AUTOMOTIVE ARMREST WITH SOFT FEEL AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME
First Claim
1. An automotive interior trim assembly with armrest, comprising:
- a substrate including an armrest made from a first material; and
an armrest cover made from a second foamed material and having an outer skin and a soft inner core, the cover being integrally molded to at least a portion of the armrest and providing the armrest with a soft feel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides for an improved armrest with a soft feel for use in a trim assembly, and to a continuous two-shot molding operation that may be continuously performed utilizing a single mold assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, a trim assembly includes an integrated armrest formed by injecting a first material into a first shot mold cavity in a first shot of a molding operation. An armrest cover is molded to at least a portion of the armrest by injecting into a mold chamber a second foamed material in a second shot of the molding operation to provide the armrest with a soft feel. The second foamed material includes a foamed material that produces a soft, outer skin and a light, cellular inner core such that when a force is applied to the cover, the skin will deform and compress the inner core, providing a soft-touch feel to the armrest.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An automotive interior trim assembly with armrest, comprising:
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a substrate including an armrest made from a first material; and
an armrest cover made from a second foamed material and having an outer skin and a soft inner core, the cover being integrally molded to at least a portion of the armrest and providing the armrest with a soft feel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of forming an automotive armrest with soft feel in a continuous two-shot molding operation, comprising:
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providing a mold assembly having first and second shot mold cavities;
molding an armrest by injecting a first material into the first shot mold cavity of the mold assembly in a first shot of the molding operation;
moving the armrest from the first shot mold cavity to the second shot mold cavity by using at least a portion of the mold assembly;
forming a mold chamber about at least a portion of the armrest within the second shot mold cavity of the mold assembly; and
molding an armrest cover by injecting into the mold chamber a second foamed material in a second shot of the molding operation, the cover being molded to the at least a portion of the armrest to provide the armrest with a soft feel. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of forming an automotive armrest with soft feel in a continuous two-shot molding operation, comprising:
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molding an armrest by injecting a first material in a first shot of the molding operation;
forming a mold chamber about at least a portion of the armrest; and
molding an armrest cover by injecting into the mold chamber a second foamed material in a second shot of the molding operation, the cover being molded to the at least a portion of the armrest to provide the armrest with a soft feel.
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- 14. The method of claim 14, wherein the first material includes a thermoplastic polymer and the second foamed material includes a foamed thermoplastic polymer.
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15. The method of claim 15, wherein the foamed thermoplastic polymer includes one of a foamed thermoplastic elastomer and foamed polypropylene.
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17. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of molding the substrate having the integrated armrest comprises molding a door trim panel having the integrated arm rest.
Specification