Wheel trim retention
OwnerFrederick A. Apezynskiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is disclosed herein a wheel trim retention system comprising interengaging portions secured to opposing generally radially extending flange portions of the wheel trim and vehicle wheel which cooperate with each other to form a secure retention arrangement. In one form, the interengaging portions comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced portions secured to corresponding flange portions of the wheel trim and vehicle wheel with a valve stem opening in the trim member serving to circumferentially position the trim member with respect to the wheel. Radial locating protrusions may also be provided on the trim which cooperate with flange portions of the vehicle wheel to axially align the mating portions as the wheel trim is installed thereon.
Claims19
A wheel trim retention means for removably attaching a wheel trim to a vehicle wheel, comprising:
- means defining a generally axially inwardly facing surface portion on the wheel trim;
- means defining a generally axially outwardly facing surface portion on the vehicle wheel alignable with said axially inwardly facing surface portion of the wheel trim;
- a central portion adapted to overlie and conceal fastening means securing said wheel to a vehicle;
- a separable reuseable hook and loop fastener including a first member comprising a base portion having a plurality of outwardly projecting thread-like disoriented loops per square inch provided thereon, and a second member comprising a base portion having a plurality of outwardly projecting hooks per square inch provided thereon;
- one of said first and second members being permanently secured to said axially inwardly facing surface of said wheel trim and the other of said members being permanently secured to said axially outwardly facing surface of said wheel in a position so as to allow respective of said hooks to releasably engage respective of said loops when said wheel trim is assembled to said vehicle wheel;
- and
- positioning means provided on said wheel trim including a generally radially outwardly extending protrusion engageable with a generally axially extending surface portion of said wheel to accurately position said wheel trim with respect to said wheel and means for circumferentially positioning said wheel trim relative to said wheel, said protrusions and said circumferential positioning means cooperating to align said first and second members to insure mutual engagement of a maximum number of said hooks and loops thereby enabling said wheel trim to be easily repeatedly removed and reinstalled on said wheel utilizing the same hook and loop fastener.
A wheel trim comprising:
- a trim member having means defining a generally axially inwardly facing surface portion and a center portion adapted to overlie and conceal fastener receiving openings provided in said vehicle wheel when said wheel trim is assembled thereto;
- a first hook and loop fastener member comprising a base portion having a plurality of outwardly projecting loops per square inch provided thereon;
- and
- a second hook and loop fastener member comprising a base portion having a plurality of outwardly projecting hooks per square inch provided thereon;
- one of said first and second members being secured to said axially inwardly facing surface portion and another of said first and second members being disposed thereon with said hooks and said loops being in mutually cooperative releasable retaining engagement;
- a radially outwardly extending protrusion provided on said trim member adapted to engage an axially extending portion of a vehicle wheel when said wheel trim is installed thereon so as to assist in positioning said wheel trim with respect to said vehicle wheel;
- said another of said first and second members having an adhesive material provided thereon whereby said another of said first and second members may be permanently secured to a vehicle wheel upon initial installation of said wheel trim to said vehicle wheel, said first and second members being thereafter separable so as to enable said wheel trim to be repeatedly removed and reinstalled on said vehicle wheel utilizing the same first and second hook and loop fastener members.
A wheel trim comprising:
- a trim ring having an ornamental outer surface and means defining a generally axially inwardly facing surface portion;
- a first hook and loop fastener member comprising a base member having a plurality of outwardly projecting loops per square inch provided thereon;
- a second hook and loop fastener member comprising a base member having a plurality of outwardly projecting hooks per square inch provided thereon;
- one of said first and second members being secured to said surface portion of said trim ring;
- the other of said first and second members having means adapted to enable said other of said first and second members to be permanently secured to a generally axially outwardly facing surface portion of a vehicle wheel, said axially outwardly facing surface portion being alignable with said axially inwardly facing surface portion of said trim ring whereby said hooks and said loops may be positioned in mutually releasably engaging relationship to secure said trim ring to said wheel, said first and second members being thereafter separable to enable said trim ring to be repeatedly removed from and reinstalled on said vehicle wheel utilizing the same first and second hook and loop fastener members;
- and
- positioning means including a generally radially outwardly extending axially elongated protrusion provided on said trim ring, said protrusion being engageable with a generally axially extending surface portion of said wheel so as to accurately position said trim ring with respect to said wheel and means for circumferentially positioning said trim ring relative to said wheel, said protrusions and said circumferential positioning means cooperating to align said first and second members so as to enable and insure mutual engagement of a maximum number of said hooks and loops thereby enabling said trim ring to be easily removed and reinstalled on said wheel utilizing the same hook and loop fastener.
A method for removably retaining a wheel trim on a vehicle wheel, said wheel trim having means defining a generally axially inwardly facing surface portion alignable with a generally axially outwardly facing surface portion of said vehicle wheel and a radially outwardly extending protrusion provided on said wheel trim engageable with a generally axially extending portion of said vehicle wheel when said wheel trim is installed thereon to assist in positioning said axially inwardly and outwardly facing surface portions in aligned relationship, a first hook and loop fastener member comprising a base portion having a plurality of outwardly projecting loops per square inch provided thereon, a second hook and loop fastener member comprising a base portion having a plurality of outwardly projecting hooks per square inch provided thereon, said method including securing one of said first and second hook and loop fastener members to said generally axially inwardly facing surface portion of said trim member, securing the other of said first and second hook and loop fastener members to said axially outwardly facing surface portion of said vehicle wheel and thereafter installing said wheel trim on said vehicle wheel with said protrusions engaging said axially extending portion thereof to align said first and second hook and loop fastener members whereby said plurality of hooks may be moved into releasable engaging relationship with respective of said plurality of loops to thereby removably retain said trim member on said vehicle wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.