JP2002019403A - Wheel cover - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an interesting wheel cover for sharply reducing failure of an electric system. SOLUTION: In this wheel cover 10 having a wheel cover body 16 installed outside a wheel 12 and rotatable together with the wheel 12, a lamp holding means 18 arranged inside the wheel cover body 16 in an installing state to the wheel 12 and installing a lamp 30 and a power generation means 20 for supplying a lighting current to the lamp 30 by generating electric power by rotation of the wheel cover body 16, the wheel cover is characterized in that the lamp holding means 18 is rotatably supported by the wheel cover body 16, and does not substantially rotate even by the rotation of the wheel cover body 16, and the wheel cover body 16 is composed of a transparent or semitransparent material, and changes the light of the lamp 30 at rotating time, and forms a pattern 42 capable of expressing a pattern different from resting time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a method for installing an electric system such as a wheel cover, particularly a lamp, and a device for giving various kinds of interests by using the electric system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a wheel (wheel) of an automobile or the like, for example, a steel wheel or the like, has a mudguard,
A wheel cover is attached in consideration of the appearance design, reduction of air resistance, and the like. By the way, recently pedestrians,
In order to reduce accidents such as collisions between vehicles, attention has been paid to a technology for improving visibility from pedestrians and drivers of other vehicles, particularly at night, when accidents are likely to occur.

For this reason, various ideas have been devised for a wheel cover that can be detached with a relatively simple operation. For example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-89002, JP-A-63-27745.
There is one described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2 and the like. 5-8
The wheel cover described in Japanese Patent No. 9002 is provided with a power generation means such as a solar cell, an electric system such as a lamp outside the wheel cover, and rotates the lamp together with the wheel cover. Is lit.

The wheel cover described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-277452 uses self-power generation means having a rotor shaft and a coil in place of the solar cell, and is provided with a lamp holding means. The provision of the weight prevents the lamp from rotating substantially due to the weight of the weight even when the wheel cover rotates during traveling. By attaching the wheel cover to the wheel of an automobile or the like in this way, the lamp can be turned on during traveling, so that the visibility of the own vehicle from pedestrians and drivers of other vehicles can be improved at night.

[0005]

However, in the wheel cover described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-277452, the lamp is not substantially rotated by the weight of the weight even when the wheel cover rotates. Although it is possible to reduce the failure of the electrical system,
There was still room for improvement in terms of fun.

On the other hand, in the case of the wheel cover described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 5-89002, since the lamp is rotated together with the wheel cover, a structure different from that at rest can be seen. it can. However, if the lamp itself is rotated, a failure is likely to occur as described above.

As described above, conventionally, it is extremely difficult to reduce the failure of the electric system and to provide an interesting system, and it is strongly desired to develop an appropriate technology capable of solving the problem. Was. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and has as its object to provide an interesting wheel cover while reducing failure of an electric system.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, a wheel cover according to the present invention is mounted on the outside of a wheel and is rotatable together with the wheel. A lamp holding means provided inside the cover body and provided with a lamp, and a power generation means for generating power by rotating the wheel cover body and supplying a lighting current to the lamp; Holding means,
The wheel cover body is rotatably supported by the wheel cover body and does not substantially rotate by the rotation of the wheel cover body. The wheel cover body is made of a transparent or translucent material, and changes into light of the lamp when the wheel cover body rotates. And a pattern capable of displaying a pattern different from that at rest is formed.

[0009] The pattern referred to here is, for example, a pattern provided with a color, unevenness, and the like different from the wheel cover body.
An arbitrary thing that can express a different pattern when stationary and when rotating.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, in the wheel cover according to the present invention, the lamp holding means is rotatably supported by the wheel cover main body, and does not substantially rotate by the rotation of the wheel cover main body. The lamp is arranged so that a desired pattern is formed, and the wheel cover body is formed of a transparent or translucent material, and can display a pattern formed by the light of the lamp. Note that, in the present invention, it is preferable to include a transmitting unit.

Here, the transmitting means is provided in the lamp holding means, and can transmit desired information by a current obtained by the power generating means. Here, the desired information is, for example, a radio signal or the like in which a different frequency is set for each vehicle type to which the wheel cover is attached.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a schematic configuration when a wheel cover according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a wheel of an automobile. 1 is a front view, and FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view (view from the side).

In FIG. 1, a wheel cover 10 according to the present embodiment has a tire 14 mounted on a rim of a wheel 12 made of steel or the like rotatable together with an axle 11 of an automobile, a wheel cover body 16 and a lamp holding means 1.
8 and a power generation means 20. Here, the wheel cover body 16 is mounted on the outside of the wheel 12 and is rotatable together with the wheel 12.

The wheel cover body 16 has an inner body 22 made of a translucent material and an outer body 24. The inner body 22 and the outer body 24 are fixed by fixing screws 26, and the outer body 24 is It is securely attached to the wheel 12 by the attachment screw 28. The lamp holding means 18
Is mounted inside the wheel cover body 16 in a state of being mounted on the wheel 12, and a lamp 30 is installed.

The power generation means 20 has, for example, one end fixed to a substantially central portion of the wheel cover main body 16 and the other end side accommodated in a case 32 and a rotor shaft 34 accommodated in the case 32. A coil 36 and the like are provided substantially in the entire circumferential direction of the shaft 34. The relative rotation of the rotor shaft 34 with respect to the coil 36 generates power, and supplies a lighting current to the lamp 30.

The lamp 30 has a low power consumption L, for example.
It is composed of an ED (light emitting element) or the like, and is connected to the coil 36 of the power generation means 20 by a lead wire (not shown). By configuring the wheel cover 10 according to the present embodiment as described above, the visibility of the own vehicle from pedestrians and drivers of other vehicles is improved by the light of the lamp 30, particularly at night, so that a collision accident may occur. Prevention can be achieved.

By the way, for example, an electric system such as a lamp
When driving a car, it is vulnerable to vibration from the road surface and it is easy to break down, so an electric system such as a lamp is provided on the wheel cover body,
If it is rotated together with the wheel cover body, a failure is likely to occur. On the other hand, since turning on the lamp alone is not interesting, a method in which the lamp is provided on the wheel cover main body and rotated together with the wheel cover main body to make a pattern different from that at rest appear can be considered.

Here, it is difficult to separately provide the lamp 30 and the power generating means 20 on the stationary side and the rotating side in terms of the current supply method. It is common to employ a method in which both of the power generation means 20 are provided on the rotating side, but if an electric system such as a lamp is rotated, a failure is likely to occur. As described above, conventionally, it has been extremely difficult to achieve both a reduction in the failure of the electric system and an interest.

Therefore, the characteristic features of the present invention are:
The lamp holding means is rotatably supported with respect to the wheel cover main body, does not substantially rotate by the rotation of the wheel cover main body, and the wheel cover main body is made of a transparent or translucent material, and the lamp cover rotates at the time of the rotation. Is formed so as to give a change to the light and to express a pattern different from that at rest.

For this reason, in this embodiment, first,
As shown in FIG. 2, the lamp holding means 18 is provided with a weight 38 with a mounting screw 40 except for a substantially central portion thereof, and the lamp 30 as an electric system is arranged. The lamp holding means 18 includes a power generation means 20.
Is provided. On the other hand, for example, irregularities (patterns) 42 as shown in FIG. 3 are formed on the inner body back surface 22b of the wheel cover main body 16 radially and at equal intervals.

As a result, when the vehicle is running, the rotor shaft 34 of the power generation means 20 rotates together with the wheel 12 and
And the lamp holding means 18 does not substantially rotate due to the weight of the weight 38, so that the electric system such as the lamp 30 does not substantially rotate. Thereby, failure of the electric system due to vibration, rotation, or the like can be significantly reduced.

Then, the lamp 30 is turned on by the lighting current generated by the power generation means 20 in this manner. Here, when the wheel cover body 16 moves as shown in FIG. For example, light 44 from lamp 30
Is reflected in the rotational direction by the unevenness 42 of the inner body back surface 22b made of a translucent material of the wheel cover body,
Since the reflected light 46 travels in the rotational direction, when a pedestrian or a driver of another vehicle looks at the wheel cover 10 according to the present embodiment, unlike the light 44 at rest as shown in FIG. Since the afterimage 48 as shown in FIG. 6 can be seen by the reflected light 46 at, interestingness due to rotation is given.

As described above, according to the wheel cover 10 according to the present embodiment, when the vehicle is running, the wheel cover main body 16 rotates together with the wheel 12, but the electric system such as the lamp 30 is installed on the lamp holding means 18. Weight 38
Does not rotate due to its own weight. On the other hand, the light of the lamp 30 is exposed through the unevenness 42 of the wheel cover body 16 made of a translucent material that rotates together with the wheel 12, so that the wheel cover body 16 has A different pattern is displayed. This reduces the failure of the electrical system and gives the fun of rotation.

It should be noted that the wheel cover of the present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention. For example, the pattern is described as an example provided on the back surface of the wheel cover main body, but at the time of rotation, if it can express a different pattern than at rest,
It may be provided on the surface.

[0025]Second embodiment  For example, FIG. 7 shows an example in which the afterimage is obtained.
Use a configuration that provides such a strobe effect
Is also preferred. FIG. 3A is a partial sectional view (from the side).
(B) is a partial sectional view (view from the front).
It is. The part corresponding to the first embodiment is denoted by reference numeral 10.
0 is added and the description is omitted.

The wheel cover 110 shown in FIG. 2 rotates the wheel cover body 116 when the vehicle is running, but a plurality of lamps 130 are concentrically mounted on the lamp holding means 118 which does not substantially rotate due to the weight of the weight 138. Are provided at equal intervals. The lamp holding means 118 is provided with a reflecting mirror portion 150 over substantially the entire outer peripheral portion thereof so that the reflecting surface thereof is inclined near the center of the wheel cover main body 116.

The lamp holding means 118 has a lighting circuit 152 which is provided between the power generation means 120 and the lamp 130 via a lead wire (not shown) and blinks the plurality of lamps 130 at desired intervals simultaneously. Is provided. On the other hand, the inner body back surface 12 of the wheel cover body 116
2b, a plurality of light-shielding seals 154 as patterns are provided at equal intervals on substantially the same concentric circle as the lamp.

As a result, when the vehicle is running, the wheel cover 1
10B is rotated in the direction A in the same figure (B), the lighting circuit 152 adjusts the blinking interval of the lamp 130, and the light-shielding seal portion 154 is rotated in the opposite direction B by the rotation speed of the wheel cover 110. It appears to rotate in the direction, appears to stop, or rotates slowly or faster than the actual wheel speed.

Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment, the failure of the electric system such as the lamp 130 can be reduced, and the electric system can be used to provide an interesting effect by rotation such as a strobe effect. Moreover, since the light from the lamp 130 is condensed by the reflecting mirror unit 150 near the center of the wheel cover main body 116, the wheel cover main body 11
The vicinity of the approximate center of 6 looks brighter than other positions. For this reason, when traveling, the light of the lamp 130 of the wheel cover 110 according to the present embodiment can be clearly seen from a pedestrian or a driver of another vehicle, so that the presence of the own vehicle can be more reliably notified.

[0030]Third embodiment  Further, in the above configuration, the wheel cover main body has irregularities.
A more transparent material instead of a substantially translucent material
For example, as shown in FIG.
It is also preferable to form a desired pattern with the lamp itself.
The parts corresponding to those in the first embodiment are denoted by reference numeral 200.
Are added and the description is omitted. FIG. 2A is a partial sectional view.
FIG. 2B is a front view.

The wheel cover 210 shown in FIG. 3 is provided with a plurality of lamps 230, for example, alphabets, on a lamp holding means 218 which rotates the wheel cover body 216 when the vehicle is running, but does not substantially rotate due to the weight of the weight 238. The pattern 256 such as S is formed.

As a result, the wheel cover body 216 rotates during traveling, as in the above-described configuration, but the pattern 256 such as S
The electric system such as the lamp 230 does not substantially rotate due to the weight of the weight 238 provided on the lamp holding means 218, and the lamp 254 is provided via the wheel cover main body 216 as shown in FIG. 25 such as S drawn by
Express 6 Therefore, the failure of the electric system is reduced, and the electric system is used to provide an interesting feature such as displaying a pattern 256 such as S drawn by the lamp 230.

[0033]Fourth embodiment  Further, in addition to the above-described configuration, when the vehicle is running, it is shown in FIG.
The wheel cover body 316 and the rotor shaft 334 are turned
Rolls, but does not substantially rotate due to the weight of the weight 338
The transmitting means 358 is further provided in the lamp holding means 318.
Is also preferred. In addition, it corresponds to the first embodiment.
The part is indicated by the reference numeral 300 and the description is omitted.

In the wheel cover 310 shown in the figure, the transmitting means 358 is connected to the power generating means 320 by a lead wire (not shown), and the power from the power generating means 320 is used to change the frequency depending on the vehicle type. Is transmitted to the outside of the wheel cover main body 316.

Then, a sensor 362 for receiving a radio signal 360 from the transmitting means 358, for example, as shown in the figure, and a computer 364 for identifying a vehicle type based on a difference in frequency are provided in a specific area, for example, in a factory. With the provision, it is possible to manage the entry and exit of cars in the factory for each type of car.

As a result, similar to the above configuration, when the vehicle is running,
The wheel cover body 318 rotates, but the lamp 33
0, the electric system such as the transmitting means 358 is the lamp holding means 31
8 does not substantially rotate due to the weight of the weight 338 provided therein, the failure of the electric system is reduced, and the electric system is used to further provide an interesting feature such as the identification of the vehicle type by the transmission means 358. .

[0037]Fifth embodiment  By the way, it is often used daily, for example, at 40 km / h or less.
Turn on or off the lamp sufficiently within the vehicle speed
Generates the necessary voltage and current to operate the communication means sufficiently
Large means of power generation are needed to
U. Such large power generation means can be used, for example, in small cars,
Inside the wheel cover with small space used for cars etc.
Is very difficult to provide.

In order to generate the necessary voltage and current with a small power generation means, it is conceivable to rotate the rotor shaft of the power generation means at high speed. However, the space space at the center of the wheel cover of a general automobile except for a large car is, for example, often about 160 mm in inner diameter and about 40 mm in depth, and in many cases there are, for example, about five tire mounting nuts and the like. , The effective space is very small.

As described above, it is theoretically possible to directly operate the power generation means by utilizing the rotation of the wheel cover, or to generate the necessary voltage and current from the power generation means via the speed increasing gear mechanism. It is very difficult. That is, as the speed increasing gear mechanism as described above, a combination of outer gears having different gear ratios is generally used, but when such outer gears are combined, the speed increasing gear mechanism becomes larger in the outer diameter direction. This not only limits the space in which the lamp is mounted, but also interferes with the tire mounting nut and the like.

Therefore, in order to solve these difficulties, a small power generating means must be rotated by a small, flat, speed increasing gear mechanism. For this reason, in this embodiment, it is also preferable to add a speed increasing gear mechanism as shown in FIGS. FIG. 10 is a front view, and FIG. 11 is a side view (partially sectional view). A part corresponding to the first embodiment is indicated by adding reference numeral 400, and a part corresponding to the second embodiment is shown. Is added with reference numeral 300, and the description is omitted.

In this embodiment, as the wheel, a cap is provided at the center portion opposite to the portion where the mounting nut to the tire is provided, and the center cap is assumed to be an aluminum wheel 412 which is detachable. The wheel cover 410 according to the present embodiment is attached to the center of the aluminum wheel 412.

The feature of this embodiment is that an inner ring gear 470 and a small gear 472 are used as the speed increasing gear mechanism. The inner gear 470 is connected to the wheel 41
Wheel cover body 4 so that it rotates with the rotation of 2.
16 is fixed by bolts 474. The pitch circle 476 of the small gear 472 is added to the pitch circle 476 of the inner ring gear 470.
78 are engaged so as to be inscribed.

Then, the inner gear 470 rotates with the rotation of the wheel cover body 416, and the rotation of the inner gear 470 causes the small gear 472 meshing with the inner gear to rotate at a high speed in the same direction. This small gear 472 has a direct power generation means 42.
0 rotor shaft 434 is attached. Therefore, the small gear 4
72 allows the rotor shaft 434 of the power generation means 420 to rotate at high speed, so that the power generation means 420 can generate the necessary voltage and current.

Further, the inner ring gear 47 is used as a speed increasing gear mechanism.
Since the 0, small gear 472 is used, miniaturization and space saving can be achieved as compared with the case where a plurality of outer gears are combined. Therefore, it is possible to provide a small power generation means in a narrow space, so that the wheel cover according to the present embodiment can be attached to a small car or the like,
Even with a small power generation means, it is possible to generate the necessary voltage and current by the speed increasing gear mechanism, so that the necessary voltage and current can be secured, and the operation of the lamp lighting, transmission means and the like can be sufficiently performed. You.

The power generation means 420 is directly connected to the small gear 472.
By attaching the rotor shaft 434 of the
The depth in the 34 direction can also be reduced. In addition,
In each of the above configurations, the example using the weight has been described.
In the present embodiment, the power generation means 420 is mounted at a position shifted from the center axis of the wheel cover main body 416, so that the own weight of the power generation means 420 itself is used without using a weight, so that the wheel cover main body 4
It is possible to prevent the lamp installation part 418 from rotating even by the rotation of 16. Thereby, further downsizing, space saving, and the like are achieved.

Further, in each of the above-described configurations, an example was described in which the wheel cover of the present invention was attached to the wheel of an automobile. However, the wheel cover of the present invention is not limited to this.
As long as it has wheels, it can be attached to any object, and can be applied to, for example, wheels of a roller coaster in an amusement park or the like.

[0047]

As described above, according to the wheel cover of the present invention, the lamp holding means is rotatably supported by the wheel cover main body, and does not substantially rotate by the rotation of the wheel cover main body. In addition, the wheel cover body is made of a transparent or translucent material, and changes the light of the lamp when it is rotated, so that a pattern that can express a pattern different from that at rest is formed. While reducing the failure of the electric system, the fun of rotation is given. Further, according to the wheel cover according to the present invention, the lamp holding means is rotatably supported by the wheel cover main body, and does not substantially rotate by the rotation of the wheel cover main body, so that a desired pattern is formed. The wheel cover body is made of a transparent or translucent material so that a pattern composed of the light of the lamp can be displayed. Gives fun. Further, in the present invention, the lamp holding means is provided with a transmitting means capable of transmitting desired information by means of the current obtained by the power generating means, so that it is further interesting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view when a wheel cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a wheel of an automobile.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view (view from the side) when the wheel cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a wheel of an automobile.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a wheel cover main body characteristic of the wheel cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of the wheel cover main body shown in FIG. 3;

5 is an explanatory diagram of how the wheel cover main body shown in FIG. 3 looks at rest.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of how the wheel cover body shown in FIG. 3 looks when rotating.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a wheel cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a wheel cover according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a wheel cover according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a power generation unit using a characteristic speed increasing gear mechanism in a wheel cover according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 110, 210, 310, 410 Wheel cover 16, 116, 216, 316, 416 Wheel cover body 18, 118, 218, 318, 418 Lamp holding means 20, 120, 220, 320, 420 Power generation means 30, 130, 230, 330, 430 Lamp 42, 342 Roughness (pattern) 154, 454 Light-shielding seal (pattern) 256 Pattern 358 Transmitting means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A wheel cover main body mounted on the outside of a wheel and rotatable with the wheel, and disposed inside the wheel cover main body when mounted on the wheel.
In a wheel cover comprising: a lamp holding unit in which a lamp is installed; and a power generation unit that generates electric power by rotating the wheel cover main body and supplies a lighting current to the lamp. On the other hand, it is rotatably supported, and does not substantially rotate by the rotation of the wheel cover main body.The wheel cover main body is made of a transparent or translucent material, and changes the light of the lamp at the time of rotation,
A wheel cover characterized in that a pattern capable of displaying a pattern different from that at rest is formed. 2. A wheel cover body mounted on the outside of the wheel and rotatable with the wheel, and disposed inside the wheel cover body when mounted on the wheel,
In a wheel cover comprising: a lamp holding unit in which a lamp is installed; and a power generation unit that generates electric power by rotating the wheel cover main body and supplies a lighting current to the lamp. On the other hand, the lamp is supported so as to be rotatable, does not substantially rotate even by the rotation of the wheel cover main body, and is arranged so that a desired pattern is formed. The wheel cover main body is made of a transparent or translucent material. A wheel cover characterized in that a pattern composed of light from a lamp can be displayed. 3. The wheel cover according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitting unit provided on the lamp holding unit and capable of transmitting desired information by a current obtained by the power generating unit. cover.