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US 2006/0068130 A1Published application
Trim panel assembly having a narrow transition radius and apparatus and method of manufacture
AssigneeLear Corporation
InventorsDavid Dooley, Michael Schoemann, John Youngs, Mark Heinze, Kenneth Shaner, Matthew Brummer, Raymond Cummins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In at least certain embodiments, the present invention relates to a trim panel and an apparatus and method of making the same. In at least one embodiment, the trim panel comprises a first portion and a second portion with a transition portion extending therebetween with the first portion and the second portion having curved portions having radii of less than 5 mm.
Claims20
An apparatus for molding a part, said apparatus comprising:
- a first mold half having a first molding surface, the first molding surface having a projecting member projecting away from the first mold half;
- a second mold half having a second molding surface, the mold halves being capable of relative movement between a first position and a second position;
- the first and second molding surfaces helping to define a mold cavity when the mold halves are in the second position;
- and
- a support member that is capable of supporting the projecting member of the first mold half when the mold halves are in the second position, the support member being able to allow fluid to pass through the support member.
2 more elements
A method of making a panel, said method comprising:
- providing a mold comprising a first mold half and a second mold half, the first mold half having a first molding surface;
- the first molding surface having a projecting member projecting away from the first molding surface;
- the second mold half having a second molding surface, the mold halves being capable of relative movement between a first position and a second position;
- the first and second molding surfaces helping to define a mold cavity when the mold halves are in the second position;
- providing a support member, the support member being able to support the projecting member when the mold halves are in the second position;
- moving the mold halves from the first position to the second position;
- introducing substrate resin into the mold cavity;
- allowing the resin to cure to form the panel;
- moving the mold halves to the first position;
- and
- removing the panel.
8 more elements
A trim panel comprising:
- a first portion, a second portion, and a transition portion extending between the first and second portions;
- the first portion including a cover material over at least a portion of the first portion, with the second portion being at least partially uncovered, the first portion having a first upper surface and the second portion having a second upper surface spaced apart from the first upper surface, the first portion having a first curved portion having a first radius and the second portion having a second curved portion having a second radius, the first and second curved portions each having a radius of less than 5 millimeters, the first and second curved portions having a void therebetween with the cover material contacting the uncovered second portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.