Method for producing a vehicle interior component
AssigneeLear Corporation
InventorsDavid Abdella, Joshua Hallock, Samuel Blair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for producing a vehicle interior component includes placing a polymeric cushion blank in a mold having a plurality of apertures and a mold cavity. The method may include the step of passing a first fluid having a first predetermined temperature through at least some of the apertures and through the cushion blank to heat the cushion blank to a compliant, non-liquid state. The method may also include passing a second fluid having a second predetermined temperature lower than the first predetermined temperature through the mold and through the cushion blank to cool cushion blank to a non-compliant state.
Claims20
A method for producing a vehicle interior component, comprising:
- placing at least a portion of a polymeric material in a tool comprising an open area of a predetermined shape;
- applying heat to the polymeric material through the open area to form a cut line comprising the predetermined shape to form a cushion blank;
- placing the cushion blank in a mold comprising a cavity with a cavity shape, wherein the mold comprises a top portion comprising a first plurality of apertures and a bottom portion comprising a second plurality of apertures;
- passing a first fluid comprising a first predetermined temperature through the first plurality of apertures in the top portion of the mold and through the cushion blank to heat the cushion blank to a compliant, non-liquid state such that the cushion blank assumes the cavity shape;
- and
- passing a second fluid comprising a second predetermined temperature lower than the first predetermined temperature through the second plurality of apertures in the bottom portion of the mold and through the cushion blank to cool cushion blank to a non-compliant state.
A method for producing a vehicle interior component, comprising:
- placing at least a portion of a polymeric material in a tool comprising an open area of a predetermined shape;
- applying heat to the polymeric material through the open area to form a cut line comprising the predetermined shape to form a cushion blank;
- placing the cushion blank in a mold comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion comprises a first plurality of apertures and the bottom portion comprises a second plurality of apertures;
- passing a first fluid having a first predetermined temperature through the first plurality of apertures in the top portion and through the cushion blank to heat the cushion blank to a compliant, non-liquid state;
- and
- passing a second fluid having a second predetermined temperature lower than the first predetermined temperature through the second plurality of apertures in the bottom portion of the mold and through the cushion blank to cool cushion blank to a non-compliant state.
A method for producing a vehicle interior component, comprising:
- placing at least a portion of a polymeric material in a tool comprising an opening of a linear shape;
- applying heat to the polymeric material through the opening to form a cut line comprising the linear shape to form a cushion blank;
- placing the cushion blank comprising the polymeric material in a solid state in a mold comprising a cavity, wherein the mold comprises a top portion with a first plurality of apertures and a bottom portion with a second plurality of apertures;
- introducing into the cushion blank a first fluid flow comprising a first predetermined temperature through the first plurality of apertures, such that the cushion blank is heated to a compliant, non-liquid state in the mold;
- and
- introducing into the cushion blank a second fluid flow comprising a second predetermined temperature lower than the first predetermined temperature through the first plurality of apertures, such that the cushion blank is cooled to a non-compliant state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.