Vehicle wheel cover and vehicle wheel cover retention system and method for producing same

摘要

A vehicle wheel cover retention system includes a wheel defining an axis and includes a wheel rim and a wheel disc. The wheel disc has a generally radially outwardly extending retention groove formed in a generally axially extending portion of an inner mounting surface thereof. The cover includes an inner portion having a central opening. The inner portion is provided with at least one wheel cover retention member having at least one tab. A center cap is provided and includes at least one center cap retention member having at least one tab. The at least one tab of the at least one wheel cover retention member and the at least one tab of the center cap retention member are both received in the retention groove to secure both the wheel cover and the center cap to the wheel.

主权项

1. A vehicle wheel cover retention system comprising:
a wheel defining an axis and including a wheel rim and a wheel disc, said wheel disc including a generally centrally located wheel mounting surface and an outer annular portion which defines an outboard face, said wheel disc having a generally radially outwardly extending single retention groove formed in a generally axially extending portion of said inner mounting surface thereof, said single retention groove having a generally rounded shape and defining a predetermined radius in said axially extending portion of said inner mounting surface of said wheel disc; a wheel cover including an inner surface, an outer surface and an inner portion having a central opening, said inner portion provided with a plurality of wheel cover retention members, each of said wheel cover retention members provided with at least one snap in tab having a generally rounded shaped outer surface, wherein each of said wheel cover retention members extends a first circumferential distance about said inner portion of said wheel cover and between an associated pair of said wheel cover retention members there is defined a circumferential gap that extends a second circumferential distance about said inner portion of said wheel cover; and a center cap including a plurality of center cap retention members, each of said center cap retention members provided with at least one snap in tab having a generally rounded shaped outer surface; wherein a respective one of said center cap retention members is configured to be disposed in a respective one of said circumferential gaps of said wheel cover such that said generally rounded shaped outer surface of said at least one snap in tabs of said wheel cover retention members and said generally rounded shaped outer surface of said snap in tabs of said center cap retention members are both received in a snap fit engagement in said single retention groove of said wheel disc to thereby secure both said wheel cover and said center cap to said wheel using only said single retention groove.