Decorative wheel cover and retaining assembly therefor

Claim 2

A decorative wheel cover for mounting on a wheel assembly of a vehicle comprising a display portion; decorative means displayed by said display portion; a skirt portion depending from said display portion; and a lip portion extending from the bottom peripheral edge of said skirt portion and including an annular bead extending radially inwardly toward the center of said wheel cover; said display portion, said skirt portion and said lip portion being integrally formed of a resilient thermoplastic material whereby the wheel cover may be flexed to facilitate mounting, said material permitting passage of light rays therethrough, and said lip portion including a radially inwardly directed wall folded upon itself to form said bead, said bead having a curved surface configuration in cross section.

Claim 3

The decorative wheel cover as recited in claim 1 wherein said decorative means includes decal means displayed on the interior surface of said display portion.

Claim 4

The decorative wheel cover as recited in claim 1 wherein said decorative means includes a paint application displayed on the interior surface of said display portion.

Claim 5

The decorative wheel cover as recited in claim 1 wherein said decorative means includes a metallizing application displayed on the interior surface of said display portion.

Claim 6

The decorative wheel cover as recited in claim 1 wherein said decorative means is displayed on the exterior surface of said display portion.

Claim 7

The decorative wheel cover as recited in claim 1 and further comprising an annular ledge extending around said wheel cover and interconnecting said display portion and said skirt portion.

Claim 8

The decorative wheel cover as recited in claim 6 wherein said annular ledge is recessed in the exterior surface of said wheel cover to define an inwardly extending annular strengthening rib.

Claim 9

The decorative wheel cover as recited in claim 7, wherein said decorative means includes a plurality of superposed layers of different colored paint displayed on the exterior surface of said display portion, said display portion having a domed configuration.

Claim 10

A decorative wheel cover for mounting on a wheel assembly of a vehicle comprising a display portion having adorned configuration; decorative means displayed by said display portion said decorative means including a plurality of superposed layers of different colored paint displayed on the exterior surface of said display portion; a skirt portion depending from said display portion; and a lip portion extending from the bottom peripheral edge of said skirt portion and including an annular bead extending radially inwardly toward the center of said wheel cover; said display portion, said skirt portion and said lip portion being integrally formed of a thermoplastic material whereby the wheel cover may be flexed to facilitate mounting; and an annular ledge extending around said wheel cover and interconnecting said display portion and said skirt portion, said annular ledge being recessed in the exterior surface of said wheel cover to define an inwardly extending annular strengthening rib, and said annular ledge having indexing means indented therein.

Claim 11

A decorative wheel cover for mounting on a wheel assembly of a vehicle comprising a display portion having adorned configuration; decorative means displayed by said display portion said decorative means including a plurality of superposed layers of different colored paint displayed on the exterior surface of said display portion; a skirt portion depending from said display portion; and a lip portion extending from the bottom peripheral edge of said skirt portion and including an annular bead extending radially inwardly toward the center of said wheel cover; said display portion, said skirt portion and said lip portion being integrally formed of a thermoplastic material whereby the wheel cover may be flexed to facilitate mounting; and an annular ledge extending around said wheel cover and interconnecting said display portion and said skirt portion, said annular ledge being recessed in the exterior surface of said wheel cover to define an inwardly extending annular strengthening rib, and said annular ledge having indexing means indented therein.

Claim 12

A wheel cover assembly for mounting on a wheel assembly of a vehicle including a wheel for receiving a tire having a hub portion for attachment to an axle of the vehicle, the wheel cover assembly comprising; a decorative wheel cover including a display portion, a skirt portion depending from said display portion, and a lip portion extending from a bottom peripheral edge of said skirt portion and including an annular bead extending radially inwardly toward the center of said wheel cover, said display portion and said lip portion being integrally formed of a rigid, resilient thermoplastic material; and a retaining assembly including strap means secured to the interior surface of said wheel cover and locking means adapted to be secured to the hub portion of the wheel, said strap means carrying interlocking means on the free end thereof adapted to be detachably interlocked with said locking means, said locking means including a locking member having an elongated slot therein, said interlocking means including a tab having a longitudinal dimension greater than the longitudinal dimension of said slot whereby said tab must be diagonally aligned with said slot for insertion therein.

Claim 13

A wheel cover assembly for mounting on a wheel assembly of a vehicle including a wheel for receiving a tire having a hub portion for attachment to an axle of the vehicle, the wheel cover assembly comprising; a decorative wheel cover including a display portion, a skirt portion depending from said display portion, and a lip portion extending from a bottom peripheral edge of said skirt portion and including an annular bead extending radially inwardly toward the center of said wheel cover, said display portion and said lip portion being integrally formed of a rigid, resilient thermoplastic material; and a retaining assembly including strap means secured to the interior surface of said wheel cover and locking means adapted to be secured to the hub portion of the wheel, said strap means carrying interlocking means on the free end thereof adapted to be detachably interlocked with said locking means, said locking means including a locking member having an elongated slot therein, said interlocking means including a tab having a longitudinal dimension greater than the longitudinal dimension of said slot whereby said tab must be diagonally aligned with said slot for insertion therein.

Claim 14

The wheel cover assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said longitudinal dimension of said tab is greater than the diagonal dimension of said slot whereby said tab must be angularly oriented as well as diagonally aligned with said slot for insertion therein.

Claim 15

The wheel cover assembly as recited in claim 11 and further comprising an additional locking member carried on the interior surface of said wheel cover and having an elongated slot therein and said strap means carries an additional tab having a longitudinal dimension greater than the diagonal dimension of said slot of said additional locking member whereby said additional tab must be diagonally and angularly aligned with said slot of said additional locking member for insertion therein.

Claim 16

The wheel cover assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said additional locking member is integrally formed with said wheel cover.