# US 10,369,732 B2 · Profiled section, especially for a motor vehicle, and method for the production thereof

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- Number: US 10,369,732 B2
- Document ID: US10369732B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/672,822
- Filed: 2017-08-09
- Published: 2018-01-18
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-09-02
- Assignees: Cooper Standard GmbH
- Applicants: Cooper Standard GmbH
- Inventors: Dominik Schramm; Dirk Reupert; Ronald Fritzsche
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369732B2

## CPC

- B29D 99/0003: {Producing profiled members, e.g. beams}
- B29C 37/0025: {Applying surface layers, e.g. coatings, decorative layers, printed layers, to articles during shaping, e.g. in-mould printing (moulding on preformed layers as inserts B29C70/68; applying fluent material to surfaces in general B05)}
- B29C 45/16: Making multilayered or multicoloured articles {(B29C45/0062 takes precedence; feeding colouring materials into the injection unit B29C45/1816)}
- B29C 48/07: Flat, e.g. panels
- B29C 48/16: Articles comprising two or more components, e.g. co-extruded layers
- B60J 10/16: consisting of two or more plastic materials having different physical or chemical properties (B60J10/17 takes precedence)
- B60J 10/265: the surface being primarily decorative
- B60J 10/74: for sliding window panes, e.g. sash guides
- F16J 15/022: {characterised by structure or material}
- B29K 2105/12: of short lengths, e.g. chopped filaments, staple fibres or bristles
- B29L 2031/006: {and provided with a sealing element}
- B29L 2031/3005: {Body finishings}
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05)
- F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A profile section (10) for a motor vehicle comprises a decorating portion (40), which is composed of a fiber composite material. The fiber composite material comprises an elastomer matrix made of a first elastomer and flock fibers (50). The flock fibers (50) each have a fiber length which is comprised of a first length and a second length. In addition, the flock fibers have one matrix portion embedded in the elastomer matrix and one exposed portion protruding from the elastomer matrix. The matrix portion has the first length and the exposed portion has the second length.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for manufacturing a profile section having a mounting portion for mounting the profile section to a motor vehicle and a decorating portion comprising the steps of:
a) extruding a mixture of a first elastomer and flock fibers for forming the decorating portion with elevations and depressions in a visible surface of the decorating portion, wherein the extruded first elastomer forms an elastomeric matrix within which the flock fibers are embedded in a way that the flock fibers have a fiber length composed of a first length that is embedded within the elastomeric matrix and a second length that protrudes from the elastomeric matrix for creating textile-like optics and haptic, wherein the first length is longer than the second length;
b) forming the mounting portion; and
c) arranging the decorating portion on the mounting portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, including a step of mixing the first elastomer and the flock fibers before the step of extruding the mixture.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 in which the step of forming the mounting portion includes a step of coextruding the mounting portion together with the decorating portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 in which the step of extruding includes a step of forming the elevations and depressions as variations in a thickness of the elastomeric matrix.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of:
d) providing the decorating portion with a coating comprising at least one of a textured coating and a sliding coating.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 including a step of mixing the first elastomer and the flock fibers during the step of extruding the mixture.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 in which first length that is embedded within the elastomeric matrix is more that 90% of the fiber length of the flock fibers.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 in which the mounting portion is coextruded from a second elastomer that is different from the first elastomer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 in which the mounting portion is coextruded around a reinforcement.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 in which the step of coextruding includes coextruding the mounting portion together with a sealing portion having a surface facing away from the mounting portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 in which the step of forming the elevations and depressions as variations in a thickness of the elastomeric matrix includes forming the elevations with a first cusp and a height, respectively, and forming the depressions with a second cusp, respectively, wherein the first cusps of two neighboring elevations are separated by the second cusp of one of the depressions.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 in which the height is measured orthogonal to a connecting line between the second cusps of two neighboring depressions to the elevation one of the first cusps that is disposed between the second cusps of the two neighboring depressions, and the height is between 10 μm and 500 μm.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 in which a distance between the first cusps of the two neighboring elevations is between 500 μm and 1 mm.

### Claim 14 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 in which the step of providing the decorating portion with a coating includes forming the coating with a structured finish containing particles.