Abstract: A method of securing wheel covers to the outboard surfaces of wheels to form wheel assemblies. The method involves applying resist coating patterns to portions or the entire inboard surfaces of the wheel covers prior to subjecting the wheel cover to a plating process which is intended to plate the outboard surfaces of the wheel covers. The resist coating pattern prevents plating material from attaching to areas of the inboard surfaces of the wheel covers to which the resist coat has been applied or which have been framed in or outlined by the resist coating. Areas that are coated with the resist and areas that have been framed in or outlined by the resist coating are more susceptible and compatible to adhesive bonding of the wheel covers to the wheels.

Abstract: A center lock for a wheel cover of a wheel assembly that includes a wheel cover and a wheel. The wheel includes a recessed hub area that is surrounded by an annular wall having a protrusion formed therein. The wheel cover is configured to engage the protrusion and thereby lock the center of the wheel cover onto the wheel. The wheel assembly may also include a rim lock by providing a recess in the outer periphery of the wheel and a lip in the outer periphery of the wheel cover that is configured to engage the recess in the outer periphery of the wheel. The wheel assembly can include a central cap that includes clasp elements which engage the protrusion formed in the annular wall of the wheel.

Abstract: A wheel ornamentation assembly is provided for attachment to a wheel secured to a wheel hub with a plurality of lug nuts. The wheel ornamentation assembly includes a wheel ornamentation body having an outboard surface and an inboard surface. The wheel ornamentation assembly includes clusters of retention legs that extend axially from the inboard surface and are arranged in circular patterns to receive the lug nuts therein. Each of the clusters of retention legs includes a gap which extends to the inboard surface. Each of the clusters of retention legs further includes a plurality of primary retention legs arranged in opposed pairs on either side of the gap and a pair of secondary retention legs arranged in opposed positions on either side of the gap. Standoff structures for abutting a front edge of the lug nuts are provided on only the primary retention legs.

Abstract: A shield for wheel assemblies formed of a metal band that is inserted into wheels so as to cover and protect the inner surface of the wheels. The shields can be made from stainless steel and used to protect the inner surfaces of aluminum from damage caused by debris that contact a vehicle braking assembly. The shields are secured in the wheels by a mechanical locking arrangement in which the outer ends of the shields snap-fit along outboard rim flanges of the wheels. Adhesives or sealants can be used to secure the shields to the wheels and to prevent moisture and debris from becoming trapped between the shields and inner surfaces of the wheels.

Abstract: A snap on wheel cover that includes a plurality of finger elements that cooperate with a locking ridge on lug nuts that are used to secure a wheel onto a vehicle hub. The plurality of finger elements include first finger elements that engage a first surface of the locking ridges of the lug nuts when the wheel cover attached to the wheel and second finger elements that engage and apply a biasing force to a second opposite surface of the lug nuts when the wheel cover attached to the wheel. Third finger elements can also be provided which are configured to be deflected inward when contacted by either the first or second side of the locking ridges of the lug nuts.

Abstract: Wheel assemblies that include decorative wheel covers which are bonded to wheels by sound dampening adhesive patterns that include primary adhesive patterns that are sufficient to secure the wheel covers to the wheels and an auxiliary adhesive patterns that include discrete portions that are provided in hollow portions defined by the primary adhesive patterns between the wheel covers and wheels. The discrete portions of the auxiliary adhesive patterns prevent the hollow portions from sounding hollow.

Abstract: A wheel ornamentation assembly is provided for attachment to a wheel secured to a wheel hub with a plurality of lug nuts. The wheel ornamentation assembly includes a wheel ornamentation having an outboard surface and an inboard surface. The wheel ornamentation assembly also includes a plurality of retention legs extending axially from the inboard surface for engaging the lug nuts. The wheel ornamentation also includes a wire retainer cooperating with the retention legs to provide mechanical support to the retention legs and prevent the wheel ornamentation from disengaging the lug nuts.

Abstract: A retaining assembly secures ornamentation having an inboard surface and a plurality of protrusions to a wheel. The retaining assembly includes a ring. The ring includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough. The openings receive protrusions that extend out from the ornamentation. Legs extend out from the ring and engage multiple sides of a portion of the lug nuts. This secures the ornamentation to the wheel hub. The retaining assembly also includes supports that are secured between the legs. The supports provide support and prevent over-travel of the legs when the ornamentation is being installed by securing the ring to the lug nuts. The supports include an extension and a cross member. The extension positions the supports with respect to the ring and the cross members are bent and welded to the legs that are disposed adjacent thereto to provide support and prevent the over-travel of the legs as the legs pass over the lug nuts to which they are being secured.

Abstract: Inserts that are configured to be placed in gaps provide between wheel covers and underlying wheel of wheel assemblies. The inserts are made from materials that are suitable rigid and strong so as to reinforce and protect the overlying portions of the wheel cover from impact damage such as denting in the case of metal wheel covers and cracking or breaking in the case of plastic wheel covers. The inserts further prevent otherwise hollow portions of the wheel assembly from sounding, feeling or seeming hollow.

Abstract: A wheel ornamentation assembly is provided for attachment to a wheel secured to a wheel hub with a plurality of lug nuts. The wheel ornamentation assembly includes a wheel ornamentation body having an outboard surface and an inboard surface. The wheel ornamentation assembly also includes a first annular wall extending axially from the inboard surface. The wheel ornamentation assembly includes a plurality of first retention legs extending axially from the first annular wall. The wheel ornamentation assembly also includes a second annular wall extending axially from the inboard surface. The second annular wall is spaced radially from the first annular wall. The wheel ornamentation assembly further includes a plurality of second retention legs extending axially from the second annular wall. The first annular wall and the second annular wall of the wheel ornamentation assembly cooperate to define a plurality of lug cavities adapted to receive a lug nut.

Abstract: Adhesive patterns are applied to one of an outboard side of a wheel and an inner surface of a decorative wheel cover and used to bond the decorative wheel cover to the wheel with a spaced therebetween that is partially filled with the cured adhesive. The decorative wheel cover and wheel each include aligned lug nut apertures and aligned decorative openings. The adhesive patterns are configured to allow ambient fluids to enter throughout the space between the decorative wheel cover and the wheel (and leave) which is not filled with the cured adhesive to prevent corrosion from occurring between the decorative wheel cover and wheel.

Abstract: A composite wheel assembly includes a wheel having an outboard surface and a wheel ornamentation disposed over the outboard surface. The wheel ornamentation has a plurality of vent openings and a plurality of lug stud holes. The composite wheel assembly also includes an adhesive disposed between the wheel ornamentation and the wheel around each of the vent openings. The composite wheel assembly further includes at least one seal comprising an o-ring disposed between the wheel ornamentation and the wheel about at least one of the lug stud holes to prevent contaminants from entering the assembly between the wheel ornamentation and the wheel.

Abstract: A retaining article secures ornamentation, namely wheel caps and wheel covers, to a wheel. The retaining article is a unitary structure. It is received by the ornamentation which has an inboard surface with a number of protrusions extending out therefrom. The protrusions are cylindrical in shape. The retaining article has a ring with a number of openings. The openings receive the protruding cylinders therein and are secured thereto by a number of tabs. The tabs are bent by the protruding cylinders. Legs extend out from the ring. The legs are forced over lug nuts which secure the wheel to a wheel hub. The legs engage the lug nuts creating a positive engagement with the lug nuts. Standoff extensions abut the top of the lug nut preventing lost motion between the lug nuts and the ring.

Abstract: A method of making a wheel cover having a decorative outboard surface and an inboard surface for placement on a vehicle wheel includes the steps of forming a wheel cover substrate having a substrate contour providing the inboard substrate surface and with an outer substrate surface for bonding a skin thereto. The skin has a decoration applied to an inner skin surface for placement between the skin and the substrate. The skin has a decoration applied thereto. It is then cut to a desired shape complementing the substrate. It may, at that point, be deformed to also complement to contour of the substrate. The skin is bonded to the substrate by welding the materials to one another or by an adhesive.

Abstract: A retaining assembly secures ornamentation having an inboard surface and a plurality of protrusions to a wheel. The retaining assembly includes a ring. The ring includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough. The openings receive protrusions that extend out from the ornamentation. Legs extend out from the ring and engage multiple sides of a portion of the lug nuts. This secures the ornamentation to the wheel hub. The retaining assembly also includes supports that are secured between the legs. The supports provide support and prevent over-travel of the legs when the ornamentation is being installed by securing the ring to the lug nuts. The supports include an extension and a cross member. The extension positions the supports with respect to the ring and the cross members are bent and welded to the legs that are disposed adjacent thereto to provide support and prevent the over-travel of the legs as the legs pass over the lug nuts to which they are being secured.

Abstract: A lug cap includes a detent along the inner wall. The detent has an engaging surface that begins shortly after a threaded portion of the lug cap ends. The engaging surface ramps up to a top surface that runs parallel to the inner wall. The lug nut engages the detent which prevents the rotation of the lug cap with respect to the lug nut by increasing the force required to loosen or tighten the lug cap from the lug nut.

Abstract: A wheel cover assembly includes a cover and a plurality of lug wells. The cover is manufactured from a first material that is capable of being decorated with paint and/or plating. The lug wells are fabricated from a second material. The second material is chosen for its high thermal resistive characteristics. The second material insulates the first material from the thermal energy generated by the wheel hub assembly and, in particular, the brake systems of the wheel hub assembly. Each of the lug wells includes a wall having an annular recess circumscribing the interior surface of the wall and an exterior ridge extending around the periphery of the wall. The annular recess and the exterior ridge prevent the first material from flowing therepast creating a barrier of the second material used to manufacture the lug wells to the lug nuts, the conductors of the thermal energy created by the brake systems. Protrusions and elongated holes aid in the bonding of the first material to the second material.

Abstract: A wheel cover is formed to include a wrap around the circumference of the wheel cover. The wrap is an aesthetic portion of the wheel cover and not a part of a mechanical lock. It is formed in the wheel cover by spinning the wheel cover about its central axis. When the wheel cover is spinning at an appropriate speed, at least one pair of rollers is moved toward the spinning wheel cover. Lock generating rollers provide a force which is directed radially outwardly while wrap generating rollers provide a force which is directed radially inwardly. This force is of such a magnitude that it forces the outer edge of the wheel cover to follow the contour of the rollers. When the wrap is completely formed, the rollers are removed from engagement with the wheel cover and the wheel cover is stopped from spinning. Once the wheel cover is removed from the fixture of the spinning machine, it proceeds with further manufacturing steps to complete the manufacturing thereof before it is mounted to a wheel.

Abstract: A retaining article secures ornamentation, namely wheel caps and wheel covers, to a wheel. The retaining article is a unitary structure. It is received by the ornamentation which has an inboard surface with a number of protrusions extending out therefrom. The protrusions are cylindrical in shape. The retaining article has a ring with a number of openings. The openings receive the protruding cylinders therein and are secured thereto by a number of tabs. The tabs are bent by the protruding cylinders. Legs extend out from the ring. The legs are forced over lug nuts which secure the wheel to a wheel hub. The legs engage a recess in the lug nuts creating a positive engagement with the lug nuts.

Abstract: A wheel applique is secured to a wheel using a method that changes the dimensions of one or both elements during an abutment phase of the method. The method includes the heating of the wheel so that a diameter defined by a rim flange protrusion grows thus providing clearance for the wheel applique to pass by it. Once the wheel applique has passed by the rim flange protrusion, the wheel is cooled to ambient temperature eliminating the clearance and resulting in the wheel applique being locked against the wheel due to the positive engagement of the periphery of the wheel applique and the rim flange protrusion of the wheel.