Reinforced coupling wheel cover for a land vehicle

Abstract

A wheel cover (ER) is fitted to a wheel (RV) suitable for a land vehicle and comprising a rim (JR) inside which a disc (VR) with at least one cutout (AV) is fixedly housed. This wheel cover (ER) includes a support piece (PS) having first (P1) and second (P2) parts bearing respectively against an edge (BA) of the cutout (AV) and the rim (JR), and a third part (P3) connecting the first (P1) and second (P2) parts and having sufficient elasticity to exert pressure on the first (P1) and second (P2) parts to press them respectively against this edge (BA) and this rim (JR). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Reinforced coupling wheel cover for a land vehicle Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to wheeled land vehicles, and more specifically to wheel trims intended to be fitted to the wheels of such land vehicles. Prior art

[0002] Some land vehicles, for example of the automobile type, include wheels comprising a rim centered on an axis of rotation and on which a tire is mounted, and an added disc, fixedly housed inside the rim by being centered on the axis of rotation and provided with at least one opening.

[0003] Such wheels can accommodate a large hubcap, or at least a small hubcap (or micro-hubcap) associated with a cutout in their rim. In the latter case, each small hubcap (or micro-hubcap) can comprise a support piece coupled to a cutout and to the rim, and a cover piece coupled to this support piece.

[0004] For example, and as described in particular in patent document FR-A1-3116232, the support piece may comprise first and second parts arranged to bear respectively against an edge of a wheel cutout and the rim associated with that cutout, and a third part connecting these first and second parts. Due to the shocks and vibrations experienced by the wheel, the hubcap comprising this type of support piece may rotate within the associated cutout, which may promote its decoupling from the wheel and detract from the vehicle's aesthetics, and thus may negatively impact the vehicle's perceived quality.

[0005] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0006] It proposes in particular for this purpose a hubcap, on the one hand, intended to equip a wheel suitable for being part of a land vehicle and comprising a rim inside which is fixedly housed a disc having at least one opening, and, on the other hand, comprising a support piece having first and second parts arranged to rest respectively against an edge of this opening and this rim, and a third part connecting these first and second parts.

[0007] This trim piece is characterized by the fact that the third part of its support piece has an elasticity capable of exerting pressures on the first and second parts capable of pressing them respectively against this perforated edge and this rim.

[0008] Thanks to this third part which acts as a kind of return spring, the hubcap is pressed tightly against the rim and the edge of the cutout, which makes it virtually impossible for it to be driven into rotation relative to the wheel or to become decoupled from the latter, including in the presence of significant shocks and / or vibrations.

[0009] The hubcap according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0010] - the third part of its support piece may comprise two curved arms defining respectively convex zones opposite each other, and each connecting the first and second parts;

[0011] - in the presence of the first option, each curvilinear arm can have a shape general U-shape;

[0012] - the first part of its support piece may have a semi-circular shape and can define a groove suitable for housing part of the edge of the opening;

[0013] - it may also include a casing piece comprising first elements clipping. In this case, its support piece may include second clipping elements designed to cooperate with the corresponding first clipping elements to couple the cover piece and support piece together;

[0014] - in the presence of the last option, one of the second clipping elements can be defined on the first part of the support piece;

[0015] - also in the presence of the last option, its cover piece may include at least one anti-rotation protrusion designed to rest against the edge of the opening;

[0016] - in the presence of the last sub-option, its cover piece may comprise two distant anti-rotation protuberances designed to rest respectively against two sub-parts of the edge of the opening.

[0017] The invention also proposes a wheel suitable for equipping a land vehicle and comprising, on the one hand, a rim inside which is fixedly housed a disc having at least one opening, and, on the other hand, at least one hubcap of the type presented above and coupled to the disc at the level of the opening and pressed against the rim.

[0018] The invention also proposes a land vehicle comprising at least two wheels of the type presented above.

[0019] For example, this land vehicle may include four wheels, and may be of the automobile type. Brief description of the figures

[0020] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings (obtained using CAD / CAM (“Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing”)), in which:

[0021] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, an example of fabrication of a wheel comprising an example of a hubcap according to the invention,

[0022] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a vertical plane, a part of the wheel in [Fig. 1] including the hubcap,

[0023] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, the support piece of the hubcap shown in figures 1 and 2,

[0024] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, the trim piece of the hubcap in figures 1 and 2, and

[0025] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, the trim piece of the [Fig.4] coupled to the support piece of the [Fig.3]. Detailed description of the invention

[0026] The invention aims in particular to provide an ER (micro-)trim intended to permanently equip an RV wheel suitable for receiving a tire and for being part of a land vehicle.

[0027] In what follows, the land vehicle is considered, by way of non-limiting example, to be of the automobile type. For example, a car. However, the invention is not limited to this type of wheeled land vehicle. It relates in fact to any land vehicle comprising at least two wheels.

[0028] Furthermore, in the preceding and following, "inner face" means a face of an element that is intended to be oriented towards the vehicle, and "outer face" means a face of the same element that is intended to be oriented towards the outside of the vehicle and therefore opposite to the inner face.

[0029] In figures 1 to 5, the X direction is intended to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the (terrestrial) vehicle, which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, the Y direction is intended to be parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the Z direction is intended to be parallel to the vertical direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y.

[0030] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate at least partially an example of an RV wheel intended to equip a land vehicle and comprising a rim JR, a disc VR and a (micro-)hubcap ER according to the invention.

[0031] The JR rim is generally cylindrical in shape, centered on an AR axis of rotation (see [Fig.1]), and suitable for receiving a tire.

[0032] Furthermore, the JR rim includes an external rim designed to retain an outer sidewall of the tire and which has a hook CJ. It will be noted, as shown in [Fig. 2], that the JR rim also includes an internal rim opposite the external rim, designed to retain the inner sidewall of the tire and having another hook.

[0033] The VR disc is attached and fixedly housed inside the JR rim, centered on the AR axis of rotation. For example, the VR disc can be fixedly attached to the JR rim by welding, and is intended to be attached to a hub, such as a vehicle's steering knuckle.

[0034] Furthermore, the VR wheel rim comprises at least one AV opening. It should be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, in [Fig. 1], the VR wheel rim comprises numerous AV openings (typically fourteen), one of which is (here) entirely concealed by a hubcap ER according to the invention. However, the number of AV openings in a VR wheel rim can be any value greater than or equal to one. Similarly, the number of AV openings in an RV wheel can be any value greater than or equal to one (this latter number is, however, less than or equal to the number of AV openings in the VR wheel rim).

[0035] It should be noted that the number of ER hubcaps equipping an RV wheel can take any value greater than or equal to one and less than or equal to the number of openings of this RV wheel.

[0036] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 3 and 5, a hubcap ER, according to the invention, comprises at least one support piece PS which is intended to be coupled to the rim VR of a wheel RV at the level of an opening AV and pressed against the rim JR of this wheel RV.

[0037] As illustrated in figures 2, 3 and 5, the support piece PS comprises first PI, second P2 and third P3 parts.

[0038] The first part PI is arranged so as to rest against an edge BA of an opening AV.

[0039] The second part P2 is arranged so as to rest against the rim JR.

[0040] As can be seen more clearly in Figures 3 and 5, the third part P3 connects the first PI and second P2 parts. Furthermore, the third part P3 possesses an elasticity that exerts pressure on the first PI and second P2 parts, pressing them respectively against the edge BA of the AV opening and the rim JR. In other words, the third part P3 acts as a kind of return spring that automatically and permanently repels the second part P2 against the rim JR, but also the first part PI against the edge BA of the AV opening, due to its elasticity.

[0041] Thus, the ER wheel trim is held tightly against the JR rim and the BA edge of the AV cutout, making the probability of the ER wheel trim becoming detached from its RV wheel virtually nil, or even zero. Furthermore, this also makes the probability of the ER wheel trim being rotated relative to the RV wheel virtually nil, even in the presence of significant shocks and / or vibrations. Therefore, there is (virtually) no longer any risk of an ER wheel trim detracting from the vehicle's aesthetics or its perceived quality. Moreover, this elasticity advantageously facilitates the installation of the ER wheel trim onto the RV wheel.

[0042] For example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 3 and 5, the third part P3 of the support piece PS may comprise two curved arms BC defining opposite convex zones ZC, each connecting the first PI and second P2 parts. The two convex zones ZC thus extend in opposite directions (here) along the longitudinal direction X.

[0043] Preferably, and as illustrated without limitation, the two curvilinear arms BC have symmetrical shapes with respect to a plane YZ.

[0044] It will be understood that the convex shape of the elastic curvilinear arms BC allows, at the beginning of the installation of the hubcap ER, to accommodate a reduction in the distance separating the first PI and second P2 parts, and, at the end of the installation, to push the second part P2 against the rim JR and the first part PI against the edge BA of the AV opening.

[0045] For example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig.3], each curvilinear arm BC can have a general U-shaped form (to delimit its convex zone ZC), with two extensions towards the first PI and second P2 parts.

[0046] Also, for example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 3 and 5, the first part PI may have a semi-circular shape and may define a groove G that is designed to accommodate a portion of the edge BA of the opening AV. It will be understood that this shape of the first part PI is adapted to a similar (semi-circular) shape of this portion of the edge BA of the opening AV. Thanks to this groove G, which accommodates the portion of the edge BA, there is no risk of the first part PI detaching from this edge PA, even in the presence of a significant impact and taking into account the elasticity of the third part P3.

[0047] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 2, 3 and 5, the second part P2 may comprise first SP1 and second SP2 sub-parts which are intended to be pressed against two distant parts of the rim JR. Here, the first sub-part SP1 is intended to be housed in a first concave recess defined by the hook CJ of the outer rim of the rim JR and to be pressed against this hook CJ, and the second sub-part SP2 is intended to be housed in a second concave housing defined by the seat of the outer rim of the rim JR and to be pressed against this seat.

[0048] It will be understood that this shape of the second part P2 is adapted to the shapes of the first and second concave recesses of the outer rim of the JR rim. Thanks to these recesses of the first SP1 and second SP2 sub-parts of the second part P2 in the first and second concave recesses, there is no risk of the second part P2 detaching from the outer rim of the JR rim, even in the presence of a significant impact and taking into account the elasticity of the third part P3.

[0049] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, the trim piece ER may also include a trim piece PH comprising first clipping elements EC1a and EC1b, preferably on an inner face FI, opposite an outer face FE (visible from outside the vehicle). In this case, the support piece PS may include second clipping elements EC2a and EC2b which are adapted to cooperate with the corresponding first clipping elements EC1a and EC1b to couple the trim piece PH and the support piece PS.

[0050] This PH trim piece, visible from outside the vehicle, almost completely conceals the PS support piece, and in particular its technical components (PS). It also contributes to the style of the RV wheel and therefore the vehicle. It should be noted that it can potentially be customized to satisfy a wider range of land vehicle users, for example, through a selection of different colors and / or shapes and / or finishes (at least on the outer face FE).

[0051] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 2, 3, and 5, one of the second clipping elements EC2a and EC2b can be defined on the first part PI of the support piece PS. In the illustrated example, this second clipping element EC2b defined on the first part PI is a clipping notch intended to be housed in a corresponding clipping hole defined in a clipping tab constituting a corresponding first clipping element EClb erected on the inner face FI of the cover piece PH. But other arrangements of these first EClb and second EC2b clipping elements can be envisaged.

[0052] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 3 and 5, the cover piece PH may include on its inner face FI two other first clipping elements EC1a cooperating with two other corresponding second clipping elements EC2a of the support piece PS. In the illustrated example, the two other second clipping elements EC2a are clipping tabs whose notches are clipped respectively onto clipping faces constituting the other two The first ECla clipping elements correspond. But other arrangements of these other first ECla and second EC2a clipping elements can be considered.

[0053] Thanks to these three first clipping elements ECla and EClb cooperating with these three second clipping elements EC2a and EC2b, in three places two apart, the body part PH and support part PS are closely coupled permanently, and therefore the probability of a decoupling of the body part PH from the support part PS (closely coupled to the wheel RV) is (almost) zero.

[0054] Also, for example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 3 and 5, the trim piece PH may include at least one anti-rotation protrusion PA designed to bear against the edge BA of the relevant AV opening. It will be understood that each anti-rotation protrusion PA defines a support point between the hubcap ER and the wheel RV, in addition to the support points between the hubcap ER and the wheel RV defined by the first PI and second P2 parts. Thus, it becomes completely impossible for the hubcap ER to be driven into rotation relative to the wheel RV at the level of the corresponding AV opening (which it at least partially conceals).

[0055] In the example illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 3 and 5, the trim piece PH includes two anti-rotation protuberances PA which are designed to bear against two sub-parts of the edge BA of the relevant opening AV, which makes any rotation of the trim piece ER even more impossible.

[0056] It should be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, Figures 3 and 5, the two anti-rotation protrusions PA are defined on one face of a closed wall PF erected on the inner face FI of the housing piece PH. This closed wall PF delimits a housing that is preferably open at its two opposite ends (here along the transverse direction Y) to allow air to flow from the outside to the inside of the wheel RV via the relevant opening AV, and vice versa. It will be understood that in this case the housing piece PH includes a through hole located at one end of the closed wall PF.

[0057] It should also be noted that at least one of the PH housing part and PS support part can, for example, be made by molding a plastic material or by a 3D printer. But in an alternative, at least one of the PH housing part and PS support part could be made of metal (possibly by molding and / or machining).

Claims

Demands

1. Wheel trim (ER) for a wheel (RV) suitable for equipping a land vehicle and comprising a rim (JR) inside which is fixedly housed a disc (VR) having at least one opening (AV), said wheel trim (ER) comprising a support piece (PS) having first (PI) and second (P2) parts arranged to bear respectively against an edge (BA) of said opening (AV) and said rim (JR), and a third part (P3) connecting said first (PI) and second (P2) parts, characterized in that said third part (P3) has an elasticity suitable for exerting on said first (PI) and second (P2) parts pressures suitable for pressing them respectively against said edge (BA) and said rim (JR).

2. Trim according to claim 1, characterized in that said third part (P3) comprises two curvilinear arms (BC) defining respectively convex zones (ZC) opposed to each other, and each connecting said first (PI) and second (P2) parts.

3. Trim according to claim 2, characterized in that each curvilinear arm (BC) has a general U-shaped form.

4. Trim according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said first part (PI) has a semi-circular shape and delimits a groove (G) suitable for housing a part of said edge (BA) of the cutout (AV).

5. Trim piece according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a trim piece (PH) comprising first clipping elements (ECla, EClb), and in that said support piece (PS) comprises second clipping elements (EC2a, EC2b) adapted to cooperate with the corresponding first clipping elements (ECla, EClb) to couple said trim piece (PH) and support piece (PS) together.

6. Trim according to claim 5, characterized in that one of said second clipping elements (EC2a, EC2b) is defined on said first part (PI).

7. Trim according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said trim piece (PH) comprises at least one anti- rotation (PA) proper to rest against said edge (BA) of the opening (AV).

8. Trim according to claim 7, characterized in that said trim piece (PH) comprises two anti-rotation protrusions (PA) spaced apart and adapted to bear respectively against two sub-parts of said edge (BA) of the cutout (AV).

9. Wheel (RV) suitable for equipping a land vehicle and comprising a rim (JR) inside which is fixedly housed a disc (VR) having at least one opening (AV), characterized in that it further comprises at least one hubcap (ER) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, coupled to said disc (VR) at the level of said opening (AV) and pressed against said rim (JR).

10. Land vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least two wheels (RV) according to claim 9.

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