The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 21, 1997
Filed:
Jan. 06, 1995
John Louis Miklas, Clinton Twp., MI (US);
Thomas Junior Luckett, Westland, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus (10) for molding a multilayered automotive trim component (12) having a covered edge portion (60). A flexible covering (32) is positioned between opposable molds (14, 16) that are continuously operable between an open position and a closed position. First and second article shaping surfaces (18, 20) on the molds (14, 16) form the article surfaces. An extendable slide (22, 23) having a cover receiving surface (24, 25) is positioned between the molds (14, 16) such that the cover receiving surface (24, 25) is positioned inwardly of a perimeter portion (26) of the first article shaping surface (18). The slide (22, 23) is extended and a polymeric resin (48) is injected onto the second article-shaping surface (20). The molds (14, 16) are closed such that the first and second article-shaping surfaces (18, 20) and the cover-receiving surface (24, 25) together define a cavity (52). The resin (48) is compressed within the cavity (52) and urges the covering (32) against the first article-shaping surface (18) and the cover-receiving surface (24, 25) to form a substrate layer (56) having a first covered surface (58) conforming to the first article-shaping surface (18) and a second covered surface (60) conforming to the cover-receiving surface (24, 25). The second covered surface (60) is generally opposite of the first covered surface (58). The slide (22, 23) is retracted sufficiently to remove the component (12) from the molds (14, 16).