Expanded – threaded – driven – headed – tool-deformed – or locked-thr – Internally threaded fastener element – e.g. – nut – etc. – Having cap
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-22
2001-05-29
Wilson, Neill (Department: 3627)
Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-thr
Internally threaded fastener element, e.g., nut, etc.
Having cap
C411S372600, C411S373000, C411S910000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238158
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to vehicular wheel accessories. More particularly, this invention relates to protective caps for covering the lug nut and bolt (or stud) that is used to attach a wheel rim to a car, truck, bus or the like. The invention further relates to an improved means for retaining or securing such lug nut covers to the lug and nut assembly over which they are typically installed. It represents an improvement over the lug nut covers of the prior art, including but not limited to those covers disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,409, Design Patent No. 350,524, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,992.
TECHNOLOGY REVIEW
Numerous types of lug nut caps or covers have been developed over the years. Many caps are designed to prevent corrosion of the vehicular wheel parts which they cover. Other covers prevent unauthorized tampering with or removal of the lug nuts which secure a wheel rim on a vehicle. Still other covers serve a purely decorative or ornamental function.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,018,301, there is shown a domed cap made from rustproof metal. The base of this cap includes an inwardly extending flange for permanently securing onto a vehicular lug nut during final die forming. U.S. Pat. No. 2,095,289 shows a lug nut cap having a base portion which seats flush with the top of a nut secured on a threaded bolt. The domed body of this cap covers only that section of bolt protruding outwardly beyond the nut. The domed body includes prongs, or a separate clip, for engaging the threads of the bolt section covered by this cap. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,135,558, there is claimed a unitary wheel cover comprised of five unthreaded cap members disposed in a circular array with spring-like means connecting adjacent cap members. The capped wheel nut of U.S. Pat. No. 3,364,806 includes a conical base for seating in a depression on the axle hub of an automobile. The wheel nut, itself, is permanently encased in its own corrosion-resistant cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,548,704 shows a protective cap having a closed end with inwardly projecting ribs for engaging the threads of a bolt or stud. These ribs prevent dislodging of the cap by axial movement. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,462, there is claimed a plastic cap for protecting a polygonal lug nut assembly. The inner face of this cap includes two sets of axial profile webs, one set adapted for sliding the cap over a hexagonal nut during installation; the other set adapted for frictionally locking the cap onto its hexagonal nut.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,465, there is shown a plurality of knob fittings for covering nuts of a hub cap mounted on the recessed, drive axle wheels of a truck or bus. These knob fittings snap mount directly over the lug nuts which they cover. U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,273 claims an attachment for detecting removal of the wheel nut covered by this attachment. An internally-threaded member secures an outer shroud of this attachment to a vehicular bolt or stud. The capped wheel nut of U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,070 secures to the outside of a vehicular lug nut using silicon-based adhesives. Such adhesion avoids the corrosion that occurs at the weld points of prior lug nut assemblies.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,272 shows a representative “long style” wheel nut cap. The sheet metal exterior of this cap welds to the lower edge of a hexagonal nut for preventing moisture from entering the cap. The protective nut cap of U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,555 includes a radially-disposed, continuous groove along the lower edge of its inner surface. An elastomeric member, or O-ring, rests in this groove for engaging the angled points of the lug nut covered thereby. The locking nut cover of U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,305 includes a stainless steel outer shell, a hexagonal head portion with a plurality of square lugs extending inwardly from this head portion, a smaller, integrally-formed cylindrical portion, and a molded plastic insert with spaced depressions for receiving the hexagonal head portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal objective of this invention to provide a vehicular lug nut cover which can be easily installed and removed but more readily secured than some of the prior art lug nut cover assemblies described above. Like many of its predecessors, the cover assembly of this invention needs no special tools, such as a hammer, to install over the lug nut secured on a threaded bolt or stud. Nor does this cover need any specific puller to remove it from the bolt and nut combination over which it is installed. The invention may be snap fitted over and removed from most any vehicular lug nut by hand.
It is another objective to provide a cover that fits snugly against the sides of any lug nut over which it is installed so as to not dislodge under normal driving conditions. To achieve a snug fit, the invention includes a clip having a plurality of projections, each with a plurality of threadings for engagement with the threaded inner walls of this cover's outer shell. The interiors of this clips projections contact with the annular side surfaces of the lug nut over which the clip and cover are installed.
It is yet another objective to provide a lug nut cover which requires no contact with the bolt, especially the bolt threads, over which the cover is installed. The securement means for this invention is not contingent upon gripping any portion of the bolt extending through the secured lug nut. In fact, the outer shell of this cover makes no direct contact with the lug nut over which it is installed. Only the clip of this invention is interposed between its outer shell and the lug nut covered thereby.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the outer lug nut cover seats flush with a generally flat surface of the wheel rim when installed. Such flush contacting inhibits dirt, road salt and other elements from getting beneath the cover and rendering the bolt and lug nut therebeneath more susceptible to corrosion or other damage. Once installed, the invention completely covers the bolt hole extending through the wheel rim for reducing the possibility of exposing any of the brake, steering and other wheel assembly parts over which the vehicular rim is mounted.
It is yet another objective to provide a lug nut cover which includes a chrome-plated plastic, outer shell. The configuration of this shell is designed for easy manufacture through known injection molding processes. With an outer plating of chrome applied to this shell, wheel accessory maintenance has been simplified. Past lug nut covers made of aluminum, steel or other metals required periodic polishings to maintain their luster. In some instances, these covers had to be fully removed for cleaning and/or polishing. Because some prior art caps required special tools for installation and/or removal, general maintenance was even more complicated. The chrome-plated shells of this invention, on the other hand, wash clean with soap and water. No special polishing procedures are needed. With a plastic underlayment, these shells are also less susceptible than their metal counterparts to minor dents and pings. The chrome-plated shells of this invention enhance the appearance of most forged aluminum alloy wheels, such as those used on light trucks, heavy load trucks and buses. These same shells also improve the aesthetics of steel wheel rims, painted or otherwise.
It is another objective of this invention to provide a polymeric clip for inserting into the shell of a removable lug nut cover, said clip being easily inserted a predetermined distance into the shell. This clip contains a plurality of projections for fitting over the bolt and lug nut onto which the cover of this invention is installed. Each outer projection of this clip is threaded to correspondingly seat in the threaded regions on the interior of the cover outer shell.
In accordance with the foregoing objectives and advantages, there is provided a cover for a bolt and an annular nut having a plurality of generally planar, side surfaces. The cover comprises a shell including a closed end portion and a plurality of side surfaces extending
Alcoa Inc.
Topolosky Gary P.
Wilson Neill
LandOfFree
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