Vehicular trim component and cover with simulated stitch and/or seam thereon
AssigneeLeon Plastics, Inc.
InventorsDavid A. Scheidmantel, Michael D. Bicard, Nicholas J. Runnals
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for making a cover for a component of a vehicle passenger compartment comprising the steps of molding the cover for the component from a polymeric material, and forming an integrally-formed aesthetic feature in an uninterrupted portion of the cover which simulates a seam between regions of the cover.
Claims15
A method for making a nonlaminated simulated leather cover for overlying an unfinished surface of a vehicle passenger compartment, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a mold for forming an exposed obverse side of said nonlaminated simulated leather cover including a raised aesthetic feature in said nonlaminated simulated leather cover;
- introducing a fluid polymer material into said mold to form said nonlaminated simulated leather cover;
- molding said raised aesthetic feature along said obverse side of said nonlaminated simulated leather cover from said fluid polymer material contemporaneously with said introduction of said fluid polymer material into said mold and said production of said nonlaminated simulated leather cover, said raised aesthetic feature simulating a sewn seam joining two separate pieces of an authentic leather cover;
- removing said nonlaminated simulated leather cover from said mold;
- and
- adding a thread-stitched seam to said nonlaminated simulated leather cover generally parallel to and adjacent said raised aesthetic feature.
A method for making a nonlaminated simulated leather cover for overlying an unfinished surface of a vehicle passenger compartment, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a mold including a first mold portion with a first face for molding an exposed obverse side of a nonlaminated intact piece, said first face including a surface relief for molding a simulated sewn seam in said nonlaminated intact piece, and a second mold portion with a second face for molding a hidden reverse side of said nonlaminated intact piece;
- introducing a pre-heated flowable polymeric material into said mold;
- contemporaneously with said introduction of said pre-heated flowable polymeric material into said mold, molding said nonlaminated intact piece, including molding said simulated sewn seam along a preselected line in said nonlaminated intact piece;
- removing said nonlaminated intact piece from said mold;
- and
- stitching at least one side seam in said nonlaminated intact piece generally parallel to and adjacent said simulated sewn seam to simulate a French seam joining two separate pieces of authentic leather.
A method for covering an unfinished surface of a trim component shell in a vehicle passenger compartment with a single-layer simulated leather cover, said single-layer simulated leather cover simulating an authentic leather cover for covering said unfinished surface, and formed from two separate pieces of authentic leather joined with a stitched seam, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a mold including a first mold portion with a first face for molding an exposed obverse side of said single-layer simulated leather cover, said first face including a surface relief for molding a simulated sewn seam in said single-layer simulated leather cover, and a second mold portion with a second face for molding a hidden reverse side of said single-layer simulated leather cover;
- molding said single-layer simulated leather cover from a fluid polymer material, said single-layer simulated leather cover having a configuration complementary to a configuration of said unfinished surface of said trim component shell;
- contemporaneously with molding said single-layer simulated leather cover molding from said single fluid polymer material said simulated sewn seam extending along said exposed obverse side of said single-layer simulated leather cover;
- adding a thread-stitched seam to said single-layer simulated leather cover generally parallel to and adjacent said simulated sewn seam;
- and
- installing said single-layer simulated leather cover over said unfinished surface of said trim component shell with said hidden reverse side facing said unfinished surface of said trim component shell so that a location of said simulated sewn seam relative to said unfinished surface of said trim component shell corresponds with a location of said stitched seam joining said two separate pieces of authentic leather relative to said unfinished surface of said trim component shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.