Patent ID: 6209204
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: B60B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of making a vehicle wheel assembly having an ornamental surface treatment, the method comprising the steps of:providing a vehicle wheel having an annular rim, a rim flange, a rim flange protrusion and a spider concentrically fixed within the rim for connecting the vehicle wheel to a rotating hub;forming a wheel applique having an inboard surface, an outboard surface and a periphery to be disposed adjacent the rim flange;creating a temperature differential between the vehicle wheel and the wheel applique allowing the rim flange protrusion to expand with respect to the periphery of the wheel applique;abutting the inboard surface of the wheel applique against the spider of the vehicle wheel coaxially therewith; andremoving the temperature differential between the vehicle wheel and the wheel applique such that the outboard surface of the wheel applique disposed adjacent the periphery abuts the rim flange protrusion locking the wheel applique to the vehicle wheel.