Patent · US Expired

B-pillar covers for automotive vehicle

US5968614A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
10References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 4, 1997
Grant dateOct 19, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 4, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/149
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Thin walled B-pillar covers for an automotive vehicle comprise a thin sheet of thermoplastic material of generally uniform thickness vacuum molded about a continuous body molding surface of a molding horn to provide a main body portion having a U-shaped marginal edge along one elongated peripheral extent thereof of a shape to snugly receive therein the sheet metal marginal edge of a vehicle part and an inturned flange along an opposed elongated peripheral extent thereof of a shape to be presented to the inturned surface of the vehicle part. By vacuum molding the thin theremoplastic material about a body molding surface of a molding horn, a cover having a substantially dimple-free, smooth class A exterir surface.

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