Patent ID: 6402253
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: B60B

Abstract:
A vehicle wheel cover adapted to be attached to a vehicle wheel constructed of common grade material and having a peripheral edge, a plurality of spaced lug nuts, an interior surface and an exterior surface which has an intrinsic design, said vehicle wheel cover molded to produce a thin-walled vehicle wheel cover having:a) a peripheral edge and an interior surface, b an exterior surface having a design which replicates the intrinsic design of said vehicle wheel, c) a central aperture which accommodates the spaced lug nuts, d) an aesthetic finish comprising chrome plating, and e) a plurality of wheel cover fasteners positioned around the interior surface and adjacent the peripheral edge, wherein said wheel cover fasteners allow said wheel cover to be securely attached to the peripheral edge on said vehicle wheel, wherein when said wheel cover is attached, said vehicle wheel simulates the appearance of a solid, chrome plated vehicle wheel, wherein the quantity of said wheel cover fasteners ranges from 3 to 10, wherein each said wheel cover fastener comprises: (a) a wheel clip retainer located around and near the peripheral edge of said wheel cover, and (b) a wheel clip inserted into and retained within said clip retainer, wherein each said wheel clip retainer is an integrally molded element of said wheel cover and is comprised of: a) a rear vertical section that extends downward from the peripheral edge of said wheel cover and that includes a lower edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, b) a first L-structure having a first vertical section extending downward from the peripheral edge and adjacent the first side edge of said rear vertical section and which terminates near the peripheral edge, and a horizontal section having a similar width as the vertical section and that extends inward from the vertical section and across the lower edge of said rear vertical section for a distance near one-third the distance of said rear vertical section, c) a second L-structure having a vertical section extending downward from the peripheral edge and adjacent the first side edge of said rear vertical section and which terminates near the peripheral edge, and a horizontal section having a similar width as the vertical section and that extends inward from the vertical section and across the lower edge of said rear vertical section for a distance near one-third the distance of the rear vertical section, and d) a retaining pin that extends outward from the center of said rear vertical section and terminates near the center of the first and second L-structures, wherein said clip retainer forms a partial wheel clip cavity.