# US 9,039,101 B1 · Aircraft hubcap structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,101 B1 - Document ID: US9039101B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/408,491 - Filed: 2012-02-29 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-29 - Applicants: Peter Danto - Inventors: Peter Danto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039101B1 ## CPC - B60B 7/0013: {Hub caps} - B60B 7/02: made essentially in one part ({B60B7/0006,} B60B7/01 take precedence) - B60B 7/06: Fastening arrangements therefor (B60B7/01, B60B7/20 take precedence) - B60B 7/068: {to the wheel bolts or wheel nuts} - B60B 7/14: comprising screw-threaded means - B60B 7/061: {characterised by the part of the wheels to which the discs, rings or the like are mounted} - B60B 2900/1216: due to air-drag - Y02T 10/88: Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses - 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 - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A dome-shaped hubcap is attached to a wheel half of an airplane wheel and tire assembly by a plurality of attachment brackets, the attachment brackets being mounted on bolts passing through preexisting openings formed in the wheel wall of the wheel half. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Aircraft hubcap structure for attachment to a wheel half of an airplane wheel and tire assembly, said wheel half including a wheel wall of circular configuration and a cylindrical rim affixed to said wheel wall, surrounding said wheel wall and projecting outwardly from said wheel wall, said wheel wall defining a plurality of preexisting bolt holes spaced from one another and adjacent to said cylindrical rim for receiving bolts employed to interconnect said wheel half to other structure of said wheel and tire assembly, said aircraft hubcap structure including, in combination: a dome-shaped hubcap having a circular-shaped periphery and a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said wheel half, said dome-shaped hubcap defining a plurality of spaced hubcap holes; and a plurality of attachment brackets, each attachment bracket including first and second bracket end portions and a bracket intermediate portion between said bracket end portions and integral therewith, the first bracket end portion of each of said attachment brackets defining an opening for receiving a bolt extending through a bolt hole of the wheel half for securement thereto by a nut, and the second bracket end portion of each of said attachment brackets defining an opening for receiving a mechanical connector extending through a hubcap hole for securing said hubcap to said second bracket end portion, said dome-shaped hubcap completely covering said wheel half when said wheel half and said dome-shaped hubcap are connected together by said attachment brackets, said bracket intermediate portion canted sideways relative to both said first bracket end portion and said second bracket end portion, and said first bracket end portion and said second bracket end portion being offset relative to one another. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aircraft hubcap structure according to claim 1 wherein each of said attachment brackets comprises a bent strip of metal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The aircraft hubcap structure according to claim 2 wherein bends in said strip separate said first and second bracket end portions from said bracket intermediate portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The aircraft hubcap structure according to claim 3 wherein said first and second bracket end portions project laterally from a surface of said bracket intermediate portion in substantially the same direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The aircraft hubcap structure according to claim 4 wherein said first and second bracket end portions are each generally orthogonally disposed relative to said bracket intermediate portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The aircraft hubcap structure according to claim 4 wherein said dome-shaped hubcap has a convex, smoothly curved outer surface to promote smooth airflow past the wheel half to reduce drag and otherwise improve aerodynamics. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The aircraft hubcap structure according to claim 1 wherein said attachment brackets are formed of aviation grade steel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The aircraft hubcap structure according to claim 1 wherein said attachment brackets are coated with a preventive coating for eliminating corrosion potential caused by engagement between said attachment brackets with the wheel half or other components of the aircraft hubcap structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The aircraft hubcap structure according to claim 1 additionally including a floating nut plate attached to the second end portion of each attachment bracket, said mechanical connector threadedly engaging the nut of said floating nut plate. ### Claim 10 In combination: a wheel half of an airplane wheel and tire assembly, said wheel half including a wheel wall of circular configuration and a cylindrical rim affixed to said wheel wall, surrounding said wheel wall and projecting outwardly from said wheel wall, said wheel wall defining a plurality of preexisting bolt holes spaced from one another and adjacent to said cylindrical rim for receiving bolts employed to interconnect said wheel half to other structure of said wheel and tire assembly; and aircraft hubcap structure, said aircraft hubcap structure including a dome-shaped hubcap having a circular-shaped periphery and a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said wheel half, said dome-shaped hubcap defining a plurality of spaced hubcap holes, and a plurality of attachment brackets, each attachment bracket including first and second bracket end portions and a bracket intermediate portion between said bracket end portions and integral therewith, the first bracket end portion of each of said attachment brackets defining an opening receiving a bolt extending through a bolt hole of the wheel half and secured thereto by a nut, and the second bracket end portion of each of said attachment brackets defining an opening receiving a mechanical connector extending through a hubcap hole securing said hubcap to said second bracket end portion, said dome-shaped hubcap completely covering said wheel half when said wheel half and said dome-shaped hubcap are connected together by said attachment brackets, said bracket intermediate portion canted sideways relative to both said first bracket end portion and said second bracket end portion, and said first bracket end portion and said second bracket end portion being offset relative to one another. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The combination according to claim 10 wherein each of said attachment brackets comprises a bent strip of metal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The combination according to claim 11 wherein bends in said strip separate said first and second bracket end portions from said bracket intermediate portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The combination according to claim 12 wherein said first and second bracket end portions project laterally from a surface of said bracket intermediate portion in substantially the same direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The combination according to claim 13 wherein said first and second bracket end portions are each generally orthogonally disposed relative to said bracket intermediate portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The combination according to claim 13 wherein said dome-shaped hubcap has a convex, smoothly curved outer surface to promote smooth airflow past the wheel half to reduce drag and otherwise improve aerodynamics. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The combination according to claim 10 wherein said attachment brackets are coated with a preventive coating for eliminating corrosion potential caused by engagement between said attachment brackets with the wheel half or other components of the aircraft hubcap structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The combination according to claim 10 additionally including a floating nut plate attached to the second end portions of each attachment bracket, said mechanical connector threadedly engaging the nut of said floating nut plate. ### Claim 18 Aircraft hubcap structure fore attachment to a wheel half of an airplane wheel and tire assembly, said wheel half including a wheel wall of circular configuration and a cylindrical rim affixed to said wheel wall, surrounding said wheel wall and projecting outwardly from said wheel wall, said wheel wall defining a plurality of preexisting bolt holes spaced from one another and adjacent to said cylindrical rim for receiving bolts employed to interconnect said wheel half to other structure of said wheel and tire assembly, said aircraft hubcap structure including, in combination: a dome-shaped hubcap having a circular-shaped periphery and a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said wheel half, said dome-shaped hubcap defining a plurality of spaced hubcap holes; and a plurality of attachment brackets, each attachment bracket including first and second bracket end portions and a bracket intermediate portion between said bracket end portions and integral therewith, the first bracket end portion of each of said attachment brackets defining an opening for receiving a bolt extending through a bolt hole of the wheel half for securement thereto by a nut, and the second bracket end portion of each of said attachment brackets defining an opening for receiving a mechanical connector extending through a hubcap hole for securing said hubcap to said second bracket end portion, said dome-shaped hubcap completely covering said wheel half when said wheel half and said dome-shaped hubcap are connected together by said attachment brackets, each of said attachment brackets comprising a bent strip of metal and bends in said strip separating said first and second bracket end portions from said bracket intermediate portion, said first and second bracket end portions projecting laterally from a surface of said bracket intermediate portion in substantially the same direction, said aircraft hubcap structure additionally including tape applied to said bracket intermediate portion of each attachment bracket for preventing direct engagement of the bracket intermediate portion with said rim to lessen the likelihood of corrosion formation. ### Claim 19 In combination: a wheel half of an airplane wheel and tire assembly, said wheel half including a wheel wall of circular configuration and a cylindrical rim affixed to said wheel wall, surrounding said wheel wall and projecting outwardly from said wheel wall, said wheel wall defining a plurality of preexisting bolt holes spaced from one another and adjacent to said cylindrical rim for receiving bolts employed to interconnect said wheel half to other structure of said wheel and tire assembly; and aircraft hubcap structure, said aircraft hubcap structure including a dome-shaped hubcap having a circular-shaped periphery and a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said wheel half, said dome-shaped hubcap defining a plurality of spaced hubcap holes, and a plurality of attachment brackets, each attachment bracket including first and second bracket end portions and a bracket intermediate portion between said bracket end portions and integral therewith, the first bracket end portion of each of said attachment brackets defining an opening receiving a bolt extending through a bolt hole of the wheel half and secured thereto by a nut, and the second bracket end portion of each of said attachment brackets defining an opening receiving a mechanical connector extending through a hubcap hole securing said hubcap to said second bracket end portion, said dome-shaped hubcap completely covering said wheel half when said wheel half and said dome-shaped hubcap are connected together by said attachment brackets, each of said attachment brackets comprising a bent strip of metal, and bends in said strip separating said first and second bracket end portions from said bracket intermediate portion, first and second bracket end portions projecting laterally from a surface of said bracket intermediate portion in substantially the same direction with the first and second bracket end portions each generally orthogonally disposed relative to said bracket intermediate portion, and said combination additionally including tape applied to said bracket intermediate portion of each attachment bracket for preventing direct engagement of the bracket intermediate portion with said rim to lessen the likelihood of corrosion formation.