Abstract: A method of making a wheel cover having a decorative outboard surface and an inboard surface for placement on a vehicle wheel includes the steps of forming a wheel cover substrate having a substrate contour providing the inboard substrate surface and with an outer substrate surface for bonding a skin thereto. The skin has a decoration applied to an inner skin surface for placement between the skin and the substrate. The skin has a decoration applied thereto. It is then cut to a desired shape complementing the substrate. It may, at that point, be deformed to also complement to contour of the substrate. The skin is bonded to the substrate by welding the materials to one another or by an adhesive.

Abstract: A wheel cover assembly includes a cover and a plurality of lug wells. The cover is manufactured from a first material that is capable of being decorated with paint and/or plating. The lug wells are fabricated from a second material. The second material is chosen for its high thermal resistive characteristics. The second material insulates the first material from the thermal energy generated by the wheel hub assembly and, in particular, the brake systems of the wheel hub assembly. Each of the lug wells includes a wall having an annular recess circumscribing the interior surface of the wall and an exterior ridge extending around the periphery of the wall. The annular recess and the exterior ridge prevent the first material from flowing therepast creating a barrier of the second material used to manufacture the lug wells to the lug nuts, the conductors of the thermal energy created by the brake systems. Protrusions and elongated holes aid in the bonding of the first material to the second material.

Abstract: A retaining article secures ornamentation, namely wheel caps and wheel covers, to a wheel. The retaining article is a unitary structure. It is received by the ornamentation which has an inboard surface with a number of protrusions extending out therefrom. The protrusions are cylindrical in shape. The retaining article has a ring with a number of openings. The openings receive the protruding cylinders therein and are secured thereto by a number of tabs. The tabs are bent by the protruding cylinders. Legs extend out from the ring. The legs are forced over lug nuts which secure the wheel to a wheel hub. The legs engage a recess in the lug nuts creating a positive engagement with the lug nuts.

Abstract: A lug nut lock is used to mechanically lock a cover assembly to a lug nut resulting in a lock to the wheel and/or hub. The lug nut lock includes a lug well extending out from its inboard surface to a distal end. An engagable surface extends out from the distal end. Retention legs extend outwardly from the walls of the lug well. The retention legs include threaded surfaces engagable with a threaded surface of a compression nut. The compression nut forces or compress the retention legs inwardly forcing the engagable surfaces to engage a bottom surface of a lug nut locking the cover assembly to the lug nut.

Abstract: A wheel ornament assembly (10) includes a nut cap assembly (16) threadingly engaging an externally threaded lug (20) of a vehicle wheel (14). The nut cap assembly (16) retains a decorative wheel ornament (12) to the wheel (14). The nut cap assembly (16) includes an insert member (32) within and non-rotatably fixed to a cap cover (34) to provide desired aesthetics. The insert member (32) includes a threaded interior bore (35) with relief slots (44) therein to allow the walls of the insert member (32) to flex or expand after full threading of the nut cap assembly (16) on the lug nut (20) to prevent stripping of the threads. The cap cover (34) provides clearance to allow flexibility of the insert member (32) while maintaining its fixed connection.