Decoma International Corporation

Magna International Inc.

Co-ex-tec Industries

Earlby E Wakefield

Tadeusz Borys

Shueh-Mo Lee

Gerhard F Hirmer

Avi Zohar

Uwe Kelbert

The invention provides a method of forming structural components for automotive vehicles from elongated tubular blanks. A longitudinally oriented tubular blank comprised of a thermoplastic material is provided. The tubular blank is fluidformed in a fluid forming cavity by orienting in a hoop direction of the tubular blank to conform the tubular blank to a predetermined shape of the fluid forming cavity to provide structural components having increased strength over the tubular blank. The structural components have biaxial and/or triaxial orientation. Fluid forming is performed within an orientation temperature range above the glass transition temperature and below the softening point of the thermoplastic material. Structural components include bumper beams, intrusion beams in vehicle doors, crush cans, and frame members. The produced structural components are strong and light weight.

Fluid forming of oriented thermoplastics

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

A body side molding for automobiles. The molding has a rigid base and a cover which is relatively flexible with respect to the base. Covers of disclosed embodiments are of polyvinyl chloride. The base and cover snap together, the cover having retainers on its reverse face, and the base having retainers for engaging the retainers of the cover on its obverse face. The reverse face of the base is secured to a vehicle using double-sided adhesive tape.

Automotive trim piece

A process for manufacture of an automotive trim piece having a polymeric skin fastened to substrate. The polymer, for example, polyvinyl chloride has the property that upon cooling to a relatively rigid state the polymer shrinks. The process includes a step of molding the polymeric skin separately from the substrate such that the skin has a rear face for abutment with an obverse face of the substrate and a pair of lips extending from ends of the rear face. The lips are configured for engaging corresponding edges of the substrate. The skin is cooled to a relatively elastic state, and the skin and substrate are assembled while the skin is in the relatively elastic state. On further cooling, shrinkage forces of the skin and the skin lips in abutment with the corresponding edges of the substrate produce a snug fit from edge to edge of the skin to the substrate and the skin becomes relatively rigid.

Process for manufacturing an automotive trim piece having a polymeric

A metal substrate having a first thermosetting elastomer layer and a second thermoplastic layer, both layers being chemically bonded to the substrate, and a method of manufacture therefor. Preferably, the first layer is extruded EPDM which is bonded to the substrate by with a heat-activable polyisocyanate adhesive and the second layer is extruded PVC which is bonded to the substrate by a heat-activable modified acrylic adhesive. Flock may be chemically bonded to a portion of the EPDM. An automotive trim product is disclosed. The preferred method of manufacture is a continuous process involving the steps of applying EPDM adhesive to the substrate; heat activating the adhesive; extruding the EPDM onto the substrate; applying PVC adhesive to the substrate; heating the partially coated substrate to concomitantly activate the PVC adhesive and cure the EPDM; and then extruding the PVC onto the substrate.

Growing community of inventors

Guelph, Canada

Earlby E Wakefield