Wheel and grease cap assembly

Abstract

A wheel and grease cap combination in which a plastic covered portion on a vehicle wheel is provided with a radially inwardly facing annular groove positioned adjacent to an opening in the wheel for receiving the grease cap and radially inwardly of the bolt circle for receiving bolts to attach the wheel to the axle hub. The groove receives a plurality of attaching means formed on the grease cap which deflect radially inwardly upon attachment and detachment of the grease cap. The attaching portions firmly engage the bottom of the groove to prevent both axial and rotational displacement of the grease cap relative to the wheel.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A wheel and grease cap assembly including a metal wheel having wheel mounting holes arranged on an annular circle and a plastic member attached to and covering the wheel, said plastic member having a portion extending radially inward of said circle and between said mounting holes and having an inner annular surface adjacent said circle, an annular groove formed in said inner annular surface and having a radially inward facing bottom portion, a cap attached to said plastic member and having .[.a retaining ring.].  .Iadd.an annular flange portion .Iaddend.axially extending inside of said inner annular surface of said plastic member, said cap having a plurality of circumferentially spaced attaching portions formed on said .[.retaining ring.].  .Iadd.annular flange portion .Iaddend.and located in said annular groove, said attaching portions being deflectable relative to said cap for resiliently restraining removal of said cap from said plastic member, said attaching portions presenting outer radius portions engageable with said bottom portion of said annular groove to retard relative rotation of said cap and said wheel, said annular groove being formed of segments with one segment extending between adjacent mounting holes of said wheel, a cam surface formed in said plastic member circumferentially adjacent to opposite ends of each of said segments of said groove and at the exterior thereof to engage and simultaneously deflect said grease cap relative to said wheel during attachment of said grease cap to said wheel. 
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1 in which additional cam surfaces are formed at the ends of each of said segments of said groove, said additional cam surface engaging and simultaneously deflecting said attaching portions radially inwardly upon rotation of said grease cap relative to said wheel from an attached position in which said attaching portions are disposed in said groove. 
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 1 in which said plastic portion forms guide surfaces adjacent said groove facing radially inwardly and axially outwardly, said attaching portions being engageable with said guide surfaces to deflect said attaching portions radially inwardly relative to said cap upon axial movement of said cap relative to said wheel for guiding said attaching portions into said groove during attachment of said cap to said wheel.