Abstract 1. A process for applying a decorative plastic sheet on convex exterior vehicle panels comprising the steps of applying a heat-activatable adhesive film over substantially the entire undersurface of a heat-softenable decorative sheet, affixing strips of fastening means along at least a portion of the edges of said sheet to facilitate a securing of the terminal edge portions thereof against movement relative to a vehicle panel, heating said sheet to an elevated temperature at which said sheet is plastically deformable, stretching the heated said sheet to impart a contour therein of a magnitude in excess of the panel over which said sheet is applied, cooling the stretched said sheet to a temperature below the heat softening range thereof and in a manner to retain at least a portion of the excess of said contour therein and a memory of the original non-stretched configuration thereof, placing the contoured said sheet with said adhesive film positioned in overlying relationship against the surface of a vehicle panel, securing the terminal edge portions of said sheet against movement relative to said panel, heating said sheet to effect a heat softening and a contraction of said sheet to effect a heat softening and a contraction of said sheet in response to its memory into smooth and taut overlying relationship on said panel, continuing g the heating of said sheet to effect an activation of said adhesive film and a bonding of said sheet to said panel, and thereafter cooling said sheet and said film.
A process for applying a decorative plastic sheet on convex exterior vehicle panels comprising the steps of applying a heat-activatable adhesive film over substantially the entire undersurface of a heat-softenable decorative sheet, affixing strips of fastening means along at least a portion of the edges of said sheet to facilitate a securing of the terminal edge portions thereof against movement relative to a vehicle panel, heating said sheet to an elevated temperature at which said sheet is plastically deformable, stretching the heated said sheet to impart a contour therein of a magnitude in excess of the panel over which said sheet is applied, cooling the stretched said sheet to a temperature below the heat softening range thereof and in a manner to retain at least a portion of the excess of said contour therein and a memory of the original non-stretched configuration thereof, placing the contoured said sheet with said adhesive film positioned in overlying relationship against the surface of a vehicle panel, securing the terminal edge portions of said sheet against movement relative to said panel, heating said sheet to effect a heat softening and a contraction of said sheet to effect a heat softening and a contraction of said sheet in response to its memory into smooth and taut overlying relationship on said panel, continuing g the heating of said sheet to effect an activation of said adhesive film and a bonding of said sheet to said panel, and thereafter cooling said sheet and said film.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
A process for applying a decorative plastic sheet on convex exterior vehicle panels comprising the steps of applying a heat-activatable adhesive film over substantially the entire undersurface of a heat-softenable decorative sheet, affixing strips of fastening means along at least a portion of the edges of said sheet to facilitate a securing of the terminal edge portions thereof against movement relative to a vehicle panel, heating said sheet to an elevated temperature at which said sheet is plastically deformable, stretching the heated said sheet to impart a contour therein of a magnitude in excess of the panel over which said sheet is applied, cooling the stretched said sheet to a temperature below the heat softening range thereof and in a manner to retain at least a portion of the excess of said contour therein and a memory of the original non-stretched configuration thereof, placing the contoured said sheet with said adhesive film positioned in overlying relationship against the surface of a vehicle panel, securing the terminal edge portions of said sheet against movement relative to said panel, heating said sheet to effect a heat softening and a contraction of said sheet to effect a heat softening and a contraction of said sheet in response to its memory into smooth and taut overlying relationship on said panel, continuing g the heating of said sheet to effect an activation of said adhesive film and a bonding of said sheet to said panel, and thereafter cooling said sheet and said film.