HUBCAP FOR VEHICLE WHEELS

Abstract

The hubcap for vehicle wheels comprises a disk (1), a ring (2) to secure the hubcap to said rim of the vehicle wheel and a plurality of securing modules (3) for securing the ring (2) to said disk (1), each of said securing modules (3) comprising at least a first securing element (5) which is coupled to said ring (2); characterized in that each securing module (3) also comprises a positioner (8), such that the ring (2) is retained between the first securing element (5) and the positioner (8) in its position of use, said first securing element (5) and said positioner (8) defining a lodging for said ring (2) before placing it in its position of use.

It enables simpler placement of the ring, which can be carried out by applying pressure solely in the axial direction.

Claims

1. A hubcap for vehicle wheels, comprising a disk which in its position of use, covers the rim of a vehicle wheel, a ring to secure the hubcap to said rim of the vehicle wheel and a plurality of securing modules for securing the ring to said disk, each of said securing modules comprising at least a first securing element which is coupled to said ring; wherein each securing module also comprises a positioner, such that the ring is retained between the first securing element and the positioner in its position of use, said first securing element and said positioner defining a lodging for said ring before placing it in its position of use.

2. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to claim 1, further comprising second securing elements.

3. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to claim 1, further comprising support elements on which said ring is supported in its position of use.

4. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to claim 1, wherein said first securing elements are two flexible elements and are connected to each other on the lower and/or the upper part.

5. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to claim 4, wherein said first securing elements are connected to each other by means of a lower connection plane on which said ring is supported in its position of use.

6. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to claim 3, wherein said support elements comprise projections for positioning the ring.

7. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to claim 2, wherein said second flexible securing elements are located opposite said support elements and on the ends of each securing module.

8. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to claim 1, wherein said positioner is placed in a central position in each securing module.

9. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according claim 1, wherein each of said first flexible securing elements are connected to a rigid support element by means of a connecting arm.

10. The hubcap for vehicle wheels according to claim 2, wherein each of the second securing elements comprises a retaining projection for retaining the ring in its position of use, and for supporting the ring before placing it in its position of use.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] For the purpose of helping to make the foregoing description more readily understandable, it is accompanied by a set of drawings that, schematically and by way of illustration and not limitation, represent an embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the hubcap of the present invention, according to a first embodiment, without the securing ring;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the hubcap of the present invention, according to a first embodiment, with the securing ring in its coupling position; and,

[0021] FIGS. 3 to 5 are schematic elevation views of the mounting process of the ring on the hubcap according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the hubcap of the present invention, according to a second embodiment, without the securing ring;

[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the hubcap of the present invention, according to a second embodiment, with the securing ring in its coupling position; and,

[0024] FIGS. 8 to 10 are schematic elevation views of the mounting process of the ring on the hubcap according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] First, it must be noted that for reasons of simplicity, the figures only represent a portion of the hubcap of the present invention, in which a securing module is shown, as described below.

[0026] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 5, in which the first embodiment is shown, the hubcap of the present invention comprises a disk (1), which, when in position of use, covers the rim of the wheel of a vehicle (not shown). A ring (2) is coupled to said disk (1) by means of a plurality of securing modules (3), which are arranged immediately surrounding said disk (1).

[0027] As mentioned above, only one securing module (3) is shown in the figures for reasons of simplicity, but the number of securing modules (3) in a disk (1) should be adequate to ensure proper securing of the disk (1) to the rim of the wheel.

[0028] Each securing module (3) comprises a pair of support elements (4), at least one first securing element (5) (two in the shown embodiment) and, optionally, a pair of second securing elements (6), the ring (2) being secured by the securing element(s), as explained below.

[0029] The support elements (4) are rigid, in other words, they do not flex when placing the ring (2) in its position of use (FIG. 2), but rather their function consists in acting as a support for the ring (2). To this end, each supporting element (4) has a projection (9), which serves as a stop for said ring (2).

[0030] Said supporting elements (4) are placed at the end of the securing module (3), and substantially, said second securing elements (6) are placed facing the same.

[0031] The second securing elements (6) are flexible, in other words, they carry out an oscillating motion (indicated with arrows in FIG. 2) when the ring (2) is placed in its position of use. To secure the ring (2), each second securing element (6) comprises a retaining projection (10) directed toward the position of said ring (2). As can be seen in FIG. 2, the ring (2) is secured or retained between both projections (9) of the support elements (4) and the projections (10) of the second securing elements (6).

[0032] Meanwhile, the first securing elements (5) are also flexible, oscillating when the ring (2) is placed into or removed from its position of use, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2. These first securing elements (5) are preferably connected to each other by a connection element (7), which comprises a positioner (8) retaining the ring (2) between said positioner (8) and said first securing elements (5). Furthermore, said connection element (7) also serves as a support for the ring (2).

[0033] In other words, in the hubcap of the present invention, the securing of the ring (2) is carried out at four points in each securing module (3), achieving a better grip, without representing a greater difficulty in the placing or removal of the ring (2) because of the resilient nature of the first and second securing elements (5) (6).

[0034] Furthermore, said first securing elements (5) are connected to said support elements (4) by means of a number of connecting arms (11), which can be flexed.

[0035] Placing the ring (2) in its position of use is very simple and can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 5, because it is only necessary to couple it to pressure in all of the securing modules (3) of the disk (1) by carrying out an axial motion. For this purpose, the ring (2) is held between the first securing element (5) and the positioner (8), creating a lodging for said ring (2) before placing it in its position of use.

[0036] Upon applying said axial pressure, the first securing elements (5) will oscillate to enable placing the ring (2) in its position of use on the support elements (4) and the connection element (7), the ring (2) being thus retained by said first securing elements (5).

[0037] In the event that said second securing elements (6) are included, these will also oscillate and retain the ring (2).

[0038] FIGS. 6 to 10 show a second embodiment of the hubcap of the present invention. It should be noted that for the sake of simplicity, the same numerical references are used to indicate the equivalent elements that carry out the same function.

[0039] It should also be noted that only the differences regarding said first embodiment are described below, such that the other features are the same in the first and the second embodiment.

[0040] The main difference between the second embodiment with respect to the first embodiment is that the second retaining elements have been removed, such that the retaining of the ring (2) to prevent removal can only be carried out by means of the first securing elements (5).

[0041] Another difference is the connection between the first securing elements (5), which are also connected at the top by means of a second connection element (12), as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0042] The process for placing and removing the ring (2) in this second embodiment is identical to the process described above in relation to the first embodiment.

[0043] Despite the fact that reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is evident for the person skilled in the art that numerous variations and changes may be made to the hubcap for vehicle wheels described, and that all the aforementioned details may be substituted by other technically equivalent ones, without detracting from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.