Fastening arrangement for decorative wheel rings

Claim 2

Fastening means for fastening a decorative wheel ring on the axially outer face of a vehicle wheel having an annular axial wheel flange, said fastening means comprising axial flange means on said ring adapted to lie radially inwardly of the axial wheel flange when the ring is applied to the wheel, means defining a plurality of clip-receiving recesses on said flange means around said ring, each of said reCesses having an open axially inner end, a spring clip for each recess, each clip comprising an interior portion inserted into and axially interlocked with its recess and an exterior portion extending exteriorly of its recess from the open axially inner end thereof, each exterior portion comprising a retaining finger extending both axially and radially outwardly for engagement with the annular axial wheel flange, said finger including a pair of circumferentially spaced, sharp, pointed teeth projecting outwardly of the plane of the finger for biting engagement with the annular axial wheel flange, each clip including resilient means resiliently connecting its finger to the interior portion of its clip for enabling the finger to resiliently deflect toward its recess upon application of the ring to the wheel, each clip including between the teeth thereof a projecting tab which projects both radially and axially outwardly beyond the teeth thereof, each projecting tab being adapted, upon initial application of the ring to the wheel to initially engage the annular axial wheel flange prior to engagement of the teeth with said flange, each projecting tab disengaging said annular wheel flange as the teeth bite into said wheel flange upon full application of the ring to the wheel.

Claim 3

The fastening means of claim 1 wherein said tab is arcuate in shape.

Claim 4

The fastening means of claim 1 wherein said tab is turned out of the plane of its finger toward its recess.

Claim 5

The fastening means of claim 1 wherein each recess comprises an end wall means at the axially outer end thereof, axially extending wall means extending axially inwardly from said end wall means, and means defining an opening in said axially extending wall means, the interior portion of each clip comprising a flat axial segment bearing against said flange means and a generally C-shaped detent section extending from the axially outer end of said flat axial segment and interlocking with said opening in said axially extending wall means.

Claim 6

The fastening means of claim 4 wherein said C-shaped detent section also bears against said end wall means.

Claim 7

The fastening means of claim 5 wherein said axially extending wall means comprises a top wall spaced from said axial flange means, said opening in said axially extending wall means being provided in said top wall.

Claim 8

Fastening means for fastening a decorative wheel ring on the axially outer face of a vehicle wheel having an annular axial wheel flange, said fastening means comprising axial flange means on said ring adapted to lie radially inwardly of the axial wheel flange when the ring is applied to the wheel, means defining a plurality of clip-receiving recesses on said flange means around said ring, each of said recesses being defined by an end wall means at the axially outer end thereof and axially extending wall means extending axially inwardly from said end wall means, each recess being open at its axially inner end, said axially extending wall means comprising circumferentially spaced side wall means on said flange means and top wall means extending between said side wall means in radially spaced relation to said flange means, means defining an opening in said top wall means and a spring clip disposed within each of said recesses, each clip comprising an interior portion inserted into its recess and an exterior portion extending exteriorly of its recess from the open axial inner end thereof, each exterior portion comprising a retaining finger extending both axially and radially outwardly for engagement with the annular axial wheel flange, each interior portion comprising a resilient C-shaped detent section lodging within said opening in said top wall means and a flat axial section extending axially inwardly from said C-shaped detent section, said resilient C-shaped detent section urging said flat axial section against said flange means thereby providing an area contact of said flat section with said flange means.

Claim 9

Fastening means for fastening a decorative wheel ring on the axially outer face of a vehicle wheel having an annular axial wheel flange, said fastening means comprising axial flange means on said ring adapted to lie radially inwardly of the axial wheel flange when the ring is applied to the wheel, means defining a plurality of clip-receiving recesses on said flange means around said ring, each of said recesses being defined by an end wall means at the axially outer end thereof and axially extending wall means extending axially inwardly from said end wall means, each recess being open at its axially inner end, said axially extending wall means comprising circumferentially spaced side wall means on said flange means and top wall means extending between said side wall means in radially spaced relation to said flange means, means defining an opening in said top wall means and a spring clip disposed within each of said recesses, each clip comprising an interior portion inserted into its recess and an exterior portion extending exteriorly of its recess from the open axial inner end thereof, each exterior portion comprising a retaining finger extending both axially and radially outwardly for engagement with the annular axial wheel flange, each interior portion comprising a resilient C-shaped detent section lodging within said opening in said top wall means and a flat axial section extending axially inwardly from said C-shaped detent section, said resilient C-shaped detent section urging said flat axial section against said flange means thereby providing an area contact of said flat section with said flange means.

Claim 10

The fastening means of claim 7 wherein saiD flange means comprises within each recess a pair of circumferentially spaced axially extending ribs, each clip having the flat axial section thereof bearing against and having area contact with said ribs.

Claim 11

The fastening means of claim 7 including on each clip an interlocking tab directed radially and axially inwardly from said flat axial section and including a shoulder on said flange means, said last-mentioned tab lodging behind said shoulder to axially interlock each clip with its recess.

Claim 12

The fastening means of claim 7 wherein each C-shaped detent section bears against the end wall means of its recess.

Claim 13

Fastening means for fastening a decorative wheel ring on the axially outer face of a vehicle wheel having an annular axial wheel flange, said fastening means comprising: axial flange means on said ring adapted to lie radially inwardly of the axial wheel flange when the ring is applied to the wheel; means defining a plurality of clip-receiving recesses on said flange means around said ring, each of said recesses being defined by an end wall means at the axially outer end thereof and axially extending wall means extending axially inwardly from said end wall means, each recess being open at its axially inner end, said axially extending wall means comprising circumferentially spaced side wall means on said flange means and top wall means extending between said side wall means in radially spaced relation to said flange means; and a spring clip means disposed within each of said recesses, each clip means comprising an interior portion inserted into its recess and an exterior portion extending exteriorly of its recess from the open axial inner end thereof, each exterior portion comprising retaining finger means extending both axially and radially outwardly for engagement with the annular axial wheel flange, each interior portion comprising resilient C-shaped detent section means lodging within its recess between said top wall means and said flange means and a flat axial section means extending axially inwardly from said C-shaped detent section means, said resilient C-shaped detent section means forcibly urging said flat axial section against said flange means thereby providing an area contact of said flat section with said flange means.

Claim 14

Fastening means for fastening a decorative wheel ring on the axially outer face of a vehicle wheel having an annular axial wheel flange, said fastening means comprising: axial flange means on said ring adapted to lie radially inwardly of the axial wheel flange when the ring is applied to the wheel; means defining a plurality of clip-receiving recesses on said flange means around said ring, each of said recesses being defined by an end wall means at the axially outer end thereof and axially extending wall means extending axially inwardly from said end wall means, each recess being open at its axially inner end, said axially extending wall means comprising circumferentially spaced side wall means on said flange means and top wall means extending between said side wall means in radially spaced relation to said flange means; and a spring clip means disposed within each of said recesses, each clip means comprising an interior portion inserted into its recess and an exterior portion extending exteriorly of its recess from the open axial inner end thereof, each exterior portion comprising retaining finger means extending both axially and radially outwardly for engagement with the annular axial wheel flange, each interior portion comprising resilient C-shaped detent section means lodging within its recess between said top wall means and said flange means and a flat axial section means extending axially inwardly from said C-shaped detent section means, said resilient C-shaped detent section means forcibly urging said flat axial section against said flange means thereby providing an area contact of said flat section with said flange means.

Claim 15

Fastening means for fastening a decorative wheel ring on the axially outer face of a vehicle wheel having an annular axial wheel flange, said fastening means comprising: axial flange means on said ring adapted to lie radially inwardly of the axial wheel flange when the ring is applied to the wheel; axially extending wall means disposed in radially spaced relation to said axial flange means whereby a recess is provided between said axial flange means and said wall means, said recess being open at the axially inner end thereof; a spring clip means disposed within said recess, said spring clip means comprising an interior portion within said recess and an exterior portion extending exteriorly of said recess from the open axially inner end thereof, said interior portion comprising axial section means disposed against said flange means and resilient C-shaped section means connected to the axially inner end of said axial section means, said resilient C-shaped section means being deformed from its free shape between said axial flange means and said axial wall means to urge said axial section means against said axial flange means; said exterior portion comprising a retainer finger means extending both axially and radially outwardly of the recess for engagement with the annular axial wheel flange and bearing against said axial flange means to urge said axial section means against said axial flange means upon application of the wheel ring to the wheel; and a radial surface means on said ring cooperatively associated with said clip means for axially limiting the insertion of said interior portion of said clip means into said recess when said ring is applied to the wheel.

Claim 16

Fastening means for fastening a decorative wheel ring on the axially outer face of a vehicle wheel having an annular axial wheel flange, said fastening means comprising: axial flange means on said ring adapted to lie radially inwardly of the axial wheel flange when the ring is applied to the wheel; axially extending wall means disposed in radially spaced relation to said axial flange means whereby a recess is provided between said axial flange means and said wall means, said recess being open at the axially inner end thereof; a spring clip means disposed within said recess, said spring clip means comprising an interior portion within said recess and an exterior portion extending exteriorly of said recess from the open axially inner end thereof, said interior portion comprising axial section means disposed against said flange means and resilient C-shaped section means connected to the axially inner end of said axial section means, said resilient C-shaped section means being deformed from its free shape between said axial flange means and said axial wall means to urge said axial section means against said axial flange means; said exterior portion comprising a retainer finger means extending both axially and radially outwardly of the recess for engagement with the annular axial wheel flange and bearing against said axial flange means to urge said axial section means against said axial flange means upon application of the wheel ring to the wheel; and a radial surface means on said ring cooperatively associated with said clip means for axially limiting the insertion of said interior portion of said clip means into said recess when said ring is applied to the wheel.

Claim 17

A spring clip means for fastening a decoratiVe wheel ring on an annular axial flange of a vehicle wheel and adapted to lodge within a recess on the wheel ring defined between an axially extending flange means and an axially extending wall means, said recess being open at the axially inner end thereof to receive said spring clip means, said recess being spaced radially inwardly of the annular axial wheel flange, said spring clip means comprising: an interior portion adapted for insertion within said recess and an exterior portion adapted to extend exteriorly of said recess from the open axially inner end thereof when the spring clip means is inserted into said recess; said interior portion comprising axial section means adapted to be disposed against said flange means and resilient C-shaped section means connected to the axially inner end of said axial section means, said resilient C-shaped section means being adapted to be deformed from its free shape when lodged between said axial flange means and said axial wall means to thereby forcibly urge said axial section means against said axial flange means; said exterior portion comprising a retainer finger means adapted to extend both axially and radially outwardly of the recess for engagement with the annular axial wheel flange and to bear against said axial flange means to urge said axial section means against said axial flange means upon application of the wheel ring to the wheel.

Claim 18

A spring clip means for fastening a decoratiVe wheel ring on an annular axial flange of a vehicle wheel and adapted to lodge within a recess on the wheel ring defined between an axially extending flange means and an axially extending wall means, said recess being open at the axially inner end thereof to receive said spring clip means, said recess being spaced radially inwardly of the annular axial wheel flange, said spring clip means comprising: an interior portion adapted for insertion within said recess and an exterior portion adapted to extend exteriorly of said recess from the open axially inner end thereof when the spring clip means is inserted into said recess; said interior portion comprising axial section means adapted to be disposed against said flange means and resilient C-shaped section means connected to the axially inner end of said axial section means, said resilient C-shaped section means being adapted to be deformed from its free shape when lodged between said axial flange means and said axial wall means to thereby forcibly urge said axial section means against said axial flange means; said exterior portion comprising a retainer finger means adapted to extend both axially and radially outwardly of the recess for engagement with the annular axial wheel flange and to bear against said axial flange means to urge said axial section means against said axial flange means upon application of the wheel ring to the wheel.

Claim 19

Fastening means for fastening a decorative wheel ring on the axially outer face of a vehicle wheel having an annular axial wheel flange, said fastening means comprising axial flange means on said ring adapted to lie radially inwardly of the axial wheel flange when the ring is applied to the wheel, axially extending wall means disposed in radially spaced relation to said axial flange means whereby a recess is provided between said axial flange means and said wall means, said recess being open at the axially inner end thereof, a spring clip means disposed in said recess, said clip means comprising an interior portion inserted into said recess and an exterior portion extending exteriorly of said recess from the open axially inner end thereof, said exterior portion comprising a retaining finger extending both axially and radially outwardly for engagement with the annular axial wheel flange, said finger including a pair of circumferentially spaced, sharp, pointed teeth projecting outwardly of the plane of the finger for biting engagement with the annular axial wheel flange, said clip including resilient means resiliently connecting said finger to said interior portion for enabling the finger to resiliently deflect toward said recess upon application of the ring to the wheel, said finger including between the teeth thereof a projecting tab means which projects both radially and axially outwardly beyond the teeth thereof, said projecting tab means being adapted, upon initial application of the ring to the wheel to initially engage the annular axial wheel flange prior to engagement of the teeth with the annular axial wheel flange, said projecting tab means disengaging the annular axial wheel flange as the teeth bite into said wheel flange upon full application of the ring to the wheel.

Claim 20

Fastening means for fastening a decorative wheel ring on the axially outer face of a vehicle wheel having an annular axial wheel flange, said fastening means comprising axial flange means on said ring adapted to lie radially inwardly of the axial wheel flange when the ring is applied to the wheel, axially extending wall means disposed in radially spaced relation to said axial flange means whereby a recess is provided between said axial flange means and said wall means, said recess being open at the axially inner end thereof, a spring clip means disposed in said recess, said clip means comprising an interior portion inserted into said recess and an exterior portion extending exteriorly of said recess from the open axially inner end thereof, said exterior portion comprising a retaining finger extending both axially and radially outwardly for engagement with the annular axial wheel flange, said finger including a pair of circumferentially spaced, sharp, pointed teeth projecting outwardly of the plane of the finger for biting engagement with the annular axial wheel flange, said clip including resilient means resiliently connecting said finger to said interior portion for enabling the finger to resiliently deflect toward said recess upon application of the ring to the wheel, said finger including between the teeth thereof a projecting tab means which projects both radially and axially outwardly beyond the teeth thereof, said projecting tab means being adapted, upon initial application of the ring to the wheel to initially engage the annular axial wheel flange prior to engagement of the teeth with the annular axial wheel flange, said projecting tab means disengaging the annular axial wheel flange as the teeth bite into said wheel flange upon full application of the ring to the wheel.