Wheel of a Vehicle

Abstract

A wheel of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, has a rim, a hub portion, and at least two spokes connecting the hub portion to the rim. At least one free space between the spokes is covered at least in part by a substantially planar covering element. The covering element is produced from two different material layers.

Claims

1. A wheel of a vehicle, comprising: a rim; a hub portion; at least two spokes connecting the hub portion to the rim; and a predominantly flat covering element which at least partially covers at least one spoke intermediate space between the spokes, wherein the covering element is comprised of two different material layers.

2. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the covering element comprises a metal layer, and a plastics layer which is produced in an insert molding process and is joined therewith to the metal layer.

3. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the covering element is held in a force-fitting manner on the wheel via a spring ring extending over the circumference on that side of the spokes which faces the vehicle, and the spring ring itself is connected in a form-fitting manner to the covering element.

4. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the covering element is held in a form-fitting manner on the spokes, on the rim and/or on the hub portion.

5. The wheel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the covering element is held on the spokes, on the rim and/or on the hub portion by a clip connection.

6. The wheel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the clip connection comprises at least two fastening clips which, for their part, are arranged on the side facing the vehicle, as viewed in the installed state of the covering element, and are part of the plastics layer produced in the insert molding process.

7. The wheel as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fastening clips each comprise at least one fastening leg which is oriented at least approximately in the axial direction of the wheel in a manner protruding from the flat covering element and at least approximately in the direction of the bisector or the line of symmetry of the spoke intermediate space and on which a latching lug for latching in at an edge, which faces the vehicle, of the respective spoke is arranged.

8. The wheel as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fastening clips are additionally prestressed in the circumferential direction of the wheel by a spring element.

9. The wheel as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one orientation rib protrudes axially from the flat covering element on the side facing the vehicle and ensures a distance between the edges of the flat covering element and components adjacent thereto.

10. The wheel as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one contact rib which supports the covering element on the wheel is arranged axially from the flat covering element on the side thereof which faces the vehicle.

11. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the covering element comprises an opening which ensures access to an air valve of a tire.

12. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one orientation rib protrudes axially from the flat covering element on the side facing the vehicle and ensures a distance between the edges of the flat covering element and components adjacent thereto.

13. The wheel as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one orientation rib protrudes axially from the flat covering element on the side facing the vehicle and ensures a distance between the edges of the flat covering element and components adjacent thereto.

14. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one contact rib which supports the covering element on the wheel is arranged axially from the flat covering element on the side thereof which faces the vehicle.

15. The wheel as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one contact rib which supports the covering element on the wheel is arranged axially from the flat covering element on the side thereof which faces the vehicle.

16. The wheel as claimed in claim 15, wherein the covering element comprises an opening which ensures access to an air valve of a tire.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a wheel of a vehicle with a multiplicity of covering elements which are each formed in an identical manner.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows one of the covering elements from FIG. 1 in a three-dimensional detailed view.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a spoke intermediate space of the wheel from FIG. 1 in a detailed view in which only one clip connection (without a flat covering element) is depicted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a wheel of a vehicle which, in addition to a rim 1 and a hub portion 2, comprises a plurality of spokes 3 connecting them. A clearance or spoke intermediate space 5 which, in this example, is partially covered by a flat covering element 4 is located here between each of the spokes 3. The covering element 4 is composed of two different material layers, namely of an outer metal layer 4.1 (as viewed in the installed state and in the state depicted in FIG. 1), and also a plastics layer 4.2, which faces the vehicle, i.e. is virtually aligned with the wheel interior and which cannot be seen in FIG. 1. The covering element 4 here does not completely cover the spoke intermediate space 5 in order to ensure air cooling of the wheel brake (not depicted). In this specific case, because of aerodynamic advantages, the covering element 4 is adjacent to the two spokes and also to the rim flange 1.1 or to the adhesive weight surface 6 of the wheel.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows the flat covering element 4 in a non-installed state and this time virtually from the other side, i.e. the side at which the plastics layer 4.2 mentioned is depicted and which faces the vehicle in the installed state (FIG. 1). The plastics layer 4.2 has been joined or attached here to the metal layer 4.1 in an insert molding process and therefore the flat covering element 4 has been produced. In the same insert molding process, the fastening clips 4.3, which are required for fastening the covering element to the spokes 3, and further elements or ribs which protrude from the flat plastics layer 4.2 and which will be discussed in greater detail below are also produced.

[0038] In this case, the covering element is latched or clipped onto the respective inner edge 3.1 of each spoke 3 (i.e. the edge facing the vehicle) by means of four (identically designed) fastening clips 4.3 and therefore held. Each fastening clip 4.3 here comprises a fastening leg 4.3.1 which, as viewed in the installed state (FIG. 1) of the covering element 4, is oriented in a manner at least approximately protruding from the flat covering element 4 in the axial direction of the wheel and at least approximately in the direction of the bisector W of the spoke intermediate space 5. In addition to the fastening leg 4.3.1, the fastening clip 4.3 also comprises a latching lug 4.3.2 which is arranged at the free end of the fastening leg 4.3.1 and serves for latching in or catching with the inner spoke edges 3.1. The orientation of the fastening leg 4.3.1 always points in the direction of the bisector W of a spoke intermediate space 5 irrespective of the shape or geometry of the flat covering element 4. To clarify this matter, the four (identically designed) fastening clips 4.3 are depicted in the installed state of the covering element 4 without the flat material layers in FIG. 3. The parallelism (at least virtual parallelism) of the orientation of the fastening leg 4.3.1 to the bisector W of the wedge-shaped or triangular spoke intermediate space 5 can be seen here. There does not necessarily have to be exact parallelism between the bisector W and the orientation of the fastening leg 4.3.1. However, it is important that the orientation of the fastening leg 4.3.1 is at least approximate to that of the bisector W. This is because, by means of the different orientation of the spoke edge 3.1, which runs in the radial direction of the wheel and of the fastening leg 4.3.1, which in this case runs in the direction of the bisector W, in the clipped-in state of the covering element 4, prestressing V of the latter is produced radially in the direction of the outer circumference of the wheel or in the direction of the adhesive weight surface 6 of the wheel. The prestressing V produced here of the covering element 4 prevents the latter from slipping or slipping out within the wedge-shaped or triangular spoke intermediate space 5.

[0039] In order to ensure an optimal firm seat and the required pulling-off forces of the connection, the fastening clips 4.3 are additionally held by one spring clip 7 each, which is shown in FIG. 2. A separately arranged spring clip 7 is in each case supported here on the fastening clip 4.3 and on a further supporting element 4.4 protruding axially from the flat plastics layer 4.2 (in the installed state).

[0040] In addition to the fastening clips 4.3 and the supporting elements 4.4 which have been mentioned, further elements protruding axially from the flat plastics layer 4.2 (in the installed state) are also shown in FIG. 2. All of these elements have been produced in the same production process, namely the insert molding process with the plastics layer 4.3, and therefore they constitute a joint component with the flat material layers, namely the covering element 4. For example, orientation ribs 4.5 on the covering element on the side of the plastics layer 4.2 (in the installed state) can be seen protruding axially from the covering element 4. The orientation ribs are for ensuring a gap or distance between the edges of the flat covering element 4 and the other wheel components adjacent thereto, such as, in this case, for example, the adhesive weight surface 6 and the spokes 3. Such a gap ensures a permanent water outflow through the covering elements 4 and therefore prevents an accumulation of water or dirt possibly damaging the wheel.

[0041] In addition, two contact ribs 4.6 making contact with the adhesive weight surface 6 (in the installed state of the covering element 4) are also arranged in a manner protruding axially from the flat covering element 4. Such contact ribs 4.6 ensure an additional holding function of the covering element 4 within the installed position. In this case, the contact ribs 4.6 assist in preventing the covering element from springing out in the radial direction.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs: 1 Rim 2 Hub portion 3 Spoke 3.1 Inner spoke edge 4 Covering element 4.1 Metal layer 4.2 Plastics layer 4.3 Fastening clips 4.3.1 Fastening leg 4.3.2 Latching lug 4.4 Supporting element 4.5 Orientation rib 4.6 Contact rib 5 Spoke intermediate space 6 Adhesive weight surface 7 Spring clip W Bisector V Prestressing

[0042] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.