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Method and apparatus for manufacturing a skin-covered article

  • US 5,130,074 A
  • Filed: 08/01/1990
  • Issued: 07/14/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of manufacturing a skin-covered article having a molded material covered by a skin material which has an inside surface and an outside surface, comprising:

  • providing an upper mold having a first cavity along with a peripheral wall and a downwardly extending enclosing projection;

    providing a lower mold having an upper wall with an outer periphery and a peripheral wall extending downwardly from said outer periphery to form a corner where said peripheral wall joins said upper wall;

    forming a skin member having an inside surface, an outside surface, a top portion and a side portion with said top portion being connected to said side portion by connecting means on the inside surface of said skin member;

    disposing said skin member over said lower mold with the outside surface of said top portion of said skin member contacting said upper wall, with the outside surface of said side portion of said skin member being next to said peripheral wall and with said connecting means being disposed at said corner;

    coupling said upper and lower molds such that said enclosing projection engages the outside surface of said upper portion of said skin member and said first cavity overlies said upper portion of said skin member;

    sealing said coupled upper and lower molds utilizing a seal between juxtaposed sections of said upper and lower molds, one of said sections being spaced outwardly from said peripheral wall of said lower mold to form at least a part of a second cavity there-between in which said side portion of said skin is disposed, said second cavity being separated from said first cavity by said engagement between said enclosing projection of said upper mold and said outside surface of said top portion of said skin member;

    introducing molding material into said first cavity to form a molded material affixed to the inside surface of said top portion of said skin member;

    decoupling said first and second molds and removing said molded material and skin member from said decoupled first and second molds;

    folding said side portion of said skin over the sides of said molded material and thereby forming a skin-covered article with said connecting means being disposed on the inside of said skin-covered article.

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