Patent ID: 8066335
Filing Date: 2011-11-29
Classification: B29C,F16F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a vehicle wheel weight for engaging a rim of a wheel for use in balancing the wheel, said method comprising: (a) providing a cold-formed mass portion formed of nonlead metal, said mass portion configured to be juxtaposed against the rim and defining a clip groove on an exterior surface of said mass portion, said clip groove having substantially straight first and second sidewalls, said first and second sidewalls being substantially parallel with each other; (b) providing a clip having a length defining an extended portion for engaging the rim and an attachment portion for attachment to said mass portion, said attachment portion having a pair of side edges and a bottom edge distal from said extended portion along the length of the clip, at least one lateral feature formed in each of said side edges and spaced from the bottom edge in a direction along the length of the clip toward the extended portion; (c) seating said attachment portion of said clip in said clip groove of said mass portion such that said side edges of the attachment portion are adjacent to respective of said first and second sidewalls of said clip groove; and (d) swaging said mass portion adjacent said clip groove so as to force nonlead metal material generally at the sidewalls of the clip groove to move laterally into the clip groove along said side edges of the attachment portion and into engagement with said lateral features so as to cause physical interference with said lateral features and over portions of an exterior surface of said clip between said side edges of said attachment portion, thereby fixedly securing said clip to said mass portion.