Trim ring and method of producing same

Claim 2

A trim ring adapted to be secured to a generally annular flanged wheel rim, the contour of the wheel rim having an axially outer, radial wall terminating at a shoulder leading to an axially inwardly directed wall, said last-mentioned wall leading to an angled interface with the generally planar rim body, and comprising a rigid decorative member adapted to rest within a central annulus of the wheel rim, said trim ring comprising an annular wall, annular inturned flanges at the axial extremities of said trim ring wall facing toward the adjacent wheel rim, a plurality of clip members angularly spaced about said annular wall member, each of said clip members having the ends thereof captured and held firmly within said flanges to bow an intermediate portion of each of said clip members toward the adjacent wheel rim, said intermediate portion including a plurality of stepped surfaces generally parallel to the contoured walls of said rim and a toothed member on an axial wall of said intermediate portion for engaging and gripping the adjacent axial wall wheel rim.

Claim 3

A trim ring as claimed in claim 1 wherein each clip member includes in said intermediate portion a shoulder adjacent the axially directed annular wall bearing said tooth spaced from said flanges, said shoulders adapted to engage an adjacent axial wall of said wheel rim, said shoulder spaced from said toothed member to combinedly prevent movement of said trim ring relative to said wheel rim in either axial direction.

Claim 4

In a wheel structure adapted to mount on a tire rim having a first annular face in one plane with a stepped shoulder thereon leading to a radially disposed annular face, the invention comprising a generally rigid trim ring adapted to be mounted on the tire rim, the trim ring including radially inner and outer marginal portions, and an alignment of rigid finger clips joined together at the inner ends thereof and assembled on said trim ring and disposed in space between the trim ring and the tire rim, each of said clips including opposite terminal ends held within said marginal portions to bow said clip toward engagement with the wheel rim, both of said trim ring marginal portions having an inturned flange crimpingly engaging therein the terminal ends of said finger clips to grip each finger clip between said marginal portions, each finger clip having an intermediate section including a plurality of successive stepped walls generally similar to like walls of the trim ring, a first stepped wall retainingly engageable with the rim flange outwardly of the rim shoulder, each clip intermediate section including a wall generally parallel to the adjacent wall of said rim, a toothed member on said last-mentioned clip wall engaging the peripherally disposed face of said wHeel rim, each said toothed member spaced from said wheel rim shoulder to prevent axial movement of said trim ring relative to said rim.

Claim 5

In a wheel structure adapted to mount on a tire rim having a first annular face in one plane with a stepped shoulder thereon leading to a radially disposed annular face, the invention comprising a generally rigid trim ring adapted to be mounted on the tire rim, the trim ring including radially inner and outer marginal portions, and an alignment of rigid finger clips joined together at the inner ends thereof and assembled on said trim ring and disposed in space between the trim ring and the tire rim, each of said clips including opposite terminal ends held within said marginal portions to bow said clip toward engagement with the wheel rim, both of said trim ring marginal portions having an inturned flange crimpingly engaging therein the terminal ends of said finger clips to grip each finger clip between said marginal portions, each finger clip having an intermediate section including a plurality of successive stepped walls generally similar to like walls of the trim ring, a first stepped wall retainingly engageable with the rim flange outwardly of the rim shoulder, each clip intermediate section including a wall generally parallel to the adjacent wall of said rim, a toothed member on said last-mentioned clip wall engaging the peripherally disposed face of said wHeel rim, each said toothed member spaced from said wheel rim shoulder to prevent axial movement of said trim ring relative to said rim.