Land vehicles: wheels and axles – Wheel – With wheel cover
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-16
2001-07-03
Stormer, Russell D. (Department: 3617)
Land vehicles: wheels and axles
Wheel
With wheel cover
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254195
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention pertains to the general field of motor vehicle wheel simulators and more particularly to a decorative wheel simulator that is attached to the wheel using the vehicle's wheel studs without affecting the original lug nuts.
BACKGROUND ART
Previously wheel simulators or wheel covers have been attached to vehicle wheels by the use of the original lug nuts or sometimes stud extenders that utilize enlarged threads or even ramped lug nuts with expandable washers. This method provides an effective means for quick removal and attachment of a wheel cover using the existing lug stud.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patent that read directly on the claims of the instant invention, however, the following U.S. patents are considered related:
U.S. PAT. NO.
INVENTOR
ISSUED
5,205,616
Wright
27 April 1993
5,205,614
Wright
27 April 1993
4,946,228
HSU, et al
7 August 1990
4,606,582
Warren
19 August 1986
4,240,670
Zorn, et al
23 December 1980
Wright in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,205,616 and 5,205,614 teaches a stud extender that attaches over both a vehicle lug nut and stud. The extender provides a base or mounting shoulder for the wheel cover and a larger diameter stud that permits the stud to be lengthened sufficiently to retain the wheel cover using a conventional jamb nut.
Pat. No. 4,946,228 issued to Hsu and the instant applicant, presents an annular mounting plate that is disposed on a vehicle axle such that its openings respectively align with the corresponding bore of a wheel cover. The plate contains locking apertures and screws that lock the plate to the wheel cover allowing easy assembly or disassembly of the hub cover.
Pat. No. 4,606,582 issued to Warren is for a decorative wheel cover for use on trucks that is supported only at its center portion with a contour that closely matches the vehicle wheel. A plate covering protects the truck wheel assembly mounting plate and hub, and completes the wheel covering.
Zorn, et al in Pat. No. 4,240,670 discloses a vehicle wheel covering with a majority of openings oversized to slip over lug nuts. The remaining openings require replacement of the lug nut with an expandable washer between a chamfered end of the lug nut and a mounting flange of the wheel cover.
As evident that the prior art was not concerned with simply using the extending portion of the stud beyond the lug nut but, instead they utilize a base or mounting surface on replacement nuts, to mount the vehicle wheel covering.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Wheels on motor vehicles are an important part of the aesthetics which affect the vehicles overall appearance. It should be appreciated that wheel covers add considerably to the decor of automobiles and trucks.
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that the wheel of a truck must be examined, therefore the operator must be able to remove the simulator easily. Also, some original equipment manufacturers require that wheel trim attachments must not be mounted underneath the lug nuts.
As it has been noted in the prior art, the industry normally mounts the simulator directly on top of the lug nut then utilizes a jamb nut on the stud to captivate the simulator inbetween. If insufficient external projection of the stud exists, a stud extender, having a flanged base with internal and external threads, is used to lengthen usable region of the stud. Either procedure is not always an ideal paragon since variations in the combination of the wheel, configuration of the simulator and the height of the lug nut may cause a tolerance buildup. This variation is apparent when the simulator is clamped contiguously against the top of the lug nut such that the periphery of the simulator may not be tightly interfaced against the entire rim causing the simulator to rattle or make a clicking sound. If the tolerance buildup is negative, the simulator is forced against the wheel to the extent that it may be actually deformed in the area adjacent to the lug nut, if the deformation caused by this anomaly is excessive it may create an off center condition where the wheel may appear to wobble during rotation, a circumstance referred to in the industry as a “Hawaiian Wiggle”.
In light of the above, it is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide controllable adjustment thus permitting the simulator to always be clamped firmly and evenly against the entire rim of the wheel eliminating any noise emission in the form of clicking or rattling and any possibility of wobble. When the simulator is installed using the invention this problem of tolerance buildup is completely eliminated since the device is adjusted until the attaching nut is tightened only until a firm clicking sound is heard and the circumferential engagement is assured.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred and second embodiments and the appended claims, further, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3549204 (1970-12-01), Spisak
patent: 4787681 (1988-11-01), Wang et al.
patent: 4881783 (1989-11-01), Campbell
patent: 4998780 (1991-03-01), Eshler et al.
patent: 5031965 (1991-07-01), Buerger
patent: 5193884 (1993-03-01), Shell et al.
patent: 5205616 (1993-04-01), Wright
patent: 5286093 (1994-02-01), Wright
patent: 5503465 (1996-04-01), Price et al.
Cota Albert O.
Stormer Russell D.
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