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Process for manufacture of decorated panels for vehicle interiors

  • US 5,674,445 A
  • Filed: 06/07/1995
  • Issued: 10/07/1997
  • 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 insert having a projecting edge configured to fit into the groove of the first die section; and

    pressing the insert and mounting panel into close conforming contact with each other between the first and second die sections so that the projecting edge of the insert extends 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, wherein the projecting edge presses the underlying portion of the softened sheet into the groove by itself without the aid of other forming means;

    wherein the pressing step further comprises a step of pressing lateral protrusions formed on a rear side, and a flange edge formed on a front side, of the projecting edge of the insert into an outer surface of the heat-softened sheet disposed in the groove, which protrusions and flange edge coin into the sheet material in a manner effective to hinder removal of the embedded insert edge from the sheet.

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