Patent · US Expired

Reflective aluminum trim

US5955147A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
44References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 26, 1996
Grant dateSep 21, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 26, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/31544
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Reflective aluminum trim for use in automobiles, trucks, boats and a variety of household and industrial appliances is produced by forming aluminum strip into a desired shape, followed by selective application of a fluoropolymer protective coating to only a partial portion of the show surface of the shaped strip and the application of a thermoplastic to the portions of the show surface not covered by the protective coating. The resulting trim piece has a highly reflective aluminum show surface which has a high distinctness of reflected image. The thermoplastic is preferably co-extruded onto the shaped aluminum strip using an adhesive to bond the thermoplastic directly to an un-coated portion of the aluminum surface. Prior to application of the thermoplastic, a single heating step may be used to cure both the protective coating and the adhesive.

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