Patent ID: 7712842

Claim:
A wheel and hubcap assembly comprising: an axis of rotation; a cylindrical hub surrounding the axis of rotation and including a hub flange projecting from the hub; and an annular web projecting from the cylindrical hub toward a wheel outer periphery and spaced from the hub flange; a utility device having a predetermined weight at a predetermined location on the annular web of the wheel after the wheel is substantially balanced; the cylindrical hub including a first periphery extending along the circumference of a circle surrounding the axis of rotation and a second periphery spaced from the circumference of the circle; a hubcap having a top wall and a cylindrical side wall extending from said top wall, the cylindrical sidewall having an end edge spaced from the top wall and a circumferential flange projecting from the cylindrical side wall, the circumferential flange further including an alignment tab overlying the hub second periphery; and a clamp having an asymmetric mass distribution around the hub and the hubcap circumferential flange holding the hubcap on the wheel, the clamp including a gap and a groove, the groove to receive the circumferential flange of the hubcap and the hub flange and the tab being received in the gap, the clamp including a closure element for adjusting a diameter of the clamp and counterweighing the utility device to rebalance the wheel based on a predetermined placement of the closure element with respect to the utility device, the predetermined location of the utility device on the annular web of the wheel and the predetermined weight of the utility device.