Patent US3785433A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3724906A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wheel cover
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-01-25
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Granted: 1973-04-03
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Expires: 1992-01-25
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle wheel cover disposed over the side of a wheel having a drop center type rim, said cover including a disk portion with an axially inwardly extending annular flange that is telescoped into an axial flange of the drop center rim. The annular flange has mounted thereon a radially expansible and contractible annulus which when expanded will center and lock the cover in place on the wheel. The disk and annular flange portions of the cover are formed by molding of plastic or non-ferrous materials or by die casting of non-ferrous metals such as aluminum and zinc alloys, or ferrous alloys by suitable forming operations.
Inventors
- 👤 Carroll R Mc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:00
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B7/00; B60B7/06; B60B7/10; B60B7/12; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/20; Y10T292/205; Y10T292/212; Y10T292/214
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
The cover assembly that is defined in claim 1, wherein said spring fingers are generally U-shaped and are arranged in horizontal positions with the legs extending axially inward and with one leg located radially outward of the other leg, said other leg being secured to said wheel member, and said band passes between said legs so that each cam surface can engage its associated one leg and urge it outward when the band is moved to its first position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
41 words
The cover assembly that is defined in claim 2, wherein said other leg has tangs struck out of the material thereof and projecting in a radially outward direction on opposite sides of said band to limit axial shifting of said band.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cover assembly that is defined in claim 2, wherein said one leg has teeth projectinG radially outward at its distal end for engagement with said wheel member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cover assembly that is defined in claim 2, wherein said one leg has a bead formed therein extending lengthwise of the leg on which said cam surface can travel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The cover assembly that is defined in claim 2, wherein said other leg has a radially inwardly directed tab at its distal end, said other leg being secured to said wheel member by securing said tab to the wheel member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cover member that is defined in claim 6, wherein one of said tangs is a radially outwardly directed extension of said tab.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cover member that is defined in claim 2, wherein said wheel member has semi-circular pockets in which the closed ends of said U-shaped fingers are positioned.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The cover member that is defined in claim 1, wherein said means comprises a gear rotatably mounted in said cover member, and said band has perforations in mesh with the teeth of said gear.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
249 words
In combination, a wheel member having an axial flange, a cover assembly mounted on the side of said wheel member comprising a cover member having an axially inwardly directed portion telescoped into said axial flange, and a radially expansible and contractible annulus mounted on said axially inwardly directed portion releasably securing said cover member on said wheel member, said annulus including a band of fixed length movable circumferentially between first and second positions and a plurality of U-shaped spring clips located at spaced circumferential intervals relative to said band and retained by said cover member against circumferential movement, said spring clips being arranged in horizontal positions with the legs extending axially inward and with one leg located radially outward of the other leg, said other leg being secured to the wheel member and said one leg having teeth in gripping engagement with said axial flange when the one leg is urged away from said other leg, said band having a plurality of cam surfaces corresponding in numbers and spacing to said plurality of spring clips and passing between said legs, said cam surfaces being inclined so that when said band is moved to its first position the cam surfaces will move said spring clips radially outward into gripping engagement with said wheel member and when said band is moved to its second position the spring clips will return to their radially inward positions releasing said wheel member, and means for moving said band between its first and second positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination that is defined in claim 10, wherein the upper leg of each spring clip has a longitudinally extending radially inwardly directed bead that provides generally a line contact with its associated cam surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination that is defined in claim 11, wherein said cam surfaces are formed out of the material of said band and have a transverse arcuate configuration that increases in depth progressively in a circumferential dimension.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination that is defined in claim 10, wherein said one leg of each clip has a tooth at each edge arranged to oppose relative rotation of the cover member with respect to the wheel member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-02 | 1976-10-02 | 1977-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-02 | 1980-10-02 | 1981-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-02 | 1984-10-02 | 1985-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |