Plastic structural member

• US 4,874,645 A
• Filed: 04/28/1987
• Issued: 10/17/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Inoue, Kiyoshi, Michiura, Yoshiharu, Fujiki, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/043,403
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 428/31, 428/12, 428/192, 428/44, 428/57, 428/60
• US Class Current: 428/31
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/00 Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/19 Sheets or webs edge spliced or joined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/195 Beveled, stepped, or skived in thickness

Abstract

A finisher installed at the rear end of an automotive vehicle body. The finisher is comprised of two plate-like plastic parts which are joined at a parting plane with each other. The two plate-like plastic parts have respectively outer surfaces which are planarly aligned with each other to form a common flat outer surface. At least one of the two plate-like plastic parts is colored. The parting plane includes a horizontal flat narrower section which is generally perpendicular to the outer surface, and an inclined flat wider section contiguous to the horizontal section and inclined relative to the outer surface in such a manner as to form an acute angle between it and the outer surface defining the colored plastic part, thereby improving the strength and appearance of the finisher.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle body plastic finisher comprising:

first and second plastic parts joined at a parting plane with each other with no gap therebetween and having respective surfaces which are planarly aligned with each other to form a common outer surface, at least one of said first and second plastic parts being coloured, said first and second plastic parts and said parting plane extending generally horizontally, said common outer surface being generally vertical;

said parting plane including a first section generally perpendicular to said outer surface; and

a second section contiguous to said first section and inclined relative to said outer surface.

2. A plastic structural member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said parting plane second section is longer than said parting plane first section in a vertical plane perpendicular to said outer surface.

3. A plastic structural member as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second plastic part is coloured, said parting plane second section being so inclined that an acute angle is formed between it and said outer surface defining a coloured one of said first and second parts in said vertical plane.

4. A plastic structural member comprising

first and second plastic parts joined at a parting plane with each other with no gap therebetween and respectively having surfaces which are planarly aligned with each other to form a common outer surface, at least one of said plastic parts being coloured,

said first plastic part having a first surface generally perpendicular to said outer surface, and a second surface contiguous to said first surface and inclined relative to said outer surface,

said second plastic part having a third surface generally perpendicular to said outer surface, and a fourth surface contiguous to said third surface and inclined relative to said outer surface,

said first and third surfaces being in secure contact with each other to define a first section of said parting plane, said first section being generally perpendicular to said outer surface, said second and fourth surfaces being in secure contact with each other to define a second section of said parting plane, said second section being contiguous with said first section and inclined relative to said outer surface.

5. A plastic structural member as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first plastic part has a fifth surface contiguous to said second surface and inclined relative to said outer surface, and said second plastic part has a sixth surface contiguous to said fourth surface and inclined relative to said outer surface, said fifth and sixth surfaces being in secure contact with each other to define a third section of said parting plane, said third section being contiguous to said second section and inclined relative to said outer surface.

6. A plastic structural member as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first and second plastic parts are plate-like so that said plastic structural member is of one-piece and plate type upon said first and second plastic parts being joined with each other. claim 4, wherein said plastic structural member is produced by first moulding said first plastic part, second setting said first plastic part in a mould in which a space corresponding to said second plastic part is formed between the first plastic part and the inner surface of the mould, and third pouring molten plastic material into said space.

7. A plastic structure member as claimed in claim 6, wherein said plate type plastic structural member is disposed to cover a depression formed in a panel of an automotive vehicle body and located in a rear end of the vehicle body.

8. A plastic structural member as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first and second plastic parts are respectively formed with projections projecting in a direction opposite to said outer surface so that at least a part of each of said fifth and sixth surfaces forming a part of each projection.

9. A plastic structural member as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said fifth and sixth surfaces is generally flat and laterally straight extends.

10. A plastic structural member as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first plastic part is formed with a projection located in a position at which said second and fifth surfaces are contiguous to each other, and said second plastic part is formed with a groove located in a position at which said fourth and sixth surfaces are contiguous to each other, said projection engaging with said groove.

11. A plastic structural member as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said first, second, third, and fourth surfaces generally flat and laterally extends so that said parting plane is generally flat and laterally straight extends, said outer surface being generally flat.

12. A plastic structural member as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second plastic part is coloured, said fourth surface being so inclined that an acute angle is formed between it and said outer surface.

13. A plastic structural member as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said second and fourth surfaces is larger in width than each of said first and third surfaces.

14. A plastic structural member as claimed in claim 4, wherein said plastic structural member is produced by first moulding said first plastic part, second setting said first plastic part in a mould in which a space corresponding to said second plastic part is formed between the first plastic part and the inner surface of the mould, and third pouring molten plastic material into said space.

15. An automotive vehicle body plastic finisher comprising:

first and second plastic parts joined or contacted at a parting plane with each other with no gap therebetween and having respective surfaces which are planarly aligned with each other to form a common outer surface, one of said first and second plastic parts being coloured, one of said first and second plastic parts being transparent;

said first and second plastic parts and said parting plane extending generally horizontally;

said common outer surface being generally vertical;

said parting plane including a first section generally perpendicular to said outer surface; and

a second section contiguous to said first section and inclined relative to said outer surface.