US4581272A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automotive vehicle door kick panel and method of manufacture
Assignee: Gates Formed Fibre Products Inc
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Filing: 1985-01-11
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Granted: 1986-04-08
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Expires: 2005-01-11
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure is of decorative vehicular kick panels e.g. for automobiles, and the method of their manufacture. The decorative panels are laminates of textile materials, having a decorative fabric surface. The panels of the invention are particularly advantageous in that they are economical to manufacture and exhibit resistance to edge fraying.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R. Walters
- 👤 Ronald W. Adams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 03:29
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B5/00; B32B5/22; B32B5/24; B32B5/26; B32B5/02; B32B5/08; B32B7/00; B32B7/04; B32B7/12; B44; B44C; B44C5/00; B44C5/04; B44C5/0453; B32B2605/00; B32B2605/003; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23907; Y10T428/23929; Y10T428/23979; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/2419; Y10T428/24264; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/24612; Y10T428/24777
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A laminate vehicular door kick panel, comprising: a backing surface comprised of a molded textile substrate including thermoplastic fibers which are at least partially heat fused together; a facing surface formed of a textile fabric secured to said backing and mold formed together into a consolidated composite of desired shape-retaining configuration; said composite having a peripheral edge surface which is rolled over so as to extend in a direction opposite to said facing surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A laminate vehicular door kick panel, comprising: a backing surface comprised of a molded textile substrate including thermoplastic fibers which are at least partially heat fused together; a facing surface formed of a textile fabric secured to said backing and mold formed together into a consolidated composite of desired shape-retaining configuration; said composite having a peripheral edge surface which is rolled over so as to extend in a direction opposite to said facing surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The laminate panel of claim 1 wherein the backing and facing surfaces extend generally in an axial plane, and a substantial portion of said peripheral edges lie on a plane extending substantially parallel to the axial plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laminate panel of claim 1 wherein the textile fabric is formed of a tufted carpet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laminate panel of claim 1 wherein the textile fabric is formed of a woven material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The laminate panel of claim 1 wherein the backing surface is formed of at least two fiber materials, one having a relatively low melting point, and the other a relatively high melting point, said low melting point fibers being at least partially heat fused together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laminate panel of claim 5 wherein the textile fabric is comprised of fibers having loose ends which are securely anchored by embeddment in the molded textile substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laminate panel of claim 1 wherein said peripheral edge surface is formed solely of said mold-formed composite of backing and facing surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The laminate panel of claim 1 wherein the backing and facing surfaces are bonded with the addition of a web adhesive between backing and facing surface to enhance bond strength.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laminate panel of claim 1 wherein the textile fabric is formed of a nonwoven material.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for producing a laminate vehicular door kick panel having facing, backing and peripheral edge surfaces comprising: preparing a batt of intermingled thermoplastic fibers; attaching a decorative surface formed of a textile fabric to the batt to form a composite; and heating the composite above the melting point of at least a portion of said thermoplastic fibers and mold-forming the composite into a desired shape-retaining configuration; said peripheral edge surfaces being rolled over so as to extend away from and in a direction opposite to said facing surface.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for producing a laminate vehicular door kick panel having facing, backing and peripheral edge surfaces comprising: preparing a batt of intermingled thermoplastic fibers; attaching a decorative surface formed of a textile fabric to the batt to form a composite; and heating the composite above the melting point of at least a portion of said thermoplastic fibers and mold-forming the composite into a desired shape-retaining configuration; said peripheral edge surfaces being rolled over so as to extend away from and in a direction opposite to said facing surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said batt is prepared by needling.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the decorative surface is attached to the batt by needling.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4230755A
Cited
US4424250A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-04-07 | 1989-10-07 | 1990-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-07 | 1993-10-07 | 1994-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-07 | 1997-10-07 | 1998-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |