Blow molded decorative or protective strip with temperature compensation

US4563374A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Gebr. Happich GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Willi Treber · Wuppertal, DE
• Rolf Schlenz · Velbert, DE
• Gunter Fritsch · Ennepetal, DE
• Joseph Hansmann · Geretsried, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 23, 1984
• Grant date: Jan 7, 1986
• Expiry date: May 23, 2004

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/24744
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention concerns an elongate decorative and/or protective covering strip particularly for the exterior of an automotive vehicle. The strip is a single piece blow molded strip with a bottom that is applied to a surface and a top that is exposed. To provide length compensation due to temperature variations as between the top and the bottom of the strip and to absorb expansion differences as between the strip and the vehicle body, the bottom of the strip has a plurality of transversely extending groove shaped depressions defined in it along its length. At least some depressions in the bottom of the strip are of a height to extend nearly to the top of the strip and to thereby support the top of the strip against deformation. The depressions may have various heights toward the top of the strip. Transversely extending depressions may alternate with round depressions along the length of the strip. There may additionally be a longitudinally extending groove shaped depression defined in the bottom of the strip and/or in the top of the strip, and the crest of the longitudinally extending groove shaped depression may provide the deformation support noted.