Method of making an automotive vehicle convertible roof
AssigneeASC Incorporated
InventorJeffrey S. Patelczyk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composite roof bow includes a flexible plastic segment and a rigid reinforcing segment. In another aspect of the present invention, the flexible plastic segment is insert molded to the reinforcing segment. In another aspect of the present invention, the flexible segment is predominately unfilled plastic and the reinforcing segment is filled plastic, which are attached together to create a generally rigid roof bow.
Claims35
A method of making a composite roof bow in a tool and assembling the roof bow to a vehicle roof, the bow having end segments and a middle segment spanning between the end segments, the bow including a first plastic and an elongated member, the method comprising:
- (a) placing the member in the tool;
- (b) locating the member inside the tool adjacent where the middle segment of the first plastic will be formed;
- (c) inserting the first plastic into the tool in a molten state, around at least a portion of the member;
- (d) solidifying the first plastic for joining the member to the first plastic;
- (e) removing the joined first plastic and the member from the tool;
- and
- (f) attaching the vehicle roof to the composite roof bow.
A method of making a composite roof bow in a tool and assembling the roof bow to a vehicle roof, the bow having end segments and a middle segment spanning between the end segments, the bow including a first plastic and an elongated first metal member, the method comprising:
- (a) placing the first metal member in the tool;
- (b) locating the first metal member inside the tool adjacent where the middle segment of the first plastic will be formed;
- (c) inserting a second member made of metal in the tool prior to inserting the first plastic into the tool;
- (d) inserting the first plastic into the tool around at least a portion of the first metal member;
- (e) solidifying the first plastic for joining the first member to the first plastic and attaching the metal members to the first plastic in the tool after spacing the metal members from each other in a substantially parallel orientation in at least the middle segment of the roof bow;
- (f) removing the joined first plastic and the members from the tool;
- and
- (g) attaching the vehicle roof to the composite roof bow.
A method of making an automotive vehicle convertible roof bow in a tool, the method comprising:
- (a) placing a first elongated metal member in the tool;
- (b) injecting liquid plastic into the tool;
- (c) joining the first metal member to the plastic in a substantially permanent manner;
- and
- (d) inserting a second metal member in the tool and joining the second metal member to the plastic in a substantially permanent manner;
- wherein at least a majority of the metal first member extends in a substantially cross-car and horizontal direction when installed in the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.