An ornamental wheel cover integrally retained on the lug nuts of a vehicle wheel that provides positive positioning of the cover to the lug nuts. The cover is provided with a number of elongated tubular extensions axially projecting therefrom that are each partially slotted to provide a plurality of cantilevered fingers. Each finger has an undercut groove that positively positions the cover to the lug nuts of the wheel. When the cover is attached to the wheel, the elongated tubular extensions are aligned with the lug nuts and the cover is moved axially inwardly of the wheel so that the cantilevered fingers separate slightly as they pass over the flange of the lug nut. The wheel cover further includes a wire band retainer to bias the innermost cantilevered fingers into continual engagement with the lug nuts, even during temperatures that would otherwise cause the plastic to distort due to heat creep.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/253,749, filed on Sep. 24, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,151 B1 issued on Jan. 27, 2004.
