Method for manufacturing a wheel cover

• Main Authors: Hogan, Scott A, DiMarco, Robert J, Griffin, Patrick, Smith, Steve G, Stawara, Gregory C, Garwood, Tim E, Belanger, Edward J, Wise, Bridget
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.09.2002

1. Field of the Invention A method of making a wheel cover having a decorative outboard surface and an inboard surface for placement on a vehicle wheel includes the steps of forming a wheel cover substrate having a substrate contour providing the inboard substrate surface and with an outer substrate surface for bonding a skin thereto. The skin has a decoration applied to an inner skin surface for placement between the skin and the substrate. The skin has a decoration applied thereto. It is then cut to a desired shape complementing the substrate. It may, at that point, be deformed to also complement to contour of the substrate. The skin is bonded to the substrate by welding the materials to one another or by an adhesive. The method is particularly suitable for use with a center cap having protrusions extending from the inboard surface and having a protrusion thickness wherein the substrate is formed with a decreased substrate thickness less than two times the protrusion thickness so that any depressions which may occur in the outer substrate surface opposing the protrusions due to the decreased thickness are hidden or smoothed over by the skin applied thereto.