Process for producing moldings with deformable decorative surface

Claim 1

A process for producing a molding having a detachable protective layer, a thermoplastically deformable decorative sheeting releasably attached to the protective layer, a foamable adhesive layer attached to the decorative layer opposed to the protective layer and a non-woven fibrous mat attached to the foamable adhesive layer comprising the steps of: drawing the protective layer off from a first reel; drawing the thermoplastically deformable decorative sheeting off from a second reel; releasably laminating the protective layer to the decorative sheeting; conveying the laminate past a foamable adhesive depositing device while dispensing the foamable adhesive into engagement with the decorative sheeting, the decorative sheeting forming a supporting sheet therefrom; admixing cellulose-containing fibers, thermoplastic individual fibers and at least one binder to form a fibrous material; introducing the fibrous material onto the side of the decorative sheeting carrying the adhesive foam; compressing the fibrous material to a mat fleece whose entire surface is connected to the foamable adhesive to form a composite mat; shaping the composite mat by at least one hot molding step, the hot molding step employing a variable temperature mold having a low temperature zone which comes in contact with the thermoplastically deformable decorative sheeting and higher temperature zone which contacts the fibrous material.