Method of manufacturing a trim panel having a styling line
US5401449A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 12, 1993 |
| Grant date | Mar 28, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 12, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R2013/0293
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An automotive door panel that has styling lines is made by laying a facing layer of soft trim material on a support surface of a mold part. The facing layer has a backing layer of open cell flexible foam that has gaps that expose strips on the back surface of the facing layer. A heat-sensitive adhesive barrier film is behind the flexible foam backing layer. The mold is closed by a mating mold part and a urethane precursor mixture is injected into the closed mold which is heated to generate a structural substrate. The generating substrate crushes the backing layer and activates the adhesive film to bond the structural substrate to the exposed back surface strips of the facing layer to provide the styling lines. These styling lines are enhanced when the foam backing layer recovers upon removal from the mold.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.