Back to results
US 2003/0170460 A1Published application
Extruded automotive trim and method of making same
AssigneeGuardian Industries Corp.
InventorsJohn Sienkiewicz, Joseph J. Randazzo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automotive trim product is made as follows. A single or multiple layer sheet is extruded so as to include at least one color pigmented and/or metallized layer therein. Optionally, a clear coat may be laminated to the sheet, or may even be coextruded therewith. In certain embodiments, a roughened surface texture may be embossed into a major surface(s) of the sheet prior to lamination. In other embodiments, a design (e.g., logo) may be silk-screened onto the clear coat layer prior to lamination. The sheet, after optional lamination, is then thermoformed into a three-dimensionally shaped preform or article via vacuum forming or the like.
Claims26
A method of making a colored automotive trim product, the method comprising:
- extruding an approximately planar sheet including at least a colored layer, the colored layer including color pigment material and metallizing material;
- causing the approximately planar sheet, having first and second major surfaces, to pass by at least one embossing roller which embosses a roughened surface texture into or onto the first major surface of the approximately planar sheet;
- laminating the approximately planar sheet to at least a clear coat layer so that after laminating the first major surface of the approximately planar sheet having the roughened surface texture is closer to the clear coat layer than is the second major surface of the approximately planar sheet in a resulting laminate;
- and
- after laminating, positioning the laminate in a vacuum-forming apparatus and vacuum-forming the laminate into a three-dimensionally shaped article.
2 more elements
A method of making a colored automotive trim product, the method comprising:
- extruding an approximately planar sheet including at least a colored layer, the colored layer including color pigment material and optionally metallizing material;
- laminating the approximately planar sheet to a clear coat layer to form a laminate;
- causing the laminate, having first and second major surfaces, to pass by at least one embossing roller which embosses a roughened surface texture into or onto the first major surface of the laminate;
- positioning the laminate in a vacuum-forming apparatus and vacuum-forming the laminate into a three-dimensionally shaped article.
1 more element
A method of making a colored automotive trim product comprising:
- extruding a sheet including at least a colored layer including color pigment material;
- laminating the sheet including at least the color layer to a clear coat layer with at least a tie layer therebetween to form a laminate;
- forming a roughened surface texture pattern in or on a first major surface of the laminate sheet via at least one of:
- (a) a vacuum forming device, (b) an injection molding apparatus, or (c) at least one embossing roller.
1 more element
A laminated vehicle trim part comprising:
- a polymer inclusive colored layer including color pigment material and metallizing particles therein;
- a clear coat layer at least about 90% transparent to visible light;
- and
- wherein the polymer inclusive colored layer and the clear coat layer are laminated to one another so that a first major surface of at least one of the colored layer and the clear coat layer has a roughened surface texture embossed therein or thereonto at a lamination interface between the clear coat layer and the colored layer.
1 more element
A method of making a colored automotive trim product, the method comprising:
- extruding a sheet including at least a colored layer comprising having color pigment material therein;
- providing a clear coat inclusive sheet;
- forming a design in or on a first surface of the clear coat inclusive sheet;
- after said forming a design, laminating the clear coat inclusive sheet to the sheet including at least the colored layer so that the first surface of the clear coat inclusive sheet having the design is closer to the colored layer than is a second opposing major surface of the clear coat inclusive sheet in a resulting laminate;
- and
- positioning the laminate in a thermoforming apparatus and thermoforming the laminate into a three-dimensionally shaped article.
3 more elements
A laminated vehicle trim part comprising:
- a polymer inclusive colored layer including color pigment material and metallizing particles therein;
- a clear coat layer at least about 90% transparent to visible light;
- and
- wherein the polymer inclusive colored layer and the clear coat layer are laminated to one another so that a silk-screened design is located between the clear coat layer and the colored layer so as to be visible to a viewer exterior a vehicle on which the trim part is to be located.
1 more element
A method of making a colored automotive trim product, the method comprising:
- extruding a multi-layer hollow tubular member including at least (a) a colored layer including color pigment material and/or metallizing material therein, and (b) a clear coat layer transparent to at least 90% of visible light;
- locating at least a portion of the multi-layer hollow tubular member in a cavity of a blow molding apparatus;
- and
- injecting air or gas under pressure into a space within a hollow interior of the multi-layer hollow tubular member thereby forcing at least one side of the multi-layer hollow tubular member to expand outwardly against a surface of the cavity so as to form a multi-layer three dimensionally shaped article;
- and
- removing the three dimensionally shaped article from the cavity of the blow molding apparatus.
3 more elements
A method of making a colored automotive trim product, the method comprising:
- extruding a sheet including at least a colored layer including color pigment material and/or metallizing material, laminating to the sheet a clear coat layer that is transparent to at least 90% of visible light, thereby forming a laminate including both the clear coat layer and the colored layer;
- thermoforming the laminate into a three dimensionally shaped preform;
- positioning the three dimensionally shaped preform in a cavity of a blow molding apparatus;
- locating a base layer in the cavity of the blow molding apparatus;
- injecting air or gas under pressure into a space within the base layer thereby forcing at least one side of the base layer to expand outwardly in a first direction directly against a surface of the cavity and forcing at least another side of the base layer to expand outwardly in a second direction directly against the preform so as to form a three dimensionally shaped article;
- and
- removing the three dimensionally shaped article from the cavity of the blow molding apparatus.
4 more elements
A method of making an automotive trim product, the method comprising:
- laminating a urethane inclusive layer to a TPO inclusive layer to form a laminate, optionally with at least one tie layer therebetween;
- thermoforming the laminate into a three dimensionally shaped article;
- and
- after said thermoforming, applying paint to the urethane inclusive layer thereby providing a colored automotive trim product.
1 more element
A laminated vehicle trim part comprising:
- a polymer inclusive colored layer including color pigment material and optionally metallizing particles therein;
- a clear coat layer at least about 90% transparent to visible light;
- wherein the polymer inclusive colored layer and the clear coat layer are laminated to one another with at least one tie layer therebetween;
- and
- wherein the tie layer comprises at least one of color pigment material and metallizing particles.
2 more elements
A laminated vehicle trim part comprising:
- a polymer inclusive colored layer including color pigment material and optionally metallizing particles therein;
- a clear coat layer at least about 90% transparent to visible light;
- wherein the polymer inclusive colored layer and the clear coat layer are laminated to one another;
- and
- wherein an amorphous cap layer is provided over the colored layer.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.