Wheel cap

Abstract

To suppress tilting of an engagement leg.SOLUTION: A wheel cap 10 includes a wheel cap body 14, and an engagement part 20, and is mounted on a wheel 12 due to that the engagement part 20 is engaged with a mounting hole 18 disposed at a wheel 12 side. The engagement part 20 has an engagement leg 22 projecting from the wheel cap body 14, and tiltable to the edge of the mounting hole 18 and to an opposite side to the edge of the mounting hole 18. The engagement leg 22 is engaged with an engagement spring 36, and the engagement leg 22 is energized to the edge side of the mounting hole 18 by the engagement spring 36. The engagement leg 22 has a first inclined plane 32A capable of being brought into contact with the edge of the mounting hole 18 in a state that the engagement leg 22 is inclined from a neutral position to an opposite side to the edge of the mounting hole 18, and a second inclined plane 33A capable of being brought into contact with the edge of the mounting hole 18 in a state that the edge of the mounting hole 18 and the first inclined plane 32A cannot be brought into contact with each other. The second inclined plane 33A is inclined toward the edge of the mounting hole 18 as proceeding to the protrusion direction tip side of the engagement part 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wheel cap.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a wheel cap attached to a wheel. The wheel cap described in this document is attached to the wheel by inserting an engaging portion provided on the wheel cap side into an attachment hole provided on the wheel side. Here, the engaging portion includes a pair of engaging legs. One engaging leg is a first engaging leg that contacts the peripheral edge of the attachment hole at a first angle with respect to the insertion direction. The other engaging leg is a second engaging leg that contacts the peripheral edge of the attachment hole at a second angle larger than the first angle with respect to the insertion direction and biases the first engaging leg toward the peripheral edge side of the attachment hole. Thereby, the play of the wheel cap with respect to the wheel is suppressed.

[0003] By the way, from the viewpoint of improving the durability of the engaging legs constituting the engaging portion, it is desirable to be able to suppress the collapse of the engaging legs, but there is room for improvement in this regard in the configuration described in Patent Document 1 above.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a wheel cap capable of suppressing the collapse of the engaging legs.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The wheel cap according to the first aspect has a wheel cap body and an engaging portion, and is a wheel cap attached to the wheel by engaging the engaging portion with an attached portion provided on the wheel side. The engaging portion has an engaging leg that protrudes from the wheel cap body and can be tilted to the edge side of the attached portion and the side opposite to the edge of the attached portion. An urging member is engaged with the engaging leg, and the engaging leg is urged by the urging member to the edge side of the attached portion. The engaging leg has a first surface that can contact the edge of the attached portion in a state where the engaging leg is tilted from the neutral position to the side opposite to the edge of the attached portion, and a second surface that can contact the edge of the attached portion in a state where the edge of the attached portion and the first surface cannot contact each other. The second surface is inclined toward the edge side of the attached portion as it goes toward the tip side in the protruding direction of the engaging portion.

[0007] The wheel cap according to the second aspect is the wheel cap according to the first aspect, wherein the first surface is inclined toward the edge side of the attached portion as it goes toward the tip side in the protruding direction of the engaging portion.

[0008] The wheel cap according to the third aspect is the wheel cap according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein a claw portion that protrudes toward the edge side of the attached portion and has the first surface is formed on the engaging leg, and the surface on the tip side in the protruding direction of the claw portion is formed in a planar shape.

Effect of the Invention

[0009] The wheel cap according to the first aspect is attached to the wheel by engaging an engaging portion with an attached portion provided on the wheel side. Here, the engaging portion has an engaging leg that protrudes from the wheel cap body and is tiltable toward the edge side of the attached portion and the side opposite to the edge of the attached portion. Further, a biasing member is engaged with the engaging leg, and the engaging leg is biased toward the edge side of the attached portion by the biasing member. Therefore, the engaging portion is engaged with the attached portion on the wheel side in a state where the engaging leg abuts against the edge of the attached portion by the biasing force of the biasing member. Further, the engaging leg has a first surface that can abut against the edge of the attached portion in a state where the engaging leg is tilted from the neutral position to the side opposite to the edge of the attached portion, and a second surface that can abut against the edge of the attached portion in a state where the edge of the attached portion and the first surface cannot abut against each other. Further, the second surface is inclined toward the edge side of the attached portion as it goes toward the tip side in the protruding direction of the engaging portion. In this configuration, compared with a configuration in which the second surface is not inclined toward the edge side of the attached portion as it goes toward the tip side in the protruding direction of the engaging portion, the amount of inclination of the engaging leg toward the edge side of the attached portion until the second surface abuts against the edge of the attached portion can be reduced. Thus, in the wheel cap according to the first aspect, the tilting of the engaging leg can be suppressed.

[0010] In the wheel cap according to the second aspect, the first surface is inclined toward the edge side of the attached portion as it goes toward the tip side in the protruding direction of the engaging portion. In this configuration, compared with a configuration in which the first surface is not inclined toward the edge side of the attached portion as it goes toward the tip side in the protruding direction of the engaging portion, it is possible to suppress the engaging portion from coming off the attached portion on the wheel side.

[0011] In the wheel cap according to the third aspect, a claw portion that protrudes toward the edge side of the attached portion and has a first surface is formed on the engaging leg. Further, the surface on the tip side in the protruding direction of the claw portion is formed in a planar shape. Thereby, in the wheel cap according to the third aspect, when engaging the engaging portion with the attached portion provided on the wheel side, it is possible to prevent the tip side in the protruding direction of the claw portion from getting caught on the edge of the attached portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The wheel cap 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a wheel 12 and a wheel cap 10 attached to the wheel 12. In each figure, the front side (design surface side) of the wheel cap 10 is indicated by an arrow FS, the circumferential direction of the wheel cap 10 is indicated by an arrow L, and the radially outer side of the wheel cap 10 is indicated by an arrow R.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the wheel cap 10 is attached (mounted) to the front side (outer side in the vehicle width direction) of the wheel 12. The wheel cap 10 includes a resin wheel cap body 14 having a substantially disc-shaped outer shape. One side (the arrow FS direction side) in the axial direction (the rotation axis direction of the wheel 12 and the wheel cap 10) of the wheel cap body 14 is a design surface 14A. In the following description, the "axial direction" refers to the rotation axis direction of the wheel 12 and the wheel cap 10. A plurality of decorative holes 16A and 16B, each having a substantially trapezoidal shape, are formed in the wheel cap body 14 so as to penetrate in the axial direction. The plurality of decorative holes 16A and 16B are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the wheel cap body 14. As a result, the shape of the plurality of decorative holes 16A and 16B as viewed from the design surface 14A side is radial.

[0016] The wheel 12 is made of metal (for example, aluminum or steel). The wheel 12 is rotatably supported by being attached to the hub of the vehicle. And by attaching the wheel cap 10 to the wheel 12, a defined range in the wheel 12 is covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the wheel cap body 14.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the outer peripheral portion of the wheel 12, mounting holes 18 as mounting portions are formed so as to penetrate in the axial direction. In this embodiment, a plurality of mounting holes 18 are formed on the outer peripheral portion of the wheel 12. Further, the plurality of mounting holes 18 are respectively arranged at defined positions in the circumferential direction and the radial direction. Furthermore, the plurality of mounting holes 18 are formed in a shape that gradually narrows as it goes toward the other side in the axial direction (the side opposite to the arrow FS direction). Note that the shape of the edge of the mounting hole 18 when viewed from the outside in the vehicle width direction may be circular or rectangular.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the wheel cap 10 includes a plurality of engaging portions 20 that project from the wheel cap body 14 toward the other side in the axial direction (the wheel 12 side). By engaging the plurality of engaging portions 20 with the plurality of mounting holes 18 formed in the wheel 12 respectively, the wheel cap 10 is attached to the wheel 12 and the attached state of the wheel cap 10 to the wheel 12 is maintained.

[0019] More specifically, the engaging portion 20 includes a pair of engaging legs 22 that project from the wheel cap body 14 toward the other side in the axial direction (the wheel 12 side). These pair of engaging legs 22 can be tilted in directions approaching and separating from each other with the wheel cap body 14 side as the tilting center. Here, the center line C shown in FIG. 1 is a line that is parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel cap 10 and is located at the center between the pair of engaging legs 22. In the following description, this center line C will be referred to as the engaging portion center line C.

[0020] The engaging leg 22 includes a leg post 26 that protrudes axially toward the other side from the wheel cap body 14, a claw portion 32 that protrudes from the end portion of the leg post 26 on the other side in the axial direction toward the side opposite to the engaging portion center line C, and a protrusion portion 38 that protrudes from the end portion of the leg post 26 on the other side in the axial direction toward the engaging portion center line C side. The leg post 26 is formed in a rectangular plate shape with the direction orthogonal to the engaging portion center line C as the thickness direction. Further, the claw portion 32 is formed in a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the engaging portion center line C and the direction in which the pair of engaging legs 22 are arranged. The surface of the claw portion 32 on the wheel cap body 14 side is a first inclined surface 32A as a first surface that inclines toward the side opposite to the engaging portion center line C (the edge side of the mounting hole 18) as it goes from the one side in the axial direction to the other side. Also, the surface of the claw portion 32 on the side opposite to the wheel cap body 14 is a tip inclined surface 32B that inclines toward the engaging portion center line C side (the side opposite to the edge of the mounting hole 18) as it goes from the one side in the axial direction to the other side. Further, the surface of the claw portion 32 on the tip side of the protruding direction with respect to the leg post 26 is a flat surface 32C that extends in the direction along the engaging portion center line C. The one side in the axial direction and the other side in the axial direction of this flat surface 32C are respectively connected to the first inclined surface 32A and the tip inclined surface 32B.

[0021] Also, the engaging leg 22 includes a thickened portion 33 that bulges toward the side opposite to the engaging portion center line C from the portion on the other side in the axial direction of the leg post 26 and the portion on the one side in the axial direction of the claw portion 32. In FIG. 1, the cross-sectional hatching is omitted. Also, the hatching attached in FIG. 1 indicates the thickened portion 33. The surface of the thickened portion 33 on the side opposite to the engaging portion center line C is a second inclined surface 33A as a second surface that inclines toward the side opposite to the engaging portion center line C (the edge side of the mounting hole 18) as it goes from the one side in the axial direction to the other side. The other side in the axial direction of this second inclined surface 33A is connected to the first inclined surface 32A.

[0022] A pair of engaging legs 22 are attached with an engaging spring 36 as a biasing member. This engaging spring 36 is formed using a metal plate and includes a U-shaped portion 39 curved in a substantially U shape and a pair of locking portions 40 respectively locked to the protruding portions 38 of the pair of engaging legs 22. And this engaging spring 40 biases one engaging leg 22 toward the side opposite to the engaging portion center line C and biases the other engaging leg 22 toward the side opposite to the engaging portion center line C. Here, the position of the pair of engaging legs 22 in the state where the engaging spring 36 is attached to the pair of engaging legs 22 and before the engaging portion 20 (pair of engaging legs 22) engages with the mounting hole 18 will be referred to as the neutral position.

[0023] (Operation and Effect of this Embodiment) Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wheel cap 10 is attached to the wheel 12 by inserting a plurality of engaging portions 20 into a plurality of mounting holes 18 formed in the wheel 12 respectively. More specifically, when inserting the engaging portion 20 into the mounting hole 18, the tip inclined surfaces 32B of the respective claw portions 32 of the pair of engaging legs 22 abut against the edge of the mounting hole 18. In the state where the tip inclined surfaces 32B of the respective claw portions 32 of the pair of engaging legs 22 abut against the edge of the mounting hole 18, when the engaging portion 20 is pushed into the mounting hole 18, the pair of engaging legs 22 bend (tilt) toward the engaging portion center line C side against the biasing force of the engaging spring 36. Then, when the engaging portion 20 is further pushed into the mounting hole 18, the respective claw portions 32 of the pair of engaging legs 22 get over the edge of the mounting hole 18. And the pair of engaging legs 22 abut against the edge of the mounting hole 18 by the biasing force of the engaging spring 36. Thereby, the attached state of the wheel cap 10 to the wheel 12 is maintained.

[0025] Incidentally, the dimensions and positions of each of the plurality of mounting holes 18 formed in the wheel 12 vary within a defined tolerance range. Similarly, the dimensions and positions of each of the plurality of engaging portions 20 provided in the wheel cap 10 also vary within a defined tolerance range. Therefore, in the state where the engaging portion 20 is completely engaged with the mounting hole 18, as shown in FIG. 3, it is conceivable that the engaging leg 22 is tilted toward the engaging portion center line C side with respect to the neutral position. In this case, the first inclined surface 32A of the claw portion 32 of the engaging leg 22 can come into contact with the edge of the mounting hole 18. Thereby, the mounting state of the wheel cap 10 to the wheel 12 can be maintained.

[0026] Also, in the state where the engaging portion 20 is completely engaged with the mounting hole 18, as shown in FIG. 4, it is conceivable that the first inclined surface 32A of the claw portion 32 of the engaging leg 22 cannot come into contact with the edge of the mounting hole 18. In this case, the second inclined surface 33A of the thickened portion 33 of the engaging leg 22 comes into contact with the edge of the mounting hole 18. Thereby, the mounting state of the wheel cap 10 to the wheel 12 can be maintained. Here, in the present embodiment, the second inclined surface 33A is inclined toward the side opposite to the engaging portion center line C (the edge side of the mounting hole 18) as it goes from one axial side to the other axial side. In this configuration, compared with a configuration in which the second inclined surface 33A is not inclined toward the side opposite to the engaging portion center line C as it goes from one axial side to the other axial side, that is, compared with a configuration in which the thickened portion 33 is not provided, the amount of inclination of the engaging leg 22 toward the edge side of the mounting hole 18 until the second inclined surface 33A comes into contact with the edge of the mounting hole 18 can be reduced. Thus, in the wheel cap 10 of the present embodiment, the tilting of the engaging leg 22 can be suppressed.

[0027] Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in the present embodiment, the first inclined surface 32A is inclined toward the side opposite to the engaging portion center line C (the edge side of the mounting hole 18) as it goes from one axial side to the other axial side. In this configuration, compared with a configuration in which the first inclined surface 32A is not inclined in the above direction, the extraction of the engaging portion 20 from the mounting hole 18 can be suppressed.

[0028] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the surface on the tip side in the protruding direction of the claw portion 32 with respect to the leg column 26 is a flat surface 32C. With this configuration, when inserting the engaging portion 20 into the mounting hole 18, it is possible to prevent the tip side in the protruding direction of the claw portion 32 from being caught by the edge of the mounting hole 18.

[0029] In the present embodiment, an example where the surface on the tip side in the protruding direction of the claw portion 32 with respect to the leg column 26 is a flat surface 32C has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration in which the tip side in the protruding direction of the claw portion 32 with respect to the leg column 26 has a pointed shape may be adopted.

[0030] Also, in the present embodiment, an example where the first inclined surface 32A is inclined toward the side opposite to the engaging portion center line C (the edge side of the mounting hole 18) as it goes from one side in the axial direction to the other side has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration in which the first inclined surface 32A is not inclined in the above direction may also be adopted.

[0031] As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been explained. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that various modifications other than the above can be implemented within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0032] 10 Wheel cap 12 Wheel 14 Wheel cap body 18 Mounting hole (mounted portion) 20 Engaging portion 22 Engaging leg 32 Claw portion 32A First inclined surface (first surface) 32C Flat surface (surface on the tip side in the protruding direction of the claw portion) 33A Second inclined surface (second surface) 36 Engaging spring (biasing member)

Claims

1. A wheel cap having a wheel cap body and an engaging portion, wherein the engaging portion is engaged with an attached portion provided on the wheel side to be attached to the wheel, The engaging portion has an engaging leg that protrudes from the wheel cap body and is tiltable toward the edge side of the attached portion and the side opposite to the edge of the attached portion, An urging member is engaged with the engaging leg, and the engaging leg is urged toward the edge side of the attached portion by the urging member, The engaging leg has a first surface that can contact the edge of the attached portion in a state where the engaging leg is tilted from the neutral position to the side opposite to the edge of the attached portion, and a second surface that can contact the edge of the attached portion in a state where the edge of the attached portion and the first surface cannot contact each other, The wheel cap, wherein the second surface is inclined toward the edge side of the attached portion as it goes toward the tip side in the protruding direction of the engaging portion.

2. The wheel cap according to claim 1, wherein the first surface is inclined toward the edge side of the attached portion as it goes toward the tip side in the protruding direction of the engaging portion.

3. A claw portion that protrudes toward the edge side of the attached portion and has the first surface is formed on the engaging leg, The wheel cap according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the surface on the tip side in the protruding direction of the claw portion is formed in a planar shape.

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