GB1254876A - Improvements in or relating to wheel trims or wheel covers for vehicle wheels - Google Patents

Abstract

1,254,876. Wheel cover discs. PRESSWELD Ltd. 5 Aug., 1969 [6 Aug., 1968; 1 Nov., 1968], Nos. 37532/68 and 51779/68. Heading B7C. A wheel trim comprises a wheel cover, a plurality of generally chordal resilient links interconnecting gripping members for engaging anchorage surfaces on a wheel to attach the wheel trim to the wheel, non-circular rotary cam means mounted axially inside the cover and rotatable from the axially external side of the cover between locking and non-locking positions respectively to secure or release said cover on or from the wheel, the cam means being shaped to engage the links whereby on rotation of the cam means the links are altered in shape to cause radial movement of the gripping members, the links retaining the cam means in the locking position. In one embodiment, Figs. 1 and 2, an aluminium or plastics cover disc 17 has a centrally mounted triangular cam 30 of resilient plastics rotatable by means of a handle 32. A triangular framework of spring steel wire links, Fig. 2, has gripping members 20, 21, 22, which are located in use over lugs 15 of a wheel. A peripheral groove 35 in the cam is positioned upon the links 23, 24, 25, of the framework and the cam is rotated to outwardly distort the links and thereby pull the members inwardly against lugs 15. In another embodiment, Fig. 5 (not shown), the members are replaced by hook-shaped plates (40), (41), (42), interconnected by rods or links (44). The plates hook on to lugs 15, Fig. 1, or rim 18. Alternatively, apertures (48) in the plates are engaged with headed spigots on the wheel. The cover 17 may be screwed on to the cam after the cam has been attached to the wire framework. In another embodiment, Fig. 6 (not shown), gripping members (50) move outwardly to engage a groove (51) in the wheel disc. In other similar embodiments, gripping plates are diametrally linked by a pair of rods enclosing a rectangular cam. Figs. 8 and 9 (not shown), or the plates are linked serially. The cam may be integral with the cover, which has an arcuate slot for the tyre valve. The cover 17 has concentric corrugations.