Wheel Cover Assembly with Installable Wheel Rib and Wheel Cover

Abstract

A wheel cover assembly for a vehicle wheel may include a wheel rib that is attachable to a rim inner surface of a wheel rim of the vehicle wheel, a cover body having a cover body outer surface, a cover body inner surface, and a cover body outer edge having an outer diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of the wheel rib and less than an inner diameter of an open end flange of the wheel rim. A cover mounting mechanism operatively connected to the cover body has a cover locking position wherein the cover mounting mechanism engages the wheel rib to retain the wheel rib between the cover mounting mechanism and the cover body and secure the wheel cover assembly to the vehicle wheel when the wheel rib is attached to the rim inner surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wheel cover assembly for a vehicle wheel having a wheel rim with a rim inner surface, an open end flange having an open end flange inner diameter, the wheel cover assembly comprising:
 a wheel rib having an annular shape, a rib inner diameter, and a rib outer diameter that is less than the open end flange inner diameter so that the wheel rib is attachable to the rim inner surface of the wheel rim to extend inward from the rim inner surface of the wheel rim proximate the open end flange;   a cover body having a cover body outer surface, a cover body inner surface opposite the cover body outer surface, and a cover body outer edge having a cover body outer diameter that is greater than the rib inner diameter and less than the open end flange inner diameter; and   a cover mounting mechanism operatively connected to the cover body and having a cover locking position wherein the cover mounting mechanism engages the wheel rib when the cover body inner surface is facing the wheel rib and engaging one of the wheel rib and the rim inner surface to retain the wheel rib between the cover mounting mechanism and the cover body and secure the wheel cover assembly to the vehicle wheel When the wheel rib is attached to the rim inner surface.   
     
     
         2 . The wheel cover assembly according to  claim 1 , comprising a weld attaching the wheel rib to the rim inner surface. 
     
     
         3 . The wheel cover assembly according to  claim 2 , therein the weld extends around a circumference of the wheel rib. 
     
     
         4 . The wheel cover assembly according to claim I, comprising a rib seal attached between the rim inner surface and a rib outer edge to attach the wheel rib to the rim inner surface. 
     
     
         5 . The wheel cover assembly according to  claim 1 , comprising an adhesive attaching the wheel rib to the rim inner surface. 
     
     
         6 . The wheel cover assembly according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of attachment blocks mounted to the rim inner surface and circumferentially spaced about the rim inner surface, wherein the wheel rib is attached to the plurality of attachment blocks to attach the wheel rib to the rim inner surface. 
     
     
         7 . The wheel cover assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover mounting mechanism comprises a plurality of locking arms extending from the cover body inner surface and circumferentially spaced about the cover body inner surface proximate the cover body outer edge, wherein each locking arm comprises:
 a locking arm body extending from the cover body inner fur face and having a body proximal end connected to the cover body inner surface and a body distal end opposite the body proximal end; and   a locking arm decent extending radially outward from the locking arm body proximate the body distal end,   wherein the locking arm detents define a cover mounting mechanism outer diameter that is greater than the rib inner diameter, and wherein the locking arm bodies deflect radially inward when the locking arm detents are engaged by the wheel rib and deflect radially outward when the locking arm detents are disposed on an opposite side of the wheel rib from the cover body so that the wheel rib is retained between the locking arm detents and the cover body inner surface.   
     
     
         8 . The wheel cover assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover body has a plurality of latch recesses defined in the cover body outer surface and circumferentially spaced about the cover body outer surface proximate the cover body outer edge, each latch recess having a latch opening extending through the cover body from the latch recess to the cover body inner surface, wherein the cover mounting mechanism comprises a plurality of locking latches, each locking latch associated with a corresponding latch recess and having a latch arm on the side of the cover body outer surface and a latch finger extending through the latch opening to the side of the cover body inner surface, and wherein each locking latch is operatively connected to the cover body so that the locking latch moves between a latch unlocked position where the latch finger does not engage the wheel rib when the cover body inner surface is facing and engaging the wheel rib, and a latch locked position where the latch finger engages the wheel rib when the cover body inner surface is facing and engaging the wheel rib to retain the wheel rib between the latch finger and the cover body inner surface. 
     
     
         9 . The wheel cover assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover body has a plurality of latching pin slots extending through the cover body from the cover body outer surface to the cover body inner surface and circumferentially spaced about the cover body outer surface proximate the cover body outer edge, each latching pin slot being elongated in a radial direction, wherein the cover mounting mechanism comprises a plurality of latching pin assemblies, and each latching pin assembly corresponding to one of the plurality of latching pin slots and comprising:
 a latching pin extending through the latching pin slot with a latching pin tab end extending from the cover body outer surface;   a latching pin finger coupled to the latching pin at a latching pin finger end opposite the latching pin tab end;   a latching pin mounting bracket mounted to the cover body proximate the latching pin slot, the latching pin mounting bracket receiving the latching pin and constraining the latching pin to move between a latching pin unlocked position where the latching pin finger does not engage the wheel rib when the cover body inner surface is facing and engaging the wheel rib, and a latching pin locked position where the latching pin finger engages the wheel rib when the cover body inner surface is facing and engaging the wheel rib to retain the wheel rib between the latching pin finger and the cover body inner surface; and   a latching pin spring engaging the latching pin and biasing the latching pin toward the latching pin locked position.   
     
     
         10 . A method for mounting a wheel cover assembly to a vehicle wheel having a wheel rim, the method for mounting the wheel cover assembly comprising:
 attaching a wheel rib having an annular shape to a rim inner surface of the wheel rim proximate an open end flange of the wheel rim having an open end flange inner diameter so that the wheel rib extends radially inward from the rim inner surface;   positioning a cover body of the wheel cover assembly proximate the wheel rib; and   engaging the wheel rib with a cover mounting mechanism when the cover body is facing the wheel rib so that the Wheel cover assembly engages one of the wheel rib and the rim inner surface to retain the wheel rib between the cover mounting mechanism and the cover body to secure the Wheel cover assembly to the vehicle wheel.   
     
     
         11 . The method for mounting the wheel cover assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein attaching the wheel rib comprises welding the wheel rib to the rim inner surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method for mounting the wheel cover assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein welding the wheel rib comprises forming a weld around a circumference of the wheel rib. 
     
     
         13 . The method for mounting the wheel cover assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein attaching the wheel rib comprises:
 attaching a rib seal to the rim inner surface; and   attaching the wheel rib to the rib seal.   
     
     
         14 . The method for mounting the wheel cover assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein attaching the wheel rib comprises attaching the wheel rib to the rim inner surface with an adhesive. 
     
     
         15 . The method for mounting the wheel cover assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein attaching the wheel rib comprises:
 mounting a plurality of attachment blocks to the rim inner surface with the plurality of attachment blocks being circumferentially spaced about, the rim inner surface; and   attaching the wheel rib to the plurality of attachment blocks.   
     
     
         16 . A wheel cover assembly for a vehicle wheel having a wheel rim, the wheel cover assembly comprising:
 a wheel rib having an annular shape, a rib inner diameter, and a rib outer diameter that is less than an open end flange inner diameter of an open end flange of the wheel rim so that the wheel rib is insertable through the open end flange and attachable to a rim inner surface of the wheel rim to extend inward from the rim inner surface of the wheel rim proximate the open end flange;   a cover body having a cover body outer surface, a cover body inner surface opposite the cover body outer surface, and a cover body outer edge having a cover body outer diameter that is greater than the rib inner diameter of the wheel rib; and   a cover mounting mechanism operatively connected to the cover body and having a plurality of rib engaging elements disposed on the side of the cover body inner surface and circumferentially spaced about the cover body inner surface proximate the cover body outer edge, wherein the plurality of rib engaging elements define a cover mounting mechanism outer diameter that is greater than the rib inner diameter when the plurality of rib engaging elements are disposed in a rib engaging position and is less than the rib inner diameter when the plurality of rib engaging elements are disposed in a rib disengaging position, and wherein the plurality of rib engaging elements are movable between the rib engaging position to engage the wheel rib and attach the wheel cover assembly to the wheel rim and the rib disengaging position to disengage the wheel cover assembly from the wheel rim.   
     
     
         17 . The wheel cover assembly according to  claim 16 , comprising a weld attaching the wheel rib to the rim inner surface. 
     
     
         18 . The wheel cover assembly according to  claim 16 , comprising a rib seal attached between the rim inner surface and a rib outer edge to attach the wheel rib to the rim inner surface. 
     
     
         19 . The wheel cover assembly according to  claim 16 , comprising an adhesive attaching the wheel rib to the rim inner surface. 
     
     
         20 . The wheel cover assembly according to  claim 16 , comprising a plurality of attachment blocks mounted to the rim inner surface and circumferentially spaced about the rim inner surface, wherein the wheel rib is attached to the plurality of attachment blocks to attach the wheel rib to the rim inner surface.