DESCRIPTION

"Overmask element for vehicle wheels"

[0001] . The object of the present invention is a overmask element for vehicle wheels. [0002] . In the field of automobiles it is known to foresee overmask elements suitable for being mounted on the rims of a vehicle's wheels, mainly in order to improve their appearance. Two distinct mounting devices are currently known for carrying out such an operation. [0003] . A first mounting device foresees a plurality of central fasteners that extend from inside the overmask element and lock onto the wheel bolts. Such a device, although it allows the mounting of the overmask element onto the wheel to be simplified and sped up, does not ensure an effective seal and in particular has the major drawback of leaving the edge of the overmask element free that can thus move and create the so-called "gaping effect" .

[0004] . A second device, alternative to the first, on the other hand, foresees a plurality of peripheral fasteners that extend from inside the overmask element and lock onto a portion of the wheel through the use of an elastic locking element or spring. The presence of the spring, whilst allowing high resistance and therefore quite an effective seal above all at the edge of the

overmask, creates a harmful unbalancing effect due to its eccentricity. In other words, after a wheel has been mounted onto the respective hub during the assembly of an automobile, the balancing of the same wheel is carried out. Then, the overmask element is mounted to complete the wheel. At this point, however, the wheel is no longer balanced above all due to the presence of said spring that has a substantial influence upon eccentricity with respect to the same wheel. [0005]. Moreover, the weight of the overmask element is rather high.

[0006] . From the above it can thus be seen that particularly important requirements in the application of overmask elements are simplicity of mounting, effectiveness of mounting and limited weight of the overmask element.

[0007] . The problem forming the basis of the present invention is therefore to propose a overmask element that has structural and functional characteristics such as to satisfy the aforementioned requirements and, at the same time, to avoid the quoted drawbacks with reference to the prior art.

[0008] . Such a problem is solved through a overmask element in accordance with claim 1. [0009] . Further characteristics and advantages of the

overmask element according to the invention shall become clear from the following description of preferred embodiments, given for indicating and not limiting purposes, with reference to the attached figures, in which:

- figure 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a overmask element according to the present invention;

- figure 2 illustrates a rear perspective view of the overmask element of figure 1; - figure 3 illustrates a diametral section view of a overmask element according to the present invention mounted on a vehicle's wheel;

- figure 4 illustrates the enlarged detail IV of figure 3; - figure 5 illustrates the enlarged detail V of figure 3. [0010] . With reference to \the aforementioned figures, reference numeral 10 wholly indicates a overmask element, an outer surface 12 of which is suitable for facing towards the outside of the overmask and of the vehicle whereas an inner surface 14 is suitable for facing towards the wheel of the vehicle.

[0011] . Advantageously, central fastening means 16 and peripheral fastening means 18 extend from the inner surface 14 towards the wheel of the vehicle. The central fastening means 16 are arranged along a first

circumference of the overmask element at bolts 20; the peripheral fastening means 18 are arranged along a second circumference having a greater diameter than the first circumference, preferably arranged at the perimetric edge of the overmask element.

[0012] . Both the central fastening means 16 and the peripheral fastening means 18 are shaped so as to make an exclusively snap-type mounting of the overmask element onto elements of the wheel . [0013] . The central fastening means comprise a plurality of elastic fasteners 22 suitable for snap- inserting onto the head 24 of the bolts 20. In particular, an elastic fastener 22 comprises a tab 25 suitable for enveloping the head of the respective bolt . An end of the tab is advantageously provided with a rib or tooth 26 suitable for abutting at the bottom on a sloped section 28 of the head of the respective bolt, according to the direction of insertion of the fastener parallel to the axis of the bolt itself. [0014] . In the example illustrated in the figures the tab 25 is defined by a circular wall that has a longitudinal opening 30. A longitudinal notch 32 is also foreseen, preferably diametrically opposite the longitudinal opening 30, so as to form two elastic portions 34 of the tab 25.

[0015] . In accordance with a possibile embodiment, the same number of elastic fasteners 22 are foreseen as there are bolts of the wheel. Alternatively, a different number can be foreseen, for example less than the number of bolts of the wheel.

[0016] . Moreover, the cirάular wall of the tab 25 defines a portion of the inner surface 14 of the overmask element from which a ridge 23 projects. This ridge 23 acts as a limit switch element when the overmask is mounted on the wheel, as shall be described hereafter.

[0017] . The peripheral fastening means 18 comprise a plurality of peripheral elastic tabs 36 arranged along a second circumference having a greater diameter than the first circumference. Preferably, the peripheral elastic tabs are arranged along a circumference arranged at the perimetric edge of the overmask element.

[0018] . The peripheral elastic tabs are arranged, for example, in groups of a few tabs uniformly distributed along the second circumference. In the example illustrated in the figures, the peripheral elastic tabs are grouped in groups of three tabs and such groups are distributed along the second circumference. In different embodiments the groups of peripheral elastic tabs can comprise a different number of tabs or else the peripheral elastic tabs can be uniformly distributed

along the second circumference^.

[0019] . In accordance with a possibile embodiment, a peripheral elastic tab comprises a rib or tooth 38 suitable for abutting snapping into place at the bottom into a circumferential recess 40 of the wheel, according to the direction of insertion of the overmask element on the same wheel .

[0020] . Preferably, a peripheral elastic tab 36 consists of a shaped wall 42 that extends from the inner surface of the overmask element and that defines the aforementioned rib or tooth 38. Advantageously, the shaped wall 42 is flat and a stiffening rib 44 can be foreseen arranged transversally with respect to the plane of extension of such a shaped wall. [0021] . Hereafter the mounting of the overmask element as described earlier is described.

[0022] . The overmask element is brought up to the wheel according to a direction parallel to the axis of the bolts and to the rotation axis of the wheel itself. [0023] . The elastic fasteners 22 open out onto the head of the respective bolt until the rib or tooth 26 abuts at the bottom on the sloped section 28 of the head of the respective bolt, according to the direction of insertion of the fastener parallel to the axis of the bolt itself. [0024] . At the same time, the ridge 23 makes an

abutment against the head 24 of the bolt 20 thus stopping the insertion movement of the overmask to advantageously avoid a movement that is too forceful being able to cause the elastic fasteners 22 to be squashed and accidentally breaking .

[0025] . The peripheral elastic tabs 36 slide along a side wall 46 of the wheel deforming towards the inside of the wheel itself until the rib or tooth 38 snaps at the bottom into the circumferential recess 40 of the wheel, according to the direction of insertion of the overmask element onto the wheel itself.

[0026] . To dismount the overmask element one has to pull the overmask element itself outwards, parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel so that the elastic fasteners 22 and the peripheral elastic tabs 36 respectively disengage from the head of the bolts and from the circumferential recess.

[0027] . From the above it can be appreciated how foreseeing a overmask element according to the present invention allows the aforementioned requirement of obtaining simple but effective mounting to be satisfied, providing a overmask element having a limited weight.

[0028] . The advantageous combination of elastic fasteners suitable for locking on the bolts of the wheel and of peripheral elastic tabs suitable for snap-locking

δ

onto the wheel itself allows gaping effects to be avoided by locking the peripheral edge of the overmask element. The simultaneous synergic provision of both of the aforementioned locking methods allows the use of the so- called spring to be avoided and allows the undesired unbalancing effect to be avoided, at the same time reducing the weight of the overmask element. Indeed, the mounting is ensured both in central position and in peripheral position without burdening the structure with elements like springs or other.

[0029] . It is clear that variants and/or additions to what has been described and illustrated above can be foreseen. [0030] . For example, the elastic fasteners can be made from two or more tabs arranged so as to envelop the respective bolt.

[0031] . As an alternative to what has been illustrated, the peripheral elastic tabs can be suitable for deforming at a circumferential rib of the wheel for example suitable for being housed in a recess of the tab itself. [0032] . A man skilled in the art can make modifications and adaptations to the preferred embodiment of the described overmask element and can replace elements with functionally equivalent elements, in order to satisfy contingent and specific requirements, without departing

from the scope of the following claims.

*** * ***