Apparatus for making vehicle panel assembly

A mold assembly for forming a polymeric structure on one surface of a sheet-like panel having opposite surfaces, comprising:

• a pair of cooperating mold sections movable between open and closed positions, said mold sections adapted to receive, engage and hold the sheet-like panel therebetween when said mold sections are in said closed position, each mold section having a facing surface which faces the other mold section;
• a mold cavity defined in a first portion of said facing surface of a first of said mold sections, said first portion of said facing surface of said first mold section having a support area adjacent said mold cavity, said support area adapted to support and seal against the one surface of the sheet-like panel such that said mold cavity opens to the one surface of the panel when the panel is held between said mold sections in said closed position;
• and
• a heat insulative pad on the second of said mold sections, said pad being urged against the surface of the sheet-like panel which is opposite the one surface at a position opposite said mold cavity to hold the one surface of the panel against said support area and overlying said mold cavity when said mold sections are in said closed position whereby when a polymeric molding material is introduced in said mold cavity, a structure defined by said mold cavity will be formed on the one surface of the panel;
• said first portion of said facing surface of said first mold section which includes said mold cavity being offset above a second portion of said facing surface, said area of said first portion of said facing surface of said first mold section including a finished surface adjacent and extending along said cavity which seals against the one surface of the sheet-like panel;
• said heat insulative pad having an area engaging the opposite surface of said sheet-like panel, said area being generally corresponding in size to the size of said offset portion of said facing surface of said first mold section.

A mold assembly for forming a polymeric structure on one surface of a sheet-like panel, comprising:

• a pair of cooperating mold sections movable between open and closed positions, said mold sections adapted to receive, engage and hold the sheet-like panel therebetween when said mold sections are in said closed position, each mold section having a facing surface which faces the other mold section;
• a mold cavity defined in a first portion of said facing surface of a first of said mold sections, said first portion of said one facing surface of said first mold section having a support area adjacent said mold cavity, said support area adapted to support and seal against the one surface of the sheet-like panel such that said mold cavity opens to the one surface of the panel when the panel is held between said mold sections in said closed position;
• a pressure pad on the second of said mold sections, and a resilient member located between said pressure pad and said second mold section, said pressure pad being urged by said resilient member against the surface of the sheet-like panel which is opposite the one surface at a position directly opposite said mold cavity to hold the one surface of the panel against said support area and overlying said mold cavity when said mold sections are in said closed position;
• said first portion of said facing surface of said first mold section being offset above a second portion of said facing surface, said pressure pad having an area engaging the opposite surface of said panel, said area generally corresponding in size to the size of said first portion;
• whereby when a polymeric molding material is introduced in said mold cavity, a structure defined by said mold cavity will be formed on the one surface of the panel.