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US 5,820,225 AGranted
Vehicle wheel assembly and method of making same
AssigneeMcKechnie Vehicle Components (USA), Inc.
InventorsDavid Ferriss, William K. Pope, Ted E. Eikhoff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheel assembly (10) includes an applique (40) of sheet material adhered to a molded insert member (50) of structural rigidity. The insert member (50) is molded to change the depth and contour of the wheel face from the original steel wheel (12). The insert member (50) is adhered and/or locked to the steel wheel.
Claims24
A composite wheel assembly for a vehicle having an ornamental surface treatment, said assembly comprising:
- an annular rim defining a central axis and having a rim flange;
- a spider concentrically fixed within said rim for connecting to a rotating hub, said spider shaped in a spider contour and including a plurality of spokes with openings therebetween;
- an ornamental applique of substantially uniform material thickness overlapping at least a portion of said rim and said spider;
- said applique having an annular outer portion disposed adjacent said rim flange, an annular inner portion, and plurality of vent openings aligned between said spokes of said spider and positioned between said inner and outer portions;
- a separately formed and structural insert member having an annular outer insert portion adjacent said rim and an annular inner insert portion and a plurality of vent openings aligned between said spokes of said spider, said insert member formed of a contour different from said spider contour and spaced from said spider at various distances along said insert member;
- a first curable adhesive of variable thickness disposed between said applique and said insert;
- a resilient filler disposed between said insert member and said rim and said spider.
4 more elements
A method of making a composite wheel assembly for a vehicle, the method including the steps of:
- providing a wheel having an annular rim and spider concentric within the rim;
- separately forming a skin of substantially uniform thickness and providing a surface;
- finishing the skin to an outer decorative surface finish;
- separately molding an insert member having an exterior surface and of structural plastic material and extending over a substantial portion of the spider;
- assembling the skin and insert member with adhesive;
- assembling the insert member to the vehicle wheel such that the skin is substantially supported by the insert member or wheel over substantially the entire surface of the insert member.
3 more elements
A composite wheel assembly for a vehicle having an ornamental surface treatment, said assembly comprising:
- an annular rim defining a central axis and having a rim flange;
- a spider concentrically fixed within said rim for connecting to a rotating hub, said spider shaped in a spider contour and including a plurality of spokes with openings therebetween;
- an ornamental applique of substantially uniform material thickness overlapping at least a portion of said rim and said spider;
- said applique having an annular outer portion disposed adjacent said rim flange, an annular inner portion, and plurality of vent openings aligned between said spokes of said spider and positioned between said inner and outer portions;
- a separately formed and structural insert member having an annular outer insert portion adjacent said rim and an annular inner insert portion and a plurality of vent openings aligned between said spokes of said spider, said insert member formed of a contour different from said spider contour and spaced from said spider at various distances along said insert member;
- a first curable adhesive of variable thickness disposed between said applique and said insert;
- a locking member locking one of said applique or said insert to said wheel.
4 more elements
A method of making a composite wheel assembly for a vehicle, the method including the steps of:
- providing a wheel having an annular rim and spider concentric within the rim;
- separately forming a skin of substantially uniform thickness;
- finishing the skin to an outer decorative surface finish;
- separately molding an insert member having an exterior surface and of structural plastic material and extending over a substantial portion of the spider;
- assembling the skin and insert member with adhesive;
- assembling the insert member to the vehicle wheel such that the skin is supported by the insert member or wheel;
- finishing an exterior surface of the insert member prior to assembling with the metal skin which is visible and extends beyond the metal skin upon assembly.
4 more elements
A composite wheel assembly for a vehicle having an ornamental surface treatment, said assembly comprising:
- an annular rim defining a central axis and having a rim flange;
- a spider concentrically fixed within said rim for connecting to a rotating hub, said spider shaped in a spider contour and including a plurality of spokes with openings therebetween;
- an ornamental applique of substantially uniform material thickness overlapping at least a portion of said spider;
- said applique having plurality of vent openings aligned between said spokes of said spider;
- a separately formed and structural insert member having a plurality of vent openings aligned between said spokes of said spider, said insert member formed of a contour different from said spider contour and spaced from said spider at various distances along said insert member, said insert member substantially covering said spider;
- a first curable adhesive of variable thickness disposed between said applique and said insert.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.