US5772827A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trim member including intermittent bright strip and method of making same
Assignee: Cooper Standard Automotive Inc
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Filing: 1996-01-25
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Granted: 1998-06-30
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Expires: 2016-01-25
Abstract
Abstract A method of forming a trim strip product that includes intermittent sections of a bright or color strip coextruded with a clear or translucent thermoplastic melt stream to produce the trim strip having spaced-apart sections of the bright or colored strips. Sections of the bright or colored strips are intermittently placed between two continuous thermoplastic melt strip streams as the melt streams are directed into a pair of cooperating forming rolls. The extruded strip product is then cut at desirable locations such as between the bright or colored strip sections.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas N. Malm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:09
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R13/00; B60R13/04; B29; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/001; B29C48/0013; B29C48/0014; B29C48/03; B29C48/07; B29C48/15; B29C48/157; B29C48/16; B29C48/18; B29C48/21; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/30; B29L2031/3005; B29L2031/302
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of producing an extruded strip product, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first melt stream of a thermoplastic material; providing a second melt stream of a thermoplastic material; providing a plurality of separate decorative strip sections; forming the first melt stream of thermoplastic material, the second melt stream of the thermoplastic material and the strip sections into a continuous extrusion having an extrusion length, where the first and second melt streams of the thermoplastic material form a thermoplastic envelope around the separate strip sections such that the strip sections are spaced apart along the length of the extrusion, and wherein the thermoplastic material of the first melt stream is a translucent thermoplastic material so that the decorative strip sections are visible within the continuous extrusion; and cutting the continuous extrusion into sections to form strip products having visible decorative strip sections.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of producing an extruded strip product, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first melt stream of a thermoplastic material; providing a second melt stream of a thermoplastic material; providing a plurality of separate decorative strip sections; forming the first melt stream of thermoplastic material, the second melt stream of the thermoplastic material and the strip sections into a continuous extrusion having an extrusion length, where the first and second melt streams of the thermoplastic material form a thermoplastic envelope around the separate strip sections such that the strip sections are spaced apart along the length of the extrusion, and wherein the thermoplastic material of the first melt stream is a translucent thermoplastic material so that the decorative strip sections are visible within the continuous extrusion; and cutting the continuous extrusion into sections to form strip products having visible decorative strip sections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the steps of providing the first and second melt streams of a thermoplastic material includes use of a split die extrusion device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of forming the first thermoplastic melt stream, the second thermoplastic melt stream and the strip sections into the continuous extrusion includes use of cooperating forming rolls defining a shaped opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the strip sections are selected from the group of sections consisting of Mylar sections, bright strip sections, colored strip sections, and chrome sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing strip sections includes selectively cutting the strip sections from a continuous roll of a strip material and spacing apart the cut strip sections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing the strip sections includes selectively providing pre-cut strip sections stored in a magazine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of removing independent strip sections from the magazine by a suction device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of using the suction device to position the pre-cut strip section between the first and second melt streams.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the strip products are trim strips configured to be secured to an outer surface of a vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the strip products are formed into strip products having a curved upper show layer and a flat lower base layer, and wherein the curved upper show layer is substantially transparent so that the strip sections are visible within the thermoplastic envelope.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of cutting the continuous extrusion into sections includes cutting the continuous extrusion at desirable locations so as to provide strip products having a predetermined sequence of strip sections.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of producing an extruded strip product, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first melt stream of an extrudable material; providing a plurality of decorative strip sections where the strip sections are selected from the group consisting of Mylar sections, bright strip sections, colored strip sections, and chrome sections; and coextruding the first melt stream of the extrudable material with the strip sections so as to form a continuous extrusion having an extrusion length, wherein the continuous extrusion includes spaced apart strip sections along the length of the extrusion, and wherein the extrudable material of the first melt stream is a translucent material so that the decorative strip sections are visible within the continuous extrusion.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of producing an extruded strip product, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first melt stream of an extrudable material; providing a plurality of decorative strip sections where the strip sections are selected from the group consisting of Mylar sections, bright strip sections, colored strip sections, and chrome sections; and coextruding the first melt stream of the extrudable material with the strip sections so as to form a continuous extrusion having an extrusion length, wherein the continuous extrusion includes spaced apart strip sections along the length of the extrusion, and wherein the extrudable material of the first melt stream is a translucent material so that the decorative strip sections are visible within the continuous extrusion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of providing a second melt stream of an extrudable material, wherein the step of coextruding the first melt stream of the extrudable material with the strip sections includes extruding the first melt stream, the second melt stream and the strip sections so that the continuous extrusion includes spaced apart intermittent strip sections surrounded by the extrudable material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the step of providing a plurality of strip sections includes selectively providing pre-cut strip sections stored in a magazine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 14 further comprising the steps of removing the pre-cut strip sections from the magazine by a suction device and placing the strip sections between the first and second melt streams.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 12 wherein the continuous extrusion is formed by including the use of cooperating forming rolls.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of producing an extruded strip product, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first melt stream of an extrudable material; providing a second melt stream of an extrudable material; providing a plurality of separate decorative strip sections; forming the first melt stream of the extrudable material, the second melt stream of the extrudable material and the strip sections into a continuous extrusion having an extrusion length, where the first and second melt streams of the extrudable material form a envelope around the separate strip sections such that the strip sections are spaced apart along the length of the extrusion, and wherein the extrudable material of the first melt stream is a translucent material so that the decorative strip sections are visible within the continuous extrusion; and cutting the continuous extrusion into sections to form strip products having visible decorative strip sections.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of producing an extruded strip product, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first melt stream of an extrudable material; providing a second melt stream of an extrudable material; providing a plurality of separate decorative strip sections; forming the first melt stream of the extrudable material, the second melt stream of the extrudable material and the strip sections into a continuous extrusion having an extrusion length, where the first and second melt streams of the extrudable material form a envelope around the separate strip sections such that the strip sections are spaced apart along the length of the extrusion, and wherein the extrudable material of the first melt stream is a translucent material so that the decorative strip sections are visible within the continuous extrusion; and cutting the continuous extrusion into sections to form strip products having visible decorative strip sections.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 17 wherein the step of providing strip sections includes selectively cutting the strip sections from a continuous roll of a strip material and spacing apart the cut strip sections.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 17 wherein the step of providing the strip sections includes selectively providing pre-cut strip sections stored in a magazine.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 19 further comprising the step of removing independent strip sections from the magazine by a suction device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-29 | 2001-12-29 | 2002-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-29 | 2005-12-29 | 2006-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-29 | 2009-12-29 | 2010-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |