Patent ID: 7654237

Claim:
A cam cover comprising: a shell of a plastic material selected from thermoset plastic, thermoplastic, and combinations thereof having a top cover and sidewalls extending substantially downward from the top cover, wherein the shell has an exterior surface and an interior surface, said interior surface defining a hollow interior having an open bottom opposite the top cover; a support structure comprised of a metallic material and comprising a base, inner edges, outer edges, and at least one perforation; and wherein at least a portion of the shell extends through the at least one perforation of the support structure whereby at least a portion of the shell is fixedly attached to at least a portion of the support structure, wherein the support structure further comprises at least one end cap disposed on an end of the shell, said end cap having a base, end cap sidewalls extending upward from the base, and edges defining a perimeter of at least a portion of the end cap; wherein the end cap defines at least a portion of the hollow interior of the cam cover; wherein the end cap further comprises at least one further perforation; and wherein the end cap abuts the support structure such that at least a portion of the base of the support structure and at least a portion of the base of the end cap are continuous.