Alloy Wheel Trim Retainer for Hidden Secure Insert Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening arrangements for road vehicle wheel trims are unreliable, leading to loss of inserts and difficulties in accommodating wheel thickness tolerances, which affects aerodynamic performance and aesthetic appeal.
Innovation Solution
A secure fastening system using fir tree fittings with male and female components that accommodate varying wheel thicknesses, allowing discreet installation and easy removal, comprising multiple rows of teeth for secure engagement and a frangible retainer for tool-assisted disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing fastening arrangements are used to secure trim to wheels, then the trim can be attached to the wheel, but the fastening is unreliable leading to loss of inserts
Solution Approach 1:
The male fitting is nested within the retainer, with the retainer being received through a hole in the wheel and the male fitting being received within the retainer. This nested arrangement provides secure fastening while maintaining a clean appearance with no visible fastening means from the front of the wheel.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer includes a resilient portion that can deform elastically to accommodate variations in wheel thickness. This dynamic property allows the same fastening arrangement to reliably secure trim components across wheels with different thickness tolerances without requiring adjustment or complex mechanisms.
2Reliability
If fasteners are used to secure trim components to wheels, then the trim can be fastened securely, but it becomes difficult to accommodate tolerances in wheel thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is designed with a resilient portion whose physical state can change (deform elastically) in response to variations in wheel thickness. This allows the fastening system to adapt to different wheel parameters without compromising security, as the resilient material can compress or extend to accommodate the thickness variation while maintaining secure engagement of the male fitting.
3Reliability
If trim components are securely fastened to wheels, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but the trim components cannot be easily removed for replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is segmented into distinct components: the male fitting integrated with the trim component, the retainer with resilient portion, and the frangible portion. This segmentation allows the trim component to be securely fastened during normal operation while enabling easy removal by breaking the frangible portion, which releases the retention mechanism without damaging the trim component itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible portion is designed as a disposable element that is intended to be broken during removal. This allows the expensive trim component to be reused while the inexpensive frangible portion is discarded, making the repair process simple and cost-effective.
4Reliability
If fastening means are used to secure trim to wheels, then the trim can be attached securely, but the fastening means become visible which affects aesthetic appeal
Solution Approach 1:
The male fitting is nested within the retainer, with both components working together to secure the trim while remaining hidden from view on the front of the wheel. The retainer is received through a hole in the wheel structure, and the male fitting is received within the retainer, creating a nested arrangement where no fastening means are visible from the aesthetic side of the wheel.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A road vehicle wheel trim system has a trim component or insert 5, 28 (Fig. 5) for fitment to a wheel 1, 21; and a retainer (31, Fig. 9) for the insert. The insert has a multi-toothed male 9 or female fitting, and the retainer has a mating female or male fitting. The fittings may be fir tree fittings. The two fittings are connected in a through-hole 7is, 7os, 7i, 7o, 27is, 27os in a road vehicle wheel to fasten the trim component to the wheel. The retainer may define a female fitting and may be moulded as two components connected by live hinges which pivot together in use. The retainer has a head 35 sized to prevent it passing through the through-hole. The head may be arranged to be partly removable to enable the insert to be removed from the wheel.