Patent · US Expired

Method for molding headliners

US6146578A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
29References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 26, 1998
Grant dateNov 14, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 26, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S264/78
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for forming a vehicle headliner comprises providing at least one layer of formable material and a cover member; heating the layer and the cover member; providing a mold having a pair of mold halves and a compressible seal disposed between the mold halves, at least one of the mold halves having an aperture and a channel in communication with the aperture; positioning the layer and the cover member between the mold halves; bringing the mold halves toward each other to effect a sealed relationship; and applying a vacuum pressure to the aperture to sufficiently draw the mold halves together and compress the seal, thereby compressing the at least one layer and the cover member together to form the headliner.

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