Method of manufacturing laminated bed and bed liner

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a laminated pickup truck bed and bed liner includes the steps of forming by extrusion or another process a substrate layer of a desired thickness and strength of a thermoplastic material such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) which may include fibers or a fibrous mat which improves its strength and ruggedness. Also formed by extrusion or another process is an upper layer having specific characteristics such as electrical charge dissipation or improved skid or slip resistance. The upper layer may be fabricated of a thermoplastic material such as HDPE and includes dispersed conductive material such as carbon particles, carbon, fibers or conductive polymers which dissipate or carry static electrical charges to a vehicle ground. Skid or slip resistance may be achieved by controlling the upper layer surface texture or the use of various materials and mixtures. The two layers are laminated together either with or without the use of an adhesive and then formed into a bed or bed liner by a thermoforming process. Independent manufacture of the extruded layers, the cast film and the blown film provides greatly improved control of the thickness of the individual layers and therefore achieves more predictable product characteristics such as strength and electrical conductivity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.