Vehicular panel assembly and method for making same
First Claim
1. A method for making a vehicle window assembly, comprising:
- forming a polymeric gasket by injection molding in a mold, said formed gasket having at least one surface;
providing a panel in the form of a sheet having at least one surface, said panel being separate from said formed gasket;
.applying a primer coating to at least one of said surfaces of said panel and said formed gasket;
locating said panel on said formed gasket while said formed gasket remains in the mold so that said one surface of said formed gasket and said one surface of said panel form a contact area; and
forcing said formed gasket against said panel to promote adhesion between said panel and said formed gasket.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A panel assembly and method for manufacturing the panel assembly, especially adapted for use in vehicles, includes a panel of predetermined size and geometry wherein a surface of the panel to receive a gasket is primed using a material especially adapted to prepare the panel surface to bond with the gasket. The desired gasket profile is molded separately from the panel from a polymeric material. Following formation of the gasket, the panel is located thereon and pressed into intimate contact with the gasket for a prescribed period of time. The panel and attached panel are removed as an assembly. Additional or optional steps may be followed including preheating the panel and primed surface prior to bonding to shorten the cycle time and improve adhesion. Moreover, heat may be applied to the contact boundary between the panel and gasket substantially simultaneously with the application of pressure. The steps of heating and applying pressure may be repeated to insure proper adhesion. The panel assembly and the method of manufacturing the panel assembly are especially adapted for use in flush mounted panel assemblies wherein the gasket is fixed only to a single surface of the pane and allows for gradationally varying cross-sectional profiles to specifically suit a needed application.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A method for making a vehicle window assembly, comprising:
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forming a polymeric gasket by injection molding in a mold, said formed gasket having at least one surface; providing a panel in the form of a sheet having at least one surface, said panel being separate from said formed gasket;
.applying a primer coating to at least one of said surfaces of said panel and said formed gasket; locating said panel on said formed gasket while said formed gasket remains in the mold so that said one surface of said formed gasket and said one surface of said panel form a contact area; and forcing said formed gasket against said panel to promote adhesion between said panel and said formed gasket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for making a vehicle window assembly by attaching a preformed gasket to a panel comprising:
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forming a gasket by injection molding in a mold; providing a panel separate from said formed gasket in said mold; pretreating said panel by applying a primer to said panel; loading the pretreated side of the panel on a surface of said gasket while said gasket is accessible in said mold; forcing a portion of said panel including said primer against said formed gasket while said formed gasket remains in the mold to bond said gasket to said panel along a contact boundary; and heating said contact boundary between said formed gasket and said panel to improve adhesion. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method for making a vehicle window assembly by attaching a gasket to a panel comprising:
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molding at least one polymeric gasket in a mold apparatus using an insert which is removable from the mold; providing a panel of predetermined size and shape separate from said molded gasket; priming at least a portion of either said panel adapted to engage said molded gasket or said gasket; replacing said removable insert with said primed panel while retaining said molded gasket in said mold apparatus; and pressing said molded gasket into contact with said primed panel to promote adhesion between said panel and said molded gasket. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification