Land vehicles: wheels and axles – Wheel – With wheel cover
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-12
2003-01-28
Stormer, Russell D. (Department: 3617)
Land vehicles: wheels and axles
Wheel
With wheel cover
C301S037374
Reexamination Certificate
active
06511132
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the apparatus, methods and systems for attaching wheel liners to vehicle wheels. More specifically, the invention relates to apparatus, methods and systems for attaching said wheel liners to lug bolts of a vehicle wheel by frictional engagement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many truck owners desire to have wheel liners to cover the load-bearing structure of vehicle wheels. The primary function is to enhance the appearance of the vehicle wheels. Wheel liners are preferred since they allow the use of material that is aesthetically pleasing that may not be satisfactory for performing the load-bearing function of a vehicle wheel.
To this end, there have been many proposals of systems for attaching wheel liners to vehicle wheels. Several of the systems include attaching the wheel liner beneath lug nuts, using mounting brackets beneath lug nuts, or providing attachment to the vehicle wheel by using clips. What is needed is an attachment apparatus and attachment system that relies upon the threaded extension of a lug bolt for attachment.
It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many sizes of wheels and lengths of lug bolts are commonly used by various manufacturers. Historically, it has been necessary to specialize wheel liner apparatus in mounting systems for specific wheel sizes and styles. The consequence of such necessity has been the requirement of large inventories of individual parts, as well as the increased complexity of shopping for and installing wheel liners due to the many details required to ensure proper purchase and installation. Further, shipping of these wheel cover systems has been difficult given the need for specialized parts.
What is needed, then, is an apparatus, method and system for attaching a wheel liner to a variety of sizes or shapes of vehicle wheels. Such apparatus and method must allow easy attachment and quick installation. Such apparatus and method must allow attachment to the wheel without removing the lug nuts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses a jam nut that attaches to a lug bolt in order to attach a wheel liner to a vehicle wheel. The present invention also discloses a method and kit used for the attachment of a wheel liner to a vehicle wheel. The wheel liner is placed between the exposed tip of a lug bolt and a jam nut so that the cylindrical extension member of the jam nut is received through a properly aligned hole in the wheel liner. The jam nut is then turned to frictionally engage the exposed portion of the lug bolt. Since the diameter of the hole in the wheel liner is smaller than the maximum diameter between parallel faces of the jam nut, the wheel liner is attached to the vehicle wheel due to the frictional engagement of the jam nut to the lug bolt. The wheel liner kit employs this method of attaching the wheel liner to vehicle wheels.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a jam nut used for attachment of a wheel liner to numerous sizes and styles of vehicle wheels.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system of wheel liner attachment that will result in the easy installation of a wheel liner as well as easy removal from the vehicle wheel.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a jam nut, having only one axial extension, used for attachment of a wheel liner to numerous sizes and styles of vehicle wheels.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, method and kit that takes advantage of the exposed portion of a lug bolt.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, method and kit for securely attaching a wheel liner to a vehicle wheel.
Still another object of the present invention is to enhance the aesthetic value of vehicle wheels.
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Landquist, Jr. Edward D.
Phoenix USA, Inc.
Schelling Douglas W.
Stormer Russell D.
Waddey & Patterson , P.C.
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