Composite panel and method
First Claim
1. A method for forming an instrument panel comprising the steps of:
- placing a first material and a second material into a tool, wherein a portion of said first material contacts said second material and a gap is created between the remaining portion of said first material and said second material; and
forming said instrument panel while retaining the connection between said first material and said second material by vacuum pressure, wherein at least one vacuum hole extends through said second material.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An instrument panel is provided having a skin, a substrate material, and a filler material. A portion of the skin contacts the substrate material and the remaining portion of the skin and substrate material create a gap in which the filler material is inserted. The substrate material defines at least one vacuum hole that extends to the substrate material towards the skin so that vacuum pressure can maintain the connection between the skin and the substrate material while the filler material is being placed into the gap. Also, a portion of the skin and the substrate material create a locking mechanism where the filler material applies a force to the skin and substrate material.
13 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for forming an instrument panel comprising the steps of:
-
placing a first material and a second material into a tool, wherein a portion of said first material contacts said second material and a gap is created between the remaining portion of said first material and said second material; and
forming said instrument panel while retaining the connection between said first material and said second material by vacuum pressure, wherein at least one vacuum hole extends through said second material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. An instrument panel comprising:
-
a skin;
a substrate material, wherein a portion of said skin contacts said substrate material and the remaining portion of said skin creates a gap between said skin and said substrate material;
a filler material that is placed in said gap; and
,at least one vacuum hole that extends through said substrate material, wherein said at least one vacuum hole extends through a portion of said substrate material that contacts said skin. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An instrument panel comprising:
-
a skin;
a substrate material, wherein a portion of said skin contacts said substrate material and the remaining portion of said skin creates a gap between said skin and said substrate material;
a filler material that is placed in said gap; and
,a locking mechanism, wherein said locking mechanism is an extension and a flange that extend from said skin placed in a detent area of said substrate material and said filler material forces said extension and said flange towards said detent area. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification