Lacks Industries, Inc.

Jeff Bruce

Gregory R Hauler

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.

Wheel cover having concealed snap-fit retention structure

An ornamental wheel cover integrally retained on the lug nuts of a vehicle wheel that provides positive positioning of the cover to the lug nuts. The lug nuts preferably have a flange that defines an upper shoulder. The cover is provided with a number of elongated tubular extensions axially projecting from the cover that are each partially slotted to provide a plurality of cantilevered fingers. Each finger has an undercut groove that has a shoulder which positively positions the cover to the upper shoulder of the lug nuts of the wheel. Below the undercut groove is a bulbous portion that contacts the lug nut below the flange. When the cover is attached to the wheel, the elongated tubular extensions are aligned with the lug nuts and the cover is moved axially inwardly of the wheel so that the cantilevered fingers separate slightly as the bulbous portions pass over the flange of the lug nut. The shoulder of the undercut groove engages the upper shoulder of the lug nut flange, thereby providing a positive axial location of the cover to the wheel and eliminating the effects of misalignment of components due to tolerance stack ups. The bulbous portion passes over the flange of the lug nut and engages the underside of the flange, thereby retaining the cover on the lug nut.

Growing community of inventors

Wayland, MI, United States of America

Jeff Bruce