Patent ID: 7758131

Claim:
A vehicle wheel cover retention system for a non-full face fabricated vehicle wheel comprising: a full outer wheel rim formed from a suitable material and including a first run flange, a first tire bead seat, a well, a second tire bead seat, and a second rim flange, said full outer wheel rim defining a first surface extending between said first and second rim flanges wherein said first rim flange is outboard of said first tire bead seat; an inner wheel disc defining a wheel axis and formed from a suitable material and joined to said full outer wheel rim, said inner wheel disc including a centrally located wheel mounting surface and an outer annular portion, said inner wheel disc having a first surface and a second surface; and a wheel cover formed from a suitable material and secured to at least one of said first surface of said inner wheel disc, said second surface of said inner wheel disc, and said first surface of said full outer wheel rim; wherein said wheel cover includes a shape corresponding to said first tire bead seat and an outer peripheral portion which is disposed adjacent said first run flange, said outer peripheral portion defining a portion of an exterior outer surface of said wheel cover which is visible when said wheel cover is secured to said at least one of said first surface of said inner wheel disc, said second surface of said inner wheel disc, and said first surface of said full outer wheel rim; wherein said outer peripheral portion of said wheel cover is provided with a plurality of slits formed therein spaced circumferentially around said outer peripheral portion of said wheel cover with each pair of slits defining a tab therebetween, wherein said slits directly engage said first rim flange and wherein said slits, being on said outer peripheral portion of said wheel cover which defines a portion of said exterior outer surface of said wheel cover, are also visible when said wheel cover is secured to said at least one of said first surface of said inner wheel disc, said second surface of said inner wheel disc, and said first surface of said full outer wheel rim; wherein said first rim flange includes a curved C-shaped surface profile which extends radially inwardly to extend toward said wheel axis; wherein said outer peripheral portion of said wheel cover includes a correspondingly formed curved C-shaped surface profile which extends radially inwardly to extend toward said wheel axis so as to be disposed adjacent to and conform to said curved c-shaped surface profile of said first rim flange; wherein said slits are disposed in said curved C-shaped surface profile of said wheel cover.