Abstract: A process that can be uniformly employed for electroplating a wide variety of different non-conductive substrates, including those that are non-platable or difficult-to-plate using conventional electroless and electrolytic plating techniques involves application of a platable coating composition to the substrate prior to plating. The platable coating composition is cured to render the substrate more receptive to conventional plating techniques. In one embodiment, the process utilizes an epoxy resin system that upon being cured is receptive to electroless plating and electrolytic plating techniques that are the same or similar to those conventionally employed for electroplating ABS and/or PC/ABS substrates.

Abstract: A composite wheel that includes a wheel having an outer surface, a plurality of exposed apertures formed in a circular pattern in a central hub region of the wheel, and a centrally-located hub aperture extending through the wheel. The composite wheel also includes a wheel cladding having a body conforming to the outer surface of the wheel, an exposed outer surface, and an inner surface facing the wheel when the wheel cladding is attached to the wheel. The wheel cladding includes at least one alignment tab extending from the inner surface and engaging the hub aperture and aligning the cladding with respect to the hub aperture, and at least one support post extending from the inner surface substantially proximate the hub aperture and structurally supporting the wheel cladding with respect to the wheel.

Abstract: A processing rack, such as for electroplating, which minimizes shelf areas of an article during processing of the article and during removal of the article from a processing bath and which allows easy mounting of articles on the rack and demounting of articles from the rack includes a frame and a plurality of article mounting fixtures that are each pivotally mounted on the frame and independently pivotable from a first orientation that facilitates mounting and/or demounting of articles, to a second orientation that is most conducive to producing high quality, substantially defect-free plating.

Abstract: A tool for electroplating a portion of the surface of each of a plurality of pieces includes a first plate having a plurality of holes, and a second plate having a plurality of retaining elements. Each of the holes is configured to receive a piece that is to be electroplated, and to mask a portion of the surface and expose another portion of the surface of the piece. The first and second plates are held together, and a mechanism is provided for shifting one of the plates with respect to the other between a first orientation in which the retaining elements are disengaged from pieces received in the holes and a second orientation in which the retaining elements are engaged with pieces received in the holes. This arrangement allows the pieces to be quickly and easily retained for an electroplating operation and released after the electroplating operation.

Abstract: The vehicle covering part (10) is provided with a snap-in connecting system (12). Provision is made here for the vehicle covering part (10) to have a support element (14) which can be fastened to the vehicle with a cohesive material joint, and a visible element (16) which can be connected to the support element (14) by snapping it in place. Furthermore, a method for fitting the vehicle covering part (10) to a vehicle body (18) is provided. The method is distinguished in that at least one layer of glue (22) is applied to that side (20) of the support element (14) which is for fastening to the vehicle, the support element (14) is bonded onto the vehicle body (18) in a stable position by means of the layer of glue (22), and the visible element (16) is then fixed on the support element (14) with the formation of a defined snap-in connection.

Abstract: An automobile lamp assembly that exhibits improved energy absorption characteristics as compared with known automobile lamp assemblies having a resiliently deformable flexure member positioned between a lens member and a housing member includes a flexure member that is configured to dynamically change its energy absorption characteristics during impact. More specifically, various geometries and/or materials are utilized to dynamically control deformation during impact and reduce damage and/or injury during an impact.

Abstract: A wheel cladding assembly includes a wheel having a disk and a rim complementary to the disk, wherein the disk and the rim include and outer surface, and wherein the rim includes an outer edge extending circumferentially about the rim. The wheel assembly also includes a ring-shaped flange member, and a wheel cladding member having a central portion and an outer periphery complementary to the central portion, wherein the outer periphery includes a circumferentially-extending channel that receives the flange member therein. The channel member is operably coupled to the wheel such that the central portion of the cladding member is aligned with at least a portion of the disk of the wheel, the periphery of the cladding member is aligned with at least a portion of the rim of the wheel, and the channel of the wheel cladding is located substantially proximate the outer edge of the rim.

Abstract: A wheel center cap for a vehicle wheel includes a substantially planar body portion, and a plurality of flexibly resilient fingers extending substantially orthogonal to the body portion and adapted to be received within a central aperture of a wheel. Each finger includes a pair of sidewalls and an integrally formed outer wall, wherein the outer wall includes a centrally-located portion defining a first radius of curvature, and rounded abutment portions located proximate the sidewalls and having a second radius of curvature that is less than the first radius of curvature.

Abstract: A test fixture includes a weighted frame incorporating air-filled bellow feet for simulating a vehicle suspension and tires. A hood-simulating support is pivoted to the frame and includes a mount for a grille. A shock absorber on the frame rapidly decelerates the support as the support reaches the closed position. An actuator is operably connected to a controller for closing the support at predetermined speeds for simulating stresses and forces on the grille as seen on actual vehicles. The combination simulates hood closure, including vehicle “bounce” upon hood closure. The controller can be programmed to provide different closure speeds and different air pressures in the feet for better simulation of particular vehicle models. In one form, the fixture includes an enclosure for controlling a temperature of an air fluid source and air for operating the actuator.

Abstract: An economical process for creating decorative and/or functional finishes on chrome, involves formation of a polyurethane film on the chrome substrate, wherein a strong and durable adhesion between the polyurethane film and the metal substrate is achieved by employing a silane adhesion promoter. Specific embodiments involve the use of an aromatic amine functional silane-coupling agent and/or an epoxy functional silane-coupling agent to achieve excellent adhesion between the polyurethane film and a chrome surface.

Abstract: A floating bracket has a flexible interface between a vehicle body panel and a vehicle. The floating bracket is slidably interfaced with a vehicle body panel. The floating bracket is rigidly fixed to a point on the vehicle. The floating bracket enables expansion or contraction of the vehicle body panel to take place. Accordingly the vehicle body panel may slide with respect to the vehicle. Thus, the vehicle body panel is free to move yet is still fixedly attached to the vehicle.

Abstract: A wheel and cladding includes a cladding having an outer decorative surface and an inner surface which faces a wheel to be covered. The cladding includes a plurality of openings for receiving wheel mounting lugs. Spaced from the openings are a plurality of spaced snap-locking tabs extending from the inner facing surface of the cladding toward the wheel to which the cladding is to be mounted. The wheel includes a generally circular relief cut or other recess extending around the central hub or in spaced relationship thereto and aligned with the spaced tabs of the cladding to snap-receive the cladding for holding it in place while adhesive applied to the wheel and/or cladding is cured to permanently bond the decorative cladding to the wheel.

Abstract: A plastic grille is attached to vehicle fenders by fasteners having a first connector section particularly shaped to snappingly engage a hole in the grille, and having an oppositely-facing second connector section particularly shaped to snappingly engage a hole in the fenders. The first and second connector sections are shaped for optimal low insertion force, yet high retention force. The first and second connectors have flexible arms that are oriented 90 degrees apart, permitting the connectors to slip in perpendicular directions in their respective receiving holes, thus providing improved tolerance and adjustability during installation. A method of assembly includes pre-attaching the fastener to the plastic component, and then attaching them as a unit to the metal component.

Abstract: A lamp assembly provides an integrated flexure member/bezel extending between a lamp lens and a housing for the lamp reflector. The flexure member has forward and rearward peripheral edges shaped to conform to the mating shapes of the lens and housing, respectively, for holding the elements together. The flexural member has internal surfaces which extend rearwardly toward the reflector surrounding the edges of the reflector such that no gaps are visually present and which can be metalized such that the overall lamp assembly has a shiny appearance.

Abstract: A process for forming a decorative chromium plating on a plastic substrate includes depositing an electrically conductive coating on the plastic substrate, electrodepositing on the electrically conductive coating a high leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer, electrodepositing on the high leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer a bright nickel electroplate layer, and electrodepositing over the bright nickel electroplate layer a chromium electroplate layer. An advantage of the process is that a lustrous decorative chromium plating having good corrosion resistance and thermal cycling characteristics is obtained without a copper sublayer, and while using relatively thin nickel sublayers.

Abstract: A process for controlling the micelle size distribution of an alkylene oxide dispersion in a nickel-plating electrolyte is used to maintain the electrolyte in a condition suitable for producing nickel coatings having a uniform satin finish in which finish characteristics such as roughness depth are maintained within desired limits. The process involves steps of removing a portion of the electrolyte from the electroplating bath, filtering the alkylene oxide from the electrolyte removed from the electroplating bath, adding alkylene oxide to the electroplating bath, and returning the filtered electrolyte to the electroplating bath. The process removes larger alkylene oxide micelles from the electrolyte and replaces them with smaller micelles to maintain a desired micelle size distribution.