Decorative capped wheel nut and method of making same

Claim 2

A decorative capped wheel nut for holding a wheel on a motor vehicle where the decorative capped wheel nut is exposed to view on the wheel comprising: a nut insert having a central threaded aperture, polygonal sides, a first end adapted to engage the wheel, a second end opposite said first end, and a portion of said nut insert longitudinally between said polygonal sides and said first end, defining a weld projection; and a cap for said nut insert, said cap having a side section extending over the polygonal sides of the nut insert and an end section covering the second end of the nut insert, and an inclined portion, at least said cap inclined portion being welded to said nut insert at said weld projection.

Claim 3

A decorative capped wheel nut for holding a wheel on a motor vehicle where the decorative capped wheel nut is exposed to view on the wheel comprising: a nut insert having a central threaded aperture, polygonal sides, a first end adapted to engage the wheel, a second end opposite said first end, and a portion of said nut insert defining a weld surface intermediate said first and second ends; and a cap for said nut insert, said cap having a side section extending over the polygonal sides of the nut insert and an end section covering the second end of the nut insert, said cap side section defining wrench flats, said cap including an inclined flange extending from said side section, said cap being welded to said nut insert solely at said inclined flange.

Claim 4

A decorative capped wheel nut for holding a wheel on a motor vehicle where the decorative capped wheel nut is exposed to view on the wheel comprising: a nut insert having a central threaded aperture, polygonal sides, a first end adapted to engage the wheel, a second end opposite said first end, and a portion of said nut insert defining a weld surface intermediate said first and second ends; and a cap for said nut insert, said cap having a side section extending over the polygonal sides of the nut insert and an end section covering the second end of the nut insert, said cap side section defining wrench flats, said cap including an inclined flange extending from said side section, said cap being welded to said nut insert solely at said inclined flange.

Claim 5

A decorative capped wheel nut for holding a wheel on a motor vehicle and being of the type exposed to view on the wheel, comprising: a nut insert having a central threaded aperture, polygonal sides, a first end adapted to engage said wheel and a second end opposite said first end, said nut insert including a shoulder and including a generally longitudinally extending surface adjacent said first end, said generally longitudinally extending surface intersecting said shoulder to form essentially a projection between said polygonal sides of said first end; and, a cap for said nut insert, said cap having a side section extending over the polygonal sides of said nut insert and an end section covering the second end of said nut insert, said cap including an inclined flange portion overlying said projection, said flange portion being welded to said nut insert at said projection.

Claim 6

A decorative capped wheel nut for holding a wheel on a motor vehicle and being of the type exposed to view on the wheel, comprising: a nut insert having a central threaded aperture, polygonal sides, a first end adapted to engage said wheel and a second end opposite said first end, said nut insert including a shoulder and including a generally longitudinally extending surface adjacent said first end, said generally longitudinally extending surface intersecting said shoulder to form essentially a projection between said polygonal sides of said first end; and, a cap for said nut insert, said cap having a side section extending over the polygonal sides of said nut insert and an end section covering the second end of said nut insert, said cap including an inclined flange portion overlying said projection, said flange portion being welded to said nut insert at said projection.

Claim 7

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 3, wherein said cap flange portion is welded to said nut insert at said projection around the entire circumference of said nut insert to form a water tight seal between said nut insert and said cap.

Claim 8

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 3, wherein said cap flange portion is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of said central threaded nut insert aperture.

Claim 9

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 3, wherein said cap flange portion is inclined relative to said nut insert shoulder.

Claim 10

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 3, wherein said cap flange portion, said nut insert shoulder and a portion of said nut insert polygonal sides form an open area between said nut insert and said cap.

Claim 11

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 3, wherein said cap flange portion extends laterally outward beyond said nut insert projection.

Claim 12

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 3, wherein said nut insert shoulder and said nut insert generally longitudinally extending surface are normal to each other.

Claim 13

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 3, wherein said end section of said cap is longitudinally spaced from said second end of said nut insert.

Claim 14

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 3, wherein said cap is formed of stainless steel.

Claim 15

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 3, wherein: said cap side section includes a plurality of wrench flats respectively facing the polygonal sides of said nut insert, and said cap flange portion is contiguous to one end of said wrench flats and is inclined at an oblique angle relative to said cap side section.

Claim 16

A decorative capped wheel nut for holding a wheel on a motor vehicle and being of the type exposed to view on the wheel, comprising: a nut insert having a central threaded aperture, polygonal sides, a first end adapted to engage said wheel, a second end opposite said first end, and a circumferentially extending edge; and, a cap for and adapted to be welded to said nut insert, said cap having a side section extending over the polygonal sides of said nut insert, an end section covering the second end of said nut insert, and a flange portion extending from said side section and being inclined relative to said side section, said flange portion overlying and adapted to contact at least part of said edge, the area of contact between said flange portion and said edge being sufficient whereby in response to pressure and electrical current flow between said nut insert and said cap said flange is welded to said edge of said nut insert.

Claim 17

A decorative capped wheel nut for holding a wheel on a motor vehicle and being of the type exposed to view on the wheel, comprising: a nut insert having a central threaded aperture, polygonal sides, a first end adapted to engage said wheel, a second end opposite said first end, and a circumferentially extending edge; and, a cap for and adapted to be welded to said nut insert, said cap having a side section extending over the polygonal sides of said nut insert, an end section covering the second end of said nut insert, and a flange portion extending from said side section and being inclined relative to said side section, said flange portion overlying and adapted to contact at least part of said edge, the area of contact between said flange portion and said edge being sufficient whereby in response to pressure and electrical current flow between said nut insert and said cap said flange is welded to said edge of said nut insert.

Claim 18

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 13, wherein said cap flange portion is welded to said nut insert edge around the entire circumference of said nut insert.

Claim 19

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 13, wherein said nut insert edge is defined by a laterally extending shoulder and a longitudinally extending surface adjacent said first end.

Claim 20

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 13, wherein said nut insert edge is partially defined by a laterally extending shoulder on said nut insert.

Claim 21

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 13, wherein said cap flange portion extends laterally outward beyond said nut insert edge.

Claim 22

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 15, wherein said shoulder and said longitudinally extending surface extend essentially normal to each other.

Claim 23

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 13, wherein said end section of said cap is longitudinally spaced from said second end of said nut insert.

Claim 24

A decorative capped wheel nut for holding a wheel on a motor vehicle where the decorative capped wheel nut is exposed to view on the wheel, comprising: a nut insert having a central threaded aperture, polygonal sides, a first end adapted to engage the wheel, a second end opposite said first end, and a shoulder portion, said shoulder portion being defined by a surface adjacent the polygonal sides of the nut insert and terminating in an outer edge; and a cap for the nut insert having a side section extending over the polygonal sides of the nut insert and an end section adapted to cover the second end of the nut insert, said side section extending over the polygonal nut insert sides and including a plurality of cap wrench flats respectively associated with and oppositely facing the polygonal sides of said nut insert, said wrench flats of said cap and said polygonal sides of said nut insert being disposed between said first and said second ends of said nut insert, said cap having an inclined flange portion adjacent said first end of said nut insert, said inclined flange portion contacting said edge; said cap being welded to said nut insert along said edge to form a connection fully around the perimeter of said nut insert.

Claim 25

A decorative capped wheel nut for holding a wheel on a motor vehicle where the decorative capped wheel nut is exposed to view on the wheel, comprising: a nut insert having a central threaded aperture, polygonal sides, a first end adapted to engage the wheel, a second end opposite said first end, and a shoulder portion, said shoulder portion being defined by a surface adjacent the polygonal sides of the nut insert and terminating in an outer edge; and a cap for the nut insert having a side section extending over the polygonal sides of the nut insert and an end section adapted to cover the second end of the nut insert, said side section extending over the polygonal nut insert sides and including a plurality of cap wrench flats respectively associated with and oppositely facing the polygonal sides of said nut insert, said wrench flats of said cap and said polygonal sides of said nut insert being disposed between said first and said second ends of said nut insert, said cap having an inclined flange portion adjacent said first end of said nut insert, said inclined flange portion contacting said edge; said cap being welded to said nut insert along said edge to form a connection fully around the perimeter of said nut insert.

Claim 26

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 20, wherein the cap flange portion is inclined from the wrench flats to the outer edge of said cap so that said edge of said nut insert and the flange portion are in sufficient contact during welding such that the nut insert and cap are welded together.

Claim 27

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 21, wherein said cap flange portion extends laterally outward beyond said edge.

Claim 28

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 20, wherein the second end of said nut insert is longitudinally spaced from the end section of said cap.

Claim 29

A decorative capped wheel nut for holding a wheel on a motor vehicle where the decorative capped wheel nut is exposed to view on the wheel, comprising: a nut insert having a central threaded aperture, polygonal sides, a first end adapted to engage the wheel, a second end opposite said first end, and an intermediate portion therebetween, said intermediate portion including a welding projection; and a cap for the nut insert having a side section extending over the polygonal sides of the nut insert and an end section adapted to cover the second end of the nut insert, said side section extending over the nut insert sides and said cap having an inclined flange portion adjacent said first end of said nut insert; said cap flange being welded to said nut insert welding projection.

Claim 30

A decorative capped wheel nut for holding a wheel on a motor vehicle where the decorative capped wheel nut is exposed to view on the wheel, comprising: a nut insert having a central threaded aperture, polygonal sides, a first end adapted to engage the wheel, a second end opposite said first end, and an intermediate portion therebetween, said intermediate portion including a welding projection; and a cap for the nut insert having a side section extending over the polygonal sides of the nut insert and an end section adapted to cover the second end of the nut insert, said side section extending over the nut insert sides and said cap having an inclined flange portion adjacent said first end of said nut insert; said cap flange being welded to said nut insert welding projection.

Claim 31

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 24 wherein the welding projection is a continuous ring around the full circumference of said nut insert.

Claim 32

The decorative capped wheel nut of claim 24, wherein the welding projection is a circumferential edge on said nut insert intermediate portion.