Floating Wheel Cap

Abstract

This invention relates to the technical field of decorative members for automobile wheels and provides a floating wheel cap. [Solution] A base 2 on which a first locking block is provided, a cap body 1 arranged coaxially with the base and rotating together with the base, the cap body having several second locking blocks arranged circumferentially on the inside edge of the cap body, a transparent cover 11 fitted inside the cap body and having a second seal ring 12 between it and the cap body, and a floating unit provided in a cavity surrounded by the base and the transparent cover, including an inertial floating base 6, a bearing 7 and a counterweight 9, the inertial floating base being free to move relative to the wheel. The floating cap is rotatably connected to the base by a bearing so as to be rotatable, and a first seal ring 8 is provided between the inertial floating base and the base, and the counterweight includes a floating unit that is eccentrically provided on the inertial floating base. The double seal ring design more effectively protects the floating cap from water and dust, and the locking spring 13 is fixed to the inside of the cap body by an independent support stopper, reducing the risk of deformation of the support stopper and stably maintaining the clamping force on the wheel side so that the pushing and pulling force is not attenuated, thereby improving driving safety.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of decorative components for automobile wheels, and in particular to floating wheel caps. [Background technology]

[0002] With the increasing demand for automobile personality and brand recognition, floating wheel caps have been widely adopted. The bearing structure keeps the center emblem relatively stationary when the wheel rotates, creating the visual effect of an "emblem always standing upright." Traditional floating wheel caps generally include a base, a cap body, a bearing, a counterweight, and an emblem plate. The bearing decouples the base and cap body from rotation, ensuring the stability of the emblem plate's posture.

[0003] However, in practical use, the following defects still exist in the traditional technical solutions: Poor waterproof and dustproof performance: Water and dust can easily get into the bearing and internal cavity, which causes the bearing to corrode and wear quickly, affecting its service life. Vibration and noise issues: The internal components of the wheel cap are generally in strong contact with each other, which can easily cause vibration and resonant noise when the vehicle is running. Poor assembly stability: In traditional solutions, the locking legs on the cap body that are assembled to the wheel are directly used as position limiting members. The locking legs are caught on the wheel and must withstand the pressure when the cap body is assembled. Due to the double force, the locking legs are prone to protruding outwards and deforming, which reduces the clamping force on the wheel side. As a result, the pushing and pulling force is reduced, increasing the risk of loosening and falling off. Low modularity: The assembly of each component is complicated, which is disadvantageous for quick installation and later maintenance. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Therefore, the technical problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a floating wheel cap that overcomes the problems of the prior art, such as waterproofing, dustproofing, and preventing loosening and falling off. It has a double seal and the locking spring is locked axially by an independent support latch, ensuring that the emblem always floats stably and does not loosen or leak. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a floating wheel cap, a cap body fixedly connected to the wheel and rotating with the wheel, the cap body having a number of first locking blocks arranged in a circumferential direction on an inner edge of the cap body for connection to the wheel; a base arranged coaxially with the cap body and rotating with the cap body, the base being provided with several second locking blocks for connection to the cap body; a transparent cover fitted to the cap body, with a first seal ring provided between the transparent cover and the cap body; a floating unit provided in a cavity surrounded by the base and the transparent cover, the floating unit including an inertial floating base, a bearing, and a counterweight, the inertial floating base being rotatably connected to the base by the bearing so as to be freely rotatable with respect to the wheel, a second seal ring being provided between the inertial floating base and the base, and the counterweight being eccentrically provided on the inertial floating base, thereby stably maintaining the attitude of the inertial floating base when the wheel rotates; an emblem plate fixedly connected to the outside of the inertial floating base and stationary relative to the ground to achieve a floating visual effect; a locking spring fixedly disposed inside the cap body by a support stopper, for locking the base to the wheel in the axial direction; In one embodiment of the present invention, the base is provided with a silicone pad in a circumferential direction on the outer edge thereof.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the inertial floating base is pressed onto the inner ring of the bearing in a tight fit, forming a rotational decoupling with the base.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, a decorative ring is further provided between the transparent cover and the cap body.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the decorative ring has an electroplated layer on the outer surface thereof, and is fastened to the cap body by hooked fastening legs uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the emblem plate is fixed to the outside of the inertial floating base by adhesive backing.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the bearing is a ball bearing, the outer ring of which is abutted against the base via a bore snap ring, and the inner ring of which is abutted against the inertial floating base via a shaft snap ring, thereby realizing bidirectional axial position limiting.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the support stopper includes a support part and a stopper part that are integrally molded, and the support part has a locking groove that fits the outer diameter of the locking spring.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the cap body and the transparent cover are fixed by welding to form a sealed protective cavity for the emblem plate.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the inertial floating base and the counterweight are a single-piece injection-molded PA+PPE composite structure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the above technical solution of the present invention has the following beneficial effects: In the floating wheel cap described in this invention, the first and second sealing rings form a double waterproof and dustproof design, which more effectively protects the floating cap from water and dust. The locking spring is fixed inside the cap body by an independent support stopper. When the cap body and the wheel are connected by the first locking block, the risk of the support stopper being deformed is reduced, the clamping force on the wheel side is maintained stably, and the pushing and pulling force is not weakened, improving driving safety. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] In order to make the present invention more comprehensible, the present invention will be described in more detail below based on specific embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] 1 is a structural diagram of a floating wheel cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of the floating wheel cap of FIG. 1 from another angle. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded structural schematic diagram of the floating wheel cap of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the base structure of the present invention. [Figure 5] 2 is a structural diagram of the inertial floating base and the transparent cover of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a structural diagram of the inertial floating base of the present invention; [Figure 7] 1 is a structural diagram of a decorative ring according to the present invention; [Figure 8] 1 is a structural diagram of a support stopper according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the drawings and specific embodiments, so that those skilled in the art can better understand and practice the present invention; however, the illustrated embodiments do not limit the present invention.

[0017] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the present invention provides a floating wheel cap, A cap body 1 is fixedly connected to a wheel and rotates with the wheel, and several first locking blocks 4 are provided in the circumferential direction on the inner edge of the cap body 1 to be connected to the wheel; a base 2 arranged coaxially with the cap body 1 and rotating together with the cap body 1, the base 2 being provided with several second locking blocks 5 for connection to the cap body 1, and the cap body 1 being provided with several insertion grooves for fitting with the second locking blocks 5; a floating unit provided within the cap body 1, the floating unit including an inertial floating base 6, a bearing 7, and a counterweight 9, the inertial floating base 6 being rotatably connected to the base 2 by the bearing 7 so as to be freely rotatable relative to the wheel, a first seal ring 8 being provided between the inertial floating base 6 and the base 2, and the counterweight 9 being eccentrically provided on the inertial floating base 6, thereby stably maintaining the attitude of the inertial floating base 6 when the wheel rotates; an emblem plate 10 fixedly connected to the outside of the inertial floating base 6 and stationary relative to the ground to achieve a floating visual effect; a transparent cover 11 that is fitted inside the cap body 1 and covers the emblem plate 10, with a second seal ring 12 provided between the transparent cover 11 and the cap body 1; a locking spring 13 fixedly disposed inside the cap body 1 by a support stopper 14, for locking the base 2 to the wheel in the axial direction; The locking spring 13 is a stainless steel C-ring whose outer diameter in its free state is larger than the inner diameter of the wheel's center hole. After assembly, it generates an elastic expansion force, preventing the wheel cap from loosening or falling off in the axial direction. During assembly, the locking spring 13 is press-fitted into the wheel's center hole, and its outer diameter elastically expands, instantly locking into the trench within the hole and forming a reliable axial restriction point. The locking spring 13 absorbs vibrations, shocks, thermal expansion, and cold contraction that occur during vehicle operation, maintaining zero axial clearance between the base 2 and the wheel. For removal, the locking spring 13 can be compressed using special pliers, allowing for quick installation and removal without damaging any components.

[0018] Furthermore, a silicone pad 3 is further provided on the cap body 1 at a position where it will come into contact with the wheel, and the silicone pad 3 prevents direct contact between the cap body 1 and the wheel, reduces vibration, increases cushioning, and solves the problems of vibration and abnormal noise.

[0019] In this embodiment, the base 2 and the cap body 1 are rigidly interlocked by the second locking block 5, and the two are coaxially fixed and connected as a single unit, and rotate synchronously together with the wheel. The cap body 1 and the base 2 are engaged along the axial direction and locked by the locking block in the circumferential direction, and then the base 2 and the cap body 1 are jointly enclosed as a cavity. The cavity is defined in the radial direction by the central protrusion of the base 2 and the ring wall of the cap body 1, and is sandwiched in the axial direction by the bottom wall of the base 2 and the upper wall of the cap body 1, thereby covering the entire bearing 7, inertial floating base 6 and counterweight 9, and realizing the separation between the integrated storage space of the floating unit and the rotation space. In addition, the inside of the base 2 provides a rotation reference for the inertial floating base 6 through the bearing 7. The cap body 1 performs the functions of appearance, sealing and supporting the transparent cover 11, and the "outer rotation" The inertial floating base 6 and the emblem plate 10 form the floating core. The transparent cover 11 is fixed to the cap body 1 and serves simply as a protective window, keeping the emblem plate 10 upright at all times and providing a floating visual effect. The first and second sealing rings 8 and 12 form an L-shaped seal, more effectively protecting the floating cap from dust and water intrusion. The support stopper 14 pre-installs the locking spring 13 inside the cap body 1, automatically locking it into the wheel groove during assembly and providing axial locking force. The independent support stopper 14 fixes the locking spring 13 to the inside of the cap body 1, reducing the risk of deformation of the support stopper 14 and stably maintaining the clamping force on the wheel side without attenuating the pushing and pulling force, thereby improving driving safety.

[0020] In this embodiment, the first seal ring 8 is an annular seal ring, and the second seal ring 12 is a strip seal ring. The annular seal ring is radially fitted between the transparent cover 11 and the cap body 1 to form a continuous circumferential seal, while the end face of the strip seal ring is positioned between the base 2 and the inertial floating base 6 to provide an axial compression seal. The two seal configurations are complementary to each other, realizing a "radial + end face" L-shaped double seal, improving the reliability and service life of the entire seal.

[0021] In this embodiment, the inertial floating base 6 is pressed onto the inner ring of the bearing 7 so as to provide a tight fit, thereby forming a rotational decoupling with the base 2. The inertial floating base 6 is pressed onto the inner ring of the bearing 7 so as to provide a tight fit, thereby realizing zero-gap transmission, eliminating shaking, and ensuring the stability of the floating visual effect, in which the emblem on the emblem plate 10 always stands upright.

[0022] Preferably, the emblem plate 10 is fixed to the outside of the inertial floating base 6 by a backside adhesive 16. By using adhesion by the backside adhesive 16 instead of mechanical engagement, drilling holes in the thin emblem plate 10 is avoided, reducing the risk of cracking, and the thickness of the emblem plate 10 can be reduced, making the entire cap thinner and lighter.

[0023] As shown in Figure 6, the bearing 7 is a ball bearing, and its outer ring is attached to the base 2 via a bore snap ring 17, and its inner ring is attached to the inertial floating base 6 via a shaft snap ring 18, thereby realizing bidirectional axial position restriction. The two snap rings, consisting of the bore snap ring 17 and the shaft snap ring 18, form bidirectional axial position restriction, can withstand large impact loads, and prevent the bearing 7 from rattling when the vehicle passes over a pothole or changes lanes on a highway, ensuring the continued effectiveness of the floating function.

[0024] In this embodiment, a decorative ring 15 is further provided between the transparent cover 11 and the cap body 1, and the decorative ring 15 is provided on the inner periphery of the cap body 1. The decorative ring 15 is fitted between the transparent cover 11 and the cap body 1, thereby hiding the welding / locking marks and forming a third waterproof visor, thereby improving the appearance quality and the protection level.

[0025] As shown in Figure 7, the decorative ring 15 is provided with an electroplated layer on its outer surface, and is fastened to the outer edge of the cap body 1 by hooked locking legs 19 uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction, with several trenches formed in the cap body 1 to accommodate the hooked locking legs 19. The electroplated layer on the decorative ring 15 ensures that the decorative ring 15 will not fade even after long-term use, and simply replacing the decorative ring 15 for maintenance will give it a new look. The hooked locking legs 19 allow for quick removal without screws, thereby shortening assembly time.

[0026] 8, the support stopper 14 includes a support portion 141 and a stopper portion 142 that are integrally molded, and the support portion 141 is provided with a locking groove 143 that matches the outer diameter of the locking spring 13. The locking spring 13 is pre-installed and then inserted as a whole, and can be pushed in as a whole during assembly, thereby shortening the assembly time of a single item, and the locking groove 143 limits the opening of the locking spring 13, thereby avoiding permanent deformation due to over-expansion.

[0027] Preferably, the cap body 1 and the transparent cover 11 are fixed by welding to form a sealed protective cavity for the emblem plate 10 .

[0028] In this embodiment, the inertial floating base 6 and the counterweight 9 are a PA+PPE composite structure that is injection molded as a single unit. Currently, most vehicles are new energy vehicles, and the rim temperature is high, exceeding the heat resistance limit of ABS+PC, making the product prone to deformation. PA+PPE material has high heat resistance and can withstand temperatures that ABS+PC cannot withstand. Because it can withstand high temperatures, the product does not deform. Even when a new energy vehicle brakes down a long downhill slope and the wheel temperature rises to 120°C, dimensional stability is maintained, and displacement of the emblem plate 10 due to eccentricity fluctuations caused by high temperatures is avoided.

[0029] The above examples do not limit the embodiments, but are merely used to clearly illustrate the examples in the specification. Those skilled in the art may make various modifications and amendments based on the above description. It is not possible or necessary to list all embodiments here. Any obvious modifications and amendments thus made still fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1 Cap body 2. Bass 3 silicone pads 4 First locking block 5 Second locking block 6. Inertial Floating Base 7. Bearings 8 First seal ring 9 Counterweight 10 Emblem Plate 11 Transparent cover 12 Second seal ring 13 Locking spring 14 Support stopper 141 Support Department 142 Stopper part 143 Locking groove 15 decorative rings 16 Backing adhesive 17-hole snap ring 18 Shaft snap ring 19 Hooked locking legs

Claims

1. A floating wheel cap, a cap body fixedly connected to the wheel and rotating with the wheel, the cap body having several locking blocks arranged in a circumferential direction on an inner edge of the cap body for connecting to the wheel; a base arranged coaxially with the cap body and rotating with the cap body, the base being provided with several second locking blocks for connection to the cap body; a transparent cover fitted to the cap body, with a first seal ring provided between the transparent cover and the cap body; a floating unit provided in a cavity surrounded by the base and the transparent cover, the floating unit including an inertial floating base, a bearing, and a counterweight, the inertial floating base being rotatably connected to the base by the bearing so as to be freely rotatable with respect to the wheel, a second seal ring being provided between the inertial floating base and the base, and the counterweight being eccentrically provided on the inertial floating base, thereby stably maintaining the attitude of the inertial floating base when the wheel rotates; an emblem plate fixedly connected to the outside of the inertial floating base and stationary relative to the ground to achieve a floating visual effect; and a locking spring that is fixedly disposed inside the cap body by a support stopper and locks the base to the wheel in the axial direction.

2. 2. The floating wheel cap according to claim 1, wherein a silicone pad is provided on the cap body at a position where the cap body comes into contact with the wheel.

3. 2. The floating wheel cap according to claim 1, wherein the inertial floating base is pressed onto the inner ring of the bearing so as to have a tight fit, thereby forming a rotational decoupling with the base.

4. The floating wheel cap according to claim 1, further comprising a decorative ring between the transparent cover and the cap body.

5. The floating wheel cap according to claim 4, characterized in that the decorative ring has an electroplated layer on the outer surface thereof, and is fastened to the cap body by hook-equipped fastening legs uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction.

6. 2. The floating wheel cap according to claim 1, wherein the emblem plate is fixed to the outside of the inertial floating base by a backing adhesive.

7. The floating wheel cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing is a ball bearing, the outer ring of which is abutted against the base via a hole snap ring, and the inner ring of which is abutted against the inertial floating base via a shaft snap ring, thereby realizing two-way position restriction in the axial direction.

8. 2. The floating wheel cap according to claim 1, wherein the support stopper includes a support portion and a stopper portion that are integrally molded, and the support portion has a locking groove that matches the outer diameter of the locking spring.

9. 2. The floating wheel cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap body and the transparent cover are fixed by welding to form a sealed protective cavity for the emblem plate.

10. 2. The floating wheel cap according to claim 1, wherein the inertial floating base and the counterweight are an integral injection-molded PA+PPE composite structure.

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