Emblem of automobile part and method of manufacturing the same

• US 7,998,383 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2006
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lee, Changwoo, Park, Seungmok, Shim, Sangwoo, Lee, Hojin
• Primary Examiner(s): Gupta; Yogendra N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robitaille; John P
• Application Number:
  US11/473,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20070228604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,880 Days
• Field of Search: 264/129, 264/132, 264/134, 264/139, 264/145, 264/138
• US Class Current: 264/132
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/00 Shaping techniques involving a cutting or machining operation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/0018 for making a hole
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2795/002 before shaping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14065 Positioning or centering articles in the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1418 the inserts being deformed or preformed, e.g. by the injection pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14688 Coating articles provided with a decoration
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/00 Surface shaping of articles, e.g. embossing; Apparatus therefor in-mould printing B29C37/0025; by using liquids B29C71/0009; by using gases without chemical reaction B29C71/009; for decorating in general B44; abrasive blasting B24C; chemical aspects C08J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2069/00 Use of PC, i.e. polycarbonates or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0087 Wear resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3038 Air bag covers
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/744 Labels, badges, e.g. marker sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor

Abstract

Provided is a method of manufacturing an emblem of an automobile part in which the emblem and the part are formed integrally. The method includes printing an emblem on a film wound up in a roll at predetermined intervals (S1), three-dimensionally forming the emblem-printed film (S2), cutting the three-dimensionally formed film using a cutter to obtain an emblem film (S3), inserting the cut emblem film into upper and lower halves of a mold (S4), and injecting a melted resin into the mold to integrally form the resin with the emblem film (S5).

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an emblem and a part with the emblem integrally molded thereto, the method comprising:

printing indicia on a surface of a film;

attaching the film with the indicia thereon to a substrate;

plastically deforming the substrate and the film attached thereto by applying heat and pressure to the substrate, wherein a deformed film portion with the indicia thereon is provided with a three-dimensional configuration matching that of the plastically deformed substrate and wherein the three-dimensional configuration of the deformed film also matches that of the part;

removing the deformed film portion with the indicia thereon from the deformed substrate after it has been provided with the three dimensional configuration such that only the deformed film portion with the indicia thereon has no backing substrate;

cutting the indicia of the deformed film portion with the indicia thereon from other portions of the deformed film portion to obtain an emblem film;

inserting the emblem film into a mold; and

injecting a melted resin into the mold to form the part, wherein the emblem film is integrally formed with the part and the indicia is viewable on the part.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, after the printing, adhering a transparent protective film on the film.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the film is formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the film is formed of polycarbonate (PC).

5. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

applying an adhesive to the emblem film to temporarily secure it to the mold prior to the injection of the melted resin.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein the part is an airbag cover.

7. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

applying a transparent protective film to the film, the transparent protective film allowing the film to be removed from the substrate.

8. The method as in claim 7, further comprising:

applying an adhesive to the emblem film to temporarily secure it to the mold prior to the injection of the melted resin.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein the part is an airbag cover.

10. The method as in claim 1, wherein the indicia is printed on the film at predetermined intervals.

11. The method as in claim 10, further comprising:

applying a transparent protective film to the film, the transparent protective film allowing the film to be removed from the substrate.

12. The method as in claim 11, further comprising:

applying an adhesive to the emblem film to temporarily secure it to the mold prior to the injection of the melted resin.

13. The method as in claim 12, wherein the part is an airbag cover.