EP0261760A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Composite moulded article and method of making same
Assignee: Sheller-Globe Corp
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Filing: 1987-06-01
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A composite molded article and a method of fabricating such an article is disclosed, which is especially well-suited for forming one-piece interior vehicle panels, by way of a single molding operation, wherein the one-piece interior panel can be easily installed as a unit within the vehicle. In the fabrication of the one-piece molded composite article, a deformable sheet material, such as vinyl, is positioned on a female molding surface and drawn into conformity with the female molding surface of the mold cavity, either with or without preheating or vacuum forming. The mold apparatus is closed and a first moldable material is introduced into the mold assembly, with certain predetermined portions thereof being blocked off, Subsequently, a second moldable material is introduced at least into the predetermined areas previously blocked off during the introduction of the first moldable material. By such a process, the one-piece molded article can be fabricated essentially in a single integrated operation, as a one-piece structure, while maintaining the capability of providing various materials or various characteristics at different locations on the one-piece article.
Inventors
- 👤 John Leo Sanok
- 👤 Michael Louis Piechura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:34
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/14; B29C45/1418; B29C33/00; B29C33/0038; B29C33/0044; B29C45/16; B29C45/1635; B29C45/1671; B29C70/00; B29C70/68; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/04; B60R21/0428; B29C2045/14286; B29C2791/00; B29C2791/001; B29C67/00; B29C67/24; B29C67/247; B29K; B29K2075/00; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/30; B29L2031/3005; B29L2031/3041; B60R13/00; B60R13/02; B60R13/0237; B60R13/0243; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/83; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/24496; Y10T428/24504; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249981; Y10T428/249987; Y10T428/249991; Y10T428/249992
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of making a composite molded article, comprising the steps of: providing a selectively closable mold assembly including a male mold and a female mold having respective male and female molding surfaces; positioning a deformable sheet material on said female molding surface; drawing said sheet material into said female mold in order to conform said sheet material to said female mold surface; introducing a first moldable material into said mold assembly between said male molding surface and said sheet material; blocking off at least one predetermined area of said sheet material during said introduction of said first moldable material in order to substantially prevent said first moldable material from contacting said predetermined area of said sheet material; and introducing a second moldable material into said mold assembly between said male mold surface and said conformed sheet material at least at said predetermined area.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of making a composite molded article, comprising the steps of: providing a selectively closable mold assembly including a male mold and a female mold having respective male and female molding surfaces; positioning a deformable sheet material on said female molding surface; drawing said sheet material into said female mold in order to conform said sheet material to said female mold surface; introducing a first moldable material into said mold assembly between said male molding surface and said sheet material; blocking off at least one predetermined area of said sheet material during said introduction of said first moldable material in order to substantially prevent said first moldable material from contacting said predetermined area of said sheet material; and introducing a second moldable material into said mold assembly between said male mold surface and said conformed sheet material at least at said predetermined area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said blocking off step includes: positioning at least one plug member in contact with said predetermined area of said sheet material prior to introducing said first moldable material; and removing said plug member from said contact with said predetermined area prior to introducing said second moldable material into said mold assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein said blocking off step further includes: positioning said plug member in contact with said predetermined area of said sheet material; closing said mold assembly prior to introducing said first moldable material; reopening said mold assembly after introducing said first moldable material; removing said plug member from said contact with said predetermined area of said conformed sheet material; and reclosing said mold assembly prior to introducing said second moldable material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein said plug member movably is interconnected with one of said mold members for extension toward the other of said mold members and for retraction away fran the other of said mold members, said blocking off step further including: extending said plug member into said contact with said predetermined area of said sheet material prior to introducing said first moldable material; and retracting said plug member out of said contact with said predetermined area of said sheet material after introducing said first moldable material, said extension and retraction of said mold member being performed while said mold assembly is closed.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said step of introducing said first mouldable material includes injecting a first mouldable material that cures to a relatively rigid state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said step of introducing said first mouldable material includes reaction injection moulding urethane material, preferably a multiconstitutent urethane material, that cures to a relatively rigid state in said mould assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said step of introducing said second mouldable material includes injecting a second mouldable material, preferably a multiconstitutent urethane material, that cures to a relatively soft, deformable state.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
37 words
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said step of drawing said sheet material is performed generally simultaneously with said step of introducing said first mouldable material between said male moulding surface and said sheet material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
9 . A method according to any preceding claim, further including the step of heating said sheet material prior to said step of drawing said sheet material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
10 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said step of drawing said sheet material comprises vacuum forming said sheet material.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
56 words
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said mould assembly is provided with movable clamping members therein, said method further including moving said clamp members into a clamping engagement with predetermined portions of said sheet material in order to clampingly secure said sheet material to said mould assembly in at least one predetermined location thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A composite moulded vehicle interior panel member having a predetermined exterior shape and configuration, said panel member having been formed by the method of any preceding claim, with at least one said female mould member having a shape complementary to said predetermined exterior shape of said panel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A composite moulded panel member according to claim 12, wherein said predetermined areas comprise a vehicle interior arm rest portion of said panel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A composite moulded panel member according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said predetermined areas comprise a vehicle interior energy absorption portion of said panel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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