Claims
- 1. A method for forming a composite vehicular wheel assembly (10) having a permanent ornamental surface treatment, said method comprising the steps of: forming an annular rim (12) having a pair of spaced rim flanges (14); forming a spider (20) having a plurality of spokes (24) with interposed spaces; supporting the spider (20) concentrically within the rim (12); forming an ornamental applique (34) having a substantially uniform material thickness and an annular outer connecting portion (36) and an annular inner connecting portion (38); forming a plurality of vent openings (40) in the applique (34) between the outer (36) and inner (38) connecting portions; positioning the applique (34) centrally over the spider (20) and rim (12) while aligning the applique vent openings (40) in the spaces between the spokes (24); compressing an adhesive (42) to a uniform thickness between the applique (34) and the spider (20); and mechanically maintaining said compressing step with locking means that coact with the applique and the rim to compress the adhesive until the adhesive (42) is set and the locking means remaining in place after the adhesive is cured.
- 2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of mechanically maintaining includes forming an annular catch (46) in one of the rim flanges (14), and force fitting the peripheral edge (48) of the applique (34) into the catch (46).
- 3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of mechanically maintaining includes forming a hole (35) in the spider (20) and plastically deforming a section (50) of the inner connecting portion (38) into the hole (35).
- 4. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of plating the applique (34) with a metallic composition containing a percentage of chromium prior to said step of positioning the applique (34).
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/116,712 filed Sep. 3, 1993 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,370.
US Referenced Citations (17)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2813412 |
Oct 1979 |
DEX |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
116712 |
Sep 1993 |
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