Lug Nut Cover Patents (Class 301/37.374)
  • Patent number: 8333537
    Abstract: This nut torque indicator cover includes a cover piece that is joined to an indicator piece. It is fastened to a nut/bolt assembly primarily by pressing it down onto and over the exposed threads of the bolt so that the indicator piece registers with the hex portion of the nut. A snap fit design is incorporated into the nut torque indicator cover such that the cover piece and indicator piece can rotate relative to each other. The cover piece fastens securely to the external threads of the bolt providing protection to the threads, while the indicator piece, secured by the hex flats of the nut, indicates the nut circumferential position, allowing an indication of any torque loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Hutchinson, SA
    Inventors: Larry K. Rogers, Andy Y. Chen
  • Patent number: 7387346
    Abstract: A wheel cover having collars (1) with elastic tabs (3) for mounting and fixing the collars on the heads of nuts or bolts (2) used to fix the wheel to a vehicle. The tabs (3) have protrusions (4) with a double ramp (5 and 5?), that are used to mount and dismount the collars (1) to the nuts or bolts (2). The collars (3) are retained by locking the protrusions (4) onto an annular projection (14) of the head of the nut or bolt. Independent caps (10) are locked by the protrusions to the collars (1) whereby the caps (10) protect and conceal the screws or heads of the bolts (2) and remain locked while being able to turn freely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Zanini Auto Grup, S.A.
    Inventors: José Caldés Sabanés, Augusto Mayer Pujades
  • Publication number: 20060279135
    Abstract: The wheel cover comprises collars (1) with elastic tabs (3) for mounting and fixing the collars on the heads of nuts or screws (2) used to fix the wheel. Said tabs (3) are provided with heels (4) consisting of a double ramp (5 and 5?), used to mount and dismount the collars (1) and the wheel cover in relation to the nuts or screws (2). The collars (3) are retained by locking the heels (4) on an annular projection (14) of the head of the nut or screw. Independent caps (10) which are locked by the heels (13) associated with the tabs (12) of said caps are mounted on the collars (1), wherein the heels (13) are locked on the edges (8) which are associated with the windows (6) of the collars (1). The caps (10) protect and conceal the screws or heads of the nuts (2) and remain locked while being able to turn freely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Jose Sabanes, Augusto Pujades
  • Publication number: 20060181139
    Abstract: A wheel nut and nut cap assembly includes a wheel nut having an outer end with an undercut, and a cap having an inner end received in the undercut. When installed, the inner end of the cap is constrained between the undercut of the wheel nut and a wheel stud extending into the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Martin Nilsen, Michael Ward, James Van Ingen
  • Patent number: 7004700
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a decorative cap for enclosing the head of a wheel bolt or wheel nut or the like which fastens a wheel to the hub of a vehicle, comprising an end closure wall, an endless side wall extending from an outer periphery of said end closure wall, a skid extending radially outwardly from a periphery of said side wall, and said skirt having a plurality of locking lips depending therefrom for releasably gripping the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: MacLean-Fogg Company
    Inventor: Larry J. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6923230
    Abstract: To fasten snow chains to vehicle wheels, an adapter device (100; 200; 300; 400) is used that can be fastened to at least one wheel bolt and comprises a body that is constructed to be connected to connection and installation elements of the snow chains. The adapter device comprises at least one magnet (120; 403) connected to its body which is applied to the head (130) of at least one wheel mounting bolt, so as to retain the body of the adapter device on the wheel by means of magnetic retention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Konig SpA
    Inventors: Romolo Airoldi, Marco Arrigoni Neri
  • Patent number: 6595597
    Abstract: For indicating relative rotational displacement between a fixed first member, such as a stud (20) on a wheel hub, and a second member, such as a wheel nut (22), which is rotatably engaged with the first member, a safety device (24) comprises a body (26) having a bore formed with equispaced grooves enabling the device to be releasably secured to the second member (22) in one position of a plurality of positions and having indicating means, such as a pointer (28), to indicate the position of the device (24) relative to a reference, such as a mark (32) on the rim (16) covering the wheel hub (14). The bore within the body (26) is closed at one end, e.g. by bevelled top wall (36), so that the body additionally serves as a dust cap for the conjoined first and second members (20, 22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Business Lines Limited
    Inventors: Michael Marczynski, John Marriott
  • Patent number: 6585330
    Abstract: A wheel cover snap fastens to stylized lug nuts of a wheel using resilient retainers that are integrally fastened to the wheel cover. The stylized lug nuts correspond and axially extend through apertures in the wheel cover when the wheel cover is assembled to the wheel. The retainers are secured to an inboard face of the wheel cover and correspondingly engage the stylized lug nuts to retain the wheel trim assembly to the wheel such that retainers are not visible when the wheel trim assembly is viewed from a direction normal to the outboard face of the wheel cover. The apertures are sized in relation to annular flanges on the lug nuts and to the resilient tabs of the retainers such that the wheel cover and/or annular flanges of the lug nuts conceal the retainers from view, and thereby provide an uninterrupted chrome appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Lacks Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff Bruce
  • Patent number: 6511132
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a jam nut, method and system used for attaching wheel liners to vehicle wheels. Each wheel liner attaches to a vehicle wheel when the wheel liner is aligned between the exposed lug bolts of the vehicle wheel and jam nuts that attach to the lug bolts. The wheel liner defines openings that are sized to receive the cylindrical extension members located on the ends of the jam nut without receiving the hexagonal portion of the jam nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Phoenix USA, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Wright
  • Publication number: 20020089231
    Abstract: For indicating relative rotational displacement between a fixed first member, such as a stud (20) on a wheel hub, and a second member, such as a wheel nut (22), which is rotatably engaged with the first member, a safety device (24) comprises a body (26) having a bore formed with equispaced grooves enabling the device to be releasably secured to the second member (22) in one position of a plurality of positions and having indicating means, such as a pointer (28), to indicate the position of the device (24) relative to a reference, such as a mark (32) on the rim (16) covering the wheel hub (14). The bore within the body (26) is closed at one end, e.g. by bevelled top wall (36), so that the body additionally serves as a dust cap for the conjoined first and second members (20, 22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: Business Lines Limited
    Inventors: Michael Marczynski, John Marriott
  • Patent number: 6398312
    Abstract: For indicating relative rotational displacement between a fixed first member, such as a stud (20) on a wheel hub, and a second member, such as a wheel nut (22), which is rotatably engaged with the first member, a safety device (24) comprises a body (26) having a bore formed with equispaced grooves enabling the device to be releasably secured to the second member (22) in one position of a plurality of positions and having indicating means, such as a pointer (28), to indicate the position of the device (24) relative to a reference, such as a mark (32) on the rim (16) covering the wheel hub (14). The bore within the body (26) is closed at one end, e.g. by bevelled top wall (36), so that the body additionally serves as a dust cap for the conjoined first and second members (20, 22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Business Lines Limited
    Inventors: Michael Marczynski, John Marriott