The Standard Products Company

Cooper-standard Automotive, Inc.

Cooper Technology Services, LLC

Eric Drozd

Sean Scott

Eric Waligora

Peter Koetsier

Eric Wallgora

A decorative trim assembly and the process of manufacturing includes providing a clip, supplying an elongated metal bright strip, and inserting the clip inside the metal bright strip. Subsequently, bending the assembled bright strip with the clip along its longitudinal extent provides a final conformation of the structure. It is subsequently secured to a weatherstrip by snap-fit operation. The end customer maintains the ability to service the decorative trim piece independently of the weatherstrip system.

Trim attachment method and associated product

An automotive vehicle molding for enhancing the appearance of a vehicle includes a thermoplastic elastomer main body and an ionomeric show surface. A plastic or metal core member can be embedded in the main body to provide additional stiffness and support. The ionomeric show surface is extruded onto a belt line seal portion or other visible section of the molding. The ionomeric show surface provides a tough, scratch resistant exterior that can easily be colored provided with a glossy surface to improve the aesthetics of the molding and more closely match its appearance with the painted exterior of the vehicle.

Extrusion having thermoplastic elastomer co-extruded on core with additional ionomeric show surface

A flange cover for attachment to a vehicle includes a core member having a plurality of apertures therein. An elastomeric skin is disposed about the core member. Within the elastomeric skin is a longitudinally extending hollow cavity having an interior and an exterior edge, the interior edge being located between the core member and the exterior edge. A longitudinally extending rib projects from the exterior edge of the hollow cavity toward the interior edge of the hollow cavity.

Growing community of inventors

Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Eric Drozd