Abstract: A system for permanently securing wheel cladding to a wheel having a rim with a rim flange is provided. An annular affixment ring includes an outer periphery which seats within an undercut formed in the rim flange. A plurality of arcuate flanges extend from the inner face of the cladding and abut the inner periphery of the ring to maintain the outer periphery of the ring within the undercut. The ring includes axial apertures and the inner face of the cladding includes retention tabs having enlarged fluked ends which extend into the apertures to anchor the cladding to the ring. The ring can be constructed of one piece or formed of interfitting arcuate segments which are interlocked in end to end relationship.

Abstract: A system for permanently securing wheel cladding to a wheel having a rim with a rim flange is provided. An annular affixment ring includes an outer periphery which seats within an undercut formed in the rim flange. A plurality of arcuate flanges extend from the inner face of the cladding and abut the inner periphery of the ring to maintain the outer periphery of the ring within the undercut. The ring includes axial apertures and the inner face of the cladding includes retention tabs having enlarged fluked ends which extend into the apertures to anchor the cladding to the ring. The ring can be constructed of one piece or formed of interfitting arcuate segments which are interlocked in end to end relationship.

Abstract: A noise abatement ring having a low coefficient of friction is captured in an annular channel on the inner face of a wheel cover and abuts a vehicle wheel when the wheel cover is mounted to the wheel. The wheel cover is assembled by registering radial tabs formed on a wall of the channel and spaced from the base of the channel with notches formed in the ring and seating the ring into the channel. Thereafter, the ring is rotated relative to the wheel cover into a captive position, wherein the tabs and notches are no longer registered and with the tabs overlying reduced thickness stepped portions of the ring. A leaf spring latch, formed in one piece with the ring, seats into a detent on the inner face of the wheel cover to prevent rotation of the ring from the captive position.

Abstract: A seat back headrest support includes a socket having an axial bore which receives a rod of a headrest frame. An enlarged head is formed at one end of the socket with a spring biased latch carrier mounted to the head. A latch pin, rotatably mounted to the carrier, is urged radially against the rod. The pin engages the rod to maintain the headrest in an adjusted heighth position. A cap having a peripheral skirt covers the head and the latch carrier while an opening in the skirt permits access to the latch carrier for manual release of the pin from engagement with the rod.

Abstract: A wheel cover retention system includes a plurality of apertures for registration with wheel lug nuts. A lug nut cap coupling member is carried in each aperture. The cap includes external threads which engage internal threads of the aperture and internal threads which engage external threads formed on the lug nut. The rotation of the caps relative to the wheel cover advances the caps into engagement with the lug nuts and continued rotation locks the caps in threaded engagement with the lug nuts. In an alternate embodiment, a threaded collar is snap fit into each aperture with the collar being locked against rotation and axial movement relative to the wheel cover. The external threads of the cap engage the threads of the collar. Limited translational movement of the collar within the aperture is permitted so that the caps can be adjusted relative to the wheel cover to facilitate registration of the caps with the lug nuts.

Abstract: A wheel cover positioning system for a wheel having a disc and a rim includes a plurality of standoff legs equidistantly spaced about a circle coaxial with the wheel cover and the wheel. The legs extend axially toward the wheel and engage the wheel rim at a flex free rigid hub positioned radially inwardly of a tire seat portion of the rim. The legs may be positioned to also engage a radially outer face of the disc adjacent the juncture between the disc and the rim. Appropriate clearance between the wheel cover and the peripheral edge of the wheel rim is thus provided for avoiding abutment between these surfaces and squeaking noises generated by flex movement of the tire seat portion of the rim relative to the wheel cover.

Abstract: A wheel cover grip ring includes a plurality of axial legs which engage the rim of a wheel. The grip ring is formed of a metal band having a plurality of spaced flukes. The flukes serve to anchor the grip ring between a pair of annular concentric walls of a channel on an axially inner face of a plastic wheel cover. Each leg is bent to form a smooth, non-scratch articulated latch adjacent its free end. The articulated latch includes an engagement leaf having an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the wheel axis and which slidingly engages the wheel rim when the wheel cover is mounted. The latch also includes a curved latch seat which engages a draw bead step in the wheel rim. The latch also includes a retraction leaf having an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the wheel axis. The flukes provide self seating of the grip ring in the channel when the cover is first mounted to a wheel.

Abstract: A dress wheel simulator for a utility vehicle wheel includes a shell having a central hub ring with a plurality of keyhole openings formed in the hub ring. The keyhole openings are registered with wheel lug nuts and are dimensioned so as to permit the shell to pass axially over the wheel lug nuts and be positioned against either the wheel or a wheel mounting compression plate. Each keyhole opening includes a reduced dimension throat and when the shell is rotated relative to the wheel, a tapered neck portion of each wheel lug nut is engaged by the throat. A hub cover having a corresponding number of registered lug nut openings is then positioned over the hub ring with the lug nuts projecting through the hub cover lug nut openings. The clearance between the hub cover lug nut openings and the lug nuts is such that rotation of the hub cover relative to the wheel is precluded. Thereafter, the hub cover is fastened to the shell by a plurality of screws.

Abstract: A molded thermoplastic lug nut cap suitable for mounting wheel covers includes a hollow cylindrical body. Axially projecting from the body is a crown having a plan configuration congruent with a lug nut. The fastener is slipped over a lug nut which extends through an opening in the wheel cover and abuts against the wheel cover. A lug wrench is employed to twist the cap relative to the lug nut. The internal walls of the body include a plurality of chordal planar faces extending parallel to the axis of the cap with diagonally opposed chordal faces being positioned apart a distance greater than diagonally opposed faces of the lug nut but less than the distance between diagonally opposed corners of the lug nut. When the cap is twisted relative to the nut, corners of the nut engage and lock against the chordal faces in interference fit. An abutment rib project radially inwardly from each chordal face and provides a positive rotation stop when contacted by the face of the nut.

Abstract: A wheel cover retention system includes a series of plastic caps carried by the wheel cover. The caps have integral flanges engageable with flanges of the cover to hold the cover against the vehicle wheel when the caps are threaded on exteriorly threaded lug nuts of the wheel. The caps have integral legs which extend therefore through the cover with these legs having barbed ends to prevent separation of the caps from the cover. Interlocking ribs on the cap flanges and cover flanges resist relative rotation between such flanges when they are engaged to resist unthreading of the plastic caps from the lug nuts when the wheel cover is mounted to the wheel.