# US 5,346,288 A · Automotive wheel and cover assembly with cushioning band

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- Number: US 5,346,288 A
- Document ID: US5346288A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/136,865
- Filed: 1993-10-18
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1993-10-18
- Assignees: Ford Motor Company
- Inventors: Charles F. Hodge; Syed H. Sarmast; Gerald F. Herbert; Dennis M. Sopko
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346288A

## CPC

- B60B 7/02: made essentially in one part ({B60B7/0006,} B60B7/01 take precedence)
- B60B 7/0013: {Hub caps}
- B60B 7/008: {having decorative holes or openings, i.e. openings going beyond mere cooling openings}
- B60B 7/063: {to the rim}
- B60B 7/066: {to the hub}
- B60B 7/08: having gripping elements consisting of formations integral with the cover
- B60B 7/105: {the spring clip mounted on the rim}
- B60B 7/14: comprising screw-threaded means
- B60B 7/18: simulating spoked or wire wheel
- B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION

## Abstract

A wheel and cover assembly for an automotive vehicle is provided which includes a road wheel and a cover member aligned road wheel and provides a continuous cushioning member interposed laterally between the cover and the road wheel. The cushioning member is formed as the rubber band L-shaped in cross-section which cooperates with a plurality of circumferentially spaced standoff ribs formed on the laterally inner surface of the cover.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wheel and cover assembly for an automotive vehicle comprising:
a road wheel having an annular laterally outer surface;
a cover member formed as a disc overlying the wheel laterally outer surface and having a laterally inner annular surface facing the wheel, and further including a plurality of circumferentially spaced upstanding ribs projecting perpendicularly from the laterally inner surface, each rib including a radially outer surface extending perpendicularly from the laterally inner surface of the cover member toward the wheel and a facing surface extending radially inwardly and perpendicularly to the radially outer surface; and
a resilient cushioning member extending continuously circumferentially and positioned laterally between the road wheel and the cover member and adapted to be compressibly engaged between the rib facing surface and only the wheel laterally outer surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A wheel and cover assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the cushion member is a rubber band.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A wheel and cover assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein the rubber band is L-shaped in cross-section.