Patents Assigned to Thompson International
  • Patent number: 5461779
    Abstract: A composite vehicular wheel assembly (10) has a permanent ornamental surface treatment. The wheel assembly (10) includes an annular rim (12) having two rim flanges (14). A spider (20) is fixed within the rim (12) and attaches to a rotating hub (22). The spider (20) includes a plurality of radial spokes (24). Lug stud holes (32) are formed in the spider (20) and are circumferentially spaced about a central axis of the assembly (10). A stamped sheet metal applique (34) conforming to the outer surface curvature of the rim (12) and spider (20) is adhesively attached with an epoxy (42). The applique (34) is chrome-plated to simulate a conventional prior art electroplate chrome wheel assembly. The applique (34) includes vent openings (40) positioned between the spokes (24) of the spider (20), and apertures (52) aligned over each of the lug stud holes (32) of the spider (20) for passage of the lug studs (31). A separately detachable center cap (29) attaches to the spider (20) and/or the hub (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Thompson International
    Inventor: Jeffrey Beam
  • Patent number: 5368370
    Abstract: A composite vehicular wheel assembly (10) has a permanent ornamental surface treatment. The wheel assembly (10) includes an annular rim (12) having two rim flanges (14). A spider (20) is fixed within the rim (12) and attaches to a rotating hub (22). The spider (20) includes a plurality of radial spokes (24). Lug stud holes (32) are formed in the spider (20) and are circumferentially spaced about a central axis of the assembly (10). A stamped sheet metal applique (34) conforming to the outer surface curvature of the rim (12) and spider (20) is adhesively attached with an epoxy (42). The applique (34) is chrome-plated to simulate a conventional prior art electroplate chrome wheel assembly. The applique (34) includes vent openings (40) positioned between the spokes (24) of the spider (20), and apertures (52) aligned over each of the lug stud holes (32) of the spider (20) for passage of tile lug studs (31). A separately detachable center cap (29) attaches to the spider (20) and/or the hub (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Thompson International
    Inventor: Jeffrey Beam
  • Patent number: 5181767
    Abstract: A retention arrangement for a vehicular wheel cover utilizes protruding ends of the vehicle's lug studs which are received in open-bottomed wells formed in a wheel cover. Retainer nuts engage the protruding lug studs in the wells to secure the wheel cover to the wheel. Each well includes a plurality of protrusions which cooperate with the retainer nut to capture the retainer nut in the well, even when the wheel cover is not secured to the vehicular wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Thompson International, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Hudgins, Lawrence R. Sounart, Alan G. Storck
  • Patent number: 4444103
    Abstract: A belt-type printing machine, primarily for printing large numbers of different bingo tickets, includes a pair of endless belts one of which is slightly longer than the other. The belts each carry a series of identically-sized printing plates there being more plates on the longer belt. The plates on one belt are used to print a first sub-area of each ticket, while the plates on the other belt are used to print the remaining sub-area of each ticket, the different lengths of the belts, which are rotated at the same speed, resulting in the printing of tickets with different combinations of sub-areas from the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: Edward Thompson (International) Limited
    Inventor: Francis S. Cronin