Integrated sunshade design
First Claim
1. A method of making a trim panel for an automobile door including a sunshade, and a trim panel for an automobile door not including a sunshade, from the same molding equipment, the method comprising the steps of:
- molding a non-sunshade trim panel using a plastic mold apparatus having a hydraulic slide in a retracted position, the first trim panel having a body with first and second ends, a door side surface extending between the first and second ends, and a door upper surface extending away from the door side surface;
advancing the hydraulic slide to an extended position for producing a sunshade trim panel;
molding a sunshade trim panel using the plastic mold apparatus with the hydraulic slide in the extended position, the sunshade trim panel having a body with first and second ends, a door side surface extending between the first and second ends, and a door upper surface extending away from the door side surface;
wherein the door upper panel of the non-sunshade trim panel extends further from the door side surface than does the door upper surface of the sunshade trim panel.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A trim panel for a door of a vehicle that wherein both sunshade and non-sunshade versions of the trim panel are manufactured on the same equipment, thus eliminating the need to prepare separate molds for each trim panel. Both the sunshade and non-sunshade versions of the trim panel share essentially the same components and dimension except that the sunshade trim panel has an upper surface that terminates prior to a corresponding surface of the non-sunshade trim panel. This feature allows both trim panels to be made on the same equipment and then installed as needed depending on whether a given door will include a sunshade assembly.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of making a trim panel for an automobile door including a sunshade, and a trim panel for an automobile door not including a sunshade, from the same molding equipment, the method comprising the steps of:
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molding a non-sunshade trim panel using a plastic mold apparatus having a hydraulic slide in a retracted position, the first trim panel having a body with first and second ends, a door side surface extending between the first and second ends, and a door upper surface extending away from the door side surface; advancing the hydraulic slide to an extended position for producing a sunshade trim panel; molding a sunshade trim panel using the plastic mold apparatus with the hydraulic slide in the extended position, the sunshade trim panel having a body with first and second ends, a door side surface extending between the first and second ends, and a door upper surface extending away from the door side surface; wherein the door upper panel of the non-sunshade trim panel extends further from the door side surface than does the door upper surface of the sunshade trim panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11)
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6. A method of forming either a non-sunshade trim panel or a sunshade trim panel using the same equipment, both trim panels having a body with first and second ends, a door side surface extending between the first and second ends, and a door upper surface extending away from the door side surface, the door upper surface of the non-sunshade trim panel extending further from the door side surface than the door upper surface of the sunshade trim panel, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting either a non-sunshade trim panel or a sunshade trim panel for manufacture; positioning a hydraulic slide of a molding press in a first or second position corresponding to the selected sunshade; molding the selected sunshade; applying a top coat to the molded sunshade using a vacuum form press, the vacuum form press adapted to apply a top coat to either of a non-shade trim panel or a sunshade trim panel; trimming a free end of the top coat to a desired length; and securing the free end of the top coat to the molded trim panel. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 12, 13)
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Specification