Method and apparatus for nonwoven trim panels
AssigneeInteva Products, LLC
InventorsKenneth Gassman, Edward J. Wenzel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of forming a trim panel is provided. The method including the steps of: placing a non-woven mat of material in a heating press; heating the material to a predetermined temperature; applying a decorative film to a first surface of the heated material to create a bilaminate; placing the bilaminate layer into a cavity of a tool such that the decorative film is facing the cavity; heating the cavity; and injecting a thermoplastic resin into the tool such that the thermoplastic resin is adhered to a second surface of the material, the second surface being opposite to the first surface.
Claims20
A method of forming a trim panel (38), comprising:
- placing a non-woven mat of material (12) in a heating press (16);
- heating the material (12) to a predetermined temperature;
- applying a decorative film (18) to a first surface of the heated material (12) to create a bilaminate (26);
- placing the bilaminate (26) into a cavity (32) of a forming mold (28) such that the decorative film (18) is facing the cavity (32);
- heating half of the cavity (32);
- closing the forming mold (28);
- and
- injecting a thermoplastic resin (33) into the forming mold (28) having a heated cavity such that the thermoplastic resin is adhered to a second surface of the material (12) which is part of the bilaminate, the second surface being opposite to the first surface.
A method of forming a trim panel (38), comprising:
- placing a non-woven mat of material (12) in a heating press (16);
- heating the non-woven mat (12) to a predetermined temperature;
- heating half of a cavity (32) of a forming mold;
- inserting a decorative film (18) in the cavity (32) of the forming mold (28);
- removing the heated non-woven mat from the heating press and inserting between a half of the forming mold and the decorative film such that a first surface of the non-woven mat contacts the decorative film, wherein inserting the decorative film occurs after heating the cavity;
- closing the forming mold (28);
- and
- injecting a thermoplastic resin into the forming mold such that the thermoplastic resin is adhered to a portion of a second surface of the material, the second surface being opposite to the first surface.
A method of forming a trim panel (38), comprising:
- placing a non-woven mat of material (12) in a heating press (16);
- heating the material (12) to predetermined temperature;
- applying a thermoplastic topcoat (44) into a cavity (32) of a tool (28);
- heating half of the cavity (32);
- placing the material (12) into the heated cavity (32) such that a first surface of the material is adhered to the thermoplastic topcoat (44);
- closing the tool (28);
- and
- injecting a thermoplastic resin (33) into the tool (28) such that the thermoplastic resin is adhered to a second surface of the material (12), the second surface being opposite to the first surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.