Gebr. Happich Gmbh

Willi O Treber

Gunter Fritsch

Rolf Schlenz

Joseph Hansmann

The invention concerns an elongate decorative and/or protective covering strip particularly for the exterior of an automotive vehicle. The strip is a single piece blow molded strip with a bottom that is applied to a surface and a top that is exposed. To provide length compensation due to temperature variations as between the top and the bottom of the strip and to absorb expansion differences as between the strip and the vehicle body, the bottom of the strip has a plurality of transversely extending groove shaped depressions defined in it along its length. At least some depressions in the bottom of the strip are of a height to extend nearly to the top of the strip and to thereby support the top of the strip against deformation. The depressions may have various heights toward the top of the strip. Transversely extending depressions may alternate with round depressions along the length of the strip. There may additionally be a longitudinally extending groove shaped depression defined in the bottom of the strip and/or in the top of the strip, and the crest of the longitudinally extending groove shaped depression may provide the deformation support noted.

Blow molded decorative or protective strip with temperature compensation

A decorative or protective molding which is fastened to the body of an automotive vehicle, e.g. by an adhesive. The molding is comprised of two separate parts which are assembled. The first part is a molding body which is fastened to the vehicle surface. The molding body has a peripheral groove at its base surface, which is wedge-shaped for receiving the second part, a frame, therein. The frame wraps around the periphery of the molding body and extends into the groove. The frame is comprised of an elastic material. The frame is profiled to the molding body where they meet for making a smooth unprofiled transition between them at the exterior of the molding body. The groove may have an undercut in it for holding the frame in the groove.

Growing community of inventors

Wuppertal, Germany

Willi O Treber