Mountable wheel cap

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for improving fuel efficiency of a vehicle using a mountable wheel cap coupleable to a wheel. The mountable wheel cap includes a center section and an outer section. The outer section includes a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from the center section, and at least one gripper section coupled to at least one of the plurality of tabs, the at least one gripper section including a gripper configured to be placed in contact with the at least one of the outer section and/or the outer lip to secure the mountable wheel cap to the wheel.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A mountable wheel cap for coupling to a wheel, comprising:
 a center section; and   an outer section including:
 a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from the center section; 
 at least one gripper section coupled to at least one of the plurality of tabs, the at least one gripper section configured to be placed in contact with the wheel to secure the mountable wheel cap to the wheel; and 
 a plurality of slots defined through the outer section along at least one of a first side or second side of each of the plurality of tabs, each of the plurality of slots including a hole defined at a base end of the slot, the hole being larger than a width of the slot. 
   
     
     
         17 . The mountable wheel cap of  claim 16 , wherein the outer section further includes at least one opening defined through the outer section along one of the first side or the second side of one of the plurality of tabs, the at least one opening configured to permit the mountable wheel cap to be removed from the wheel. 
     
     
         18 . The mountable wheel cap of  claim 17 , wherein one of the plurality of slots is positioned along a different one of the first side or the second side of the one of the plurality of tabs opposite the opening. 
     
     
         19 . The mountable wheel cap of  claim 17 , wherein a radially length of the at least one opening is substantially equal to a radial length of each of the plurality of slots. 
     
     
         20 . The mountable wheel cap of  claim 16 , wherein the hole of each of the plurality of slots extends away from the first side or the second side of one of the plurality of tabs. 
     
     
         21 . The mountable wheel cap of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of tabs includes an outer peripheral edge, and each of the first and second sides of the plurality of tabs extends radially to the outer peripheral edge. 
     
     
         22 . The mountable wheel cap of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of slots extends radially from the base end to the outer peripheral edge of one of the plurality of tabs. 
     
     
         23 . The mountable wheel cap of  claim 16 , wherein a slot width of each of the plurality of slots is less than 0.1 inch. 
     
     
         24 . The mountable wheel cap of  claim 16 , wherein the hole of each of the plurality of slots has a diameter of less than 0.5 inch. 
     
     
         25 . The mountable wheel cap of  claim 16 , wherein the mountable wheel cap is configured to mount to the wheel in a mounting direction, and further wherein the center section comprises a domed section configured to extend outwardly opposite the mounting direction. 
     
     
         26 . The mountable wheel cap of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one gripper section is configured to be placed in contact with both an outer lip of the wheel and an outer section of the wheel. 
     
     
         27 . A system for increasing fuel efficiency for a vehicle, comprising:
 a wheel having an outer section and an outer lip; and   a mountable wheel cap, including,
 a center section; and 
 an outer section including,
 a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from the center section, each of the plurality of tabs including an outer peripheral edge; and 
 at least one gripper section coupled to at least one of the plurality of tabs, the at least one gripper section configured to be placed in contact with the at least one of the outer section or the outer lip to secure the mountable wheel cap to the wheel; and 
 a plurality of slots defined through the outer section along at least one of a first side or second side of each of the plurality of tabs and extending to the outer peripheral edge, each of the plurality of slots including a hole defined distal the outer peripheral edge, the hole being larger than a width of the slot. 
 
   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the outer section further includes at least one opening defined through the outer section along one of the first side or the second side of one of the plurality of tabs and extending to the outer peripheral edge, the at least one opening configured to permit the mountable wheel cap to be removed from the wheel. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein one of the plurality of slots is positioned along a different one of the first side or the second side of the one of the plurality of tabs opposite the opening. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein a radially length of the at least one opening is substantially equal to a radial length of each of the plurality of slots. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one opening is wider than each of the plurality of slots. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein a slot width of each of the plurality of slots is less than 0.1 inch. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the hole of each of the plurality of slots extends away from the first side or the second side of one of the plurality of tabs. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the hole of each of the plurality of slots has a diameter of less than 0.5 inch. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the mountable wheel cap is configured to mount to the wheel in a mounting direction, and further wherein the center section comprises a domed section configured to extend outwardly opposite the mounting direction.