WO1998013219A2

WO1998013219A2 - Vehicle wheel and vehicle wheel cover

Info

Publication number: WO1998013219A2
Application number: PCT/US1997/016244
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Andreas Adrian
Original assignee: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research CSIR
Current assignee: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research CSIR
Priority date: 1996-09-27
Filing date: 1997-09-15
Publication date: 1998-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 1999-03-27
Also published as: AU4346497A

Abstract

A vehicle wheel (12) and a cover (14) therefor are shown in combination at (10). The wheel (12) includes a hub portion (16), spokes (18) and a rim (20). The cover (14) is of thin sectioned synthetic polymeric material, and is flush with an outer surface of the wheel over the major portion of an outer surface of the wheel. The cover thus has a hub portion (22), spoke portions (24) and a rim portion (25). The cover leaves the shape of the wheel substantially unaltered.

Description

VEHICLE WHEEL AND VEHICLE WHEEL COVER

This invention relates to the combination of a vehicle wheel and a cover therefor, and to a cover for a vehicle wheel.

In accordance with a first aspect of this invention, there is provided the combination of a vehicle wheel comprising a hub, spokes and a rim, and a wheel cover for the vehicle wheel, the wheel cover being in the form of a moulding of synthetic polymeric material and which includes, correspondingly, a hub portion, spoke portions and a rim portion, the wheel cover fitting snugly over the wheel and leaving the shape of the wheel substantially unaltered.

The major portion of an inner surface of the wheel cover is flush with, correspondingly, the major portion of an outer surface of the wheel. It may be flush with a portion of more than 80%, preferably more than 90% of the outer surface of the wheel . The cover may touch or lie against the outer surface of the wheel over such area. The wheel cover may have a thickness falling within the range of about 0,5 mm to about 3 mm for the major portion of the surface area. The thickness may be between 1 mm and 2 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 1,5 mm. The thickness range may apply to a portion of more than 80%, preferably more than 90% of the surface area.

Surface portions of the wheel cover may be convex externally and concave internally. The surface portions may be closed at an external side of the wheel cover and open at an internal side. The concave portions may diverge from the closed, external side to the open, internal side to provide draw angles to facilitate demoulding.

In one embodiment, the wheel cover may adhesively be fixed to the wheel. In other embodiments, fastening elements may be provided to secure the wheel cover to the wheel .

Preferably, the wheel cover may be in the form of carbon reinforced fibre in the form of a cloth laid up in a predetermined pattern, which pattern is visible from externally of the wheel cover.

In accordance with a second aspect of this invention, there is provided a wheel cover for a wheel comprising a hub, spokes and a rim, the wheel cover being in the form of a moulding of synthetic polymeric material and which includes a hub portion, spoke portions and a rim portion.

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings . In the drawings

Figure 1 shows, in axial section, a combination of a vehicle wheel and a wheel covering for the vehicle wheel in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 2 shows an external side of the combination of Figure 1.

With reference to the drawings, a combination of a vehicle wheel and a wheel cover for the vehicle wheel in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. Reference numeral 12 indicates the vehicle wheel and reference numeral 14 indicates the wheel covering which is secured to the wheel 12.

The vehicle wheel 12 comprises a central hub portion 16, spokes 18 extending outwardly from the hub 16 and a peripheral rim 20 fixed by means of the spokes 18 to the hub 16. In the embodiment illustrated, the wheel 12 is an integral wheel in the form of a light alloy casting. In other embodiments, the wheel may be of pressed steel, or the like. The wheel covering 14 comprises, corresponding to components of the wheel 12, a hub portion 22, a spoke portion 24 and a rim portion 25. The wheel covering 14 is in the form of a thin walled moulding of synthetic polymeric material . It is of the order of 1,5 mm thick over a major portion of its surface.

The wheel covering 14, over substantially a whole of its surface, fits snugly or flush over the wheel 12, more specifically the hub portion 22 fits snugly over the hub 16, the spoke portions 24 fit snugly over the spokes 18 and the rim portion 25 fits snugly over a radially internal, axially outward portion of the rim 20. In this embodiment, the wheel covering 14 is adhesively attached to the surface of the wheel 12.

The wheel covering 14, along an outer surface thereof, is closed. Furthermore, the various portions thereof are generally concave seen from an inside of the wheel covering. Walls of the wheel covering 14 generally diverge from its external closed surfaces to the internal open side advantageously to provide draw angles to facilitate demoulding of the wheel covering 14.

Thus, the wheel covering 14 leaves the general external surface of the wheel 12 substantially unaltered in respect of shape . The wheel covering 14 has apertures indicated at 26 in Figure 2 to pass wheel nuts or wheel studs, and also a valve hole 28 to pass a valve.

The wheel covering 14 is moulded of carbon reinforced fibre, and more specifically including woven cloth arranged in patterns in symmetric fashion in portions divided by dividing lines shown at 30 and 32 in Figure 2. In a preferred embodiment, non-structural patches of cloth may be placed to be at the surface of the wheel covering at the positions of the dividing lines. Then distortion or imperfect matching of the cloths forming the patterns at either side of the respective dividing lines will be masked to enhance the appearance. The patches may, e.g., be triangular at the rim/spoke joint, rectangular at the hub/spoke joint, and a circular patch at the centre of the hub.

The moulding material, e.g. the carbon reinforced fibre which may be in the form of woven cloth, may advantageously be laid up in a one piece mould. The cloth may be hand impregnated, pre- impregnated or impregnated by means of an automatic or automated impregnation process such as Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) . Impregnation may typically be by means of thermoset resins such as epoxy or polyester.

The lay-up will be in an aesthetically desirable manner, for example, it may be symmetrical. The patches mentioned above will facilitate the use of patterns which are symmetrical about the spokes. Thus, advantageously, the style of weave of the carbon cloth may be a 2X2 twill weave to impart a diagonal pattern to the cloth. It may be in a 200 g/m² to 250 g/rrr material.

The outer or exposed surface of the wheel covering may advantageously be in a clear lacquer to enhance the "carbon- look", i.e. to give an appearance of depth or a three dimensional appearance by allowing light reflection from the carbon fibre bundles to enhance the appearance .

It is a first advantage of the invention that a wheel covering is provided which imparts an aesthetically pleasing surface pattern to the wheel without substantially altering its shape .

It is a further advantage of the invention that the outer surface of the wheel is protected by the wheel covering.

It is yet a further advantage that the wheel covering cannot easily be removed thus rendering it practically immune to theft.

It is yet a further advantage that the wheel covering is substantially fully supported by the wheel, and thus does not require any or much rigidity of its own.

Claims

1. The combination of a vehicle wheel comprising a hub, spokes and a rim, and a wheel cover for the vehicle wheel, the wheel cover being in the form of a moulding of synthetic polymeric material and which includes, correspondingly, a hub portion, spoke portions and a rim portion, the wheel cover fitting snugly over the wheel and leaving the shape of the wheel substantially unaltered.

2. A combination as claimed in Claim 1 in which the major portion of an inner surface of the wheel cover is flush with, correspondingly, the major portion of an outer surface of the wheel .

3. A combination as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the wheel cover has a thickness falling within the range of about 0,5 mm to about 3 mm for the major portion of the surface area.

4. A combination as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to Claim 3 inclusive in which surface portions of the wheel cover are convex externally and concave internally.

5. A combination as claimed in Claim 4 in which the surface portions are closed at an external side of the wheel cover and open at an internal side.

6. A combination as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 in which the concave portions diverge from the closed, external side to the open, internal side to provide draw angles to facilitate demoulding.

7. A combination as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to Claim 6 inclusive in which the wheel cover is adhesively fixed to the wheel .

8. A combination as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to Claim 6 inclusive which includes fastening elements to secure the wheel cover to the wheel.

9. A combination as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to Claim 8 inclusive in which the wheel cover is in the form of carbon reinforced fibre in the form of cloth laid up in a predetermined pattern, which pattern is visible from externally of the wheel cover.

10. A wheel cover for a wheel comprising a hub, spokes and a rim, the wheel cover being rigid and in the form of a moulding of synthetic polymeric material of a section thinner than 2 mm for the major portion of its surface area and which includes a hub portion, spoke portions and a rim portion.

11. The combination of a vehicle wheel comprising a hub, spokes and a rim, and a wheel cover for the vehicle wheel, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

12. A wheel cover, substantially as herein described and illustrated.