Tire sidewall shading device & attachment system

Abstract

A shading system for tires and wheels being built to a customized shape and size to cover at minimum the sidewall of a tire. The shading system may be comprised of, but is not limited to, multiple layers of shading material offering ultraviolet and heat protection for the covered area and a multipoint harness to secure the shade to the tire.

Claims

1. The Tire Sidewall Shade shading device is manufactured specific to the tire and wheel in which is to be applied to

2. The Tire Sidewall Shade shading device incorporates a semi rigid and flexible wire which is incorporated into the perimeter of the device, and to the advertised dimensions and diameter of the specific tire & wheel it is to be installed on.

3. The Tire Sidewall Shade device incorporates a series of D rings that are attached on the reverse side of the shading device at roughly the 8-12-4 o'clock positions or similar positions necessary to evenly secure the fabric tightly to the sidewall of the tire.

4. In order to eliminate heat gain on the back side of the shade from reflected focal light from a polished rim, the incorporation of an alternate color circular shade fabric is fastened on the back of the tire shade.

5. The white circular shade fabric is cut to a slightly smaller diameter than the shade fabric which shows from the front of the shade adding a pleasing aesthetic white trim to the black fabric of the shade.

6. The Tire Sidewall Shade shading device incorporates a U.V. rated bungee or shock cord joined at the D rings by removable clips which incorporate removal for adjustment to the bungee.

7. The Tire Sidewall Shade shading device incorporates adjustment to the tension and length of the U.V. rated bungee by way of the removable lock on the clip that attaches the bungee to the D rings attached to the reverse side of the shading device.

8. This shading device by way of the semi rigid and flexible wire keeps the fabric of the shading device under tension eliminating wrinkles or loose-fitting fabric which is most common in all other available tire shade devices. This is unique to this invention

9. The Tire Sidewall Shade shading device is manufactured using a U.V. blocking fabric

10. The Tire Sidewall Shade shading device is easier to install and store than traditional bag type devices currently on the market.

11. The Tire Sidewall Shade shading device is manufactured with an open center which allows the rim of the tire to show, mimicking the tire itself and can also be fabricated without an open center depending on the preference of the customer.

12. The Tire Sidewall Shade shading device will fold into itself by being twisted, the result is that the Tire Sidewall shade will collapse to approximately of its original circumference.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] FIG. 1. The Tire Sidewall Shade shown in its installed and completed form on a tire

[0046] FIG. 2. The assembly sequence of the Bungee 1, 1H, Locking Collar 2, Clip 3, D-Ring 4, Fabric attaching piece 5, Spring wire frame 6, Tire shade fabric 7.

[0047] FIG. 3. Illustrates the completed Tire Sidewall Shade and components (not installed on tire). Bungee cord 1, 1H, D-Ring 4, Fabric strap 5, Spring wire frame in hem 6, Tire shade fabric 7, Alternate Color Fabric 8

[0048] FIG. 4. Illustrates the back or tire side of the Tire Sidewall Shade (not installed on tire). Bungee 1, 1H, D-Ring 4, Fabric Strap 5, Spring wire frame in hem 6, Tire Shade Fabric 7, Alternate color fabric 8.

[0049] FIG. 5. Illustrates the back of the tire with the Tire Sidewall Shade installed. Bungee 1,1H

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below and are illustrated in the accompanying figures. The embodiments described are only for purposes of illustrating the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the claims below. Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art and all such alternate embodiments, modifications, and improvements are within the scope of the present invention. The description contains the steps for the creation of the Tire Sidewall Shade, as well as for its attachment to the tire and later collapse for storage.

[0051] As is common practice, the various features of the figures below are not necessarily drawn to exact scale. Dimensions of those features and elements of the figures may have been expanded or reduced to illustrate the embodiment of the invention more clearly.

[0052] A spring wire frame is fabricated to a specific length in regards to the specific advertised diameter of a particular tire. Once cut to the proper length the spring wire is then crimped in a hydraulic press to maintain a circular shape to the advertised diameter of the particular tire it is intended for. FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 show this frame labeled as (6). The fabric for the tire shade, labeled (7), is cut in a circle so that the outside diameter is slightly larger than the wire frame (6), allowing the fabric to be folded over the wire frame and then sewn into the hem which will then contain the wire frame (6), see FIG. 2. Once sewn into place the fabric is then held under slight tension. The center opening is then cut to a specific circular dimension based on the wheel size i.e.: a wheel or rim may have a diameter of 19.5, which would require the center opening to be trimmed to a slightly smaller diameter in order to accommodate a stitched edge in order to finish the fabric hem. The center opening can be seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 once these steps are taken, 3strips of fabric (5) will be used to sew the D-Rings (4) into their respective locations, usually but not limited to a 8-12-and 4 o'clock position. The Tire Sidewall Shade, nearly complete, then receives a circular light-colored fabric (8) which is sewn to the back of the shade perimeter. The inside diameter of the rear fabric (8) portion is of a slightly smaller diameter of the finished tire shade fabric (7), this creates an aesthetic value by showing a thin alternate colored edge when viewing the shade in the installed position, this can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. Finally, three U.V. rated bungee cords (1 & 1H) are cut to length specific to the tire it is fabricated for and also allowing for the specific stretch value of the bungee, (this ensures the proper tension of the shade material to the sidewall of the tire), they can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 5. The longer cord (1H) will span the 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions, shorter cord (1) at the 12 o'clock position will be joined to the center of the horizontal bungee (1H) by tying a knot. The final step is to attach the clips (3) to the bungees (1 & 1H), this is accomplished by first inserting a locking collar (2) over the end of the bungee (I & IH), then sliding the bungee cord end into the clip (3), the locking collar (2) is then pushed up and onto the clip base where it is now locked onto the bungee cords, the clip (3) is then attached to the installed D-ring (4) that has been previously sewn to the perimeter of the Tire Sidewall Shade, this entire assemblage is illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0053] To install the completed Tire Sidewall Shade, the bungee harness (1 & 1H) is stretched over the top of the tire and the side bungees (1H) are pulled down on the front and rear of the tire at a 45-degree angle, shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the resulting tension pulls the tensioned shaded fabric to the tire and holds it securely. Removal of the shade is the reverse. Once removed the Tire Sidewall Shade cover can be folded for storage by twisting, thanks to an interior semi-rigid and flexible wire (6) incorporated into the perimeter of the Tire Sidewall Shade. This twisting fold reduces the shades down to roughly of their original size, allowing them to be stored in a provided storage bag. The twisted fold also creates a structure in which the long bungee harness cords (1H) can be internally stored, while the short bungee cord (1) can be used as a band, to further secure the Tire Sidewall Shade for storage.