Hub cap locking device

Claim 1

A device for preventing the unauthorized removal of a wire-spoke hub cap, comprising, in combination: a hub-covering shell having a cylindrical hub-engaging skirt and a head with a coupling aperture defined therein; a crown cap including a curved radial skirt of a circumferential size and dimension for positioning the hub cap about said head adjacent said hub-covering shell and having a smooth exterior convex surface for preventing removal of the crown cap with a wrench-like tools and defining a lock-engaging aperture; elongated threaded locking means positioned within said lock-engaging aperture and rotatable in a first direction for threaded interlocking engagement with said coupling aperture to lock said hub cap, said elongated threaded locking means being rotatable in a second direction to permit removal of said hub cap; manually-operable actuating means selectively insertable into cooperative interlocking engagement with said threaded locking means for rotation of the latter; said hub-covering shell including a shoulder integrally connecting said radial skirt and the head and defining at least one detent-receiving aperture; detent means carried by the detent-receiving aperture for abutting the wire spokes of said hub cap; and said crown cap including at least one lug abutting said wire spokes and operating with said detent means for substantially preventing rotation of said hub cap.

Claim 2

A device for preventing the unauthorized removal of a wire-spoke hub cap, comprising, in combination: a hub-covering shell having a cylindrical hub-engaging skirt and a head with a coupling aperture defined therein; a crown cap including a curved radial skirt of a circumferential size and dimension for positioning the hub cap about said head adjacent said hub-covering shell and having a smooth exterior convex surface for preventing removal of the crown cap with a wrench-like tools and defining a lock-engaging aperture; elongated threaded locking means positioned within said lock-engaging aperture and rotatable in a first direction for threaded interlocking engagement with said coupling aperture to lock said hub cap, said elongated threaded locking means being rotatable in a second direction to permit removal of said hub cap; manually-operable actuating means selectively insertable into cooperative interlocking engagement with said threaded locking means for rotation of the latter; said hub-covering shell including a shoulder integrally connecting said radial skirt and the head and defining at least one detent-receiving aperture; detent means carried by the detent-receiving aperture for abutting the wire spokes of said hub cap; and said crown cap including at least one lug abutting said wire spokes and operating with said detent means for substantially preventing rotation of said hub cap.

Claim 3

A device for preventing the unauthorized removal of a wire-spoke hub cap, comprising, in combination: a hub-covering shell having a cylindrical hub-engaging skirt and a head with a coupling aperture defined therein, said coupling aperture including an internally-threaded nut having one surface positioned against said hub-covering shell; a crown cap including a curved radial skirt of a circumferential size and dimension for positioning the hub cap about said head adjacent said hub-covering shell and having a smooth exterior convex surface for preventing removal of the crown cap with wrench-like tools and defining a lock-engaging aperture; said hub-covering shell including a shoulder integrally connecting the hub-engaging skirt and the head and defining at least one detent-receiving aperture; detent means carried by the detent-receiving aperture for abutting the wire spokes of said hub cap; said crown cap including at least one lug abutting said wire spokes and operating with said detent means for substantially preventing rotation of said hub cap; elongated threaded locking means positioned within said lock-engaging aperture and rotatable in a first direction for threaded interlocking engagement with said coupling aperture to lock said hub cap, said elongated threaded locking means being rotatable in a second direction to permit removal of said hub cap; said threaded locking means including an externally-threaded barrel with diametrically opposed flat surfaces receivable in the lock-engaging aperture, a threaded nut engageable with said barrel for securing said barrel to said crown cap, and an elongated externally-threaded member with diametrically opposed flat surfaces extending from said barrel and rotatably coupled thereto; and manually-operable actuating means selectively insertable into cooperative interlocking engagement with said threaded locking means for rotation of the latter, said manually-operable actuating means including a key operatively associated with said locking mechanism.

Claim 4

A device for preventing the unauthorized removal of a wire-spoke hub cap, comprising, in combination: a hub-covering shell having a cylindrical hub-engaging skirt and a head with a coupling aperture defined therein, said coupling aperture including an internally-threaded nut having one surface positioned against said hub-covering shell; a crown cap including a curved radial skirt of a circumferential size and dimension for positioning the hub cap about said head adjacent said hub-covering shell and having a smooth exterior convex surface for preventing removal of the crown cap with wrench-like tools and defining a lock-engaging aperture; said hub-covering shell including a shoulder integrally connecting the hub-engaging skirt and the head and defining at least one detent-receiving aperture; detent means carried by the detent-receiving aperture for abutting the wire spokes of said hub cap; said crown cap including at least one lug abutting said wire spokes and operating with said detent means for substantially preventing rotation of said hub cap; elongated threaded locking means positioned within said lock-engaging aperture and rotatable in a first direction for threaded interlocking engagement with said coupling aperture to lock said hub cap, said elongated threaded locking means being rotatable in a second direction to permit removal of said hub cap; said threaded locking means including an externally-threaded barrel with diametrically opposed flat surfaces receivable in the lock-engaging aperture, a threaded nut engageable with said barrel for securing said barrel to said crown cap, and an elongated externally-threaded member with diametrically opposed flat surfaces extending from said barrel and rotatably coupled thereto; and manually-operable actuating means selectively insertable into cooperative interlocking engagement with said threaded locking means for rotation of the latter, said manually-operable actuating means including a key operatively associated with said locking mechanism.