Vehicle wheel cover retention system
AssigneeHayes Wheels International, Inc.
InventorsMichael V. Maloney, Thomas E. Heck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle wheel cover retention system wherein the outboard tire bead seat retaining flange of the associated wheel includes a unique construction for securing a wheel cover to the wheel. In particular, the vehicle wheel includes a disc which defines an outboard facing wheel surface and includes an outboard tire bead seat retaining flange. The outboard tire bead seat retaining flange includes an outer surface having a circumferential, radially inwardly facing groove formed therein. A relatively thin wheel cover (which may or may not conform to the exact contour of the disc) covers at least a portion of the outboard facing wheel disc surface. In particular, the wheel cover includes an outer annular lip which extends into the groove.
Claims9
A vehicle wheel defining an axis and comprising:
- a disc defining an outboard facing wheel surface and including an outboard tire bead seat retaining flange, said outboard bead seat retaining flange including an outer surface having a circumferential, radially inwardly facing groove formed therein, said groove defined by a generally axially extending first surface and a second surface angled relative to said first surface;
- and
- a wheel cover coveting at least a portion of said outboard facing wheel surface, said wheel cover including an outer annular lip which extends into said groove and is positioned adjacent said first surface, said outer annular lip defining a peripheral edge spaced apart from said second surface to define a gap therebetween to accommodate small dimensional changes in said peripheral edge of said wheel cover and to facilitate the installation of said wheel cover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.