Process for manufacturing an automotive trim piece having a polymeric skin mounted to a substrate
US5435865A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 16, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jul 25, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 16, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T156/1062
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A process for manufacture of an automotive trim piece having a polymeric skin fastened to substrate. The polymer, for example, polyvinyl chloride has the property that upon cooling to a relatively rigid state the polymer shrinks. The process includes a step of molding the polymeric skin separately from the substrate such that the skin has a rear face for abutment with an obverse face of the substrate and a pair of lips extending from ends of the rear face. The lips are configured for engaging corresponding edges of the substrate. The skin is cooled to a relatively elastic state, and the skin and substrate are assembled while the skin is in the relatively elastic state. On further cooling, shrinkage forces of the skin and the skin lips in abutment with the corresponding edges of the substrate produce a snug fit from edge to edge of the skin to the substrate and the skin becomes relatively rigid.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.