JPH06441B2 - Wheel cap for automobile - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wheel cap mounted on the outer surface of a vehicle wheel, and more particularly to a wheel cap characterized by its mounting structure. Can be widely used.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, a wheel cap that covers the outer surface of a wheel for the purpose of protecting and decorating the tip of an axle and a wheel nut of an automobile is used as a simple attachment means for the wheel, for example,
A locking part that elastically engages the tapered part of the wheel nut is provided on the inner peripheral area of the wheel cap, and at the time of mounting, the locking part is slid from the top of the wheel nut and engaged by press-fitting operation. The structure is known.

On the other hand, as a means for engaging the locking portion with the taper portion, for example, a structure in which a wheel cap is pressed against a wheel nut and rotated in one direction is also known.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

According to the mounting means by the press-fitting operation, at the time of mounting, the locking portion has to ride over the large diameter nut top and slide into the small diameter tapered portion. This is done by the elasticity of the material of the standing piece forming the portion, and when considering the holding force after attachment, it is not possible to use a material with high flexibility, so that the locking portion with respect to the tapered portion cannot be used. The engagement surface must be narrow, that is, the claw width must be narrow. Therefore, according to this attachment means, there is a possibility that the attachment means may fall off while the vehicle is traveling.

On the other hand, according to the attaching means by the rotating operation, the claw width of the engaging portion can be sufficiently taken along the taper portion, which is effective in preventing the engagement from the wheel nut. However, the wheel cap attached by the turning operation may fall off due to relative rotation between the wheel cap and the wheel due to inertial action at the time of sudden acceleration of the vehicle. It becomes effective only when a means for preventing the return rotation of the wheel cap is added at the rotation end position.

Further, the rotation preventing means has a simple structure in which a cut arc surface is provided in a part of the locking portion and the arc surface is fitted to the taper portion, but it has a large inertia in actual vehicle traveling. With respect to force, its rotation prevention function is weak, and it is not sufficient to prevent the wheel cap from falling off.

Furthermore, as a strong rotation preventing means, a non-return pawl is provided in the moving range of the wheel nut that moves along the locking portion at the time of mounting, and the return movement of the wheel nut once got over the pawl. There is also a structure that mechanically blocks. However, in this case, while the fall-out prevention function is sufficient, it becomes difficult or impossible when removing the wheel cap for tire replacement or the like, and if the wheel cap is removed by force, the locking portion or the non-return pawl may be removed. Is destroyed and cannot be reused.

[Means for solving problems]

(Object of the Invention) The present invention provides a wheel cap having a structure to be attached by a turning operation using a taper portion of a wheel nut, which is easy to attach and remove, and also has a function of preventing the vehicle nut from falling off while traveling. An object of the present invention is to provide an automobile wheel cap having an excellent structure.

(Structure of the invention) To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a wheel nut (15) for a vehicle wheel cap (1) to be engaged with a wheel nut (15), as shown in the drawings.
Corresponding to the position of, are arranged on concentric circles intermittently,
It is provided on arcuate elastic upstanding pieces (2, 3) which are erected opposite to each other inward and outward in the radial direction from the inner surface of the wheel cap (1) facing the vehicle, and slidably contacts the taper portion (15a) of the wheel nut (15) Locking part (4, 5) for engaging
And a guide opening (8) arranged at the central portion of the locking portion (4, 5) for guiding the wheel nut (15) between the elastic upstanding pieces (2, 3), A wheel is provided in an area between the blocking portions (9), which are disposed at both ends of the locking portions (4, 5) and restrict the relative movement of the wheel nut (15), and the blocking portions (9). And a barrier piece (10) for preventing the nut (15) from being positioned. The locking portions (4, 5) are formed symmetrically on both wings centering on the guide opening (8), and some of these are recessed between the locking portions (4, 5). A fitting portion (11) for the tapered portion (15a) of the wheel nut (15) is provided, and the locking portion of each of the blades at L between the one end of the guide opening portion (8) and the blocking portion (9). (4, 5) are formed to have a length of ⅔ or more of the diameter of the tapered portion (15a) of the wheel nut (15) at the portion where it is engaged.

(Operation) In the wheel cap according to the present invention, the guide opening 8 is applied to the wheel nut, and in this state, the wheel cap 1 is attached by rotating in one direction. The wheel cap 1 thus mounted is positioned and held on one of the wings (the side determined by the rotation direction) of the locking portions 4 and 5.

The locking portions 4 and 5 have a sufficient engagement surface against the tapered portion 15a and are pressed against each other to withstand the inertial force caused by the rotation of the axle during normal traveling of the vehicle, and are relatively positioned between the wheel side and the wheel cap. It exerts a holding action to the extent that it does not rotate. At the same time, the blocking portion 9 functions to prevent the wheel cap from rotating in one direction by the inertial force.

When an abnormally strong inertial force exceeding the holding action of the locking portions 4 and 5 is generated, the wheel cap rotates relatively to the wheel, and the wheel nut 15 is locked. When reaching the vicinity of the guide opening 8 located in the center of
In the area of the guide opening 8 where the holding force (sliding load) by the locking portions 4 and 5 sharply decreases, the wheel cap rotates all at once due to its inertia. As a result, the wheel nut 15
The wheel cap is rotated to the position where it engages with the locking portions 4 and 5 of the other blade, and the cap is engaged and held again.

That is, the locking portions 4 and 5 which are symmetrically arranged on both wings with the guide opening 8 at the center are the portions for switching the locking position with respect to the wheel nut when the wheel cap is relatively rotated during traveling of the vehicle. Acts as.

(Embodiment) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a disc-shaped wheel cap 1 that faces the wheel side and is preferably made of synthetic resin.
On the inner surface of the, the arc-shaped inner standing piece 2 and outer standing piece 3 confronting parallel to each other in the radial direction, the locking portions 4, 5 facing each other along the upper edges of the standing pieces, and The engaging groove 6 is composed of both upright pieces and both locking portions.

The locking portions 4 and 5 are formed on their inner surfaces to be inclined surfaces 4a and 5a which are slidably engaged with the taper portion of the wheel nut on the wheel side, which will be described later. It is almost equal to the maximum diameter. The engaging grooves 6 have the same shape and are provided at a plurality of positions at equal intervals in the circumferential direction under the positional relationship corresponding to the position of the wheel nut. The upright pieces 2 and 3 and the locking portions 4 and 5 which form the engagement groove 6 are separated into left and right wings by a slit 7 located at the center thereof, and easily spread against the material elasticity of the wheel cap 1. It is done like this.

A guide opening 8 is provided between the blades. The guide opening 8 is formed by reducing the wall thickness of the standing pieces 2 and 3 near both sides of the slit 7 and removing a part of the locking portions 4 and 5, and inserting the wheel nut top portion. Has a size that allows

Each end of the engaging groove 6 is provided with a blocking portion (stopper) 9 that restricts relative movement of the wheel nut. A barrier piece 10 is provided in an area between the respective blocking portions 9 so as to prevent the nut from being erroneously positioned and hindering the turning operation when the wheel cap is attached to the wheel nut. Therefore, the guide opening 8 is formed so as not to have an opening or a concave area.

Fitting portions 11 are provided on both wings centering on the guide opening 8 and are formed by arcuate notches at positions facing the locking portions 4 and 5. The wheel cap 1 of the present invention is not necessarily made of synthetic resin, but when the fitting portion 11 is provided as described above, synthetic resin is used to impart elasticity to the locking portions 4 and 5. It is preferable to use the material.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a wheel nut 15 is screwed to the tip of a bolt 14 inserted from an axle hub into a mounting hole 13 of a wheel disk 12 of a wheel. Wheel nut
The locking portions 4 and 5 are sandwiched between the tapered portion 15a of 15 and the raised opening edge 13a of the mounting hole 13.

While reaching the blocking portion 9 of the guide opening portion 8, the locking portions 4 of each blade of L
Reference numeral 5 denotes a diameter of the tapered portion 15a at a portion where these are engaged, preferably 2/3 or more of the maximum diameter, and more preferably a length of not less than the maximum diameter and less than 2/3. Then, there is a possibility that the engagement holding stability of the locking portions 4 and 5 with respect to the taper portion 15a may deteriorate.

According to the embodiment of the present invention having such a structure, when the wheel cap 1 is attached, the inside of the cap is opposed to the wheel side, and the inside is applied to the wheel nut 15, so that the wheel cap 1 is moved in either the left or right direction. When rotated, the wheel nut 15
As shown in FIG. 5, the standing pieces 2, 3 of the guide opening 8 are
Positioned easily between the two. In this state, when the wheel cap 1 is strongly rotated in one direction, for example, in the direction opposite to the forward rotation of the axle, the wheel nut 15 located in the guide opening 8 faces one blade of the engagement groove 6, As shown in the figure, the locking parts 4 and 5 are the taper parts 15 of the wheel nut 15.
It moves relatively while being positioned between a and the raised opening edge 13a of the wheel disc 12. As a result, the wheel nut 15 causes the blocking portion 9 at the end of one blade of the engaging groove 6 to end.
The wheel cap 1 is attached to the fitting portion 11 immediately before or in contact therewith. The holding function in this mounted state is sufficiently exerted by pressure contact between the inclined surfaces 4a, 5a of the locking portions 4, 5 and the taper portion 15a of the wheel nut 15.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the return rotation of the wheel cap 1 from the mounting position in a normal vehicle traveling state, but when an inertial force (centrifugal force) exceeding this holding force is generated, the wheel cap 1 Rotates relative to the wheels in the return direction. However, in this case, when the wheel nut 15 moves to the vicinity of the guide opening 8, the sliding load between the wheel nut 15 and the locking portions 4 and 5 sharply decreases. The relative rotation is vigorously performed as it is. Therefore, the wheel nut 15 passes through the guide opening 8 and is positioned on the other blade of the engagement groove 6 and is sandwiched. as a result,
Withdrawal of the wheel nut 15 from the guide opening 8 and thus also withdrawal of the wheel cap 1 from the wheel is prevented.

The fitting portion 11 functions as a portion that senses the nut setting position in the turning operation when the wheel cap 1 is attached, and is extremely effective in improving the holding force at the setting position.

When removing the wheel cap 1, the guide opening 8 can be moved to the position of the wheel nut 15 by strongly turning the cap back.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the wheel cap 1 of the present invention, the tapered portion 15a of the wheel nut 15 is used,
In a mounting structure in which the wheel cap 1 is engaged and held by rotating the wheel cap 1, the tapered portions 15 are formed on both wings centering on the guide opening 8 for positioning the wheel nut 15.
By symmetrically disposing the locking portions 4 and 5 that slidably engage with a, it is possible to easily engage and disengage the wheel nut 15 by rotating operation, that is, to easily attach and detach the wheel nut 15. Inclined surfaces 4a, 5 of the locking portions 4, 5
A can be formed relatively large, and the holding force can be increased by the slidable contact of the inclined surface, so that stable holding at the mounting position is possible.

Further, even if the wheel cap 1 relatively rotates in the returning direction due to inertial action during vehicle traveling, the wheel nut 1 reaching the vicinity of the guide opening 8
The holding force for 5 rapidly decreases, and it continues to rotate in the same direction, so that the wheel nut 15 is passed through the guide opening 8 and moved to the engagement area with the locking portions 4, 5 of the other blade. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the wheel cap 15 from falling off the wheel.

Furthermore, since the locking portions 4 and 5 are symmetrically arranged on both wings via the guide openings 8, one type of wheel cap of the same type can be used and attached to the wheels on both sides. In this case, the cap has a number of advantages such that the turning direction of the cap can be selected, and the molding and management of the cap are simple, which is extremely useful for practical use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an inner plan view of a cap according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the guide opening. FIG. 4 is an overall vertical sectional view showing a mounted state of the cap. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged vertical sectional view showing a state where the wheel nut is inserted into the opening. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged vertical sectional view showing an engaged state of the wheel nut and the locking portion. 1 ... Wheel cap 2, 3 ... Standing piece 4, 5 ... Engagement part 6 ... Engagement groove 8 ... Guide opening 9 ... Blocking part 10 ... Barrier piece 15 ... Wheel nut 15a ... Sloping surface

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An automobile wheel cap (1) to be engaged with a wheel nut (15), wherein the wheel cap (1) is concentrically intermittently arranged corresponding to the position of the wheel nut (15) and faces the wheel. It is provided on arcuate elastic upstanding pieces (2, 3) which stand upside-down from the inner surface of the wheel cap (1) inward and outward in the radial direction, and is slidably engaged with the taper portion (15a) of the wheel nut (15). And a locking portion (4, 5) for holding the wheel nut (15), which is arranged in the central portion of the locking portion (4,5) to guide the wheel nut (15) between the elastic upstanding pieces (2, 3). For preventing the relative movement of the wheel nut (15), which is provided at both ends of the guide opening (8) for locking and the locking portions (4, 5), and the respective blocking portions (9). Preventing the wheel nut (15) from being located in the area between the parts (9) With the barrier piece (10), and the locking portions (4, 5) are formed symmetrically on both wings centering on the guide opening (8), and between the locking portions (4, 5). A fitting portion (11) for the taper portion (15a) of the wheel nut (15) is provided by recessing a part of these, and a blocking portion (from one end of the guide opening portion (8) to one end side thereof ( 9)
The engaging portions (4, 5) of each of the blades at L are formed to have a length that is ⅔ or more of the diameter of the taper portion (15a) of the wheel nut (15) at the portion where they are engaged. A wheel cap for an automobile characterized by being provided.