Securing member for a steel ring of a wheel cover

Details Securing member for a steel ring of a wheel cover Securing member for a steel ring of a wheel cover

2000-11-08

2002-04-16

Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)

Land vehicles: wheels and axles

Wheel

With wheel cover

Reexamination Certificate

active

06371570

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wheel cover for a car wheel, and particularly to one which has securing members shaped such that a steel ring can be securely connected thereto.
Nowadays, most cars have a wheel covers fitted to the wheels such that the wheels can have a more pleasing appearance. The wheel cover has securing members spaced apart on the edge for permitting a steel ring to be fitted thereto. Thus, the wheel cover can be fitted onto the wheel by engaging the steel ring and an outer side protrusion of the securing member with the inner side of the wheel.
Referring to
FIG. 4
, a conventional securing member
10
of a steel ring has an upper confining protrusion
101
, and a lower confining protrusion
102
on an inner side; the upper and the lower confining protrusions
101
,
102
has a space in between substantially same as the thickness of the steel ring (not shown ) of the wheel cover. The steel ring is connected to the wheel cover by depressing same into the space between the upper and the lower confining protrusions
101
,
102
.
However, the steel ring is found to easily fall off the confining protrusions
101
,
102
and move to lower side of the lower confining protrusion
102
when same is depressed hard for connection with the wheel cover, or under violent movement.
Referring to
FIG. 5
, another conventional securing member of a steel ring has a main body
20
and two confining plates
30
.
The main body
20
has an engaging block
201
on a top end of the inner side. The confining plates
30
are each provided on a respective side of the main body
20
with apertures
202
formed between same and the main body
20
. The confining plates
30
each has a gap
30
on a top end.
The steel ring of the wheel cover is fitted onto between the engaging block
201
and the gaps
301
of the confining plates
30
.
However, it is found that the securing member has an disadvantage that the steel ring is likely to fall into the apertures
202
when the steel ring is depressed hard in assembling because the main body
20
is elastic. Consequently, the main body
20
would be deformed and break. Moreover, because the main body
20
is only connected to the wheel cover from a bottom, the strength of connection is not optimal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is a main object of the present invention to provide a securing member for a steel ring of a wheel cover which is strong, and can help the steel ring located in position securely.
The securing member of the present invention includes a main body, two lateral supporting plates and a confining block.
The main body projects from an inner side of the wheel cover, and has an engaging protrusion on an inner side.
The lateral supporting plates extend inwardly of the wheel cover from two sides of the main body. The lateral supporting plates each has a gap on a top such that a receiving space is formed between same and the engaging protrusion for the steel ring.
The confining block is formed on the inner side of the main body to support the steel ring.
The main body is connected to the wheel cover from a bottom as well as two sides of a lower end portion to have a relatively strong connection.


REFERENCES:
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patent: 6033033 (2000-03-01), Sheu
patent: 6099082 (2000-08-01), Wang
patent: 6139114 (2000-10-01), Wang

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