Moldings and process for manufacturing the same

• US 5,194,305 A
• Filed: 09/30/1991
• Issued: 03/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Tokai Kogyo Kaisha
• Inventors: Shirahata, Itaru, Sawaki, Nobuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Epstein, Henry F.
• Application Number:
  US07/767,658
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 428/31, 428/188, 52/716, 264/515, 264/516, 293/128
• US Class Current: 428/31
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/2017 outside the article
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/2412 outside the article
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/2442 while blow-moulding, e.g. the preform expansion deforms the label or lining
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/04 Extrusion blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/20 of articles having inserts or reinforcements ; Handling of inserts or reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/24 Lining or labelling
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3005 Body finishings
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3044 Bumpers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24744 Longitudinal or transverse tubular cavity or cell

Abstract

A molding including a hollow molding body, and an ornamental film layer adhered on the upper surface and the side surfaces of the hollow molding body. The manufacturing process of the molding substantially comprises the steps of forming the hollow molding body by a blow molding method, and adhering the ornamental film layer on the hollow molding body. The adhesion of the ornamental film layer is achieved during formation of the hollow molding body.

Claims

1. A molding for use with an automobile comprising a hollow molding body formed by blow molding and including external top, side and bottom surfaces, and an ornamental film layer adhered to the external upper and side surfaces of said hollow molding body, the ornamental film layer being adhered during blow molding of the hollow molding body.

2. The molding as defined in claim 1 wherein said molding body and said ornamental film layer are both formed of a thermoplastic synthetic resin.

3. The molding as defined in claim 2, wherein the thermoplastic synthetic resin is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and a mixture of polyphenylene oxide and polystyrene.

4. The molding as defined in claim 1, additionally comprising a leg member and a securing bolt embedded in and protruding outwardly from said bottom surface, said leg member and securing bolt being embedded in said bottom surface during blow molding of the hollow molding body.

5. A process for manufacturing a molding comprising a hollow molding body including external upper, side and bottom surfaces, and an ornamental film layer adhered to the external upper and side surfaces of the hollow molding body, comprising the steps of:

providing a molding die including a first molding die member having a first molding surface to form the external upper and side surfaces of the hollow molding body and including a second molding die member having a second molding surface to form the bottom surface of the hollow molding body;

moving said molding die to an open position in which said first and second molding die members are separated from each other;

arranging a film material to be formed as the ornamental film layer adjacent and in generally covering relationship with said first molding surface;

extruding molding material to form a parison to be formed as the hollow molding body between said film material and said second molding surface;

moving said molding die to a closed position in which said first and second molding die members are in contact with each other; and

feeding air pressure into said parison to form the hollow molding body and simultaneously adhere said film material to the external upper and side surfaces of the hollow molding body for forming the ornamental film layer thereon.

6. The process as defined in claim 5, wherein said first molding die member further includes an auxiliary molding die member movably mounted thereon, and positioned between said first molding surface and said second molding die member, wherein said auxiliary molding die member has an opening corresponding to said first molding surface with a diameter permitting the passage of said parison therethrough, and wherein the step of arranging the film material comprises providing said film material on said auxiliary molding die member so as to cover said opening.

7. The process as defined in claim 5 wherein said feeding of air pressure into said parison is performed through an air supply means retractably mounted on said second molding die member.

8. The process as defined in claim 6 further comprising the step of arranging an engagement leg member and a securing bolt on said second molding surface of said second molding die member prior to the step of moving said molding die to said closed position, so that said leg member and said securing bolt are embedded in the external bottom surface of said hollow molding body during formation of said hollow molding body.

9. A molding comprising a hollow molding body including external upper, side and bottom surfaces, and an ornamental film layer adhered to the external upper and side surfaces of the hollow molding body, formed by a process comprising the steps of:

providing a molding die including a first molding die member having a first molding surface to form the external upper and side surfaces of the hollow molding body and including a second molding die member having a second molding surface to form the bottom surface of the hollow molding body;

moving said molding die to an open position in which said first and second molding die members are separated from each other;

arranging a film material to be formed as the ornamental film layer adjacent and in generally covering relationship with said first molding surface;

extruding molding material to form a parison to be formed as the hollow molding body between said film material and said second molding surface;

moving said molding die to a closed position in which said first and second molding die members are in contact with each other; and

feeding air pressure into said parison to form the hollow molding body and simultaneously adhere said film material to the external upper and side surfaces of the hollow molding body for forming the ornamental film layer thereon.