Land vehicles: wheels and axles – Wheel – With wheel cover
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-13
2003-04-29
Stormer, Russell D. (Department: 3617)
Land vehicles: wheels and axles
Wheel
With wheel cover
C301S005210, C301S037110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06554371
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to vehicle wheels and, in particular, to an improved vehicle wheel cover retention system.
Full or partial vehicle wheel covers of the removable type are well known, and have been used for many years to enhance the styling of conventional, stamped wheel discs. Also, it is known to permanently secure a full or partial wheel cover to a vehicle wheel using an adhesive material.
One example of a vehicle wheel construction wherein an ornamental plastic wheel cover having a chrome-plated outer surface is permanently secured to an outboard facing surface of a wheel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,669,501 to Derleth. In the Derleth patent, the wheel cover includes an outer peripheral flange which overhangs the outboard tire bead seat retaining flange of the wheel, an inner peripheral flange which seats against an outboard surface of a hub sleeve, and an intermediate portion which is spaced outwardly from the face of the wheel. An expanding adhesive material is applied to the outboard surfaces of the wheel. When the adhesive material is expanded, it is operative to fill the void between the wheel and the wheel cover to permanently secure the wheel cover to the outboard face of the wheel.
Another example of a vehicle wheel construction having an ornamental wheel cover permanently secured to an outboard facing surface of the wheel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,966 to Oakey. In the Oakey patent, a cast aluminum wheel cover is secured to a disc of a steel wheel using a-high density structural adhesive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a vehicle wheel cover retention system wherein the outboard tire bead seat retaining flange of the associated wheel includes a unique construction for securing a wheel cover to the wheel.
In particular, the vehicle wheel includes a disc which defines an outboard facing wheel surface and includes an outboard tire bead seat retaining flange. The outboard tire bead seat retaining flange includes an outer surface having a circumferential, radially inwardly facing groove formed therein. A relatively thin wheel cover (which may or may not conform to the exact contour of the disc) covers at least a portion of the outboard facing wheel disc surface. In particular, the wheel cover includes an outer annular lip which extends into the groove. The groove functions, in part, to hide a peripheral edge of the cover. Preferably, an adhesive material is applied to the outboard facing wheel surface of the disc, and the cover is then pressed against the adhesive covered to permanently secure the wheel cover to the disc. Such a construction is especially advantageous when it is desired to produce a “chrome plated” wheel. It has been found that the cost of forming the cover, chrome plating the cover, and then securing it to the disc is substantially less that plating a wheel disc by a conventional process.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3517968 (1970-06-01), Tully et al.
patent: 3726566 (1973-04-01), Beith
patent: 4530542 (1985-07-01), Spiegel et al.
patent: 5368370 (1994-11-01), Beam
patent: 5564791 (1996-10-01), Chase
patent: 5577809 (1996-11-01), Chase
patent: 5597213 (1997-01-01), Chase
patent: 5636906 (1997-06-01), Chase
patent: 6200411 (2001-03-01), Eikhoff et al.
patent: 2813412 (1979-10-01), None
patent: 2848790 (1980-05-01), None
patent: 3-136901 (1991-06-01), None
Heck Thomas E.
Kemmerer James H.
Lumm James A.
Maloney Michael V.
Hayes Lemmerz International Inc.
MacMillan Sobanski & Todd LLC
Stormer Russell D.
LandOfFree
Vehicle wheel cover retention system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vehicle wheel cover retention system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicle wheel cover retention system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3113012