AUTOMOTIVE INTERIOR TRIM ASSEMBLY WITH SOFT FEEL

• US 20050186388A1
• Filed: 02/24/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Mekas, David E., Visger, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US10/708,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20050186388A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/116
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/003 Interior finishings
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/12 characterised by a layer of regularly- arranged cells, e.g. a honeycomb structure
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/30 characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0243 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24149 Honeycomb-like

Abstract

An automotive interior trim assembly provides areas having a soft feel without requiring padding to be added to the trim assembly. The trim assembly comprises a substrate member having apertures formed in a target area for providing the soft feel, and a flexible skin disposed over the substrate member. The flexible skin contacts the substrate member, at least in the target area, so that the skin may be deformed under the application of a force. In one embodiment, the trim assembly is formed in a two-shot molding process, wherein a first material is injected to form the substrate during the first shot, and a second material is injected to form the flexible skin during the second shot.

Claims

1. An automotive interior trim assembly for an automobile, comprising:

a substrate member forming at least part of a structural support of the trim assembly and including a least one target area for providing a soft feel to the trim assembly;

a plurality of apertures formed in said substrate member within said target area; and

a flexible skin disposed directly over and contacting said substrate member, at least proximate said target area.

2. The trim assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of apertures are formed in a generally honeycomb pattern.

3. The trim assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of apertures are formed through said substrate member.

4. The trim assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of apertures are blind holes formed into said substrate member.

5. The trim assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of apertures comprise slots formed through said substrate member.

6. The trim assembly of claim 1, wherein said substrate member is formed from an injection moldable polymer.

7. The trim assembly of claim 1, wherein said skin comprises vinyl.

8. The trim assembly of claim 1, wherein at least some of said apertures are at least partially filled with a material which forms said flexible skin.

9. A method of forming an automotive interior trim assembly in a two-shot molding operation, comprising:

injecting a first material to form a substrate member having apertures in a target area for providing a soft-feel to the trim assembly; and

injecting a second material to form a pliable skin layer over the substrate member, the skin layer contacting the substrate member at least in the target area.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the injecting step further comprises forming apertures through the substrate.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the injecting step further comprises forming the apertures as blind holes.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

filling at least some of the apertures at least partially with the second material.