Blow molded structural interior automotive parts
AssigneeCambridge Industries, Inc.
InventorAlbert J. Gonas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy absorbing interior automotive trim part (36) has a shell (42) made from polypropylene sections (62), (68), and (69) divided via partitions (58) and (72) extending from the outer wall (44) of shell (42) and touching the passenger compartment facing wall (46). The shell (42) is blow molded with carpet (74), vinyls and other fabric materials (76) integrally molded to adhere directly to wall (46). After molding, interior section or partial section (62) is filled with a structurally engineered energy absorbing foam (64) to provide an energy absorbing structure which will compress a pre-determined distance while absorbing the compressive force applied.
Claims16
A safety molding for an interior trim piece of an automotive vehicle, said safety molding characterized by:
- a blow molded shell of resilient plastic material shaped to have an exterior facing section thereof abuttable against a passenger compartment facing surface of a exterior body of said automotive vehicle;
- said blow molded shell having a first interior section that is filled with a structurally engineered foam that is normally rigid to be resistant and with-stand compressive forces under a predetermined amount to provide structural strength to said molding but is compressible under a compressive force over said predetermined amount.
A method of making a safety molding for a structural interior trim piece of an automotive vehicle, said method characterized by:
- blow molding a resin parison within a cavity of a mold into a shell of resilient plastic material having the form of said structural interior trim piece and having a hollow first interior section therein;
- removing said shell from said mold;
- filling said hollow first hollow interior section within said shell with a structural plastic foam and curing said foam such that it is resistant to compressive forces under a predetermined amount in order to provide structural strength to said structural trim piece and provide compressibility of said shell and foam when a compressive force above said predetermined amount is exerted on said structural trim piece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.