Patent · US Expired

Method of forming a panel

US3948708A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
9References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 26, 1973
Grant dateApr 6, 1976
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 26, 1993

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T156/1031
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of forming a flexible sheetlike structure such as an automotive head-liner by treating a sheet of fiberboard or other woodlike fibrous material with water at an elevated temperature to make the sheet sufficiently ductile to permit forming without tearing or blowing, and placing the water-treated sheet between heated dies to form the sheet to a compound curvature by the application of heat and pressure. The sheet may or may not be perforated. The method also includes finishing one side of the die-formed sheet by securing a decorative or sound-absorbing layer thereto. The sheet is placed on a support and the layer is applied over the adhesive coated upper surface of the sheet. A cover is draped over the support to provide an air seal over the layer and sheet and is drawn against the support by differential pressure, either pressure or vacuum to press the layer against the sheet and adhere the two together.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.