# US 5,700,542 A · Metal part with covering and method of its manufacture

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- Number: US 5,700,542 A
- Document ID: US5700542A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/461,894
- Filed: 1995-06-05
- Granted: 1997-12-23
- Earliest claimed: 1994-06-08
- Inventors: Gerhard Pirchl
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700542A

## CPC

- B32B 15/14: next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
- B29C 63/04: by folding, winding, bending or the like
- B32B 3/02: characterised by features of form at particular places, e.g. in edge regions {(non-uniform thickness B32B3/263)}
- B32B 3/266: {characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12}
- B32B 3/28: characterised by a layer comprising a deformed thin sheet {, i.e. the layer having its entire thickness deformed out of the plane}, e.g. corrugated, crumpled (B32B29/08 takes precedence)
- B29L 2031/3014: {Door linings}
- B32B 2605/08: Cars
- Y10T 29/49908: Joining by deforming
- Y10T 428/23: Sheet including cover or casing
- Y10T 428/24198: Channel-shaped edge component [e.g., binding, etc.]
- Y10T 428/24777: Edge feature
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a metal part with covering, in particular an inside part of a motor vehicle door, and to a method for producing such a covering. To enable producing a visually attractive covering of a metal part in a substantially simpler and more economical way, it is proposed according to the invention that the covering fabric be glued directly onto the as yet undeformed metal panel and in that state deformed together by deep drawing; in the region of overlap of layered pieces of upholstery, a bead is formed in the metal panel, into which the peripheral regions are pulled. This bead is then pinched together, causing the peripheral regions of the pieces of upholstery to be fixed in clamped fashion. The result is a visually attractive transition from one piece of upholstery to another, since no raveled edges are visible but are instead held in the beads. The covering is effected in the peripheral region of the metal part by means of crimping.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A planar object with a covering, comprising:
a metal panel; a channel formed into a first side of the metal panel, the channel having sidewalls with a neck portion adjacent to the second side; and a first and a second piece of material attached to the first side of the metal panel, the first and second pieces of material having adjacent peripheral edges located within said channel; said sidewalls at the neck portion of said channel being crimped together on a second side of the metal panel so that the adjacent peripheral edges of the pieces of material are clamped to each other between the sidewalls to secure the first and second pieces of material to each other.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The planar object of claim 1, wherein the metal panel comprises a first and a second metal panel connected together in a sandwich configuration.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The planar object of claim 1, wherein said metal panel comprises a vehicle door and wherein said pieces of material comprise upholstery.

### Claim 4

A method of manufacturing a planar object with a covering, comprising:
attaching two pieces of material to a first side of a metal panel, the pieces of material having peripheral adjacent edges that overlap;
deforming the metal panel at the overlap of the two pieces of material to form a channel into the first side of the metal panel, the channel having sidewalls with a neck portion and the adjacent peripheral edges of the material pieces extending into the channel; and
crimping the sidewalls at the neck portion of said channel on a second side of the metal panel so that the adjacent peripheral edges of the pieces of material are clamped to each other between the sidewalls and the first and second pieces of material are secured to each other.

### Claim 5

A planar object with a covering, comprising:
a metal panel having a peripheral edge; and a piece of material attached to an outer side of the metal panel, the piece of material having a peripheral edge located near the peripheral edge of the metal panel; a region of the metal panel near the peripheral edges being bent over adjacent to an inner side of the metal panel so that the material forms an outer covering of the metal panel which is continuous about the bent-over region to said inner side.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The planar object of claim 5, wherein said metal panel comprises an inner panel and an outer panel sandwiched together.