Abstract: A wheel trim assembly including metal retainers for bitingly engaging the sides of wheel attaching nuts to maintain the wheel trim in position on the wheel in which the metallic retaining members are supported within a plastic hubcap by the resiliency of the retaining members acting to maintain portions thereof slidably disposed in guide holes in the side walls of the cap for engagement with the wheel nuts.

Abstract: A wheel trim assembly including metal retainers for bitingly engaging the sides of wheel attaching nuts to maintain the wheel trim in position on the wheel wherein metallic retaining members are supported within a plastic hubcap by the resiliency of the retaining members acting to limit radial and axial movement relative to the ornamental cap in both its mounted and unmounted condition.

Abstract: A wheel trim assembly for vehicle wheels having a plastic body member with selected portions covered with a cover member made from thin metal and fastened to the exposed face of the plastic body member so that portions of the wheel trim have a metallic finish and remaining portions have a non-metallic finish.

Abstract: A wheel and hub cap assembly wherein a cast metal wheel has a hollow hub portion housing the wheel mounting holes receiving studs to secure the wheel of a vehicle with the hub portion forming an annular groove opening radially inwardly relative to the axis of the wheel to receive a hub cap covering the opening. The hub cap has radially extending retaining elements complementary to the groove to support the hub cap relative to the wheel and limit axial inward and outward movement with the retaining elements being substantially the only contact between the wheel and hub cap.

Abstract: A retainer for attaching a wheel trim assembly to the rim of a vehicle wheel wherein a ring has a plurality of uniformly spaced retainers and a plurality of centering elements with the retainers resisting axial displacement of the wheel trim from the wheel and the centering elements acting to center the wheel trim and absorb most of the loads transmitted from the wheel to the wheel trim.

Abstract: A wheel trim assembly including a retainer for mounting on a vehicle wheel wherein a cover member has a peripheral flange and an annular retaining ring is provided with wheel engaging retaining elements and is disposed at one side of the cover member in engagement with an axially extending annular flange formed on the inboard side of the cover member so that the retainer ring is held centered relative to the cover member. A clamping ring engages and holds the retaining ring assembled to the cover member.

Abstract: A wheel trim assembly for attachment to vehicle wheels including a mounting member and a cup-shaped decorative trim member wherein the mounting member supports a plurality of resilient retainers formed of wire such that the resiliency of the retainers holds them in position on the mounting member. The retainers cooperate with holes in the vehicle wheel to hold the mounting member and the attached wheel trim member to the vehicle wheel.

Abstract: A wheel and hubcap combination in which the wheel has an axially extending annular flange adjacent to its axis of rotation and in which a retaining portion on the hubcap engages the flange at a point close to the face of the wheel so that the lip of the cap engages bosses adjacent the wheel attaching nuts to maintain the hubcap in spaced relationship for insertion of a tool and removal of the hubcap from the wheel.

Abstract: A wheel trim assembly including a metal retainer having teeth for bitingly engaging the flange of a vehicle wheel to hold the trim assembly in position on the wheel. The retainer is provided with an arm member which tends to lift the teeth out of engagement with the wheel after the trim assembly has been moved a predetermined axial distance. The arm also prevents the retainer from being bent excessively to exceed the elastic limits of the material making up the retainer.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel and trim assembly has a decorative trim member positioned in preselected symmetrical relation to the vehicle wheel by a retainer member on the trim member which engages retaining grooves formed in the nuts used to retain the vehicle wheel on its hub. The retainer member includes a guide arrangement which interferes with the nuts to prevent attachment of the trim to the wheel unless there is properly circumferential alignment and after attachment holds the wheel and trim against relative circumferential displacement.

Abstract: A welding machine for automatically welding abutting workpiece portions in which the workpiece portions are aligned by a gauge and after being clamped in such a position, the gauge is automatically removed and the clamped ends are moved into abutting relationship to each other to be welded together. After the weld is completed the gauge is moved automatically to engage and eject the welded part and at the same time position the gauge and place the machine in condition to receive the next part to be welded.

Abstract: A method of forming annular rings having portions of the ring material disposed radially of the ring axis from strips of flat material by forming cylindrical work-pieces from elongated strips of material with the ends of each of the strip being welded together to form a cylindrical work-piece having its material extending axially of the ring, supporting spaced annular portions at the inner circumference of the work-piece, and displacing a portion intermediate the internal annular portions of the work-piece radially outwardly while the outer perimeter of the work-piece is unsupported.

Abstract: A method of forming annular rings having portions of the ring material disposed radially of the ring axis from strips of flat material by forming cylindrical workpieces from elongated strips of material with the ends of each of the strip being welded together to form an endless cylindrical workpiece having its material extending axially of the ring and displacing a portion intermediate internal annular edge portions of the workpiece radially outwardly while the outer perimeter of the workpiece is unsupported. When the finished annular ring is to have all of the material in the annular edge portions extending radially, the inner annular edge portions are unsupported and when the annular edge portions are to extend axially in the finished ring, only the spaced inner annular surfaces of the edge portions are supported.

Abstract: A wheel trim assembly having a plastic trim portion with a plurality of metal retaining members attached to the plastic portion for securely attaching the assembly to a vehicle wheel flange. The metal retaining members including circumferentially spaced hooks for engaging opposite edges of the plastic portion and spring clips for engaging in recesses in the plastic portion to secure the retaining members to the wheel trim.

Abstract: A wheel and grease cap combination in which a plastic covered portion on a vehicle wheel is provided with a radially inwardly facing annular groove positioned adjacent to an opening in the wheel for receiving the grease cap and radially inwardly of the bolt circle for receiving bolts to attach the wheel to the axle hub. The groove receives a plurality of attaching means formed on the grease cap which deflect radially inwardly upon attachment and detachment of the grease cap. The attaching portions firmly engage the bottom of the groove to prevent both axial and rotational displacement of the grease cap relative to the wheel.

Abstract: A wheel trim assembly in which retaining devices are circumferentially spaced to engage and grip an annular lip portion at the outer circumference of a vehicle wheel and in which each of the retaining devices has a pair of circumferentially spaced wheel engaging portions which may flex independently of each other to accommodate variations in both the wheel and the wheel trim assembly.

Abstract: A wheel trim assembly for an automotive vehicle wheel in which a retaining member is adapted to support either a decorative wheel cover or wheel ring and is provided with retaining devices so disposed on the retaining member that when the trim assembly is attached to the wheel of the vehicle, portions of the retaining devices are disposed at an angle to the tire supporting flange of the wheel so that both axial and rotational displacement of the trim assembly relative to the wheel are prevented.

Abstract: A wheel and grease cap combination in which a plastic covered portion on a vehicle wheel is provided with a radially inwardly facing annular groove positioned adjacent to an opening in the wheel for receiving the grease cap and radially inwardly of the bolt circle for receiving bolts to attach the wheel to the axle hub. The groove receives a plurality of attaching means formed on the grease cap which deflect radially inwardly upon attachment and detachment of the grease cap. The attaching portions firmly engage the bottom of the groove to prevent both axial and rotational displacement of the grease cap relative to the wheel.