements 20 are advantageously accessible and capable of being mounted or dismounted via the external face 18b of the trim 17.

[0036] It will be noted that the elastic elements 20 are for example mounted by fitting into one of said cavities, the elastic elements 20 being able to deform and / or compress to enter a cavity, before returning to a nominal shape, and being blocked in the cavity, while retaining at least one degree of freedom.

[0037] Said elastic elements 20 advantageously have an elongated shape, and extend substantially from the central part 17a to the circumferential edge 17b of said trim 17. Said elastic elements 20 preferably have a substantially cylindrical shape, the longitudinal axis of said elements 20 thus being substantially located in a plane parallel to the main extension plane of the trim 17 and extending radially relative to the central part 18a of the trim 17.

[0038] It will be noted that in the embodiment of the invention presently illustrated and described, the elastic elements 20 are four in number and extend radially while being distributed circumferentially at an angle of 90° to each other. However, the number of elastic elements 20 can be between 3 and n (where n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 4), the angular difference between two successive elastic elements 20 then being between 180° and

[0039] Furthermore, the hubcap 17, when mounted on a motor vehicle wheel rim, is configured so that the elastic elements 20 protrude at least partially relative to the external face 18b and preferably extend into a plane where the extreme edge of the tire of the wheel on which the hubcap 17 is mounted is located (or even preferably beyond this extreme edge).

[0040] Thus, during a lateral collision between the hubcap 17 and an obstacle, said elastic elements are configured to be the first elements to come into contact with said obstacle, said elements 20 deforming and entering into rotation, in order to dissipate the energy of the impact and limit, or even prevent, the rotation of the hubcap 17.

[0041] In a non-represented embodiment of the invention, said elastic elements have substantially a sphere or ball shape, and are arranged radially and circumferentially (thus forming a pseudo-continuous or dotted structure). In this embodiment, said elastic elements have mobility according to several degrees of freedom, said elastic elements being configured to be able to perform rotations (on themselves) according to two or three degrees of freedom (therefore ball joint or spherical type of connection).

Claims

Claims

1. Hubcap (17) for a motor vehicle wheel, said hubcap (17) being configured to be fixed to a vehicle wheel rim, and to have at least one face (18b), called the external face, facing outwards when said hubcap (17) is in the mounted position, characterized in that said hubcap (17) comprises elastic elements (20), on the one hand, projecting from said external face (18b), and on the other hand, mounted to move according to at least one degree of freedom.

2. Hubcap (17) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said elastic elements (20) have a substantially elongated shape.

3. Hubcap (17) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastic elements (20) extend substantially radially.

4. Hubcap (17) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastic elements (20) are configured to have an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the main extension plane of said hubcap (17).

5. Hubcap (17) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said hubcap (17) comprises receiving cavities configured to house at least one of said elastic elements (20).

6. Hubcap (17) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastic elements are distributed circumferentially.

7. Hubcap (17) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastic elements (20) are configured to be removable.

8. Hubcap (17) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastic elements (20) are made of rubber or plastic.

9. Motor vehicle wheel, said wheel comprising a rim, a tire mounted on said rim and a hubcap (17) fixed on said rim, characterized in that the hubcap (17) is a hubcap according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Motor vehicle, characterized in that said vehicle comprises a wheel according to the preceding claim.

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