Wheel covers

An aerodynamic wheel cover which includes a two sided circular cover, having an outer edge and an inner edge, and a central aperture. The wheel cover may be affixed by any number of adhesives deposited on one side of said aerodynamic wheel cover adjacent the wheel cover outer edge. The present invention also discloses a method of affixing the wheel cover of the present invention to wheels, the resulting wheels and vehicles. 

Recently, composite wheels have become popular. While composite wheels may eliminate the use of spokes, they are costly and do not necessarily reduce the weight of the wheel or the energy necessary to initiate revolution. As a result, composite wheels do not always provide an adequate alternative to wheel covers as they may not be readily applicable to all uses in which spoke wheels may be found. Traditional spoke wheels are still the predominant wheel system for most two-wheeled vehicles. 

Laurion, U.S. Pat. No. 3,847,443, discloses an oma-mental wheel element which is designed to fit between the spokes, inside a wheel. Strazis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,821, discloses a semi-rigid, tension attached bicycle wheel cover assembly intended to improve the aero-dynamic efficiency of bicycle wheels. Monte, U.S. Pat. 

However, these systems fail to disclose an inexpensive means of easily improving the aerodynamic properties of a spoke wheel with minimal manual effort. As 65 can be seen, while any number of alternative wheel covers are available, these systems have certain shortcomings which have not yet been satisfied by the art. 

The present invention provides a wheel cover which improves the aerodynamic properties of the hub-rim-spoke wheels. The wheel cover of the present invention is preferably made of a light weight synthetic or natural polymer, fabric or paper film which is adhesively applied to a wheel through simple manual application. In turn, the aerodynamic wheel cover of the present invention may also be easily removed and replaced to allow on-road repairs of spoke, hub, or rim. 

Preferably, the wheel cover of the present invention may be easily applied without extended mechanical or manual effort merely by adhesively applying the cover to the wheel spokes or rim. Once in place, the wheel cover may be shrunk to size so as to provide a tightly fit cover. 

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view showing the wheel cover of the present invention in application on a bicycle wheel. 

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of one embodiment of the wheel cover of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 with the wheel cover applied to a spoke wheel rim. 

The present invention discloses a wheel cover, a method of applying the wheel cover, and resulting wheels and vehicles. 

In accordance with the present invention, the wheel cover disclosed in FIGS. 1-5, generally functions to... 

A triangular shaped wheel cover with the center cut out to provide hub access was then applied to a wheel. The cover was constructed from a heat shrinkable poly- 10 olefin ftlm. Tape was attached to the apex points of the triangle. The tape liner was removed and the three adhesive sites were fastened to the spokes. As an identical complementary cover was then applied to the opposite face of the wheel in a mirror image fashion. The 1 adhesive contact points were positioned to encapsulate the spoke on either side within the adhesive contact point. Heat was then used to shrink the covers and achieve a wrinkle-free condition. This example demonstrates that design can play a part in providing a stylish wheel cover that is capable of individualizing the bicycle to meet a wide variety of consumer tastes. 

A heat shrinkable aerodynamic wheel cover comprising... 

The aerodynamic wheel cover of claim 1 wherein said adhesive means comprises an adhesive selected from the group consisting of velcro, adhesive tape, or an adhesive resin. 

The aerodynamic wheel cover of claim 4, wherein said thermoplastic adhesive comprise a pressure sensi- 55 tive adhesive. 

The vehicle wheel of claim 13, wherein said wheel cover outer edge is attached to the rim through said adhesive means. 

The vehicle wheel of claim 13, comprising a second heat shrinkable wheel cover positioned over the second side of the wheel. 

The wheel cover of claim 13 wherein said cover has a thickness of about 1 mil to 60 mils. 

Phenylene oxide Based (PPO) plastic that is a choice for electrical applications, housings for computers and appliances, both neat and in structural foam form. It has superior dimensional stability, moisture resistance due to styrene components, which, however, cause some sacrifice of weather and chemical resistance. Use includes automobile wheel covers, pool plumbing, consumer electronic external and internal components. 

The next step is to determine which tasks must precede each activity. For instance, before the lug bolts can be removed, the wheel cover must have been removed, or D must occur before E. Before the tire can be removed from the hub, the car must be jacked up, the lug bolts must be removed, and, for safety reasons, the brake must be applied. That is, before H can be performed F, E, and A have to be completed. In fact, all the items between A and F must be finished before H can be started. 

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