Hubcap for a rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a hubcap for a rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle. The hubcap (2) comprises a hubcap body (4) delimited by an outer face (6) and an inner face (8). The inner face (8) is intended to face a rim (10) of a wheel and the hubcap body (2) is delimited by an outer edge (12). The invention is remarkable in that the hubcap body (4) is crossed by at least two diametrically opposed passages (14), and each passage (14) is of sufficient dimensions to allow a user to actuate a locking device (16) present on the side of the inner face (8) of the hubcap body. Each locking device (16) comprises a lever (18) operable by a user, through a passage (14), and the lever (18) makes it possible to reversibly vary the distance between an appendage (20) and the internal face (8) of the hubcap body. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Hubcap for a rim 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 automotive industry and, more particularly, to a hubcap for a rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle. Technological background

[0002] It is known from the state of the art to use hubcaps to conceal the rims of motor vehicle wheels when the rims are not aesthetically pleasing.

[0003] To do this, the rims have fixing lugs intended 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 fixing lugs are surrounded by an elastic metal ring.

[0004] The disadvantages associated with traditional hubcaps are many and varied. First, installing and removing hubcaps can be tedious and time-consuming, due to the need to properly fit each mounting tab into the rim groove. This can be particularly difficult for the elderly or those with mobility issues, as it requires both strength and dexterity. In addition, the installation process can be complicated by the presence of dirt, rust, or other debris that can clog the rim groove, making installation even more difficult.

[0005] Another disadvantage of traditional hubcaps is the use of a resilient metal ring to hold the mounting tabs to the rim. This ring can become deformed or break over time, which can lead to the mounting tabs becoming loose and, consequently, the risk of losing it while driving.

[0006] Furthermore, if the hubcap is not properly aligned with the rim when installed, the mounting tabs may be subjected to excessive pressure, which may cause them to deform or even break. The hubcap is then unusable.

[0007] The invention aims to remedy these problems by proposing a hubcap comprising a system for attaching to a rim which is simpler to implement. Subject of the invention

[0008] The invention thus proposes a hubcap for a rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising a hubcap body delimited by an external face and an internal face, the internal face being intended to face a rim of a wheel of a vehicle. automobile, the hubcap body being delimited by an external edge of circular or substantially circular shape.

[0009] The invention is remarkable in that the trim body is crossed by at least two passages which are diametrically opposed or substantially diametrically opposed, and in that each passage is of sufficient dimensions to allow a user to actuate a locking device present on the side of the internal face of the trim body, and in that each locking device comprises a lever actuable by a user, through a passage, and in that the lever makes it possible to reversibly vary the distance between an appendage and the internal face of the trim body.

[0010] In other words, the invention proposes an alternative way of holding a hubcap against a wheel rim for a motor vehicle. To do this, the hubcap comprises at least two reversible locking devices, present on the side of the inner face of the hubcap body. Each locking device comprises an appendage capable of moving towards or away from said inner face. The position of each appendage is reversibly controlled by a lever actuated by a user, through a passage provided through the hubcap body. Each passage opens onto the inner face and the outer face of the hubcap body. Thus, a user can easily and quickly fix a hubcap to a rim, by moving the appendages via the levers, so that several parts of the rim are gripped between said appendages and the inner face of the rim.

[0011] According to another embodiment of the invention, the lever is capable of pivoting the appendage around an axis of rotation which is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the diameter of the trim body and parallel or substantially parallel to the internal face of the trim body. In other words, the lever makes it possible to move the appendage along a circular trajectory which is included in a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the internal face of the trim body.

[0012] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the internal face of the trim body is flat or substantially flat.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the invention, the smallest distance between the appendage and the internal face of the hubcap body is less than 1 cm, preferably less than 0.5 cm. In other words, the smallest distance between the appendage and the internal face of the hubcap body is preferably less than the thickness of the wall of the rim that it is desired to clamp between the appendage and the hubcap body, in order to firmly hold the hubcap to the rim.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the invention, the lever makes it possible to reversibly hold the appendage close to the internal face of the hubcap body. In other words, the locking device comprises known means for temporarily blocking the appendage as close as possible to the hubcap body.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the invention, the appendage is located at a distance of less than 5 cm, preferably less than 3 cm from the external edge of the hubcap body.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the invention, the appendage is of a shape complementary to the edge of a rim. This embodiment promotes better retention of the hubcap on said rim.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the invention, the appendage has the shape of a hook. Preferably, the hook is turned towards the internal face of the hubcap body.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the invention, the outer edge of the hubcap body is curved towards the inner face of the hubcap body. This embodiment allows easier positioning of the hubcap on a rim comprising a part of a shape complementary to the outer edge. In other words, the outer edge of the hubcap body can serve as a guide means for properly and quickly positioning the hubcap on a rim.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention, the trim preferably comprises an even number of locking devices, present on the side of the internal face of the trim, each lever of the locking devices being accessible via a dedicated passage, and each passage is diametrically or substantially diametrically opposite another passage.

[0020] Preferably, each appendage of the locking devices is diametrically or substantially diametrically opposed to another appendage of a locking device.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, a hubcap comprises four locking devices, arranged at equal or substantially equal distances along the outer edge of the hubcap body.

[0022] Of course, the various features, variants and embodiments mentioned above can be combined with each other in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0023] The invention also relates to a rim for a wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising a hubcap as described above.

[0024] The invention also relates to a wheel for a motor vehicle, comprising a rim described above. Description of figures

[0025] 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:

[0026] [Fig-1] illustrates a perspective view of a rim equipped with a hubcap according to the invention;

[0027] [Fig.2] illustrates a longitudinal and partial section of the rim represented by [Fig.l];

[0028] [Fig.3] illustrates a rim equipped with a hubcap according to an alternative embodiment. Detailed description of the invention

[0029] As a reminder, the invention proposes a hubcap comprising a system for attaching to a rim which is simpler to implement.

[0030] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a non-limiting example of an embodiment of a hubcap according to the invention, held to a rim of a wheel for a motor vehicle.

[0031] The hubcap 2 comprises a hubcap body 4 delimited by an external face 6 visible in [Fig. 1], and an internal face 8 visible in [Fig. 2]. The internal face 8 is intended to be opposite the rim 10 when the hubcap 2 is mounted on said rim 10.

[0032] The trim body 4 is delimited by an external edge 12 of circular or substantially circular shape.

[0033] Remarkably, the trim body 4 is crossed by four passages 14. Each passage 14 is diametrically opposite another passage 14. The passages 14 are distributed regularly or substantially regularly along the external edge 12, so that the axes connecting the opposite passages 14 are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to each other.

[0034] Each passage 14 is of sufficient dimensions to allow a user to actuate a locking device 16 present on the side of the internal face 8 of the trim body 4. According to the present example, the passages 14 are rectangular in shape, their largest dimension is between 4 cm and 10 cm, preferably between 3 cm and 6 cm, and their smallest dimension is between 2 cm and 8 cm, preferably between 3 cm and 5 cm.

[0035] Each locking device 16 consists of a lever 18 extended by an appendage 20. Each lever 18 is arranged opposite a passage 14 so as to allow a user to easily and easily actuate the appendage 20 via the lever 18.

[0036] Each locking device 16 is held to the trim body 4 by an axis 22, allowing the locking device 16 to pivot around said axis 22. preferably, the axis 22 is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the diameter of the trim body 4 and parallel or substantially parallel to the internal face 8 of the trim body 4. The axis 22 passes between the lever 18 and the appendage 20, so as to allow a user to bring the appendage 20 closer to or away from the internal face 8 of the trim 2 at will and reversibly.

[0037] According to the present example, the smallest distance between the appendage 20 and the internal face 8 of the trim body 4 is less than 1 cm.

[0038] Each locking device 16 comprises means for temporarily locking the appendage 20 as close as possible to the hubcap body 4 as illustrated in [Fig. 2]. Preferably, the smallest distance between the appendage 20 and the internal face 8 of the hubcap body 4 is less than the thickness of the wall 24 of the rim 10 which is held in a vice between the appendage 20 and the hubcap body 4.

[0039] Preferably, the outer edge 12 of the hubcap body 4 is curved towards the inner face 8 of the hubcap body 4. Thus, the outer edge 12 allows easier positioning of the hubcap 2 on the rim 10 by serving as a guide means during its positioning.

[0040] [Fig. 3] illustrates another non-limiting embodiment of the invention which differs from the previous example in that the appendage 20 has a hook-shaped end, oriented towards the internal face 8 of the hubcap body 4 and of complementary shape to the rim edge 10, so as to ensure better retention of the hubcap 2 on the rim 10.

Claims

Claims

1. Hubcap (2) for a rim of a wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising a hubcap body (4) delimited by an external face (6) and an internal face (8), the internal face (8) being intended to face a rim (10) of a wheel of a motor vehicle, the hubcap body (4) being delimited by an external edge (12) of circular or substantially circular shape, characterized in that the hubcap body (4) is crossed by at least two diametrically opposed or substantially diametrically opposed passages (14), and in that each passage (14) is of sufficient dimensions to allow a user to actuate a locking device (16) present on the side of the internal face (8) of the hubcap body (4), and in that each locking device (16) comprises a lever (18) actuable by a user, through a passage (14),and in that the lever (18) makes it possible to reversibly vary the distance between an appendage (20) and the internal face (8) of the trim body (4).

2. Hubcap (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lever (18) is capable of pivoting the appendage (20) around an axis of rotation which is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the diameter of the hubcap body (4) and parallel or substantially parallel to the internal face (8) of the hubcap body (4).

3. Hubcap (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the smallest distance between the appendage (20) and the internal face (8) of the hubcap body (4) is less than 1 cm.

4. Hubcap (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lever (18) makes it possible to reversibly hold the appendage (20) close to the internal face (8) of the hubcap body (4).

5. Hubcap (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the appendage (20) is located at a distance of less than 5 cm, preferably less than 3 cm from the outer edge (12) of the hubcap body (4).

6. Hubcap (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the appendage (20) is of a shape complementary to the edge of a rim (10).

7. Hubcap (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the appendage (20) has the shape of a hook.

8. Hubcap (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the hook is turned towards the internal face (8) of the hubcap body (4).

9. Hubcap (2) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the outer edge (12) of the hubcap body (4) is curved towards its inner face (8).

10. Rim (10) for a motor vehicle wheel comprising a hubcap (2) according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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