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US 2003/0194542 A1Published application
Panel with injection molded components and method of making same
AssigneeJohnson Controls Technology Company
InventorRob E. Springer
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AssigneeJohnson Controls Technology Company
InventorRob E. Springer
Estimating the term…
A product and a method of making it are disclosed. In the illustrated embodiment, the product is a door trim panel for a vehicle which includes an inner surface for facing a vehicle interior and an outer or “B” surface facing the inside of a vehicle door. Various components typically found on the “B” surface of the door trim panel are added to the panel in the present invention by a molding process. The components are preferably formed from a thermoplastic, and the door trim panel itself comprises a fiber or thermoplastic panel capable of forming a mechanical or a fusion bond with the components. Examples of the components which may be added to a panel using the present invention include locators, ribs or other reinforcement members, attachments for wire harnesses, supports, doghouses, flanges, etc. It is also desirable to use recycled material in the panel.
A panel system comprising:
A method for preparing a panel having a first surface and at least one component located thereon comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
Backward citations are indexed for grants only.
Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes: internal Trim mouldings ; Internal…
Incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles: coating a portion of the article, e.g.…
Shaping by thermoforming , i.e. shaping sheets or sheet like preforms after
Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor: of articles…
Term end not estimated
Cross-reference to related patent applications, if any: None.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of molded products and more particularly to the injection molding of certain components to and at least one surface of a panel. In its most preferred form, the present invention relates to panels used in vehicles (e.g. door or other interior trim panels) and the attachment of various components to the panels by including thermoplastic resins in the components and providing thermoplastic material or a porous surface on the panel. In the most preferred method, the components are added to the panel after the panel has been thermoformed.
In the following FIGURES, like reference numerals are used to indicate like components, and
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the inner surface of a vehicle door trim panel showing certain components molded thereon;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a different vehicle door trim panel showing a variety of components molded to the inner surface thereof;
Before proceeding with the detailed description of the preferred embodiment, several general comments can be made about the applicability and the scope of the present invention.
First, two illustrative door trim panel systems are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 to indicate the wide variety of components and locations with which the present invention may prove useful. The particular trim panels and the particular location and type of components can vary widely. For example, there may be more or fewer components than actually illustrated, and all need not be attached using the present invention. For example, the trim panel may include one or more molded components using the present invention and other components added by more conventional processes, such as the use of adhesives.
FIG. 3 is shown for purposes of illustrating the runners which will be present on the inner or “B” surface of a panel after removal of the part from the molding press. Again, the particular components shown in this FIGURE are solely for purposes of illustration.