Wheel trim for a steel wheel with improved rotation retention

Abstract

The invention relates to a hubcap (2) for a sheet metal wheel (1), the sheet metal wheel (1) comprising a rim (11) which has in its center a disc (12) which has a series of circular openings (15) on the edge of the rim (11), the inner edge of each circular opening (15) comprising an upper edge (151) and a lower edge (152), said hubcap (2) being adapted to be positioned at the level of one of said circular openings (15) and comprising a first part adapted to bear against a part of the lower edge (152) of one of said circular openings (15) and a second part adapted to bear against the rim (11), such that the hubcap (2) comprises at least a third part adapted to bear against a part of the upper edge (151) of said circular openings (15). Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Wheel trim for a sheet metal wheel with improved rotational retention

[0001] The present invention relates to a wheel cover for a sheet metal wheel, it also relates to a sheet metal wheel comprising such a wheel cover and a vehicle comprising such a sheet metal wheel equipped with such a wheel cover.

[0002] The present invention relates more particularly to a wheel trim for a sheet metal wheel, the sheet metal wheel comprising a rim which has in its center a disc, said disc having a series of circular openings on the edge of the rim, the inner edge of each circular opening being able to be divided into two parts, an upper edge formed by the inner half-edge positioned closest to the rim of each circular opening and a lower edge formed by the other inner half-edge of each circular opening, said wheel trim being adapted to be positioned at the level of one of said circular openings and comprising a first part adapted to be in contact with a part of the lower edge of one of said circular openings and a second part adapted to be in contact with the rim.

[0003] Document FR-A1-3116232 discloses such a hubcap for a sheet metal wheel which has a rim which has a center disc, the disc having a series of openings on the edge of the rim where hubcaps are positioned at the level of a part of the openings, the hubcaps having a first retaining part which is adapted to bear against an edge of the corresponding opening and against the rim.

[0004] It turns out that such a hubcap tends to rotate in the circular opening, revealing a lack of support to block such rotation.

[0005] The present invention aims to remedy this retention problem and proposes a hubcap for a sheet metal wheel, the sheet metal wheel comprising a rim having a central disc, said disc having a series of circular openings on the rim's edge, the inner edge of each circular opening being divisible into two parts: an upper edge formed by the inner half-edge positioned closest to the rim of each circular opening, and a lower edge formed by the other inner half-edge of each circular opening. The hubcap is adapted to be positioned at one of said circular openings and comprises a first part adapted to rest against a portion of the lower edge of one of said circular openings and a second part adapted to rest against the rim. The hubcap according to the invention comprises... less a third part adapted to be supported against a part of the upper edge of said circular openings.

[0006] According to a first feature of the invention, the first decorative part includes a curved groove adapted to fit the shape of a part of the lower edge of said circular openings.

[0007] According to a second feature of the invention, the third part comprises a wall extending from the trim through said circular openings, said wall being adapted to rest against the upper edge of said circular openings.

[0008] According to a third feature of the invention, the third part comprises a second wall which extends from the trim through said circular openings, the two walls of said third part being in contact with the upper edge of said circular openings.

[0009] According to a fourth feature of the invention, said trim includes a retaining part which comprises said first part and said second part, said trim including a covering part adapted to be fixed on the retaining part while covering it at least partially.

[0010] According to a fifth feature of the invention, the third part is integral with the covering part.

[0011] The present invention also relates to a sheet metal wheel which includes such a hubcap.

[0012] It also relates to a vehicle which includes at least one such sheet metal wheel.

[0013] The attached drawings illustrate the invention:

[0014] [Fig. 1] represents a sheet metal wheel which includes a rim with a disc in its center and a hubcap according to the invention, which covers at least partially a circular opening formed in the disc.

[0015] [Fig.2] represents a view during the assembly of one of the hubcaps according to the invention, where a part for holding the trim and a part for covering the trim are more particularly visible, which is adapted to be fixed on the part for holding, while at least partially covering it.

[0016] [Fig.3] represents an internal view of the sheet metal wheel which includes said hubcap according to the invention.

[0017] [Fig.4] represents a first embodiment of such a hubcap according to the invention.

[0018] [Fig.5] represents a second embodiment of such a hubcap according to the invention.

[0019] Fig. 1 represents a sheet metal wheel 1 which has a rim 11 with a disc 12 in its center.

[0020] The disc 12 has a series of circular openings 15 which are formed at the edge of the disc 12 and the rim 11, at least one hubcap 2 being positioned at the level of one of these circular openings 15, masking it at least in part.

[0021] In the example as shown, only one circular opening 15 is masked at least partially by a trim piece 2, but preferably, at least two opposing circular openings 15 are at least partially covered by two trim pieces 2.

[0022] As particularly visible in [Fig.2], the trim 2 comprises two parts.

[0023] A retaining part 3 which includes a first part 31 adapted to bear against an edge of the circular opening 15, and a second part 32 adapted to bear against an edge of said rim 11, at the edge of said circular opening 15.

[0024] A covering part 4 is adapted to be fixed onto the retaining part 3 while at least partially covering it.

[0025] The retaining part 3 includes an intermediate part 33 which connects the first part 31 to the second part 32 of said retaining part 3, in a rigid manner, but while retaining sufficient elasticity to allow the mounting of the retaining part 3 on the wheel 1.

[0026] The covering part 4 has two first clipping tabs 41 adapted to be fixed on a support 34 of the retaining part 3 and a third clipping tab 42 adapted to be fixed on the first part 31 of the retaining part 3.

[0027] The inner border of each circular opening 15 can be divided into two parts; an upper border 151 formed by the inner half-border of each circular opening 15 as positioned closest to the rim 11 and a lower border 152 formed by the other inner half-border of each circular opening 15.

[0028] The cladding part 4 comprises a cylindrical part 43 which extends through the circular opening 15, when said cladding part 4 is positioned on the wheel 1, and at least one support wall 44 positioned along the cylindrical part 43 and which bears against the lower edge 152 of said circular opening 15.

[0029] The support wall 44 makes it possible to form a third support point between the hubcap 2 and the wheel 1, blocking any rotation of the hubcap 2 on itself around said circular opening 15 which the hubcap 2 covers at least partially.

[0030] Fig. 3 represents a view of the inside of the wheel 1 with a hubcap 2 positioned on one of the circular openings 15.

[0031] Fig. 4 represents a detailed view at the level of the trim 2, according to a first embodiment of the invention, of Fig. 3.

[0032] Fig. 5 represents a detailed view at the level of a trim piece 2, according to a second embodiment of the invention, of Fig. 3.

[0033] Figure 4 shows a trim piece 2 with two support walls 44 positioned symmetrically on either side of the cylindrical part 43 of the trim piece 4 of the trim piece 2, which are supported along the upper edge 151 of the circular opening 15.

[0034] Figure 5 shows a trim piece 2 with a single support wall 44 which is positioned in the extension of the cylindrical part 43 of the covering part 4 of the trim piece 2, supported along the upper edge 151 of the circular opening 15, opposite the positioning of the first part 31 of the retaining part 3.

Claims

Demands

1. Wheel trim (2) for a sheet metal wheel (1), the sheet metal wheel (1) having a rim (11) which has a central disc (12), said disc (12) having a series of circular openings (15) on the edge of the rim (11), the inner edge of each circular opening (15) being divisible into two parts, an upper edge (151) formed by the inner half-edge positioned closest to the rim (11) of each circular opening (15) and a lower edge (152) formed by the other inner half-edge of each circular opening (15), said wheel trim (2) being adapted to be positioned at the level of one of said circular openings (15) and having a first part (31) adapted to bear against a part of the lower edge (152) of one of said circular openings (15) and a second part (32) adapted to bear against the rim (11),characterized in that the trim (2) comprises at least a third part (44) adapted to bear against a part of the upper edge (151) of said circular openings (15).

2. Trim (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first part (31) of said trim (2) has a curved groove adapted to fit the shape of a part of the lower edge (152) of said circular openings (15).

3. Trim (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the third part (44) comprises a wall (44) which extends from the trim (2) through said circular openings (15), said wall (44) being adapted to bear against the upper edge (151) of said circular openings (15).

4. Trim (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the third part (44) comprises a second wall (44) which extends from the trim (2) through said circular openings (15), the two walls (44) of said third part (44) being in contact with the upper edge (151) of said circular openings (15).

5. Trim (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a retaining part (3) comprising said first part (31) and said second

6.

7.

8. part (32), said trim (2) comprising a covering part (4) adapted to be fixed onto the retaining part (3) while at least partially covering it. Wheel trim (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the third part (44) is integral with the cover part (4). Wheel (1) comprising a wheel trim (2) according to any one of the preceding claims. Vehicle comprising one wheel (1) according to the preceding claim.

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