Importance

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Abstract

A wheel cover grip ring includes a plurality of axial legs which engage the rim of a wheel. The grip ring is formed of a metal band having a plurality of spaced flukes. The flukes serve to anchor the grip ring between a pair of annular concentric walls of a channel on an axially inner face of a plastic wheel cover. Each leg is bent to form a smooth, non-scratch articulated latch adjacent its free end. The articulated latch includes an engagement leaf having an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the wheel axis and which slidingly engages the wheel rim when the wheel cover is mounted. The latch also includes a curved latch seat which engages a draw bead step in the wheel rim. The latch also includes a retraction leaf having an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the wheel axis. The flukes provide self seating of the grip ring in the channel when the cover is first mounted to a wheel. The retraction leaf engages the wheel rim at a different angle than the engagement leaf to provide resistance to dislodgement of the wheel cover.

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First Claim