| Decorative capped wheel nut or bolt assembly and method -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Decorative capped wheel nut or bolt assembly and methodRelated Patent Categories: Expanded, Threaded, Driven, Headed, Tool-deformed, Or Locked-threaded Fastener, Internally Threaded Fastener Element, E.g., Nut, Etc., Having CapDecorative capped wheel nut or bolt assembly and method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070189878, Decorative capped wheel nut or bolt assembly and method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/214,355, filed Aug. 29, 2005, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/828,662, filed Apr. 5, 2001, now abandoned. The disclosures of application Ser. No. 11/214,355 and 09/828,662 are hereby incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates generally to wheel nuts or bolts for securing a vehicle wheel, i.e., a tire and rim, on a motor vehicle. It relates particularly to a decorative capped wheel nut or bolt assembly and assembly method. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Decorative capped wheel nuts and bolts are well-known in the automotive art. A decorative capped wheel nut assembly, for example, conventionally comprises a nut insert and a decorative cap which is fastened to the insert by welding, crimping or with an adhesive. Examples of these constructions are illustrated in various prior art patents, including the Toth U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,773, the Bydalek U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,377, the Chaivre U.S. Pat. No. 4in a ,018,133, and No. 4,056,862, the Baltzell U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,070 and the Somers et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,420, for example. It is also known to form threads in a cap and in a lug nut and thread the cap onto the nut. See the Nolan et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,266 in this regard. [0004] All methods described in the prior art require relatively complex structures, assembly procedures and/or additional components. Assemblies produced by welding require expensive and sophisticated equipment for practical implementation of production. Practical options for plating the inserts are limited where welding is employed, placing welding designs as a disadvantage for achieving high corrosion resistance. Crimped designs require the addition of components, i.e., a sealant or o-ring, which complicates automated assembly. The use of adhesives causes similar problems. Because of the nature of the welding processes, or the introduction of extra components production rates for these assembly processes are low. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] An object of the invention is to provide an improved decorative capped wheel nut or wheel bolt. [0006] Another object is to provide a decorative capped wheel nut or wheel bolt wherein the decorative cap is secured to the nut or bolt insert without welding, applying an adhesive, or using a sealant or O-ring. [0007] Yet another object is to provide a decorative cap and insert assembly which is simpler and less expensive, but just as reliable, as prior art assemblies. [0008] Still another object is to provide a new and improved method of assembling a decorative cap and nut or bolt insert. [0009] The foregoing and other objects are realized in an insert and cap assembly wherein the components are securely fastened together by creating an interference fit between the cap and the insert. Specifically, the insert includes at least one section with a plated, coated or plated and coated circular cylindrical outer surface. The cap has a corresponding segment with a circular cylindrical inner surface which has an inside diameter 0.010 to 0.030 inches smaller than the outside diameter of the coated circular cylindrical outer surface. The insert is press fit into the cap, driving the cap's cylindrical inner surface over the insert's coated circular cylindrical outer surface. A 0.002 to 0.006 inches interference fit is formed around the interfering circular cylindrical surfaces by the elastic deformation of the cap. [0010] The improved method of retaining a cap on the insert body requires only two components, the cap and the insert, thus reducing the extra expense of an additional component and the complexities of introducing this extra component into the assembly process. It also allows the use of all types of coating, plating and coating or plating alone on the insert, which is not possible using current welding assembly methods. Further cost savings may be achieved with higher assembly rates using simple hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical press equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] The invention, including its construction and method of operation, is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the drawings, in which: [0012] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of the invention in a decorative capped wheel nut assembly; [0013] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the wheel nut assembly seen in FIG. 1; [0014] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the nut insert for the decorative capped wheel nut assembly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2; [0015] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the nut insert seen in FIG. 3; [0016] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the cap for the decorative capped wheel nut assembly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2; [0017] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2; [0018] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of an insert being press fit into a cap in a mechanical press; [0019] FIG. 8 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a second embodiment of the capped invention; Continue reading about Decorative capped wheel nut or bolt assembly and method... Full patent description for Decorative capped wheel nut or bolt assembly and method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Decorative capped wheel nut or bolt assembly and method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Decorative capped wheel nut or bolt assembly and method or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Insulated fastener Next Patent Application: Drain proof washer Industry Class: Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-threaded fastener ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Decorative capped wheel nut or bolt assembly and method patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.34761 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Medical: Surgery , Surgery(2) , Surgery(3) , Drug , Drug(2) , Prosthesis , Dentistry 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
