Decoma International Corporation

Other

Decoma Exterior Trim, Inc.

Avi Zohar

Peter John Ellis

Haruhisa Kawase

Earlby E Wakefield

Toan Ho

Malcolm Ward

Albert Deleon

Tadeusz Borys

William E Armstrong

Uwe Kelbert

Scott Mouser

Earlby Wakefield

An integrated reveal molding is provided for a motor vehicle door frame having a header section defining a window opening. The integrated reveal molding includes an upper reveal adapted to be mounted to the header section. The upper reveal includes a reveal surface disposed outboard of the header section. A reveal is secured along the reveal surface. The integrated reveal molding also includes a glass run co-extruded with the upper reveal. The glass run includes a window receiving channel for engagement with a window pane. The integrated reveal molding is formed as an extruded member from thermoplastic vulcanisate (TPV) of different durometer values to meet varying flexibility and durability requirements.

Integrated glass run and upper reveal with film

A process for forming linear, thermoplastic weatherseals into a bend position is provided which avoids buckling of the thinner surfaces of the weatherseal material. The process involves the use of a support insert which supports the thinner surfaces during the bending operation, and thus assists in preventing the deformation of the thinner weatherseal surfaces. The support is preferable constructed of a material which is unaffected by temperatures higher than the heat-deformation temperature used to set the weatherseal material into a bent configuration, and thus, the support insert retains its linear shape when removed from the bending press, and therefore, can be reused. An improved process for manufacturing bent thermoplastic weatherseal material results.

Process for fabricating weatherseals

A process for forming a specific length of extruded thermoplastics material trim strip for automobiles includes the step of extruding the strip directly onto an endless carrier belt moving at a speed matching the emergence speed of the extrudate. The extrudate, therefore, is less subject to stresses causing unpredictable length changes on cooling. It is therefore possible to predetermine the cooled, matured, final lengths of strip and to provide moulded end portions on-line.

Method of forming automotive trim strip from extruded thermoplastic

Belt weatherstrip moulding for motor vehicles or other motor vehicle trim may be made of separate inner and outer components. The inner component may be a base component which is extruded in a flexible material such as an elastomeric material which may be rubber or rubbery materials and which partially envelops an elongate core which is rigid with respect to the extruded material. Preferably the core is aluminum or less preferably stainless steel, galvanized steel or zinc coated steel or it may be a rigid thermoplastic material. The elongate core has an exposed face for attachment to the outer moulding. The outer component is an outer decorative skin and is an injection moulding, preferably polyurethane, although other plastics material may be used. The inner and outer mouldings are adhered together through double sided adhesive tape. It is possible to attach the composite moulding to a vehicle body by means of only one fixed mounting and a number of other mountings which allow relative movement between the vehicle body and the composite trim member to compensate for relative differences in expansion and contraction between the vehicle body and the trim.

Composite belt weatherstrip moulding

A molding for installation on a vehicle which includes a decorative injection-molded polymeric skin secured to an outwardly facing portion of an elongate core and method of manufacture thereof. The skin extends along the length of the molding and includes a cap unitarily formed therewith at each end of the molding. Each cap is shaped to conceal the core when the molding is installed on the vehicle. The skin of the molding may be secured to the core by a heat activable adhesive. Alternatively, the molding includes an extruded first polymeric layer compatible with the polymeric skin between a first area of the outwardly facing portion of the core and the skin, the skin being directly bonded to the extruded polymeric layer and the extruded polymeric layer being adhesively bonded to the core.

Automotive trim piece

Growing community of inventors

Thornhill, Canada

Avi Zohar