Did You Know...
...that in the early 1940s GE engineer James Wright was charged with a task of utmost importance to the war effort: develop a cheap substitute for rubber that could be used to produce tires, gas masks and a whole host of military gear. Wright tackled the task diligently -- and wound up inventing Silly Putty.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7891744 | Vehicle wheel cover retention system and method for producing same A method for producing a vehicle wheel comprises the steps of: (a) providing a wheel including an outboard face; (b) providing a wheel cover including an inner surface; (c) providing an external surface feature on at least one of the outboard face of the wheel and t... | 02/22/2011 |
| 7416260 | Vehicle wheel cover retention system and method for producing same The vehicle wheel cover retention system comprises a wheel formed from a suitable material and including a first hub hole provided therein. The first hub hole has a retention member formed in a generally axially extending portion thereof. The wheel cover is formed f... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7393062 | Vehicle wheel cover retention system and method for producing same This invention relates to a vehicle wheel cover retention system for securing a wheel cover to a vehicle wheel using an adhesive. According to one feature of the invention, the wheel cover has a portion which extends to a backside of a window, the portion having a l... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7347439 | Non-rotating bicycle wheel display disk The present invention describes a non-rotating bicycle wheel display assemblies that remains absolutely upright in relation to the rotation of a bicycle wheel and in relation to a parked bicycle wheel. The invention consists of a pair of disk assemblies mounted to b... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7303240 | Fitting structure of vehicle wheel cover A fitting structure for a vehicle wheel cover, having an open loop formed by a curved bar, an elongate connecting cover, an adjusting nut and a plurality of fitting seats mounted to the loop. The loop has at least one end terminated with a bent portion and the other... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7300116 | Center lock wheel cover A center lock for a wheel cover of a wheel assembly that includes a wheel cover and a wheel. The wheel includes a recessed hub area that is surrounded by an annular wall having a protrusion formed therein. The wheel cover is configured to engage the protrusion and t... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7296860 | Rim protector A rim protection apparatus fitted around a periphery of a rim of a motor vehicle wheel is provided. The rim protection apparatus covers the circumferential edge of the rim. The apparatus has a substantially planar circular protective ring and means for fitting the p... | 11/20/2007 |
| 7246860 | Wheel plugs for vehicle wheels A wheel insert for removable placement within the apertures of the wheel rim of a vehicle wheel for preventing mud, dirt and debris from entering and blocking the apertures and marring the vehicle wheel includes a tubular body portion insertable into the aperture, a... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7204562 | Wheel clad assembly A composite wheel that includes a wheel having an outer surface, a plurality of exposed apertures formed in a circular pattern in a central hub region of the wheel, and a centrally-located hub aperture extending through the wheel. The composite wheel also includes a... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7168768 | Rubber coated wheel A vehicle wheel includes a central hub region and a rim coaxial with the central hub region. The rim is configured to receive a motor vehicle tire and includes an exposed annular surface visible when the tire is received on the rim. A middle region extends from the ... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7097730 | Method and apparatus for assembling a vehicle wheel A method and apparatus for attaching an ornamental overlay to a vehicle wheel by injecting adhesive foam through an aperture of the wheel and into a cavity formed between the wheel and the overlay. A first nest engages the outboard side of the wheel/overlay assembly... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7066557 | Wheel and overlay assembly A wheel and overlay assembly employing an overlay configured to more fully control the aesthetic appearance of the assembly. The wheel and overlay assembly employs an overlay that more completely establishes the decorative appearance of the assembly, thereby enablin... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7025426 | Sound dampening adhesive patterns for vehicle wheel assemblies Wheel assemblies that include decorative wheel covers which are bonded to wheels by sound dampening adhesive patterns that include primary adhesive patterns that are sufficient to secure the wheel covers to the wheels and an auxiliary adhesive patterns that include ... | 04/11/2006 |
| 6998001 | Vehicle wheel assembly and related method therefor An apparatus and method for constructing a wheel assembly by adhesively bonding a wheel cover to a wheel using a bead of foamed-in-place adhesive. As the wheel and wheel cover are assembled together, the bead of foamed-in-place adhesive is compressed between the whe... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6991299 | Vehicle wheel assembly and cladding therefore A wheel cladding assembly includes a wheel having a disk and a rim complementary to the disk, wherein the disk and the rim include and outer surface, and wherein the rim includes an outer edge extending circumferentially about the rim. The wheel assembly also includ... | 01/31/2006 |
| 6955405 | Inserts for vehicle wheel assemblies Inserts that are configured to be placed in gaps provide between wheel covers and underlying wheel of wheel assemblies. The inserts are made from materials that are suitable rigid and strong so as to reinforce and protect the overlying portions of the wheel cover fr... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6932435 | Adhesive patterns for vehicle wheel assemblies Adhesive patterns are applied to one of an outboard side of a wheel and an inner surface of a decorative wheel cover and used to bond the decorative wheel cover to the wheel with a spaced therebetween that is partially filled with the cured adhesive. The decorative ... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6779852 | Composite wheel assembly and method for producing same A composite wheel assembly includes a wheel having a trim ring, a cladding, and a hubcap attached to the wheel. The wheel includes a disc and a rim flange circumscribing the disc with the disc and rim flange defining an outboard surface of the wheel. A trim ring mou... | 08/24/2004 |
| 6755485 | Chromium-plated composite wheel A composite vehicle wheel having a disk, a rim circumscribing the disk, and an ornamental metal-plated plastic overlay attached to the outboard surface of the disk. The overlay has a pair of oppositely disposed surfaces which form interior and exterior surfaces of t... | 06/29/2004 |
| 6752469 | Composite wheel assembly A composite wheel assembly includes a wheel having an outboard surface and a wheel ornamentation disposed over the outboard surface. The wheel ornamentation has a plurality of vent openings and a plurality of lug stud holes. The composite wheel assembly also include... | 06/22/2004 |
| 6729695 | Vehicle wheel assembly and related method therefor cross-references to related applications An apparatus and method for constructing a wheel assembly by adhesively bonding a wheel cover to a wheel using a bead of foamed-in-place adhesive. As the wheel and wheel cover are assembled together, the bead of foamed-in-place adhesive is compressed between the whe... | 05/04/2004 |
| 6637832 | Wheel and cladding A wheel and cladding includes a cladding having an outer decorative surface and an inner surface which faces a wheel to be covered. The cladding includes a plurality of openings for receiving wheel mounting lugs. Spaced from the openings are a plurality o... | 10/28/2003 |
| 6598942 | Disposable mask for a vehicle wheel A vehicle wheel can be protected against surface damage during a tire cleaning operation by providing a mask over the outer surface of the wheel. The mask can include a circular disk formed out of paper or cardboard. Temporary attachment of the disk to th... | 07/29/2003 |
| 6554371 | Vehicle wheel cover retention system A vehicle wheel cover retention system wherein the outboard tire bead seat retaining flange of the associated wheel includes a unique construction for securing a wheel cover to the wheel. In particular, the vehicle wheel includes a disc which defines an o... | 04/29/2003 |
| 6517166 | Light-reflective wheel rim A wheel rim includes a transparent adhesive layer provided on the surface of the wheel rim, a light-reflective particle layer which is substantially free of any superimposed or overlapping particles and which is formed by spreading solely and uniformly dr... | 02/11/2003 |
| 6502308 | Vehicle wheel cover retention system and method for producing same An improved vehicle wheel cover retention system and method for producing the same includes a wheel cover (16) secured to a vehicle wheel. The method for producing the vehicle wheel (10) includes the steps of: (a) providing a vehicle wheel including a dis... | 01/07/2003 |
| 6460938 | Light-weight vehicle wheel A vehicle wheel includes a one-piece backbone wheel cast from a light-weight metal. The backbone wheel includes a generally cylindrical wheel rim adapted to carry a vehicle tire, and a wheel disc backbone extending across the wheel rim. The wheel disc bac... | 10/08/2002 |
| 6082829 | Wheel and overlay assembly A wheel and overlay assembly employing an overlay configured to more fully control the aesthetic appearance of the assembly. The wheel and overlay assembly employs an overlay that more completely establishes the decorative appearance of the assembly, ther... | 07/04/2000 |
| 6007158 | Vehicle wheel cover retention system and method for producing same An improved vehicle wheel cover retention system and method for producing the same wherein the wheel includes a disc defining an outboard facing wheel surface and including an outboard tire bead seat retaining flange. The flange includes an outer surface ... | 12/28/1999 |
| 5845973 | Method for compensating for tolerance variations between an overlay and wheel assembly An apparatus and method for assembling to an automotive wheel an overlay composed of a solid plastic panel member that is directly attached to the surface of the wheel. In one aspect, an intermediate positive fixing element is provided for temporarily pos... | 12/08/1998 |
| 5820225 | Vehicle wheel assembly and method of making same A wheel assembly (10) includes an applique (40) of sheet material adhered to a molded insert member (50) of structural rigidity. The insert member (50) is molded to change the depth and contour of the wheel face from the original steel wheel (12). The ins... | 10/13/1998 |
| 5636906 | Chromium-plated composite wheel A composite vehicle wheel having a disk, a rim circumscribing the disk, and an ornamental metal-plated plastic overlay attached to the outboard surface of the disk. The overlay has a pair of oppositely disposed surfaces which form interior and exterior su... | 06/10/1997 |
| 5630654 | Heat-resistant overlay for an automotive steel wheel A method for providing a decorative surface on a standard steel wheel, without requiring the use of the wheel in the production of the decorative surface. The decorative surface of this invention is provided by an overlay composed of a panel which is asse... | 05/20/1997 |
| 5597213 | Wheel and overlay assembly An apparatus and method for assembling to an automotive wheel an overlay composed of a solid plastic panel member that is directly attached to the surface of the wheel. In one aspect, an intermediate positive fixing element is provided for temporarily pos... | 01/28/1997 |
| 5590935 | In-line skate wheel cover A protective cover for a wheel of an in-line skate is characterized by a circular discoid element having an outer diameter corresponding with the outer diameter of a sidewall surface of the wheel and containing a central opening having a diameter correspo... | 01/07/1997 |
| 5577809 | Chromium-plated composite wheel A composite vehicle wheel having a disk, a rim circumscribing the disk, and an ornamental metal-plated plastic overlay attached to the outboard surface of the disk. The overlay has a pair of oppositely disposed surfaces which form interior and exterior su... | 11/26/1996 |
| 5458401 | Vehicle wheel applique system A metal applique is configured to conform to the shape of the outer face of a stock vehicle wheel. The face of the applique is finished with a selected surface treatment such as chrome plate, brushed metal, paint, machining etc. A stratum comprising an ac... | 10/17/1995 |
| 5441334 | Customized vehicle wheel and method There is disclosed an improvement to a vehicle wheel having a rim portion onto which a tire is mounted, a disc region having an outer face portion and an inner face portion, and a plurality of lug mounting apertures extending through the disc region. The ... | 08/15/1995 |
| 5188428 | Decorative simulated wheel cover retention system A decorative wheel cover apparatus is disclosed for relatively inexpensively simulating the appearance of a more expensive custom wheel. A wheel cover member, having a contoured body and circular inner and outer rims which accurately simulates the appeara... | 02/23/1993 |
| 5039172 | Protective wheel cover A protective cover for installation to a vehicle wheel to prevent dirt, dust or foreign substances from entering through openings in the wheel into brake assemblies carried by the wheel is disclosed as comprising a relatively thin, flexible, dirt impervio... | 08/13/1991 |
