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Process for manufacture of decorated panels for vehicle interiors

  • US 5,639,329 A
  • Filed: 06/27/1994
  • Issued: 06/17/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A process for making a decorative panel, comprising:

  • softening a sheet of a mounting panel stock material;

    placing the softened sheet onto a first die section of a compression press, so that the sheet overlies a groove in the first die section;

    positioning a pre-formed, contoured decorative insert into conforming contact with a second die section of the compression press, the second die section having a blade configured to fit into the groove of the first die section together with the blade; and

    pressing the insert and mounting panel into close conforming contact with each other between the first and second die sections so that the blade and projecting edge of the insert extend into said groove under conditions effective;

    to press an underlying portion of the softened sheet into the groove and thereby embed the projecting edge of the insert in the softened sheet, andto press a lateral protrusion formed on a side of the projecting edge of the insert into an outer surface of the heat-softened sheet disposed in the groove, which protrusion coins into the sheet material in a manner effective to hinder removal of the embedded insert edge from the sheet.

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