Wheel caps

Abstract

To obtain a wheel cap that offers increased versatility in terms of inset, wheel cap design, and engagement parts. [Solution] The wheel cap 10 is formed as a separate component from the wheel cap body 14 and the first claw member 36 and second claw member 38 that engage with the wheel. The first claw member 36 and second claw member 38 engage with the first mounting member 40 and second mounting member 42, respectively, which are fixed to the back surface 10B of the wheel cap body 14, and are fixed to the wheel cap body 14. This allows the first claw member 36 to be changed according to the difference in wheel inset, and the same wheel cap body 14 can be used. As a result, it is possible to increase versatility in inset, design of the wheel cap 10, and engaging member 34.

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.

[0003] 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, play of the wheel cap with respect to the wheel is suppressed in a state where the engaging portion is attached to the wheel.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the above prior art, with differences in the inset of the wheel and changes in the design of the wheel cap, it is necessary to respectively perform evaluations of the wheel cap, designs of the engaging claws, and design designs.

[0006] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a wheel cap capable of enhancing versatility in the inset, design, and engaging portion of the wheel cap. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The wheel cap according to the first embodiment comprises a wheel cap body and a plurality of engaging members formed from a separate component from the wheel cap body, each fixed to the wheel cap body and each engaged with a wheel, wherein at least some of the plurality of engaging members are of a different height from the other engaging members.

[0008] In the wheel cap according to the first embodiment, the wheel cap is composed of a wheel cap body and a plurality of engaging members, the wheel cap body and the plurality of engaging members being formed from separate materials. The plurality of engaging members are each fixed to the wheel cap body and each engages with the wheel, and at least some of the plurality of engaging members are of a different height from the other engaging members.

[0009] Thus, in this embodiment, since multiple engaging members are formed as separate components from the wheel cap body, the engaging members can be changed to match the inset and the design of the wheel cap, thereby enabling the use of the same wheel cap body and improving versatility.

[0010] In this embodiment, at least some of the multiple engaging members are of a different height from the others. Therefore, it is possible to apply engaging members of different heights to match the difference in inset. Furthermore, by using engaging members of different heights with respect to the wheel cap body, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in mounting the wheel cap even with the same design. As a result, in this embodiment, it is possible to increase versatility in terms of inset, wheel shape, and wheel cap design.

[0011] In this embodiment, since at least some of the multiple engaging members have a different height from the other engaging members, all engaging members may have different heights from the other engaging members. This makes it possible to adjust the engaging members to accommodate variations in wheel dimensions. Furthermore, the engaging members may be arranged along the circumferential and radial directions of the wheel cap body, or they may be arranged randomly.

[0012] The wheel cap according to the second embodiment is configured such that, in the wheel cap according to the first embodiment, at least a portion of the plurality of engaging members are arranged circumferentially on the wheel cap body and include a plurality of first engaging portions that can engage with a first engaged portion provided circumferentially on the wheel.

[0013] In the wheel cap according to the second embodiment, at least a portion of the plurality of engaging members includes a plurality of first engaging portions arranged circumferentially on the wheel cap body. On the other hand, the wheel is provided with a first engaged portion along the circumferential direction, and each of the plurality of first engaging portions is capable of engaging with this first engaged portion. In this embodiment, the wheel cap body is attached to the wheel via the first engaging portions and the first engaged portions by the plurality of first engaging portions engaging with each of the first engaged portions of the wheel.

[0014] In this embodiment, at least some of the multiple engaging members are arranged circumferentially on the wheel cap body, so all engaging members may be arranged circumferentially on the wheel cap body. In this case, they may be arranged along one or more concentric circles that form the center of the wheel cap body. Furthermore, by arranging multiple engaging members along concentric circles, multiple engaging members may be arranged radially.

[0015] The wheel cap according to the third embodiment is a wheel cap according to the first or second embodiment, wherein at least some of the plurality of first engaging portions are of a different height from the other first engaging portions.

[0016] In the wheel cap according to the third embodiment, at least some of the multiple first engaging portions are of a different height from the other first engaging portions. As a result, in this embodiment, even if the distance between the wheel and the wheel cap is different, the wheel cap can be applied by using first engaging portions of different heights, thereby increasing the versatility of the wheel cap.

[0017] In this embodiment, since at least some of the multiple first engaging portions have a different height from the other first engaging portions, all of the first engaging portions may have a different height from the other first engaging portions. This makes it possible to adjust the first engaging portions to accommodate variations in wheel dimensions.

[0018] The wheel cap according to the fourth embodiment is a wheel cap according to any one of the first to third embodiments, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of first engaging portions are arranged so that adjacent first engaging portions along the circumferential direction have different heights.

[0019] In the wheel cap according to the fourth embodiment, at least some of the multiple first engaging portions include first engaging portions of different heights along the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, by using first engaging portions of different heights along the circumferential direction, the wheel cap can be applied even when the first engaged portion provided on the wheel is formed in a wavy shape along the circumferential direction, thereby increasing the versatility of the wheel cap.

[0020] In addition, in this aspect, among the plurality of first engaging portions, at least a part of them are arranged along the radial direction, and since those in which the heights of adjacent first engaging portions are different are included, in all the first engaging portions, the heights of the first engaging portions adjacent along the circumferential direction may be different.

[0021] The wheel cap according to the fifth aspect is the wheel cap according to any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, and among the plurality of engaging members, at least a part of them includes a plurality of second engaging portions that are arranged along the radial direction in the wheel cap main body and can be engaged with a second engaged portion provided along the radial direction in the wheel.

[0022] In the wheel cap according to the fifth aspect, among the plurality of engaging members, at least some of the engaging members include a plurality of second engaging portions that are arranged along the radial direction in the wheel cap main body. On the other hand, the wheel is provided with a second engaged portion along the radial direction, and the plurality of second engaging portions can be respectively engaged with this second engaged portion. In this aspect, by engaging the plurality of second engaging portions with the second engaged portion of the wheel respectively, the wheel cap main body is attached to the wheel via the second engaging portion and the second engaged portion.

[0023] In addition, in this aspect, since at least a part of the plurality of engaging members are arranged along the radial direction in the wheel cap main body, all the engaging members may be arranged along the radial direction in the wheel cap main body. By arranging a plurality of engaging members that are composed of a plurality along the radial direction, the plurality of engaging members may be arranged along the circumferential direction.

[0024] The wheel cap according to the sixth aspect is the wheel cap according to the fifth aspect, and among the plurality of second engaging portions, at least a part of them includes those having a different height from other second engaging portions.

[0025] In the wheel cap according to the sixth aspect, among the plurality of second engaging portions, at least some of the second engaging portions include those having a different height from other second engaging portions. Thereby, in this aspect, even if the distance between the wheel and the wheel cap is different, the wheel cap can be applied by using the second engaging portions having different heights, and the versatility of the wheel cap can be enhanced.

[0026] Note that in this aspect, since at least some of the plurality of second engaging portions include those having a different height from other second engaging portions, the height of all the second engaging portions may be different from that of other second engaging portions. Thereby, it is also possible to adjust the second engaging portion according to the variation in the dimensions of the wheel.

[0027] The wheel cap according to the seventh aspect is the wheel cap according to the fifth aspect or the sixth aspect, and among the plurality of second engaging portions, at least some of the second engaging portions include those having substantially the same height as the second engaging portions arranged on the opposite side in the radial direction of the wheel cap.

[0028] In the wheel cap according to the seventh aspect, among the plurality of second engaging portions, at least some of the second engaging portions include those having substantially the same height as the second engaging portions arranged on the opposite side in the radial direction of the wheel cap. In this aspect, when the distance between the wheel and the wheel cap is substantially the same on the opposite sides in the radial direction, the wheel cap can be applied by using the second engaging portions having substantially the same height, and the versatility of the wheel cap can be enhanced.

[0029] Note that in this aspect, since at least some of the plurality of second engaging portions include those having substantially the same height as the second engaging portions arranged on the opposite side in the radial direction of the wheel cap, the height of all the second engaging portions arranged on the opposite side in the radial direction of the wheel cap may be substantially the same.

[0030] The wheel cap according to the eighth embodiment is a wheel cap according to any one of the first to seventh embodiments, and includes an engaging body which is composed of a plurality of engaging members from among the plurality of engaging members.

[0031] In the wheel cap according to the eighth embodiment, an engaging body is provided which is composed of multiple engaging members, some of which are some of the multiple engaging members, thereby reducing the number of parts and improving ease of assembly.

[0032] The wheel cap according to the ninth embodiment includes a wheel cap according to the eighth embodiment in which the engaging member constituting the engaging body and other engaging members that do not constitute the engaging body differ in height in at least a portion of the case.

[0033] In the wheel cap according to the ninth embodiment, at least some of the engaging members that constitute the engaging body and other engaging members that do not constitute the engaging body have different heights. As a result, in this embodiment, the wheel cap can be applied even if the distance between the wheel and the wheel cap is different, by using the engaging body and other engaging members, thereby increasing the versatility of the wheel cap.

[0034] In this embodiment, since the engaging members that constitute the engaging body and the other engaging members that do not constitute the engaging body have different heights in at least some respects, the engaging members that constitute the engaging body and the other engaging members that do not constitute the engaging body may have different heights.

[0035] The wheel cap according to the tenth embodiment is a wheel cap according to the eighth or ninth embodiment, wherein at least some of the multiple engaging members constituting the engaging body are of substantially the same height.

[0036] In the wheel cap according to the tenth embodiment, at least some of the multiple engaging members constituting the engaging body are of approximately the same height. As a result, in this embodiment, if at least a portion of the distance between the wheel and the wheel cap includes engaging members of approximately the same height, the wheel cap can be applied by using this engaging body, thereby increasing the versatility of the wheel cap.

[0037] In this embodiment, since at least some of the multiple engaging members constituting the engaging body have approximately the same height, the height of the engaging body and all other engaging members may be approximately the same.

[0038] The wheel cap according to the 11th embodiment is a wheel cap according to any one of the eighth to tenth embodiments, wherein at least some of the multiple engaging members constituting the engaging body are of different heights.

[0039] In the wheel cap according to the 11th embodiment, at least some of the multiple engaging members constituting the engaging body are of different heights. As a result, in this embodiment, if at least some of the distance between the wheel and the wheel cap is of different heights, the wheel cap can be applied by using the engaging body, thereby increasing the versatility of the wheel cap.

[0040] In this embodiment, since at least some of the multiple engaging members constituting the engaging body are of different heights, the heights of the engaging members constituting the engaging body may be different.

[0041] The wheel cap according to the 12th embodiment is a wheel cap according to any one of the 8th to 11th embodiments, wherein the engaging body is configured to include a connecting portion that connects a plurality of the engaging members.

[0042] In the wheel cap according to the twelfth embodiment, the engaging body is configured to include a connecting portion that connects a plurality of engaging members, thereby reducing the number of parts and improving ease of assembly.

[0043] The wheel cap according to the 13th embodiment is a wheel cap according to the 12th embodiment in which the connecting portion is a first connecting portion that connects a plurality of the engaging members in an arc shape.

[0044] In the wheel cap according to the 13th embodiment, the connecting portion is a first connecting portion that connects a plurality of engaging members in an arc shape, and the plurality of engaging members are arranged in an arc shape by being connected to the first connecting portion. Therefore, in this embodiment, for example, it is possible to engage the plurality of engaging members with a first engaged portion provided along the circumferential direction of the wheel via the first connecting portion.

[0045] The wheel cap according to the 14th embodiment is a wheel cap according to the 12th or 13th embodiment in which the connecting portion is a second connecting portion that linearly connects a plurality of the engaging members.

[0046] In the wheel cap according to the 14th embodiment, the connecting portion is a second connecting portion that linearly connects a plurality of engaging members, and by connecting the plurality of engaging members to the second connecting portion, the plurality of engaging members are arranged linearly. Therefore, in this embodiment, for example, it is possible to engage the plurality of engaging members with a second engaged portion provided radially along the wheel via the second connecting portion.

[0047] The wheel cap according to the 15th embodiment is a wheel cap according to any one of the first to 14th embodiments, wherein a mounting member is provided on the back side of the wheel cap body, and the mounting member is configured to fix the engaging member.

[0048] In the wheel cap according to the 15th embodiment, a mounting member is provided on the back side of the wheel cap body, and the mounting member is configured to fix the engaging member. In other words, in this embodiment, the engaging member is fixed to the mounting member by engaging it with the mounting member provided on the back side of the wheel cap body. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to improve the ease of assembly of the engaging member compared to the case in which the engaging member is fixed to the back side of the wheel cap body.

[0049] The wheel cap according to the 16th embodiment is a wheel cap according to any one of the first to 15 embodiments, wherein the wheel cap body is shaped to cover at least a part of the wheel and is composed of a plurality of divided parts that are divided along the circumferential direction of the wheel cap body.

[0050] In the wheel cap according to the 16th embodiment, the wheel cap body is shaped to cover at least a portion of the wheel and is composed of a plurality of divided sections along the circumferential direction of the wheel cap body. As a result, in this embodiment, if a part of the wheel cap body is damaged, only the damaged section needs to be replaced, which is a lower-cost solution compared to replacing the entire wheel cap body.

[0051] In this embodiment, the wheel cap body is shaped to cover at least a portion of the wheel; however, it may also be shaped to cover the entire wheel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0052] As described above, the wheel cap according to the present invention makes it possible to reduce the amount of work required to change the design, and increases versatility in the inset, wheel cap design, and engagement part. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0053] [Figure 1] This is a front view of the wheel cap according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a front view showing a wheel to which the wheel cap according to this embodiment is engaged. [Figure 3] This is an exploded perspective view showing the wheel cap body and engaging member of the wheel cap according to this embodiment, as seen from the rear side. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the wheel cap according to this embodiment, seen from the rear side. [Figure 5] This is an exploded perspective view showing the first claw member of the first engaging portion of the engaging member that constitutes a part of the wheel cap according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing the first claw member of the first engaging portion of the engaging member that constitutes a part of the wheel cap according to this embodiment. [Figure 7] This is an exploded perspective view showing the second claw member of the second engaging portion of the engaging member that constitutes a part of the wheel cap according to this embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing the second claw member of the second engaging portion of the engaging member that constitutes a part of the wheel cap according to this embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a partial cross-sectional view showing the wheel cap and wheel according to this embodiment. [Figure 10] This is a partial cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 9, showing a modified example 1 of the wheel cap and wheel according to this embodiment. [Figure 11] This is a partial cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 9, showing a modified example 2 of the wheel cap and wheel according to this embodiment. [Figure 12] This is a perspective view corresponding to Figure 4, showing a modified example 3 of the wheel cap according to this embodiment. [Figure 13] This is a front view of a wheel showing a modified example 4 of the wheel cap according to this embodiment. [Figure 14] This is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the positional relationship between the inset centerline and the wheel mounting surface. [Figure 15] (A) is a cross-sectional view showing the so-called outset state, (B) is a cross-sectional view showing the so-called zero-set state, and (C) is a cross-sectional view showing the so-called inset state. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0054] A wheel cap according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (Wheel cap configuration) Figure 1 shows a front view of the design surface 10A side of the wheel cap 10, and Figure 2 shows a front view of the design surface 12A side of the wheel 12 to which the wheel cap 10 is attached.

[0055] In each figure, one side of the wheel 12 and wheel cap 10 in the circumferential direction of rotation is indicated by arrow L, the outer side of the wheel 12 and wheel cap 10 in the radial direction of rotation is indicated by arrow R, and one side of the wheel 12 and wheel cap 10 in the axial direction of rotation is indicated by arrow FS. Furthermore, in the following explanation, the axial direction, radial direction, and circumferential direction of rotation of the wheel 12 and wheel cap 10 may be simply referred to as the axial direction, radial direction, and circumferential direction, respectively.

[0056] The wheel 12 shown in Figure 2 is made of metal (for example, an aluminum alloy) and has a substantially cylindrical shape. This wheel 12 is rotatably supported by being fixed to a vehicle hub (not shown). A wheel cap 10 (see Figure 1, etc.) is attached to the wheel 12 from the outside in the vehicle width direction, so that the wheel 12 is covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the wheel cap 10.

[0057] Here, the radially inner portion of the wheel 12 forms a center portion 16 that is fixed to the hub. Multiple bolt insertion holes 18 are formed in this center portion 16. Bolts for fixing the wheel 12 to the hub are inserted into these bolt insertion holes 18. A first hole portion (first engaged portion) 19 is formed in the center of the multiple bolt insertion holes 18, and the tip of the vehicle's axle can be inserted into the first hole portion 19.

[0058] Furthermore, the radially outer portion of the wheel 12 is the rim portion 20 to which the tire is attached. In addition, multiple spokes 22 are provided between the center portion 16 and the rim portion 20 of the wheel 12, connecting the center portion 16 and the rim portion 20.

[0059] In this embodiment, 12 spokes 22 are provided, and these 12 spokes 22 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the wheel 12. The 12 spokes 22 are further divided into 6 first spokes 22A and 6 second spokes B, which are also arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the wheel 12. Through holes (first engaged portion, second engaged portion) 23 are provided between the first spokes 22A and 2 spokes 22B, penetrating the wheel 12 in the axial direction, and the first spokes 22A and 2 spokes 22B are formed alternately along the circumferential direction of the wheel 12 with the through holes 23 in between.

[0060] On the radially outer portion of the wheel 12 at the first spoke 22A, rectangular portions 24 protrude from both sides of the wheel 12 in the circumferential direction, respectively. These rectangular portions 24 are formed with their longitudinal direction aligned with the radial direction of the wheel 12, and within the rectangular portions 24, a second hole (first engaged portion, second engaged portion) 26 is formed, forming a rectangular shape with respect to the first spoke 22A. Note that the second hole 26 is not limited to a rectangular shape and may be of other shapes such as a round hole or a groove. On the other hand, a substantially rectangular convex bead 27 extends along the radial direction of the wheel 12 at the circumferential center of the second spoke 22B.

[0061] The wheel cap 10 shown in Figure 1 is made of resin and has a roughly disc-like shape. The radially inner portion of the wheel cap 10 is a center-side covering portion 28 that covers the center portion 16 of the wheel 12 (see Figure 2).

[0062] On the other hand, a notch 30 is cut out along the radial direction of the wheel cap 10 on the radially outer portion of the wheel cap 10. Multiple notches 30 (six in this case) are formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the wheel cap 10. Due to these notches 30, the radially outer portion of the wheel cap 10 is composed of six disc-side covering portions 32 formed in a roughly fan shape. These six disc-side covering portions 32 are connected by a center-side covering portion 28.

[0063] Furthermore, decorative holes 33 are formed in the circumferential center of each of the six disc-side covering portions 32, penetrating the disc-side covering portion 32 in the axial direction. The edges of these decorative holes 33 are rectangular in shape, with the radial direction of the disc-side covering portion 32 as the longitudinal direction. With the wheel cap 10 (see Figure 1, etc.) attached to the wheel 12 from the outside in the vehicle width direction, the convex bead 27 provided on the second spoke 22B can be exposed through these decorative holes 33.

[0064] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the wheel cap 10 comprises a wheel cap body 14 formed in a substantially disc shape and an engaging member 34 fixed to the back surface 10B side of the wheel cap body 14, which is opposite to the design surface 10A (see Figure 1). The engaging member 34 comprises a first claw member (first engaging portion, engaging member, engaging body) 36 and a second claw member (first engaging portion, second engaging portion, engaging member, engaging body) 38, the first claw member 36 being provided on the center-side covering portion 28 side and the second claw member 38 being provided on the disc-side covering portion 32 side.

[0065] Furthermore, a first mounting member (mounting member) 40 is provided on the center-side covering portion 28 on the back surface 10B side of the wheel cap body 14, to which the first claw member 36 is engaged (fixed), and a second mounting member (mounting member) 42 is provided on the disc-side covering portion 32 side, to which the second claw member 38 is engaged (fixed).

[0066] (First engaged portion and first engaging portion) First, the first mounting member 40 and the first claw member (first engaging portion) 36 will be described.

[0067] As shown in Figure 5, the first mounting member 40 is composed of, for example, three engaging portions 44, which are formed by fan-shaped arc portions arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the center-side covering portion 28 on the back surface 10B side of the wheel cap body 14.

[0068] The engaged portion 44 has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially inverted L-shaped when cut along the axial direction of the wheel cap 10, and is composed of a vertical wall portion 46 that rises from the center side covering portion 28 and an engaged piece 48 that bends from the tip of the vertical wall portion 46 toward each other.

[0069] The vertical wall portion 46 is fixed to the back surface 14B of the wheel cap body 14 (center side covering portion 28) by welding, adhesive, etc., and the engaging piece 48 has an engaging hole 44A formed in the center in the curvature direction.

[0070] On the other hand, the first claw member 36 is an engaging body that includes a plurality of engaging claws 50 that engage with the first hole 19 formed in the rotation center (center portion 16) of the wheel 12 shown in Figure 2.

[0071] The engaging claw 50 is composed of a first claw portion 50A that engages with the first hole portion 19, and a leg piece 50B provided on the base side of the first claw portion 50A. More precisely, the first claw portion 50A is locked to the peripheral portion of the first hole portion 19.

[0072] On the other hand, the leg piece 50B is erected from a disc-shaped base (first connecting part, linking part) 52 and is arranged in an arc shape along the shape of the base 52. The first claw part 50A extends from the tip of the leg piece 50B. In addition, a triangular rib 50C is provided at the base of the outer surface (radially outward side of the base 52) of the leg piece 50B, forming a triangular shape with the base 52. The leg piece 50B is reinforced by this triangular rib 50C.

[0073] Furthermore, a cylindrical neck portion 54 hangs down from the center of the lower surface of the base 52. A triangular plate 56 is provided below the neck portion 54. The circumscribed circle of this triangular plate 56 is set to have an outer diameter larger than the virtual circle formed by the tip surface 48A of the engaged piece 48 which constitutes part of the engaged portion 44 provided on the first mounting member 40, and an outer diameter smaller than the virtual circle formed by the inner surface 46A of the vertical wall portion 46 which constitutes another part of the engaged portion 44.

[0074] Furthermore, the top portion 56A of the triangular plate 56 is insertable between the engaged portions 44 located adjacent to the center-side covering portion 28 on the back surface 10B side of the wheel cap body 14. In addition, each top portion 56A is provided with a boss 58 that can engage with an engaged hole 44A formed in the engaged piece 48.

[0075] Here, the triangular plate 56 is pre-set to have a thickness that allows it to be inserted between the back surface 10B of the wheel cap body 14 and the engaged piece 48, and the neck portion 54 is pre-set to have a length that allows the engaged piece 48 to be inserted between the triangular plate 56 and the base 52.

[0076] Therefore, after the first claw member 36 is positioned such that the top portion 56A of the triangular plate 56 is positioned between the engaged portions 44 of the first mounting member 40, when the first claw member 36 is rotated along the circumferential direction of the wheel cap body 14, the triangular plate 56 is prevented from coming off by the engaged piece 48.

[0077] Furthermore, when the bosses 58 of the triangular plate 56 engage with the engagement holes 44A of the engagement piece 48, the rotation of the triangular plate 56 is restricted. In this state, as shown in Figure 6, the first claw member 36 is engaged (fixed) with respect to the first mounting member 40.

[0078] (Second engaged portion and second engaging portion) Next, the second mounting member 42 and the second claw member (second engaging portion) 38 will be described.

[0079] As shown in Figure 3, the second mounting member 42 is provided on the radially outer side of the disc-side covering portion 32 on the back surface 10B side of the wheel cap body 14, and is positioned on both sides of the disc-side covering portion 32 in the circumferential direction with a notch 30 in between.

[0080] As shown in Figures 3 and 7, the second mounting member 42 is composed of a pair of vertical wall portions 60 that are erected along the radial direction of the disc-side covering portion 32 and face each other in the circumferential direction, and a back wall portion 62 that is positioned on the outer edge side of the disc-side covering portion 32 and connects the side end faces of the pair of vertical wall portions 60. The pair of vertical wall portions 60 and the back wall portion 62 are fixed to the back surface 14B of the wheel cap body 14 (disc-side covering portion 32) by welding, adhesive, or the like.

[0081] Furthermore, the upper end surfaces of the pair of vertical wall portions 60 and the back wall portion 62 are connected to each other by the upper wall portion 64. Between the pair of vertical wall portions 60 in the upper wall portion 64, an engagement hole 66 is cut out along the pair of vertical wall portions 60. On the entrance side of the engagement hole 66, a projection 66A protrudes toward the inside of the engagement hole 66, and this projection 66A narrows the width dimension of the engagement hole 66.

[0082] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 7, the second claw member 38 is an engaging body comprising an engaging claw 68 that engages with a second hole 26 formed on the radially outer side of the wheel 12 shown in Figure 2. The engaging claw 68 comprises a pair of second claw portions 70 that engage with the second hole 26, and a pair of leg pieces 72 provided on the base side of the pair of second claw portions 70. More precisely, the pair of second claw portions 70 are locked to the periphery of the second hole 26.

[0083] Furthermore, the pair of leg pieces 72 are erected from a rectangular plate-shaped base (second connecting part, linking part) 74 and are arranged in a straight line along the shape of the base 74. The second claw portion 70 is formed on the outer surface of the tip of the pair of leg pieces 72, projecting in a direction away from each other. On the inner surface of the tip of the pair of leg pieces 72, there are each hooking portion 76 that project in a direction toward each other.

[0084] A pair of latching portions 76 are designed to latch onto rectangular holes 78A formed at the ends of a leaf spring member 78 that is curved in a roughly V-shape. The leaf spring member 78 is made of, for example, metal, and both ends of the leaf spring member 78 are biased in a direction that moves them apart from each other. In other words, the second claw portions 70 provided at the tips of the pair of leg pieces 72 are biased in a direction that moves them apart from each other via the leaf spring member 78.

[0085] Furthermore, a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped neck portion 79 hangs down from the center of the lower surface of the base 74 along a pair of leg pieces 72. This neck portion 79 is insertable into an engagement hole 66 formed in the upper wall portion 64 of the second mounting member 42. A rectangular plate-shaped clamping portion 80, formed to be approximately the same size as the base 74, is provided on the lower side of the neck portion 79, and the length of the neck portion 79 is set to allow the upper wall portion 64 of the second mounting member 42 to be inserted between the base 74 and the clamping portion 80.

[0086] Therefore, the upper wall portion 64 of the second mounting member 42 is inserted between the base 74 and the clamping portion 80 of the second claw member 38, and the neck portion 79 is inserted into the engagement hole 66 of the upper wall portion 64. A projection 66A protrudes from the entrance side of the engagement hole 66, causing the neck portion 79 to be pressed into the engagement hole 66. Once the neck portion 79 passes the projection 66A, the projection 66A prevents the neck portion 79 from coming out. In this state, as shown in Figure 8, the second claw member 38 is engaged (fixed) to the second mounting member 42.

[0087] (The function and effect of wheel caps) In this embodiment, with the configuration described above, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first claw portion 50A formed on the engaging claw 50 of the first claw member 36, which is fixed to the first mounting member 40 provided on the back surface 10B of the wheel cap body 14, is engaged with the first hole portion 19 formed in the center portion 16 of the wheel 12 shown in Figure 2.

[0088] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the second claw portion 70 formed on the engaging claw 68 of the second claw member 38, which is fixed to the second mounting member 42 provided on the back surface 10B of the wheel cap body 14, is engaged with the second hole portion 26 formed on the radially outer side of the wheel 12 as shown in Figure 2. This allows the wheel cap 10 to be attached to the wheel 12.

[0089] As shown in Figure 7, the second claw member 38 is provided with a leaf spring member 78, which biases the second claw portions 70 in a direction that separates them from each other. This increases the engagement force that causes the second claw portions 70 to engage with the second hole portion 26 shown in Figure 2, and maintains the state in which the second claw portions 70 are engaged with the second hole portion 26.

[0090] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the wheel cap 10 is formed as a separate component from the wheel cap body 14 and the engaging member 34 that engages with the wheel 12. The engaging member 34 includes a first claw member 36 and a second claw member 38. The first claw member 36 and the second claw member 38 engage with a first mounting member 40 and a second mounting member 42, respectively, which are fixed to the back surface 10B of the wheel cap body 14, and are fixed to the wheel cap body 14.

[0091] For example, as generally shown in Figure 14, the positional relationship between the inset center line P and the mounting surface Q of the wheel 100 can be so-called outset as shown in Figure 15(A), so-called zero set as shown in Figure 15(B), or so-called inset as shown in Figure 15(C).

[0092] In the outset shown in Figure 15(A), the mounting surface Q of the wheel 100 is positioned inside the vehicle (towards arrow A) relative to the inset center line P. In the zero-set shown in Figure 15(B), the mounting surface Q of the wheel 100 is positioned to coincide with the inset center line P. Furthermore, in the inset shown in Figure 15(C), the mounting surface Q of the wheel 100 is positioned outside the vehicle (towards arrow B) relative to the inset center line P.

[0093] In other words, the positional relationship between the inset center line P and the mounting surface Q of the wheel 12 (see Figure 9) differs depending on the vehicle. Therefore, on the wheel cap 10 side shown in Figure 9, the dimensions of the first claw member 36 will differ depending on the inset.

[0094] As a comparative example, if the wheel cap body 14 and the first claw member 36 are integrally molded, then a wheel cap 10 with different leg lengths (heights) of the leg piece 50B will be required to match the inset. Therefore, each time the design is changed, it will be necessary to evaluate the wheel cap 10, design the first claw member 36, and perform design work.

[0095] In contrast, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the first claw member 36 is formed as a separate component from the wheel cap body 14, so that the first claw member 36 can be changed to match the difference in inset of the wheel 12 (see Figure 9), and the same wheel cap body 14 can be used.

[0096] In other words, using the same wheel cap body 14, it becomes possible to accommodate differences in inset by using first claw members 36 with different lengths of leg pieces 50B (see Figure 9). As a result, the design freedom of the wheel cap 10 is increased in response to design changes, and versatility is enhanced in terms of inset, the design of the wheel cap 10, and the engaging member 34.

[0097] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, a first hole 19 is formed on the rotation center side of the wheel 12, and a second hole 26 is formed on the radially outer side of the wheel 12. The first claw member 36 shown in Figure 9 engages with the first hole 19, and the second claw member 38 engages with the second hole 26.

[0098] In this way, by forming the first claw member 36 and the second claw member 38 separately on the rotation center side and radially outward side of the wheel 12, the engaging member 34 itself can be made compact. Furthermore, since the shape of the first claw member 36 and the second claw member 38 can be changed, the design freedom of the wheel cap 10 for design changes is further improved. Note that in Figure 9, the orientation of the first claw parts 50A and 70 is rotated 90 degrees relative to the leg pieces 50B and 72 in order to illustrate the first claw parts 50A and 70. The same applies to Figures 10 and 11, which will be described later.

[0099] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, no holes are formed in the center covering portion 28 of the wheel cap body 14, so a cap to cover the holes is unnecessary. Therefore, the dividing line caused by using such a cap is eliminated.

[0100] Here, as shown in Figure 9, the distance between the wheel cap 10 and the wheel 12 differs on the rotational center side and the radially outward side. Since the engaging claws 50 and 68 are at different heights from the back surface 10B of the wheel cap body 14, the first claw member 36 and the second claw member 38 can engage with the wheel 12, making it possible to improve the degree of freedom of installation while maintaining the same design.

[0101] On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, the first claw member 36 is composed of a plurality of engaging claws 50, a base 52, and a triangular plate 56. As shown in Figure 9, the engaging claws 50 engage with a first hole 19 formed in the wheel 12 and are arranged along the circumferential direction of the first hole 19.

[0102] The base 52 is provided at the base of the engaging claws 50 and connects the multiple engaging claws 50 in an arc shape. The multiple engaging claws 50 are then fixed to the wheel cap body 14 side via the base 52 and the triangular plate 56, as shown in Figure 4. In this embodiment, assembly is improved by integrating the multiple engaging claws 50 with the base 52.

[0103] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, a first mounting member 40 is fixed to the wheel cap body 14, and as shown in Figure 4, the first claw member 36 is fixed to the wheel cap body 14 by engaging the triangular plate 56 with the first mounting member 40. In other words, in this embodiment, it is possible to accommodate differences in inset by changing the length (height) of the first claw member 36.

[0104] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 7, the second claw member 38 is composed of a pair of engaging claws 68, a base 74, and a clamping portion 80. The pair of engaging claws 68 are arranged facing each other. The base 74 is provided at the base of the pair of engaging claws 68 and connects the pair of engaging claws 68 together. The second claw member 38 is then fixed to the wheel cap body 14 side via the base 74 and the clamping portion 80, as shown in Figure 4. In this embodiment, assembly is improved by integrating multiple engaging claws 68 with the base 74.

[0105] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, a second mounting member 42 is fixed to the wheel cap body 14, and as shown in Figure 4, the base 74 and clamping portion 80 engage with the second mounting member 42, thereby fixing the second claw member 38 to the wheel cap body 14. Therefore, in this embodiment, the length (height) of the second claw member 38 can be changed to accommodate the shape of the wheel 12.

[0106] (Supplementary information and variations of this embodiment) In this embodiment, the wheel cap 10 shown in Figure 3 is formed of, for example, resin. However, the wheel cap 10 may be formed of a material with high decorative properties, while the first claw member 36 and the second claw member 38 may be formed of a material with high strength. In other words, the wheel cap 10 and the first claw member 36 and the second claw member 38 may be formed of different materials.

[0107] Furthermore, the first mounting member 40 is not necessarily required, and the first claw member 36 may be directly fixed to the back surface 10B of the wheel cap body 14. In this case, the triangular plate 56 shown in Figure 5 is not necessarily required for the first claw member 36.

[0108] Furthermore, the second mounting member 42 is not necessarily required, and the second claw member 38 may be directly fixed to the back surface 10B of the wheel cap body 14. In this case, the neck portion 79 and clamping portion 80 shown in Figure 7 of the second claw member 38 are not necessarily required.

[0109] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the engaging member 34 that engages with the wheel 12 (see Figure 2) has a first claw member 36 provided on the radially inner side of the wheel cap body 14 and a second claw member 38 provided on the radially outer side of the wheel cap body 14. The multiple engaging claws 50 constituting the first claw member 36 and the multiple engaging claws 70 constituting the second claw member 38 are formed at approximately the same height, but this is not limited to this configuration.

[0110] For example, as in Modification 1, as shown in Figure 10, even if the spokes 82 of the wheel 81 have different shapes, for example, if the spokes 82 are undulating radially along the axial direction and the position and number of the second holes are different, the same wheel cap body 14 can be used to accommodate them simply by increasing the position and number of the second claw members 84 and changing their shape (for example, by changing the length of the leg pieces 84A and 84B).

[0111] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, in this embodiment, the first claw member 36 and the second claw member 84 are provided at two locations on the radially inner and outer sides of the wheel cap body 14, but this is not limited to this. For example, the claw members may be provided at one, three, or other locations in the radial direction of the wheel cap body 14, in addition to the two locations shown.

[0112] Furthermore, among the multiple engaging claws 50 constituting the first claw member 36, the length (height) of some of the engaging claws 50 may differ from the length of the other engaging claws 50. In this case, the heights of adjacent engaging claws 50 along the circumferential direction may also differ.

[0113] Furthermore, although not shown in the figures, in this embodiment, the leg pieces 84A and 84B constituting the second claw member 84 may have different lengths (heights), and in a plurality of second claw members 84, the length (height) of some of the leg pieces 84A and 84B may differ from the length of the other leg pieces 84A and 84B. As described above, in this embodiment, the degree of freedom in designing the wheel cap 10 that engages with the shape of the wheel 81 is improved.

[0114] Furthermore, as a second modification, as shown in Figure 11, the wheel cap body 88 side of the wheel cap 86 may have a wavy shape with unevenness along the axial direction in the radial direction. In this case, simply by changing the shape of the second claw member 90 (for example, by changing the length of the leg pieces 90A and 90B), it becomes possible to engage the wheel cap body 88 with the wheel 12 in accordance with the shape of the wheel cap body 88.

[0115] In the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the wheel cap 10 is formed as a separate component from the wheel cap body 14 and the engaging member 34 that engages with the wheel 12 (see Figure 2), and the engaging member 34 is configured to include a first claw member 36 and second claw members 38, 84, and 90.

[0116] This makes it possible to change the specifications of the second claw member 84, for example, by changing the length of the leg pieces 84A and 84B in the second claw member 84, as shown in Figure 10. As a result, even wheels 12 of different shapes can be accommodated with the same wheel cap body 14.

[0117] In other words, in this embodiment, by applying multiple second claw members 38, 84, and 90 individually or in combination to a single wheel cap body 14, the design flexibility of the wheel cap 10 itself is improved.

[0118] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the wheel cap body 14 and the first claw member 36, second claw members 38, 84, and 90 are formed as separate components, the degree of freedom in the shape of the first claw member 36 and second claw members 38, 84, and 90, which were previously constrained by mold structure issues (slide structure) and design considerations, is improved.

[0119] In Figure 10, the second claw member 84 is provided with leg pieces 84A and 84B of different lengths, but the second claw member 84 with leg piece 84A and the second claw member 84 with leg piece 84B may be formed separately.

[0120] Furthermore, in the second claw member 84 (and similarly in the second claw members 38 and 90), it becomes possible to improve the rigidity not only of the leg piece 84A but also of the claw portion. For example, it becomes possible to form a separate claw portion that is not affected by the design and has sufficient rigidity.

[0121] This makes it possible to set the engagement direction of the claw portion with respect to the wheel 12 (see Figure 2) to a direction other than the centrifugal force direction due to the rotation of the wheel 12, which also helps to prevent detachment. Furthermore, by improving the rigidity of the claw portion, it is possible to alleviate stress due to expansion and contraction caused by thermal cycling or water absorption, and by forming the claw portion to conform to the shape of the wheel 12, it is possible to prevent rattling and abnormal noise.

[0122] In the embodiments described above, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the engaging member 34 includes a first claw member 36 that engages with a first hole 19 formed in the center portion 16 of the wheel 12 shown in Figure 2, and a second claw member 38 that engages with a second hole 26 formed on the radially outer side of the wheel 12, but is not limited to this configuration.

[0123] For example, in the above embodiment, the engaging member 34 is composed of a first claw member 36 and a second claw member 38, which have different configurations, and the first claw member 36 and the second claw member 38 are used interchangeably for the center-side covering portion 28 and the disc-side covering portion 32 of the wheel cap body 14. In contrast, as a third modification, as shown in Figure 12, the engaging member 34 may be composed of second claw members 91 and 93 formed with substantially the same configuration, and arranged along the radial direction of the wheel cap body 14.

[0124] In the first claw member 36 and the second claw member 38 shown in Figure 4, they are designed to engage with the peripheral portions of the first hole 19 and the second hole 26 formed in the wheel 12 shown in Figure 2, respectively. However, in the modified example 3, for example, the second engaging portions 91 and 93 are designed to engage (or lock) with the first spoke 22A provided on the wheel 12 shown in Figure 2.

[0125] The second engaging portion 91 includes a second claw member 91A that engages with the first spoke 22A, and a plate-shaped portion 91B that is positioned on the opposite side of the first spoke 22A that engages with the second claw member 91A and is insertable into the second hole 26. The second engaging portion 93 includes a second claw member 93A that engages with the first spoke 22A, and a plate-shaped portion 93B that is positioned on the opposite side of the first spoke 22A that engages with the second claw member 93A and is insertable into the through hole 23.

[0126] Furthermore, in the second engaging portion 91, a leaf spring (not shown) is provided between the second claw member 91A and the plate-shaped portion 91B to bias them in a direction that separates them, and in the second engaging portion 93, a leaf spring is provided between the second claw member 93A and the plate-shaped portion 93B to bias them in a direction that separates them. The plate-shaped portions 91B and 93B each have higher rigidity than the second claw members 91A and 93A, respectively.

[0127] Therefore, the leaf spring biases the second claw member 91A away from the plate-shaped portion 91B, and the second claw member 93A away from the plate-shaped portion 93B. As a result, the second claw members 91A and 93A are biased toward the first spoke 22A by the leaf spring while engaged with the first spoke 22A, and this engaged state is maintained.

[0128] As described above, in the embodiments shown, for example, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the first claw portion 50A of the first claw member 36 is engaged with the periphery of the first hole 19 of the wheel 12, and the second claw portion 70 of the second claw member 38 is engaged with the periphery of the second hole 26 of the wheel 12. In this embodiment, it is sufficient for the first claw portion 50A and the second claw portion 70 to engage with the wheel 12, so it is not necessarily required to be a hole, and the wheel 12 itself may have engaged portions formed therein that can be engaged with the first claw portion 50A and the second claw portion 70.

[0129] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, an example in which the wheel cap body 14 is formed from a single component has been described, as shown in Figure 1, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, as a modified example 4, as shown in Figure 13, the wheel cap body 92 may be composed of a plurality of divided parts 94, which are divided into six parts along the circumferential direction of the wheel cap body 92. In this case, the second claw member 96 will be provided along the longitudinal direction (radial direction of the wheel 12) of the second spoke 22B of the wheel 12 shown in Figure 2.

[0130] As described above, since the wheel cap body 92 is composed of multiple divided parts 94, if, for example, a part of the wheel cap body 92 is damaged, only the damaged divided part 94 needs to be replaced, which allows for a lower-cost solution compared to replacing the wheel cap body 14 shown in Figure 1.

[0131] Note that the wheel cap body 92 only needs to be shaped to cover at least a part of the wheel 12 (see FIG. 2), so the plurality of divided parts 94 do not necessarily have to be arranged continuously. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the wheel 12 is exposed from between the divided parts 94 arranged along the circumferential direction of the wheel 12.

[0132] As described above, an embodiment of the present invention has been explained. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and it is needless to say that various modifications other than the above can be implemented without departing from the gist thereof.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0133] 10 Wheel cap 12 Wheel 14 Wheel cap body 14B Back surface (back surface of the wheel cap body) 19 First hole portion (first engaged portion) 22B Second spoke (second engaged portion) 23 Through hole (first engaged portion, second engaged portion) 26 Second hole portion (first engaged portion, second engaged portion) 34 Engaging member 36 First claw member (first engaging portion, engaging member) 38 Second claw member (first engaging portion, second engaging portion, engaging member) 40 First mounting member 42 Second mounting member 50 Engaging claw (first claw member) 50A First claw portion (first claw member) 52 Base (first connecting portion, connecting portion, engaging body) 68 Engaging claw (second claw member) 70 Second claw portion (second claw member) 74 Base (second connecting portion, connecting portion, engaging body) 84 Second claw member (first engaging portion, second engaging portion, engaging member) 86 Wheel cap 88 Wheel cap body 90 Second claw member (first engaging portion, second engaging portion, engaging member) 91 First engaging portion (engaging member) 91A Second claw member (first engaging portion, engaging member) 92 Wheel cap body 93 First engaging portion (engaging member) 93A Second claw member (first engaging portion, engaging member) 94 Division 96 Second claw member (first engaging portion, second engaging portion, engaging member)

Claims

1. The wheel cap body and A plurality of engaging members are formed from a separate component from the wheel cap body, each fixed to the wheel cap body and each engaging with the wheel, It consists of, A wheel cap in which at least some of the aforementioned multiple engaging members are of a different height from the other engaging members.

2. The wheel cap according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of engaging members includes a plurality of first engaging portions that are arranged circumferentially on the wheel cap body and are capable of engaging with a first engaged portion provided circumferentially on the wheel.

3. The wheel cap according to claim 2, wherein at least some of the plurality of first engaging portions are of a different height from the other first engaging portions.

4. The wheel cap according to claim 2, wherein at least some of the plurality of first engaging portions are arranged in such a way that adjacent first engaging portions along the circumferential direction have different heights.

5. The wheel cap according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of engaging members includes a plurality of second engaging portions that are arranged radially in the wheel cap body and are capable of engaging with a second engaged portion provided radially in the wheel.

6. The wheel cap according to claim 5, wherein at least some of the plurality of second engaging portions are of a different height from the other second engaging portions.

7. The wheel cap according to claim 5, wherein at least some of the plurality of second engaging portions are arranged on opposite sides in the radial direction with respect to the center of the wheel cap, and the height of the second engaging portion is substantially the same.

8. The wheel cap according to claim 1, comprising an engaging body composed of a plurality of engaging members, some of the plurality of engaging members.

9. The wheel cap according to claim 8, wherein the engaging member constituting the engaging body and other engaging members not constituting the engaging body have at least a portion of different heights.

10. The wheel cap according to claim 8, wherein at least some of the multiple engaging members constituting the engaging body are of substantially the same height.

11. The wheel cap according to claim 8, wherein at least some of the multiple engaging members constituting the engaging body are of different heights.

12. The wheel cap according to claim 8, wherein the engaging body includes a connecting portion that connects a plurality of the engaging members.

13. The wheel cap according to claim 12, wherein the connecting portion is a first connecting portion that connects a plurality of the engaging members in an arc shape.

14. The wheel cap according to claim 12, wherein the connecting portion is a second connecting portion that linearly connects a plurality of the engaging members.

15. The wheel cap according to claim 1, wherein a mounting member is provided on the back side of the wheel cap body, and the mounting member is configured to fix the engaging member.

16. The wheel cap according to claim 1, wherein the wheel cap body is shaped to cover at least a part of the wheel, and is composed of a plurality of divided parts that are divided along the circumferential direction of the wheel cap body.

Images