Wheel opening closure system
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsGordon M. Platto, David Michael Lechkun, Anthony Lee Meyer, Brad Alan Richards
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle is provided with a hub and a collar. The hub extends longitudinally inward from a wheel. The collar is disposed over the hub and is mounted for translation relative to the hub. The vehicle also includes a panel assembly having a support and first and second panels. The support extends radially outward from the collar, and the first and second panels are each pivotally connected to opposing lateral edges of the support. The panels pivot between an expanded position and a collapsed position and translate radially for selectively closing a wheel opening.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising:
- a hub extending longitudinally inward from a wheel;
- a collar disposed over hub and mounted for translation relative to the hub;
- and
- a panel assembly with a support extending radially outward from the collar and first and second panels each pivotally connected to opposing lateral edges of the support for pivoting between an expanded position and a collapsed position and translating radially for selectively closing a wheel opening.
A system comprising:
- a hub extending inward from a wheel;
- a sleeve disposed over the hub with an angled slot formed therein and a panel extending radially outward therefrom;
- and
- a disc mounted for rotation about the hub in response to an input force, the disc having a flange adapted to engage the angled slot for converting rotational motion to translational motion of the sleeve and panel for opening/closing a wheel opening.
A system comprising:
- a hub extending inward from a wheel;
- a sleeve disposed over the hub;
- a support extending radially outward from the sleeve with a panel pivotally connected thereto;
- and
- a ring mounted for rotation about the sleeve in response to an input force, the ring having a projection extending radially outward therefrom for engaging the panel for converting rotational motion to pivotal motion of the panel for opening/closing a wheel opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.