Process for manufacture of decorated panels for vehicle interiors
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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Abstract
A process for forming decorative panels for automobile interiors uses a compression press, a grooved stationary platen die and a movable platen die with a metal blade edging mounted thereon. The blade edging has a peripheral shape matching the outer wall of the groove in the stationary platen die section, and the contour of the movable platen die matches the contour of the stationary die and a formed decorative panel having a downturned edge of the same peripheral shape as the groove and blade. This downturned edge becomes embedded in a sheet of mounting panel stock upon closing of the compression press.
14 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A process for making a decorative panel, comprising:
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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, and to 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A process for making an automotive decorative door panel, comprising:
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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, and the insert having a projecting edge 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 while covering the periphery of the decorative insert with the blade, such that the blade is disposed closer to an outer side wall of the groove than to an inner side wall thereof, and to press a lateral protrusion formed on an inner 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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification